The Psalmist spoke frequently about a secret place he had found in God’s presence. David found the favor of God’s presence in this secret place. It was an intimate place of protection, security and fellowship in God’s presence.
Psalm 27:5 NKJV In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
When David was considering the goodness and favor for those who trust in God, he said: Psalm 31:20 NKJV “You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence.”
In Psalms 36:7, he said, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! All humanity finds shelter under the shadow of Your wings.”
We are given additional clarity about this position in Psalms 91.
Psalm 91:1-4 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
We gain many benefits by abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.
He talks about being fearless under God’s shadow. Those who dwell in the shadow of God’s presence are delivered from the snare of the hunter and destructive plagues. They become invincible under the shadow of the Almighty. No harm shall befall those who dwell and are sheltered and safe under His wings. The fiery darts of the enemy do not reach their target. They are protected from evil and the plague under His shadow. His faithfulness is like a shield and a protective wall. God Almighty gives His angels charge to defend and preserve you when you dwell in this secret place. He says you are indestructible under the shadow of the almighty.
The benefits of dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty are profound.
One of the great illustrations of this special place of shelter and protection is witnessed in what God did with Moses and Israel as they traveled in the wilderness.
Moses recognized the power and privilege of living under the covering of His glory.
From under the canopy of God’s glory and presence, Moses led Israel out of Egypt. The glorious presence of God defined them as God’s own special treasure. The whole world came to know that they were covered and protected. They were people of the favor and presence of God. Watch how God protected and provided for them while they were under the shadow of the Almighty. They faced and conquered impossible situations under His shadow. They ate bread from heaven under His shadow. The heat of the day did not smite them and the cold of night did not chill them under His shadow. Under the shadow of God’s favor and presence they were introduced to the blessing of God’s atonement and forgiveness. Their enemies were defeated as they dwelt under His shadow.
When we get over into the New Testament, there are several testimonies of this abiding place.
The language changes in the New Testament and they become people of the Spirit of God. They are under the influence of the Holy Spirit Who has descended upon them and abides within.
Jesus was the first example of this Spirit-controlled life.
Everything He did was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.” What exactly does that mean? The Spirit of the Lord descended upon Him in the form of a dove and remained on Him. He lived with an awareness of an open heaven. Nothing could hinder His fellowship with the Father. Jesus had an experience in the Holy Spirit that opened up the glories. He remained in contact and complete surrender to the Father. He had a sensitivity to the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He constantly spoke about what was on the Father’s mind and heart. He spoke and acted as though He was in the presence of the Father.
Then He described the impact of living under the unrestrained influence of the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 4:18-19 He said, the Spirit anointed Him, “To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, and recover of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
For 3 years, Jesus lived and ministered under the unrestrained influence of the Spirit.
He demonstrated what life is like under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
During that time, He did many marvelous things.
Crowds were pressing around Him for miracles, healings and to hear the wonderful words of life. So many things happened that they all could not be recorded.
One day, a man asked Jesus to come and lay His hands on his daughter who has just died. Jesus headed down the street to follow the man, and raise his daughter, (Matthew 9:18).
As He was going, a woman who had been sick for twelve years heard that Jesus was passing by. She thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will be healed.” When she touched His garments, Jesus was immediately aware that power had gone out of Him.He turned around and said: “Who touched Me?” (Mark 5:30) She had spent all of her money to get well, and had suffered at the hands of many, but nothing had helped. All she did was touch the edge of Christ’s clothing and she was healed. When Jesus arrived at the ruler’s house, He took the little girl by the hand and life came back into her body, (Matthew 9:25).
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is a substance.
It is not a theory or a doctrine. The substance of God’s Spirit rested upon Jesus so dramatically that when she touched His garment, she was able to make a withdrawal of that anointing. Jesus had a conscious awareness of the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit that was upon Him. When the woman touched Him, Jesus recognized the flow of the Holy Spirit into the woman. When He took the little girl by the hand, life flowed into her body.
The Spirit was upon Jesus without measure.
The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that was upon Him was not diminished by her touch.
Jesus was aware of what the Holy Spirit was doing.
The Holy Spirit was communicating to Him what the Father was doing. The woman and the child were immediately made well.
John 21:25 tells us that, “Under the influence and direction of the Spirit, Jesus did so many wonderful things that the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
While teaching, Jesus said something that impacts everyone who receives the Holy Spirit.
John 14:12 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
When He said this, Jesus was referring to the impact the Holy Spirit has on the lives of those who receive Him.
There is a place of the favor of God’s presence, under the shadow of the Almighty.
Just before the Lord ascended back to the Father, He commanded them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would be poured out.
In Acts 2, they heard a sound of something coming from heaven. It sounded like a rushing mighty wind that filled the whole house where they assembled. Immediately, tongues of fire sat upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
As Jesus had promised, when the Holy Spirit came down upon them they were given new power.
The power of the Holy Spirit that rested upon them produced an unction and anointing that changed their testimony. They became living witnesses of the power of the resurrected Christ. This new life and power was evidenced in them in many ways.
One day, Peter and James were walking to the temple and saw a man that was lame from birth.
Peter told the man, “I don’t have any money, but I will give you what I have.” Peter did not say, “I am going to pray for you.” He said, “I am going to give you what I have. In the name of Jesus, rise and walk.”
Peter knew that the power of the Holy Sprit that raised Christ from the dead was moving and working inside of him.
What Peter had was enough to bring healing to that man.
Some people don’t know what God has put inside of them.
They don’t know what they have to give. Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? If you have, there is life giving power inside of you.
In Acts 19, Paul was busy making tents and ministering under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
God worked unusual miracles as he laid hands on many in Ephesus and they received the Holy Spirit, spoke with tongues, and prophesied. He continued teaching and ministering there under the power of the Spirit for two years. Many unusual miracles were done by the hands of Paul, but he was not able to go out to everyone that needed healing or deliverance. So they took his aprons and sent them to the sick, and the diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them, (Acts 19:11).
Peter was living under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Many signs and wonders were done among the people and believers were increasingly added to the Lord. The multitudes of people that needed ministry was so great that they could not lay hands on all of them. The people of the city brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. There is no substance in a shadow. What was overshadowing Peter influenced the multitudes. In Acts 5:16 it says, “They were all being healed.” It is hard to conceive the favor of God’s presence that was being manifest among them.
Whatever overshadows your life will impact those you come into contact with.
If you are overshadowed with depression, when you walk into the room people will notice your mood. If you are living under the shadow of the Almighty, those around you will notice.
What is it that influences your life?
If our life is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, His glory will flow out of us. The Holy Spirit is like a river that is flowing.
When you live with an awareness of His presence overshadowing you, other people will notice.
You can have a testimony of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in you. The Holy Spirit will testify of your salvation. He will give witness of the resurrection life that is in Christ. There will be a notable difference when the Holy Spirit rests upon you.
You can know that you are living under the shadow of the Almighty.
The benefits of this dwelling place are so great that it reaches past personal enrichment to those around you. God wants to bring you into the favor of His presence. He wants to strengthen you with His might.
