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Lessons From the Secret Place Special Edition – Intimacy- A Place of Peace in the Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6-7, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. The First Advent is described in verse 6a: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” The first clause speaks of His humanity, the second of His deity. The next part of the verse points forward to the Second Advent: • the government will be upon His shoulder—He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The rest of the verse describes His personal glories: • His name will be called Wonderful—this name is a noun, not an adjective, and speaks of His Person and work. • Counselor—His wisdom in governmen...
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Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 9a: Anointed to Overflow in Christ.

Today we will begin looking at Psalm 23:5b as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:5b, you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Anoint my head with oil. I want to look at four types of anointings found in the Word.   First, kingly anointing (anointing for leadership).  We find this kingly anointing described in 1 Samuel 10 and 16.    In 1 Samuel 10, we read that the people had rejected God as their king, by demanding a human king. God, in response to the request of the people, sent Samuel to anoint Saul as king. In Saul, God chose someone who would meet the desires and expectations of the people.  Saul was handsome and was a head taller than any of the people (1 Samuel 9:2).  However, we know that because his heart was not toward God first, Saul turned his back on God and followed his own desires (1Samuel 13).  In 1 Samuel 16, we see Samuel the prophet once again being called on by God to anoint a new king for Israel...
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Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 8: Face to Face in Christ.

Today we will be looking at Psalm 23:5a as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:5a, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Eating a meal is an exercise in intimacy; it is familial and relational. Perhaps the most relational activity humans participate in-which is likely why Jesus talks about Himself as the bread of life and uses the last supper as a message to His disciples. It is why Jesus tells us that the way to purchase all the gold we want from Him, all the treasure we desire, is to listen to His voice, and invite Him in to dine with Him (Revelation 3:18-20). It is why Christians practice the taking of communion, which is an excerpt from the Passover meal, and a discipline familiar to church history, as is the practice of praying before a meal. There is something very sacred about eating together. The picture here is of God preparing a meal, and sitting down to have an intimate dinner, in the very presence of the dark circumstances, in...
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Lessons From the Secret Place Special Edition – Intimacy- An Attitude of Gratitude

Webster’s 1828 dictionary says gratitude is an emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness.  God desires relationship and intimacy with us.  One way we can share intimacy with him is through thanksgiving.  When someone does something for me, no matter how great or small, I say, “Thank you” and try to return in kind.  That is how I was raised.  We show gratitude when others bless us. In our culture today, you can often tell which young adults, teens and children were/are being raised by Christian parents, by their level of gratitude.  Sadly, we have a generation of children who were/are being raised to think more of themselves than of others.  This breaks my heart because I know it breaks God’s heart.  Not only do many fail to be grateful for what God has done, many fail to acknowledge his existence at all, passing Christianity/the Word off as a myth or man-ma...
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Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 7a: Comfort in Christ

Today we will begin looking at Psalm 23:4b as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:4b, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  The rod and staff are symbols of the shepherd’s office.  With them he comforts the sheep.  His word and Spirit shall comfort them-his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Lev. 27:3), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. i. Today we will focus on the shepherd’s rod.   The Rod (The Word- Jesus) The shepherd’s rod served four purposes: protection, discipline, guidance, and counting. First, the shepherd’s rod was used protection. Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:3-4, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violen...
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Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 6: No Fear in Christ

Today we will be looking at Psalm 23:4a as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:4a, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (ESV) In Psalm 23:4, David might be talking about the moments before a believer leaves this life and is promoted to Heaven, or he may be talking about the “death grip” of fear that the enemy tries to attach to every believer as we walk through this life.   Looking at Psalm 23:4 from the vantage point of a saint headed to his/her heavenly reward,  Charles Spurgeon describes it well, "Yea, though I walk," as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stand s...
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Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 5b: Walking in Paths of Righteousness in Christ

As we continue our study on intimacy with Christ, we will look again at Psalm 23:3b.  Psalm 23:3b, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (MEV) In Christ we walk in paths of righteousness by knowing the Word, abiding in Christ, and renewing my mind. Last week we covered knowing the Word and abiding in Christ.   Today we will wrap up this lesson by discussing renewing our minds.   Finally, by renewing my mind. Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) Webster 1828 dictionary defines renew as: To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair.  We live in a fallen world surrounded by sin and depravity.  As Christians it is extremely important that we daily renew our minds in the Word.  The adage “One bad apple sp...
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