A Gentle Reminder’s of God’s invitation

I believe many of us have attended funeral services of our close friends, colleagues, relatives and loved ones from our own families.
The passing on of a dear one is never a pleasant thing to all of us and sometimes it brings about traumatic experiences and painful memories which are not easily forgotten.

The Bible in (Psalm 90:10 ESV) tells us that the years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.
When we are young, we don’t give much thoughts to such realities. We can be very engrossed in pursuing our education, charting our family future, marriages, personal goals, our career paths and achieving and building up our financial successes.

As we grow older and when many around us whom we know are passing on in lives, it begins to remind us that our lives can also become fragile, especially when we encounter fatal sicknesses which are inevitable in later years.

So, while still young and full of vigor, strength and vitality, it is very prudent for us to ponder the following questions:-

(1) What is the Purpose of Life?

(2) What is the meaning of Life?

(3) what is the purpose of my existence?

(4) Why are we here?

(5) What is my eternal destination when I passed on?

(6) Is there a Divine being and a Creator God?

And most importantly, why is there a God consciousness within me prompting me knowingly that there is a place called paradise (heaven) or hell?

In the Bible (Eccl 3:11), it says,

” He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put Eternity in Our hearts, except that no one can find out the Work that God does from beginning to end.”

Also in the Book of Romans (1:19-23) NKJV, the bible tells us that:

” Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the Creation of the World His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His Eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the Glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like incorruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

This message is an invitation from god to us while we are still living. He wants us discover that he is the creator god, who is the resurrection and the life ( John 11:24-25 ), and who has the power to grant repentance and forgiveness of our sins and give us the free gift of salvation.

In the New Living Translation in ( 1 Cor 15:54 ), it says ” then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this scripture will be fulfilled: ” death is swallowed up in victory.” at the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross of Calvary.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” ( Num 6:24-26 NIV)

Shalom!

“The Secret Place” of Protection

READING PASSAGE: Psalm 91:1-16 NIV

¹ “Whoever DWELLS in the SHELTER of the MOST HIGH, will REST in the SHADOW of the ALMIGHTY.

² I will say of the LORD, ” HE is my REFUGE and my FORTRESS, my GOD In whom I TRUST.

³ Surely HE will SAVE you from the FOWLER’S SNARE and from the deadly PESTILENCE.

⁴ HE will COVER you with his FEATHERS, and under HIS WINGS you will FIND REFUGE;

HIS FAITHFULNESS will be your SHIELD and RAMPART.

⁵ You will NOT FEAR the TERROR of night, nor the PESTILENCE that stalks in the DARKNESS,

⁶ nor the PLAQUE that destroys at Midday.

⁷ A THOUSAND may fall at your side, TEN THOUSANDS at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, The LORD is my REFUGE, and you make the MOST HIGH your DWELLING,

¹⁰ no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For HE will command HIS ANGELS concerning you to GUARD you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread on the Lion and the Cobra; you will trample the great Lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ Because he ” loves me,” says the LORD, ” I will RESCUE him; I will PROTECT him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call on me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.

¹⁶ With long Life I will satisfy him and show him my SALVATION.

1. The Following HEBREW WORDS describes the ” SECRET PLACE”
   

   1. MISTAR (Strong 4565) – A hiding place. Concealed from view.

   2. CETHER (Strong 5643) – covering, shelter, hiding place, secret place.

   3. SATAR – Place of Safety, shelter

   4. SAME – Learning in the Heart of God, receiving support.

   5. TAW – Understand Truth of the knowledge of God.

   6. TIKKUM – receiving Repair or restoration and Guidance through our difficulties

   7. RESH – Truth and under the shadow of God through His Spirit.

2. WHAT IS THE SECRET PLACE?
   

   1. JESUS is the Owner of the Secret place. (HE INVITES US: Rev 3:20).
      HE knocks at our hearts to come in to dine with HIM.
   2. God has an INNER CHAMBER to listen to us (Matt 6:5-6) with HIM alone. It is also the Bridal Chamber
   3. He has a pavilion to hide us, in secret in time of trouble (Psalm 27:5-7)
   4. God HIMSELF is our HIDING PLACE (Psalm 32:7).
      Our Life is HIDDEN IN CHRIST (Col 3:3).
      HE hides and protects us in the mother’s Womb in secret when HE created and formed us (Psalm 139: 13-15) verse 15 ”  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the SECRET PLACE, when I was WOVEN together in the depths of the Earth “
   5. God allows Moses to see HIS GLORY from a SECRET PLACE (a cleft in the Rock) (Ex 33:20-23).

3. GOD WANTS US TO TABERNACLE with HIM.
   The INNER SANCTUARY is the HOLY OF HOLIES where God wants us to be.  IT Is a place of Worship, Intimacy and to enjoy HIS PRESENCE forevermore.
   It is in the Inner Sanctuary, where we find PEACE, STRENGTH and VICTORY.
   HE gives us a NEW HEART of Flesh and a NEW Spirit (Eze 36:26) to be ONE in Christ in UNION with HIM.WE need to GUARD our HEARTS (Prov 4:23-27) and MINDS (Rom 12:2) from the storms of lives and contamination in our INTIMACY with Jesus IN THE INNER CHAMBER/ SANCTUARY.  Any bitterness, unforgiveness, angers, immoralities etc…. will destroy the Intimacy in the Secret place.  We will not experience the PEACE OF GOD which surpasses all understandings in our relationship with God and others. (Phil 4:4-7)

4. To GUARD the SECRET PLACE and INNER SANCTUARY Intimacy, we need to understand the ” MARY and MARTHA PRINCIPLE ” to enjoy Jesus’s presence (Luke 10:38-42).
   (verse 41- 42)
   ” Martha, Martha, the Lord answered “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, and indeed ONLY one. MARY has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”.