From the very beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed a place of peace and rest in the presence of God Almighty. God made provision for His people to come to Him and find refuge from the various attacks, traps and destructions of the enemy. He is El Shaddai, the Lord God Most High, the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
We have been considering what God has done by calling us into the fellowship of His Son. After Adam and Eve sinned, God has been calling people into fellowship. God wants us to come near to Him. He wants to have close fellowship with Him. Many people find God to be hidden, secret and unknown. For them, the Almighty God is far removed and distant. They have not found Him. Their sins have separated them from His presence and voice. He has been near, but they have not known it.
This is the way it was with Jacob. His heart was inflamed with selfish ambitions. He had stolen his brother’s birthright and was headed to Paddan Aram to find a wife. As the sun set, he took a stone and laid his head on it and made his bed.
Genesis 28:12-13 NIV He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and He said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”
Genesis 28:16-18 NIV When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!” This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
Jacob was so preoccupied with his pursuit of life that he did not know that the Lord was with him in that place. There is a secret place where we may come to know El Shaddai, the Most High God!
Several people in the Old Testament found that secret place and the treasure of dwelling in His presence.
Moses was in the desert when he happened upon a place in the presence of God. When Moses became interested in the burning bush and drew aside, he found more than an unnatural phenomenon. God prepared a place for Moses. Moses was standing on holy ground and heard God’s voice. As a result, he was called directly into God’s presence and almightiness.
Throughout the Bible, God prepared a place and a time when He called people to dwell in the fellowship of His Son. In those moments, God removed the veil of separation and revealed His glory and power. Sometimes that moment was so powerful that everyone trembled and wept in His presence. Other times, His glory transformed those who stood before Him.
Jesus demonstrated this throughout His incarnation. The Gospels describe moments in time when Jesus withdrew to be alone with God. Away from the press and distractions of life, He found a place to be alone with God. One of those times, Jesus brought Peter, James, and John aside to accompany Him up a mountain.
Matthew 17:2 NIV There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
His appearance became radiant and His clothes were as bright as the sun. His essential divine nature that had been hidden from them was disclosed. The disciples did not know how to take in the glory of God that was revealed to them.
While this was happening to Jesus, a bright cloud overshadowed them and the Father said, “This is MY beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” The light, the voice from heaven, and the glory of God was more than they could comprehend.
There are many general blessings and graces we may experience in the course of life.
We have experienced God’s blessing and grace that comes from handfuls of His favor that are given on purpose. These are God’s general blessings and grace. Almighty God drops a nugget of His glory upon us and we are awestruck. These general blessings happen in many natural ways. It can happen when we are impressed with a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or when the dew kisses the ground. We notice His power and glory in the many varied things He has created.
Above and beyond these general blessings, there are times when God calls some of us aside and reveals His glory, power, and purpose. It is in those secret places, times, and events that God reveals the awesome glory of His presence and power.
King Cyrus, the Prince of Persia was given one of these special moments when God reveals His awesome glory. Pay attention to God’s sovereign action with King Cyrus.
Isaiah 45:1-6 NIV84 This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, So that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.
150 to 200 years before Cyrus of Persia was born, God called him His shepherd and anointed one. God said He would use him to deliver His people. God reached outside of His people to achieve His purpose. He strengthened Cyrus so that people everywhere would know that there is none like the Lord God Almighty. This was a demonstration of God’s profound wisdom, power, knowledge and selection.
Reconsider now what Paul told the Church.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We have been considering the fellowship with God’s Son. Look at what God the Father did when He called us. He stepped outside of our goodness and demonstrated His grace, mercy and love. God made provision through the Son He loves to bring us into His fellowship.
Ephesians 2:13 NKJV But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
We need to take note of the awesome privilege and blessing God has given us when He called us into the fellowship of His Son.
Galatians 3:14 NIV He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
It is important for us to know that God’s promise does not diminish with time. What He has spoken, He will perform. He has prepared untapped blessings, power, and glory. There are fountains of His glory and blessings that have not been known.
God said He would bless Cyrus, so that His people would be blessed and God’s name be glorified. Cyrus did not know the Lord, but the Lord knew him. Before Cyrus was born, God determined to raise him up and bless him.
What do you propose God has prepared for us through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord? Can you imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him? Don’t diminish or neglect the potential of what God has prepared for those who love Him.
- God told Cyrus, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”
- God told Cyrus, “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.”
God has prepared something special for those who have been called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Josephus said that when Cyrus read what God had promised, he became excited at the prospect of what God would do and seized upon the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Begin searching the Scripture for what God has prepared for those who love Him. Do you see what God has prepared for His people in Christ? Take note of what God has planned for those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Has God promised some things that you have not experienced? Would you respond to God’s promise in the same way Cyrus did? The Holy Spirit is ready to administrate the unveiling of the secret riches of God’s grace, mercy, and power. From His promises, you can take hold of what God has prepared through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Start listing the things God has promised to those who walk in the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Has He promised to save you and your family? Has He promised to redeem you from destruction? Has He promised to keep you by His mighty power? Has He promised to heal and deliver?
Hebrews 10:19 says, “through His blood we have boldness to enter the Holiest Place.”
Ephesians 2:13 says, “we have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Revelation 1:5 “He loved us and washed us from our sins in His Own blood.”
