Encountering God's Glory in the Secret Place
Summary
In today's exploration of "The Secret Place: A Glorious Mystery," we delve into the profound and often paradoxical nature of God's presence. The secret place, as we have been studying, is not merely a location but a spiritual state where God's glory and mysteries are revealed. We began by revisiting the concept of the secret place as a realm initially characterized by darkness and water, elements that symbolize the unknown and the foundational aspects of creation. These elements, as seen in the scriptures, are not just physical but carry deep spiritual significance, such as in the miracles of Elijah and Jesus.
We then transitioned to understanding the secret place as a glorious mystery, where God's glory is often shrouded in darkness. This is exemplified in the encounter of Moses on the mountain, where God's presence was manifested through fire and thick darkness. This teaches us that God's glory does not always appear in expected forms; it can be found in discomfort and obscurity. The absence of a visible form of God emphasizes the importance of hearing His voice, which is a profound encounter in itself.
The sermon further highlighted the terror and awe associated with divine encounters. The presence of God can be overwhelming, yet it is in these moments that we are drawn closer to His mysteries. The narrative of Jacob was used to illustrate the relentless pursuit of God's presence, emphasizing that it is those who seek Him with desperation who truly encounter His glory.
Finally, we were encouraged to plant seeds of faith and engage in prophetic actions, symbolizing our trust in God's promises. As we align ourselves with His word, we tap into the rivers of possibilities, healing, and favor that flow from His throne. This journey through the secret place challenges us to embrace the unexpected and to find God in the midst of our trials, knowing that His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Glory in Darkness: God's presence often manifests in unexpected ways, shrouded in darkness and obscurity. This teaches us that divine encounters may not always be comfortable or visible, but they are profound and transformative. We must learn to recognize God's voice even when His form is not visible. [11:10]
2. The Power of Hearing God's Voice: In the absence of a visible form, hearing God's voice is a significant encounter. It is through His word that we receive guidance and direction, even when we do not feel His physical presence. This emphasizes the importance of valuing His word above all else. [14:06]
3. The Terror and Awe of Divine Encounters: Encounters with God's glory can be overwhelming and even terrifying. This awe-inspiring experience reminds us of the holiness and majesty of God, drawing us into a deeper reverence and pursuit of His presence. [16:55]
4. The Relentless Pursuit of God's Presence: Like Jacob, we are called to seek God with desperation and determination. It is this relentless pursuit that leads us to encounter His glory and receive His blessings, even when we feel unworthy or inadequate. [25:35]
5. Prophetic Actions and Faith: Engaging in prophetic actions and planting seeds of faith are expressions of our trust in God's promises. As we align ourselves with His word, we tap into the rivers of possibilities and favor that flow from His throne, transforming our lives and circumstances. [31:29]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[11:10] - God's Glory in Darkness
[14:06] - The Power of Hearing God's Voice
[16:55] - The Terror and Awe of Divine Encounters
[19:20] - The Relentless Pursuit of God's Presence
[25:35] - Prophetic Actions and Faith
[28:46] - The Generation of Seekers
[31:29] - Planting Seeds of Faith
[32:46] - The Power of Praise
[34:25] - Rivers of Possibilities
[42:45] - Prophetic Declarations
[43:24] - Aligning with God's Promises
[44:00] - Acting in Faith
[44:53] - The Flow of Divine Favor
[52:27] - Testimonies of God's Glory
[55:28] - Blessings and Protection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Secret Place: A Glorious Mystery
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 18:11 - "He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."
2. Deuteronomy 4:11-12 - "And you came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke unto you out of the midst of the fire: you heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only you heard a voice."
