Dwelling In the Secret Place by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning. This morning's scripture reading will first be from 2 Corinthians. We will be reading from the 4th chapter. In this chapter, Paul's letter to the church in Corinth is addressing misplaced zeal. We will start at verse 1.

        Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.

        Because what God has given you, this living thing dwelling inside, that's the catalyst for his ministry. When you receive something of God, you want to be. You are compelled to tell others.

        Your ideologies, thoughts, and beliefs will have you often going between your flesh and his spirit. You bounce back and forth. Weariness is a problem as well as a struggle. Weariness is a weakness in our flesh that the enemy exploits. You need to understand when and where you are weary.

        2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, nit walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

        How many of you know what craftiness is and what it looks like? People handle the word of God to build your own belief system that is counter to the fundamental principles of scripture. Why does it say, "by manifestation of the truth."? My actions and words are examples of God's truth.

        It is up to you to keep the fire burning, the spirit stirred all the time and not just during Sunday morning. How do we manifest the truth? Everyone knows lies, even denominational lies.

        3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.

        If you can't see the gospel or hear it, you are lost. You publicly announcing you're saved, yet you show no light nor bear any fruits of the spirit, the gospel is not within you.

        4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

        God came to earth in the figure of Jesus. The son of God and the son of man. Some people will be blind to the gospel unless they open their eyes and understanding. To manifest the truth, you have to know the truth.

        In just starting out and beginning this walk of faith, every person is in need of redemption.

        5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

        Put on Jesus, the image of God, rather than promoting yourself.

        6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

        7 But we have the treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

        What is this treasure within our vessel? It's the holy spirit. If you start to act more like Jesus rather than yourself, that is a sign of the manifestation. The church needs a worshipping people. The church needs some emotion and feeling.

        8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair.

        If you are troubled AND distressed, that's an indicator of an absence of the holy spirit in your life. There are struggles and real hard issues you are facing. We aren't trying to minimize everyone's individual walk.

        9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. 

        The only difference, that changes character between the bad you and the good you is humility. You cannot arrive any other way.

        10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the like also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

        If you aren't willing to kill your flesh you aren't bearing this light. You aren't his example of his life. Without the struggle, the pains, to allow, there is no Jesus within us.

        11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

        I would recommend you read and study Psalm 91 the next few days. You should think on what the psalm speaks of creating a secret place with God. "He that abideth in the shadow of the almighty." David shows his secrets in this psalm. Slowly read and study the first 6 verses and deepen your understanding. Be prepared to fail. Fear is everywhere from what you see and hear. Let's look at verse 7 of this psalm.

        7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

        If you haven't fallen or stumbled, if you haven't failed, you haven't been doing it right. Invest in the things that matter or they don't matter. You will see the fall of the wicked, but you won't be there. Let's look at verse 11.

        11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

        The angels won't prevent you from falling but are there to hear your call of distress. We will finish this message with verses 14-16 of Psalm 91.

        14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

        15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

        16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

        These are the promises for you and I at the end of this psalm. Build your faith in yourself to match that faith in your relationship with God.