We are living in the most exciting time in the history of the world. Some call it the last days, but in reality, it is the beginning of a new age! (IT IS THE KINGDOM!)-and it begins within the human heart. We are in the transition of two ages.
The word in the Greek that describes it is “The Parousia.” The Parousia is the coming of The Lord to get His Bride (but first she must be prepared). The word comes from a word that means to be present. The word means- presence, coming or arrival. The coming of the Lord or His Parousia consists of several comings which are in reality stages of a continuous process. It is the time of the Lord’s Presence.
The Parousia- (means that the manifest presence of God is available to us now). In the past people sought the Lord for years to have just one meeting with Him, where His presence was overwhelming. We are living in a time now, where we can have God meet us, if we learn how to enter the secret place.
Jesus is right now at the right hand of the Father greatly anticipating our perfection in the time and space realm; He is manifesting His presence to us through the Holy Spirit. The second coming is not just one event, but a continual process of the Lord revealing Himself to us and transforming our lives. We are living in the time when the Lord shall be glorified in His people.
As we enter into a oneness with God in our spirit, where it grows to a maturity-we can minister that oneness to others, until we all come into a oneness that the 120 had in the upper room, then the Father will have a shadow upon the earth that He can totally fill and there will be a greater outpouring of the Spirit than the first Pentecost after Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father.
When the Lord reveals Himself to a spirit totally yielded to Him that person’s soul experiences the presence of God and we understand what He has revealed to our spirit. When we are dedicated to walk in that revelation, it becomes a part of our nature (where our soul is transformed) the way we respond.
John 14:2, 3 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, (something which is occurring while the speaker is making the statement) there you may be also.
On the day of Pentecost, His Spirit was poured out, and rested upon His disciples. They were continually conscious of His Presence and submissive to it, being led by His Spirit. They walked in His authority and entered a level of spiritual life, of which they only tasted of before.
WHERE I AM-is in the present indicative tense, asserting something which is occurring while the speaker is making the statement. When Jesus said “WHERE I AM,” He was talking about the spiritual level of Life that He was walking in. He lived in the “Secret Place” of true intimacy with the Father. He lived in His Father’s heart. He lived in dual realms, a heavenly realm-where what He saw the Father do, He did on earth. What He heard the Father say in heaven, He said on the earth. This is the PLACE of perfect love, WHERE the two become one. This is why Jesus could say, He who has seen me has seen the Father.
John 19:28 after this, Jesus, knowing that ALL THINGS WERE NOW ACCOMPLISHED, said “I Thirst!”30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “IT IS FINISHED!” Math 27:50 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from TOP– (From above, the heavenly realm) to bottom (the lower realm-the natural realm) and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened.
The veil which separated us from intimacy with God was violently ripped in two, giving us access into heaven, into the Father’s heart, to partake of His nature, to begin to understand the mystery of how His Spirit comes to live inside of us.
ONE OFFERING HE PERFECTED
It is finished! Done! Complete! We are forever perfected in the eternal realm; The Father sees us perfect in Christ as we submit to the sanctifying process. Jesus is hence forth expecting, greatly anticipating our perfection in the natural realm, waiting for us to come to the Father through Him, to enter the SECRET PLACE, that He might reveal His Glory to us, so that we may be changed by it!
Heb 10:12 but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth (used of time, hence forward) expecting(continuous action, two words 1-motion out of 2-to actively receive. It means to watch for anticipating any moment to receive) till his enemies (in opposition, including that which is in our heart) be made his footstool. (1-underfoot, footstool 2-treading down, to subdue) For by one offering he hath perfected (spiritual condition brought about by the completeness of the action, which results continue to the present- to bring to completion) forever(perpetual) them that are sanctified (continuous or repeated action, to make holy).
The secret place is that place in our spirit where we have access to the heavenly realms; it is like a wormhole where we can be shot up-raptured into heaven. But it is also a place where the Spirit of God flows into us, it is called the first love gateway, where we become aware of the love of God for us that overwhelms us, but also we begin to love Him back with that very own love that flows to us through His Spirit.
Jesus prayed John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me WHERE I AM(something which is occurring now); that ( in order that, so that) they may behold (continuous or repeated action subject to a condition, the condition of being in the secret place,to view attentively, find out by seeing, to experience in the sense of partaking of it) my glory (the manifested perfection of His character, what He essentially is and does, His nature and His ability), which you have given (to impart) Me; for you loved Me before the foundation of the world.