3. Genesis 1:2 - "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
Observation Questions:
1. How does Psalm 18:11 describe God's secret place, and what elements are associated with it?
2. In Deuteronomy 4:11-12, what was the nature of God's presence on the mountain, and how did the people perceive it?
3. According to Genesis 1:2, what role did darkness and water play in the creation narrative?
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the unexpected ways God's glory can manifest? [11:10]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What might the symbolism of darkness and water in God's secret place suggest about the nature of divine encounters? [11:10]
2. How does the absence of a visible form of God in Deuteronomy 4:11-12 emphasize the importance of hearing His voice?
3. In what ways does the narrative of Jacob's pursuit of God illustrate the concept of seeking God with desperation? [25:35]
4. How do prophetic actions and planting seeds of faith reflect trust in God's promises, according to the sermon? [31:29]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's presence in an unexpected way. How did it challenge your understanding of divine encounters? [11:10]
2. How can you cultivate a practice of listening for God's voice in your daily life, especially when His presence is not visibly apparent? [14:06]
3. Consider a situation where you felt overwhelmed by God's presence. How did it impact your reverence and pursuit of His glory? [16:55]
4. Like Jacob, what steps can you take to seek God with desperation and determination in your current circumstances? [25:35]
5. Identify a promise from God that you are holding onto. What prophetic actions can you take to demonstrate your faith in that promise? [31:29]
6. How can you align yourself with God's word to tap into the rivers of possibilities and favor in your life? [44:53]
7. Think of a trial you are currently facing. How can you find God in the midst of it, trusting that His word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path? [52:27]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Glory in Unexpected Places
In the journey of faith, God's presence often manifests in ways that defy our expectations. The secret place, a spiritual state rather than a physical location, is where God's glory is revealed, often shrouded in darkness and obscurity. This paradoxical nature of divine encounters teaches us that God's glory may not always be visible or comfortable, but it is profoundly transformative. The story of Moses on the mountain, where God's presence was enveloped in fire and thick darkness, exemplifies this truth. In these moments, the absence of a visible form of God emphasizes the importance of hearing His voice, which becomes a profound encounter in itself. [11:10]
"And the people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was." (Exodus 20:21, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt God's presence in an unexpected or uncomfortable situation. How did it change your understanding of His glory?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of God's Voice
In the absence of a visible form, hearing God's voice becomes a significant encounter. It is through His word that we receive guidance and direction, even when we do not feel His physical presence. This emphasizes the importance of valuing His word above all else. The secret place is where we learn to recognize and cherish God's voice, allowing it to guide us through life's uncertainties. As we listen to His voice, we are reminded that His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, providing clarity and direction in the midst of darkness. [14:06]
"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice? What steps can you take to prioritize His word in your life today?
Day 3: Awe and Reverence in Divine Encounters
Encounters with God's glory can be overwhelming and even terrifying, reminding us of His holiness and majesty. These awe-inspiring experiences draw us into a deeper reverence and pursuit of His presence. The narrative of Jacob illustrates the relentless pursuit of God's presence, emphasizing that it is those who seek Him with desperation who truly encounter His glory. In these moments of terror and awe, we are reminded of the profound mystery of God's presence and the transformative power it holds. [16:55]
"And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day." (Genesis 32:24, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt overwhelmed by God's presence. How did it change your perspective on His holiness and majesty?
Day 4: Relentless Pursuit of God's Presence
Like Jacob, we are called to seek God with desperation and determination. It is this relentless pursuit that leads us to encounter His glory and receive His blessings, even when we feel unworthy or inadequate. The secret place challenges us to embrace the unexpected and to find God in the midst of our trials. As we align ourselves with His word, we tap into the rivers of possibilities, healing, and favor that flow from His throne. This journey requires a steadfast commitment to seeking God's presence, trusting that He will reveal His glory in His perfect timing. [25:35]
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to pursue God more relentlessly? How can you take a step towards seeking Him with all your heart today?
Day 5: Faith in Action
Engaging in prophetic actions and planting seeds of faith are expressions of our trust in God's promises. As we align ourselves with His word, we tap into the rivers of possibilities and favor that flow from His throne, transforming our lives and circumstances. This journey through the secret place encourages us to act in faith, knowing that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. By embracing prophetic actions, we demonstrate our belief in God's promises and open ourselves to the transformative power of His presence. [31:29]
"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one prophetic action you can take today to demonstrate your faith in God's promises? How can this action help you align more closely with His word?
