He that dwells in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps. 91:1
The Master of Prayer taught us that we should not pray to be seen and heard of men, nor should we think that God Almighty will hear us if we babble on and on. I am reminded of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, when they sought to bring fire down from heaven. The great prophet of God began to mock them and they cried aloud and cut themselves to be heard of their pagan god. But Jesus taught us to pray in a much simpler manner.
Whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. When you're praying, don't say meaningless words like the Gentiles do, for they think they'll be heard because of their wordiness. Matt 6:6-7 (ISB)
But David speaks of an ABIDING. It's not enough to go into the secret place of prayer and come out when we're done praying. We have to DWELL in the secret place. The Messiah taught us: "Abide IN Me." Not abide WITH nor visit Me, but "abide IN Me." The problem so often is people tarry until they have a sensation or a feeling, or some outward manifestation, and they leave rejoicing that they have received the Promise. But that's only scratching the surface. We must tarry UNTIL... And then it's "I in you and you in Me" - that "Abiding in Christ". In the Messiah is that secret place.
When the high priest came into the temple, he first had to wash at the laver. Then, he would come to the altar of sacrifice. Next, he would ascend the steps into the Holy place where he would come to the seven golden lampstands and finally before the alter of incense (prayer), prior to entering into the Most Holy place. Once inside the Holy of Holies, the curtain (PaRoket in Hebrew) would fall behind him, shutting out the world around him. He was in the Presence of the Almighty God. This is where we have been called spiritually, as believers in Messiah Yeshua.
Through justification we come into the outer court. Then in sanctification, we enter into the inner court or Holy Place. Then by the baptism of the Holy Ghost we come into the Holiest of Holies. Paul told the Ephesians, "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Eph 2:18). In another place, while speaking of the old order of the tabernacle and the high priest, he said, "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing..." (Heb 9:8)
But how do we get into Christ? It sounds like such a mystical thing; such a high and lofty place that only the most saintly persons would ever attain this. Yet, it's the place where He, Jesus, went to prepare for us - that where he is we may be also (John 14:3) We get into that place by the Spirit: For by One Spirit are we all baptized into one body... I Cor 12:13. The very life that was in Christ then lives in us and we in Him. This is the abiding.
When the high priest came into the temple, he first had to wash at the laver. Then, he would come to the altar of sacrifice. Next, he would ascend the steps into the Holy place where he would come to the seven golden lampstands and finally before the alter of incense (prayer), prior to entering into the Most Holy place. Once inside the Holy of Holies, the curtain (PaRoket in Hebrew) would fall behind him, shutting out the world around him. He was in the Presence of the Almighty God. This is where we have been called spiritually, as believers in Messiah Yeshua.
Through justification we come into the outer court. Then in sanctification, we enter into the inner court or Holy Place. Then by the baptism of the Holy Ghost we come into the Holiest of Holies. Paul told the Ephesians, "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Eph 2:18). In another place, while speaking of the old order of the tabernacle and the high priest, he said, "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing..." (Heb 9:8)
But how do we get into Christ? It sounds like such a mystical thing; such a high and lofty place that only the most saintly persons would ever attain this. Yet, it's the place where He, Jesus, went to prepare for us - that where he is we may be also (John 14:3) We get into that place by the Spirit: For by One Spirit are we all baptized into one body... I Cor 12:13. The very life that was in Christ then lives in us and we in Him. This is the abiding.