The glory of God is essentially who He is and what He does; it is the radiance of His beauty. We experience it through the manifestation of His presence. We are not capable of experiencing the fullness of it, but what He releases to us through His presence.
When we are aware of His Presence it is transmitted (to send, pass something on, from one person to another) to us- as we behold it. Our spirit is like a sponge, it absorbs the glory of God when we are exposed to it! Our soul is like a container-it is our conscious awareness. When we are filled with the Spirit our soul is aware of God, and we receive a deposit in our spirit.
It is important when we are consciously aware of the presence of God that we honor it, cherish it, so that it can increase, our soul desperately needs the Spirit of God in it.
Our soul is directly related to a fallen body- which it is aware of, and it is also aware of our surroundings, and circumstances. Our soul needs to be trained to discern the Spirit of God and is in a constant state of change and goes through a process of restoration as it is renewed by bringing every thought into submission to God’s Spirit. It is the transformation of the soul that qualifies us for a glorified Body that is no longer subject to death.
15But even unto this day (what has happened today), when (at which time,) Moses (outward law, first five books of the Bible, commonly referred to as the Books of Moses) is read (occurring now, to read), the veil (root- to hide, to hinder the knowledge of a thing, covering) is upon their heart.
Unless the Spirit of God reveals Himself to us, opens our spiritual eyes, we cannot accurately understand the bible, it is a mystery.
16Nevertheless (but, on the contrary) when (1-of time 2-whosoever) it shall turn (two words 1-motion towards 2-to turn, it means to turn to or unto) to the Lord, the veil (cover) shall be taken away (occurring now, to lift up and take away). 17Now the Lord (master, owner) is that Spirit: and where (of place) the Spirit of the Lord is, there (the place where) is liberty (freedom, liberty from slavery or restraint).
When we become aware of the Spirit of God, in that awareness of His presence our thinking changes and we can feel His emotions.
18But we all, with open (to unveil, by drawing back a veil, to discover) face (1- towards, 2- an eye. It literally means the part around the eye, countenance, presence, person) beholding as in a glass (continuous action, to have a clear image presented, to reflect) the glory (what He essentially is and does) of the Lord, are changed (occurring now, 1- change of condition 2-to form, to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure, it is a change of life form) into the same image ( to manifest an exact image ) from glory (essence-“identifying nature-the quality or nature of God that identifies it or makes it what it is) to glory (the essence of God, we grow in his attributes), even as (exactly as) by ( the going forth from one person to another-transference ) the Spirit of the Lord.
The word changed means transformed-is metamorphoo-in the Greek-denoting 1-change of place or condition, 2-and to form. Metamorphosis is a change of life form; it is a change from death into life. It describes the amazing way in which a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. It is through transformation that we become a new creation, a new kind of life form.
Our soul goes through a death and resurrection process, where the thought energy of our former way of life dies. And we learn to live by the energy of the eternal life of God, as His Spirit works in us to desire and respond in the life flow of His Spirit in us.
THE PLACE OF MEETING
The place Jesus prepared for us is a place of intimacy, a place of liberty, the place of transformation. This is the place of MEETING. It is a spiritual experience that happens to us, when the veil is removed from our heart, and we become aware of the Lord. He opens our spiritual eyes, and we experience Him. It is in this place, that we begin to experience change, where the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, begins to work.
This is the PLACE of growth; we are caught up into the PRESENCE OF GOD! Our whole attitude and outlook changes when we become aware of His Presence. We experience Gods thoughts, feelings and desires. We are filled with His power-ability in the inner man. We are filled with His nature-His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The qualities of His nature or being are on a higher level than what we have experienced on a human level.
This is the place where we are being filled with His Spirit. This is the PLACE of rest, the PLACE Jesus prepared for us! It is a dwelling place we are called to live in!
This is the secret place where we behold His glory, and it is transferred to us through our exposure to it.
In Him we are to live and move and have our being. Until we learn how to live in the secret place, we will experience our spirit desiring one thing and our flesh another. We are up, down, in and out until we learn how to live in Him.