Quotes
"In the secret place and then the whole mystery of operations or how to approach the secret place as the Lord himself outlines so here we say in his glory is shrouded even in darkness in Deuteronomy 4 11 12 then you came near this is the Lord explaining to Moses an event that happened on top of the mountain he said then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain and the mountain burned with fire to the mists of heaven with darkness cloud and thick darkness and the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire of the words but saw no form you only heard a voice so in case there was any confusion in the mind of the Prophet God is explaining to him what happened there and when God is narrating a reality or something that happened he presents us as the divine account of the incident or the event so I wanted to look critically at the matter in this study here they are seen or perceiving the divine glory manifested as God's visitation to them but the way this glory appears it's it appears in forms understandable by men but not expected by men this is important the mountain is burning with fire meanwhile we went there to meet God and the fire is burning in the midst of the heaven with darkness and Cloud and thick darkness you don't expect that is where you go to meet God and the law spoke to you out of the midst of that fire encased in darkness then he said you heard the sound of the words but saw no form you only heard a voice tell them at least i walked away with a voice so i wanted to see some things i've highlighted and recently as you see i color coded to make it easier so the mountain burned with fire here they are encountering the glory of god it is also these that are later described even as the shekinah glory manifested in ways that exemplify smoke and cloud the mountain is burning with fire a burning mountain this represented that in the matter of encountering god there is the consummation of the exalted place of mystery and prayer for the mountain was the place that you would go to pray but that exalted place for prayer and encountering mysteries was on fire it's being consumed there was also absence of comfort and the expected atmosphere was also absent so there was absence of comfort and absence of expected atmosphere but god was there this means that god could be what you least expect god could be in your discomfort so" [00:03:47]
"God could be in your pain we also saw that it was cloud and thick darkness this thick dark cloud is telling us that this glory of God sometimes can appear funny for it is representative of a cloud of his glory and this glory was overshadowed by thick darkness meaning that the glory of God can appear and it is still not bright lights as you expect in the glory of God still we speak as I've highlighted in the ready so you saw no form that invisible form of God is talking of some important things the point is that there was no visible form that should describe a physical appearance nor his manifested tangible nature he said you saw no form you couldn't have made it up you can't see it so when he said no one has seen God at any time he's pointing to an important issue" [00:08:14]
"and at the red I still want you to understand therefore that I don't need to know what God is talking about I don't need to know what God is talking about necessarily see God's form in order to know that I've encountered him hearing him is good enough for me so we hear his voice God said you saw no form you only had a voice his voice could be heard clearly we could not see him but we could hear him clearly here the sound of his words were also heard so it wasn't just any sound from God or the thunder is of God but the specific worse of God to give the instructions to his people regret meaning that in God's glory even if I didn't get a feeling if I didn't get a tingling sensation if I didn't get visions a his form or nature I always get a word when I encounter my King for he has exalted this word even above his name today in the midst of the gloom when he is present may you still manage to come out with the word in your spirit in the mighty name of Jesus and because the word is everything the psalmist said your word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you we need his word in our hearts we need his words so badly that no matter what we go through even if we didn't feel that he was touching us we are privileged to come out of it with the word in our heart because by that word we are able to navigate this word is a lamp unto your feet it is a light unto your path a lamp onto your feet gives you short -term direction and then a light onto your path gives you long -term direction i may not have received the revelation of any sword but i got a word to keep me guided and keep me going for tomorrow and a word to keep me going for next year the word is enough to animate my possibilities to what i can see far i don't know how to get to that place but i got a word i thought the vision will get me there but i got a word i thought the touch will get me there but i got a word a word in my soul is good enough tell that person i am pregnant with the word" [00:11:54]
"i received it from my king i'm gonna birth a testimony because i have a word in my soul we got a word from him and what are the implications of this text that we have just interpreted the first implication is that the exalted place for prayer and divine encounter was a place of terror" [00:18:16]
