We must live in the Tabernacle which is Christ

Psalm 91:1-3

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Dwelling in the secret of the Most High under the shadow of the Almighty is a safe and marvelous place to dwell, we can dwell in a safe place where we can have sweet and beautiful communion with him. Imagine standing behind the Almighty God beneath His shadow and His towering might, it’s a safe place where you are protected and feel like you’re invincible.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."

When we dwell in the secret place of the Most High we stand in an impenetrable fortress and a protected refuge. No matter where we are or what trouble we’re in, as long as we stand in the secret place of the Most High the enemy will not be able to prevail against us, because the Lord is like a fortress that stands before us.

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High shall be delivered from the net or trap that the enemy tries to catch them in, they will be delivered from all the devices the enemy uses against them, and the weapon of the enemy shall not prosper against them.

These are amazing promises from the Almighty God, and it shows us that those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High are protected from: pestilences, the traps of the enemy, and no weapon shall prosper against them because they stand in the fortress of the Almighty God. But are there conditions to these marvelous promises? Does going to church on a Sunday and praising God with my mouth and lips guarantee these promises? Going to Church once a week does not allow you to claim these promises, as there are conditions to receive these promises, in Psalm 15 we are shown what conditions and requirements bring the promises of Psalm 91 into fruition. Psalm 15 turns the key and opens the door to the Almighty’s secret place, and without exercising and putting into action the love and pureness of Psalm 15, we will never be able to walk into the Lord’s secret tabernacle and fortress.

Psalm 15:1-2,5

1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

King David is asking the Lord, who is able to dwell in your tabernacle or secret dwelling place? King David really wants to know who can dwell in the shadow of the Almighty’s holy hill.

2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart

The Lord tells David that he who can dwell in the Lords secret place is he who: walks uprightly, works righteousness and speaks the truth from their heart, is able to abide in the secret place and tabernacle of the Lord. Jesus said that it is what that comes out of a man that defiles him, for out of the abundance of a person’s heart the mouth speaks. So to walk into the tabernacle of the Almighty you must not be defiled in your heart and words, so you need to speak the truth and have a truthful and pure heart which only Jesus Christ can give you, and you need to continue to seek Jesus to have this truthful and pure heart.

3 He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Those who put out money at usury and take advantage of people economically will not abide in the Almighty’s tabernacle. Politicians like George W Bush who take brides from oil companies in the form of lobbying, to invade countries like Iraq to plunder their oil, are not able to abide in the Lords tabernacle. Those businessmen who oppress the poor and exploit wage earners, such as those Western businessmen who import cheap slave labor made products from China, will be banished from the Lords Tabernacle and sent to Hell fire.

If you would like to dwell in the Lords tabernacle, fortress and secret place so you are protected from all things, I would like you to invite the following prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I desire to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, so I can be protected beneath the wings of the Almighty, I desire to dwell in a protected fortress in My Fathers Kingdom. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and I believe you are the son of God. Help me to obey your commandments and love others as you loved me, help me to stand up against: unjust wars, corrupt politicians and evil that abounds. Help me to take a stand for those whose wages are being exploited.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Holding on the promises of god in hard times

One of the biggest tests of faith is holding on to God's promises when going through a rough time in a Christian's life. Often Christians tend to believe that the reason for their troubling times is because of a sin or simply that "God hates them", when actually it is the furthest from the truth. One can find this through the great example of Abraham in Genesis 22: 1-24, that God's promises hold true even through times where faith might run thin. The first thing one can learn from Abraham's example is to be obedient to God even when rough events come. Often one can let circumstances rule their emotions, and the first mistake one will make is misplacing their trust in God's promises for their own feelings of fear and inadequacy. In verses two and three , the first thing that Abraham does is stay obedient to God as he prepared the next morning to go to the place God had asked him to sacrifice his son. The next lesson is that even though one might feel far away from God in troubling times that is when God is the closest. A great example is the well-known poem, Footprints in the Sand. The character in the story looks back on his life and sees only one set of foot prints in the hardest time of his life and two sets with God by his side when his life was going well. He first thought that at the hardest points in his life he was alone, but God explains in those times he was being carried just like that in Abraham's story God stayed with Abraham the entire way as God arrives on the scene to supply him with the alternate sacrifice after God sees Abraham's faithfulness. When Christians are going through hard times it is crucial to rely on the promises that God has given. Abraham relied on the promise that God gave him in Genesis 17:19, which Sarah would have a son, and that son God will establish his covenant through to everlasting generations.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we can trust our Savior and turn to him in hard times. God cares for us and he is sovereign. His Holy Word is sure and his promises are true. Take some time to ease your worries and calm your fears by meditating on these Bible verses for troubled times.


Dealing with Fear

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (NIV)


Loss of Home or Job

Psalm 27:4-5
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock. (NIV)

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (NIV)

Psalm 84:2-4
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah (NIV)

Psalm 34:7-9
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing. (NIV)
Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Dealing with Stress


Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)