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place (This is the hiding place of God; it is a covering. It is the refuge of those who need help,) of the most high shall abide (to lodge, it describes the secure, peaceful rest of one living close to the Lord.) under the shadow (The shade, the Lord is portrayed as the shade, it is a symbol for protection or refuge.) of the Almighty. (The Almighty speaks of God’s promise of abundance. He has the power to fulfill His promises.)
When we are dwelling in the secret place, we are experiencing the abundant life. It is being filled with His spirit, where his Spirit has come upon us. Our spirit and our soul are filled with His Spirit. When we are dwelling in this place we have certain immunity. You can’t tempt or discourage a person who is filled with the Spirit of God.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge (A place of safety, protection, security, it is a sheltering.) and fortress; (The stronghold of the Lord, it is a place of defense, it is where the eagle’s nest, where we give no place to the enemy) My God in whom I will trust. (To be confident, that feeling of safety and security we feel by relying on Him.)
When we are in the secret place, we are dwelling in the heavenly places in Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit is manifest in our life, we experience his faith.
The place Jesus prepared for us is a secret place. It is hidden from those who do not have an intimate relationship with the Lord, to them it is but a mystery. But to those who are following on to know the Lord, it is the hiding place. It is the place where God becomes more real to us than our surroundings. It is the place of refreshing, where we receive the strength of the Lord. This is the place where God has begun to live- a place in our spirit-but He desires our whole heart, where He can dwell in our soul, in our thoughts and feelings, in the whole of our personality.
This is the place of covering, where we are cleansed of unrighteousness and sin. This is the place where our faith is strengthened-where we obtain in the Spirit, the promises of the Lord. It is as we learn to live in this place that we receive the immunities of the Lord. It is in this place that we receive the armor of the Lord, where we become invincible-where His word becomes too deep-rooted or impressed in our mind to be altered; his word is written upon our heart where it becomes established and confirmed through habit or practice. We are strengthened with His might in the inner man so that we are no longer defeated.
Psalm 27:4 One thing (Only one thing-that which comes first.) have I desired (to ask, request, to demand) of the Lord, that will I seek (the word speaks of seeking someone’s presence, to try and obtain) that I may dwell (to stay, to sit is the root idea, it speaks of a location, the word is used of marriage. “We have taken strange wives-Ezra 10:2” It is speaking about being married to the Lord as His bride. It is sitting with Him upon His throne) in the house (His tabernacle, His dwelling, His family) of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold (to see, perceive. It refers to seeing God. It speaks of prophetic vision and insight.) The beauty (speaks of the splendor of the Lord, the sense of approval, or to delight in.) of the Lord, and to inquire (It means to seek, to look for, to consider, investigating. It describes the process the priest goes through to see whether someone is unclean.) In his temple (The word derives from a word, meaning to be able and comes from the idea of capacity.)
It is only as we truly see His Beauty that we fall in love with God, and the desire is birthed within us to become His bride, and we become willing to go through the process of purification to become one with Him in the natural realm.
One thing, it becomes our heavenly obsession, it becomes our only desire, to be consciously aware of Him continually, to develop an intimate relationship with Him in order to know Him. To behold the beauty of the Lord is to partake of the divine nature, it is to learn how God thinks and feels and what He desires. To inquire in His temple is to learn how to wait upon him- a focused listening- which increases our capacity for him.
ABIDING IN THE LORD
Once we have experienced the secret place, we never want to leave it. We experience what is called abiding in the Lord. We are receiving revelation from the Lord; we are beholding His beauty-his glory. We are experiencing his joy; it is beyond description.
For in the time of trouble (Calamity, pain, misery, failure, ultimate disaster) (The word can also describe one who is heavy of heart.) He shall hide me (speaks of God’s protection) in his pavilion: (the protective, shielding hiding place of God’s tent, meaning a cover, a place where a person can be undetected.) in the secret place of his tabernacle he shall hide me; (To shield and protect from perceived danger)
We are in the transition of the ages-as one age dies, terrible things are coming upon the earth-in which people’s hearts will fail them because of the fear they will experience, it is only in learning how to dwell in the secret place that we will have immunity.
In the time of testing and trouble, it is the place that we get the strength to endure. It is in this place that we are more aware of Him than the problem. It is the place of the Passover. In the time of tribulation, it is the only place of safety, the enemy cannot detect us.
