Divine Grace & ProtectionSample

THE GREATEST SHOW OF THE AGES

Beloved, I trust that this week as you have spent time with me meditating on Psalm 91, it has encouraged and emboldened you greatly by the Spirit of the Lord.

Let’s start our final day by reading of our position in Christ, seated in the secret place.

Ephesians 2:1-4

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us SIT (dwell) together in the heavenly places IN Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might SHOW the exceeding riches of His GRACE in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by GRACE, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This passage clearly articulates exactly what Psalm 91’s prophetic imagery foretold. 

We are now hidden in Christ, seated in the Secret Place of the Most High. 

Our job is simply to ‘stay seated’ and not move out from this untouchable place. 

To abide in that place of sweet communion and to receive His loving kindness and comforting protection. As we remain in the secret place, we can walk effortlessly and without fear in the good works God has prepared for us to do. It is the place of fearless productivity. 

These two beautiful passages of scripture are linked in another glorious way in that both speak of God’s desire to SHOW off His grace to us and through us. 

Psalm 91:16 climaxes by God declaring, ‘With long life, I will satisfy you and SHOW you my Salvation’. 

Ephesians 2:7 says He seated us in Christ, ‘that in the ages to come He might SHOW the exceeding riches of His grace’.

The secret place is the place of ‘faith in grace’ not of ‘faith in works’. It is the place where we rest confident in ‘His work’ not ‘our work’, and where we remain nestled near to Jesus’ heartbeat, relying on Him entirely for everything with childlike dependency. 

Many do not like this kind of talk because they think it is some kind of cop out from doing work. It is not. I always remind people that the apostle John who called himself the beloved and who would often recline on Jesus’ chest (under his wing), was the only disciple standing at the foot of the cross. 

The rest ran away in fear for their lives. It was there he was given the job of caring for Jesus’ Mum. He was also the only disciple to witness the death of Jesus. 

Fearlessness is not found in our own claims of toughness or courage. 

Peter tried that and failed completely; he often boasted on his love for Jesus, and yet his own love was not nearly enough. 

True fearlessness is only born in the secret place, under the shadow of His wing. It is of grace alone. It is found in our absolute confidence in His love for us outside our works, NOT our love for Him or works for Him. 

John called himself ‘beloved of Jesus’ – his central identity was defined by the love of God for him. 

Peter bragged on his own love for Christ, yet Peter ran in fear while John stood unafraid. Grace is fearless. And grace is un-killable. 

John was the only one of the disciples who died of old age. The rest were killed for their faith. History tells us that they tried to boil John in oil but could not kill him. ‘With long life, I will satisfy you.‘ John alone really walked in the fullness of Psalm 91.

God wants to SHOW OFF His grace (unmerited favour) to you and through you. ‘I will SHOW you my salvation’; ‘ …in ages to come He will SHOW the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us.’

Paul bragged only on GRACE. He said, ‘I have laboured more than you all of you, yet not I but the grace of God within me.’ 

When we genuinely sit down in the place of faith in grace, not in works, our works become supercharged, and God can show off to us and through us. We can do more and yet not us but GRACE!

Oh, beloved hear the voice of Jesus calling, ‘If you sit down in me, I WILL SHOW YOU MY SALVATION! I will SHOW through you the exceeding riches of GRACE for ages to come.’

I pray that throughout the days ahead, you will not fail to sit, nestle, dwell, abide in the SECRET PLACE of the MOST HIGH.

You are deeply loved and highly favoured. 

PSALM 91 PERSONALISED
TO READ AND DECLARE ALOUD

1. I dwell in the secret place of the Most High; therefore, I abide under the shadow of God Almighty.

2. The Lord God is my refuge and my fortress; He is my God, and in Him, I do trust with all my heart.

3. He surely delivers me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

4. He covers me with His feathers, and under His wings, I take refuge. His truth is my shield and buckler.

5. I am not afraid of the terror by night nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7. A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me.

8. Only with my eyes shall I look and see the reward of the wicked.

9. Because I have made the Lord God my refuge, even the Most High my dwelling place,

10. No evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling;

11. He gives His angels charge over me; they keep me in all my ways.

12. In their hands, they lift me up, lest I strike my foot against a stone.

13. I tread upon the lion and the cobra; the young lion and the serpent I trample underfoot.

14. The Lord says to me, “Because you have set your love upon Me, therefore I will deliver you; I will set you on high because you have known My name.

15. You shall call upon Me, and I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble; I will deliver you and honour you.

16. With long life, I will satisfy and show you My salvation.”

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