"As you devote yourself to the secret place with God, He will birth something within you that will spread, in His time, to the four corners of your sphere. It's an awesome secret: The call of God burning in your breast will be uncontainable and unstoppable as you devote yourself to the fiery passion of intimate communion with the Lover of your soul.
Deep down we know that sermons and teachings, although edifying, can never replace the carrying power we find when we sit at His feet and hear His word for ourselves." - Bob Sorge
How did Jesus start His ministry?
Jesus understood the importance of the Secret Place, as evidenced by the fact that He often withdrew to a solitary place to pray. His disciples recognized this too.
Have you ever wondered why the disciples never asked Jesus how he performed his miracles? Instead, Luke 11 tells us that their request was to learn how to pray, which speaks volumes about the importance of this spiritual discipline. If it were me, I would have been eager to learn the secrets behind the incredible things that Jesus was doing. But, the disciples understood that the source of Jesus' power was not just in His actions, but in His relationship with the Father. They recognized that if they were to have the same kind of impact in the world that Jesus had, they would need to cultivate that same kind of relationship.
The Secret Place is not just about prayer, although that is a vital component. It is about spending time alone with God, allowing Him to shape and mold us into the people that He wants us to be. It is in the Secret Place that we find the strength and courage to face the challenges that life throws our way. It is where we find comfort and solace in times of trouble, and where we find guidance and direction for our lives.
Bob Sorge, the author of "Secrets of the Secret Place," understands the power of the Secret Place. He spent years on the stage, singing out songs to Jesus, but he came to realize that his ministry was incomplete without a deep and abiding relationship with God. He has since devoted himself to the Secret Place, and in doing so, he has discovered a depth and richness to his relationship with God that he had never known before.
As Christians, we often focus on the outward expressions of our faith - going to church, volunteering, giving to charity - but we neglect the inner life of the Spirit. We forget that it is only by cultivating a deep and meaningful relationship with God that we can truly impact the world around us. The Secret Place is the key to unlocking the power of the Spirit in our lives.
In the Secret Place, we can be vulnerable with God, sharing our deepest fears and desires with Him. We can be honest about our struggles and our doubts, knowing that He will not judge us or condemn us, but will instead meet us with love and grace. It is in this place of vulnerability that we can experience true healing and transformation.
The Secret Place is not just a physical location, although it can be helpful to have a quiet, secluded place to retreat to. It is a state of mind, a posture of the heart. It is a willingness to be still and know that He is God, to quiet our racing thoughts and simply be in His presence. It is in this place of stillness that we can hear His voice most clearly.
The Secret Place is not just for pastors, but for every believer. It is not just for the spiritual elite, but for the humble and the broken. In fact, it is often the brokenness in our lives that drives us to seek the Secret Place in the first place. We realize that we cannot do life on our own, and that we need a higher power to sustain us.
In the Secret Place, we can experience the fullness of God's love and grace. We can be filled with His peace and joy, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We can find rest for our souls and strength for the journey ahead. We can be renewed and refreshed, ready to face whatever comes our way.
This discipline would change how we function as a church. If we seek God in the Secret Place Monday-Saturday, then we will be able to lay down our preferences for an hour and a half on Sunday. Once we learn to privately feed ourselves in the Bible and God's presence, Preferences, which are not necessarily bad, become less of a focus. We are no longer upset about the teaching style. We no longer care that the wprship played songs we don't know. If you are filled by God day to day you won't be looking for that filling on a Sunday. Don't get me wrong. Worshiping tpgethe on Sundays is great. But, Sunday isn't where worship starts, it's where continual worshipper continue.
At Wellspring Church we want to be those worshiping people that God uses to make history. We want to see things changed around us, fully renewed by God. Our first priority should be the Secret Place with God.
If you make history with God in private, He will make history with you in public.