He shall set me high (to raise, to lift up; to be exalted. It indicates that something is literally raised up high. It speaks about promotion. It describes the process of something growing. “Isa 1:2 I have nourished and brought upchildren.” upon a rock. (It refers to a large rock, a boulder. It is a symbol of stability.)
In the secret place we are lifted up above our circumstances. The word of God becomes so real to us that we are able to stand upon His promises with His faith. It is the place where the word is causing growth, and we experience transformation.
And now my head shall be lifted up (raised up, the process of growing) above (It indicates what one exercises authority over.) my enemies (the word refers to all kinds of enemies.) all around me; (It means to be present all around, on every side-our surroundings.)
The secret place is the place of submission where we are enabled to exercise His authority. It is the place where the devils have to obey us.
Therefore I will offer sacrifices (This word refers to the kind of sacrifice the one offering ate, after it was given to God.) of joy (a battle cry, a shout of joy or victory.) in His tabernacle; I will sing, (This refers to the worship established in the tabernacle of David. It includes the celebration of victory in battle.) Yes, I will sing praises (It is a verb meaning to play an instrument, to sing with musical accompaniment. It is always unto the Lord, we lift Him up! We praise Him for His attributes and His actions.) To the Lord (The name by which He revealed Himself to Moses-“I Am that I Am,” The God who manifests Himself in the present.)
It is in the secret place where we are enabled to worship the Father in spirit and truth. It is where we become God-centered, where we are no longer focused upon ourselves but upon only what He desires.
The more we grow spiritually. The closer we get to the Lord. The more we begin to desire only one thing- to know the lord and to be aware of His presence! This is the Kingdom, the Lordship of Jesus over our spirits, souls, bodies and all that we possess. It is the law of spiritual growth-the more we grow in Him- the more all we want to do is to put Him first! It is the spirit of adoption in us crying out- I want more of Him!
It is when we are in the secret place (The awareness of His Presence) that we receive the motivation to prepare ourselves for marriage. It is only as we begin to behold His beauty that we begin to have an overwhelming desire-to change! It is only as we learn the secret of beholding His beauty-that we obtain the key to overcoming what is left in our soul-flesh (the old identity)-otherwise we are going to be focused on our self-which will hinder our growth.
It is in the secret place-where the Spirit of God searches our heart-where we experience His thoughts and feelings-that we have the proper motivation and strength to lay aside-deliver over to death-the desires and affections of the flesh. Otherwise, everything we try and do, we do in ourselves. Our thoughts and feelings are on too low of a level-It is flesh trying to kill the flesh, and it usually ends in failure. It is only as we are filled with His Spirit that we change!
In the Kingdom, spiritual principles operate-one of these principles or laws is-Math 5:8 blessed are the pure (unalloyed) in heart: for they shall see God. When our spiritual eye is single-we see clearly and are filled with the Spirit. Our focus determines what we partake of-the pure in heart see-and the seeing purifies the heart. The more the heart is purified, the more we see Him. The more we see Him the more the heart is purified.
Math 6:21 for WHERE (speaking of the PLACE Jesus prepared for us) your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single(when the eye accomplishes its purpose of seeing things as they really are-in the spirit realm-without duplicity-“seeing double”-desires for other things-dulling the focus.) thy whole body shall be full of light.
It is in the secret place, that we will begin to be exalted. It is where the Spirit of God lifts us up. With the infilling of the Spirit comes an uplifting. He lifts us up upon the rock of His word-(revelation.) It is in the secret place, that we hear a word from God, upon which we stand. Hearing a living word from God uplifts us, even when He convicts us of sin. Every word we hear from God imparts His life to us.
It is in the secret place, that we see clearly. The enemy is shrunk down to his proper size-totally defeated. Our head is lifted up above our enemies. It is in the secret place-where we see prophetically. It is where we see what we are called to be. To see it, is to be enabled to enter into it. To see it is to become it!
It is in the secret place, that we partake of the Lord. When we bless the Lord we partake of that blessing-we partake of the sacrifice. The spiritual principle of, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Because in the realm of the Spirit (the kingdom). The anointing increases, as it is poured out. It is the law of sowing and reaping. The moment we sow to the Spirit we reap of the Spirit, creating a never-ending cycle. When we sow to the Spirit, we automatically reap life. Until out of our belly-(spirit)-shall flow rivers of living water-a flood! The river starts in the secret place-(the throne of God) – and flows out from there.