"that means that in the tokens of god's glory when you encounter god and this is also scattered all across scripture when any man encountered god's glory the bible said life left them they collapsed flat on the floor and some they are fearful that they are about to die because they have encountered hey hallelujah so tell them in the presence of god there is also terror tell them there is" [00:19:00]
"obscurity was in place of a place where glory was expected meaning that the glory can appear as darkness the other thing is that there was absence of a vision of himself meaning God there was no vision of God what could be seen was only the impact of his presence so whenever there is a talk the closest anybody sees about God you see that the vision is from God but God doesn't bring himself in the vision and even if he's in the vision he just passes because there is a man meat of the vision so for instance in the book of Isaiah chapter 6 you begin to see an example of such a vision then immediately you begin to see that something is happening hit me say at that in the year that King Isaiah what died what happened I sure I saw the Lord the law I saw the law sitting white on a throne a throne hit me high and lifted die and lifted up I thought the law sitting on the throne high and lifted if falls on three and then lifted that walk all kinds of things are lifted up. Hit me. And the train of his robe. And the train of his what? Rope. Uh huh. Filled the temple. Filled the temple. Hit me. Above it stood seraphim. Proceed. Each one had six wings. Proceed. With two he covered his face. Uh huh. With two he covered his feet. Uh huh. And with two he flew. Go. And one cried to another and said. Uh huh. Holy holy is the Lord. Now something is happening I want you to see it. He has described the robe. One I saw the Lord enthroned." [00:14:39]
"why would that one not move on that matter the eye is a mystery hear the thing and righteousness so first he shall receive blessing what he shall receive blessing from the Lord two types blessing enlarged or feathered he shall receive blessing from the Lord dang and righteousness righteousness two things are happening one he receives blessing from the Lord meaning from his master it's your master that can reward you but then he says righteousness he didn't say the Lord at this time he is from the God of his salvation so right now it's not just God but descriptive God of his salvation isn't it shocking that the one who is saving me is the one who also gives me righteousness to be worthy of the salvation that he so when he said the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I then he said the Lord is the strength of my life listen to that grammar he is the strength of my life the strength of my life is not my degree it's not my job it's not my nationality it's not my color it's not what is in my bank account but God is the strength of my life can't you see my immunity is God my healing is God my longevity is God my stability is God my acceleration is God it is God in the morning it is God at noon it is God at night God was the strength of Jesus life so he is the strength for no matter where he went God was the strength of his somebody praise the name of the Lord somebody praise you are catching the reverence shout hallelujah shout hallelujah shout hallelujah shout hallelujah let's be seated the thing that he has said there is very specific there is an interchanging when you pay attention to the scripture you will know that there is a lot is happening it is my Lord who blesses me but the God of my salvation is the one who can give me righteousness I saved you I know what it means to be saved because I gave you so I gave you the capacity the manual so that you have the know -how to maintain the salvation I gave you it's like the matches rigged I was there but you surprised me you were not I was there I was waiting promised the music now the music is you are a disaster you cannot be a disaster you are undiable unstoppable you are unkillable you are undiable you are unkillable I said you are unstoppable I said you are undiable become an unstoppable stopper unconquerable conqueror in the name of Jesus I" [00:21:42]
"the generation of those of those who seek him now you will think isn't jacob the criminal isn't jacob the fugitive isn't jacob the undesired isn't jacob the fugitive isn't jacob the golfer he's not the deceiver is he not the deceiver a wrestler a slanderer his name suggested friday you had a presentation on that so you are familiar with jacob very well now this jacob how can you say holiness righteousness whose son does not and asnan has not side defeated blessings you're taking the fall then you bring jacob in the matter" [00:26:13]
"because it is the generation that by the blood led by our captain jesus entered into the peace of hell took the keys of life and came on top of the mountain and made the public display that the lord is for us who can be against us it is the generation of fierce warriors worshipers and praises this is jacob does go from the darkness into his marvelous life to proclaim them" [00:28:46]
"this is jacob the generation that seek god others thought god had been brought to them so they were chilled but we seek him this is why in the night we are praying we come back till the hand of god has come we is somebody getting it" [00:30:36]
"when people are slumbering in their bed so when they see us praying in the night they say we are out of our minds" [00:31:29]
"hallelujah sometimes the divine package for you has not yet arrived but your attitude can begin to pull some i i am talking of those who can pull tomorrow into today in the name of jesus shabbat hallelujah is" [00:19:20]
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