We are in the time when God is rebuilding the tabernacle of David. Where there will be 24-hour prayer-and worship! We worship from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. God inhabits the praises of His people-and WHERE two or more are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst. When we gather together in His name, we can fellowship together in the secret place. The fastest way to enter into the secret place is to worship the Lord with all our heart. When God manifests himself in the present-we have entered into the secret place.
THE PLOTS OF MEN
Psalm 31:20 You shall hide (to shield, to guard and protect) them in the secret place of your presence (the face of, his person, where we receive His joy and direction.) from (out of) the plots (referring to a conspiracy, plans to act against someone) of man;
The problems in the world are a result of wrong thinking-the carnal mind, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. It is in the secret place that no weapon formed against us will prosper.
You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion (a booth, used poetically to refer to the clouds, the tabernacles experience) from (out of) the strife (a quarrel or dispute, a controversy, any general state of contention between individuals, open hostility with an enemy.) of tongues.
It is only as we learn to dwell in the secret place, that we can rightly relate to other people, where the Spirit of God gives us the words to speak, and we only manifest the nature of Jesus Christ.
In the secret place we are aware of the schemes of the enemy. And the enemy cannot get to our spirit. In the secret place of His presence we are filled with His love and so aware of the Lord-every word we speak is filled with His love. It is only as we dwell in this place-that we manifest the spirit of Christ-His nature.
Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place (the secret place) you shall preserve (to guard, to keep, to observe, to preserve, and to hide. The word refers to God’s maintenance of His people. The work of God’s character reflected in us. It describes a city as guarded. A watchman. The word also refers to keeping speech under control) me from (out of) trouble ;( It is used figuratively of a person’s pain and distress; oppression, a feeling of being hemmed in, Misery.) You shall surround me (to go around, it indicates an encircling motion, to encircle or flow around about.) with songs (a song of celebration, jubilation.) of deliverance. (It describes persons who have escaped, who were spared from destruction-The remnant! Selah.
It is as we learn how to dwell in the secret place, that the atmosphere around us is charged with the presence of God, it is in this atmosphere of the Spirit that we experience the eternal life of God.
8 I will instruct (to teach, give insight, it denotes wisdom in terms of insight and comprehension, causing us to act prudently, to act with devotion.) you and teach (the word means to pour, to teach, to show. The word is used to declare a pouring out or raining down of righteousness-Hos 10:12) you in the way (meaning a path, journey. It is derived from a word meaning to walk or tread. It is the path that is traveled.) You should go ;( to go, to come, to walk-the word carries with it the basic idea of movement; the flowing of a river- it is a person who is moving-in motion.)I will guide (to advise, to counsel, to decide, to make plans or decisions for. The wonderful Counselor-Isa 9:6) you with my eye (An eye, a spring, a fountain. It refers to the source. It is the providential oversight of the Lord.)
It is as we learn how to dwell in the secret place, that we learn how to walk in the Spirit and the greater works destined for the time we are in.
It is in the secret place- (where Jesus is lord over our lives), that we experience God’s keeping power. Most of our problems are of our own making, but now the Lord is invading every area of our lives and taking over-It is the management of God.
It is the flow of Gods Spirit in our hearts-that keeps the oppression out. It is the flow of Gods Spirit out of us and around us which purifies the atmosphere-driving evil spirits out. Evil spirits cannot live in the atmosphere of worship. The Spirit of God surrounding us with songs of deliverance.
It is only as we abide in the secret place, that we are led by the Spirit. We begin to see, with Gods eyes-vision, and act accordingly. We begin to walk in the living works prepared for us to walk in. When we act with devotion, God over-rules everything that happens to us and causes it to turn out for our good.
It is only as we are in motion, that we will experience God’s guidance. God cannot steer a parked car. A walk with God is a flow of His Spirit. And it is in the flow-WHERE-we experience God’s mind-His thoughts directing us.
He will guide us with His eye. Our spirit is the candle (lamp) of the Lord. It is out of our spirit that the light of God shines. As we learn to abide in the secret place, building ourselves up in the Lord. A fountain of revelation begins to spring forth-we begin to be led-driven of the Lord!