The One Who Needs No Explanation: 7 Keys to the Secret Place
Dr RJ Sing, 22 min
Originally preached as “Keys to Enter the Secret Place”
Sermon outline
The secret place is where you meet the Holy Spirit every day, and when you enter it daily, with expectation, humility and honesty, He becomes involved in every part of your life.
Main text
- John 16:7
Opening
Unplanned, he calls up Brother Jay, who has known him for decades, to confirm to the church how he left his former church: Pastor Clive called him forward, prayed over him and released him to start the ministry. He says they started from ground zero and never took anyone else's sheep, then thanks the church for their messages and gifts and invites them to take cake on the way out. He says he was supernaturally called, ran from the call, and was Spirit-filled and led by the Spirit even in his secular job.
When you enter the secret place, you become involved with the Holy Spirit
Jesus said it was for our good that He went away, so the Advocate could come and guide us into all truth. When you enter the secret place you become involved with the Holy Spirit, and when you leave it He becomes involved with you. He is the easiest relationship, the only person who needs no explanation, and He is content with you despite your faults. So be easy on yourself, forgive yourself and love yourself, because you cannot share love you do not have.
Illustration: He and Pastor Zubeda sometimes hold hands and agree in prayer, but every day each closes their own door for private time with the Holy Spirit. He also prays aloud for people by name while driving whenever the Spirit lays them on his heart.
“When you enter the secret place, you become involved with the Holy Spirit. When you exit the secret place, he becomes involved with you.”
- John 16:7
- John 16:13-14
- John 14:18
- 2 Corinthians 6:16
- Romans 5:5
The blood still has power
Some teachers are labelled 'prosperity' or 'grace', but God's redemption is all-encompassing. Israel left Egypt with gold, the blood was applied to the lintels and doorposts but never the threshold so it would not be trampled, and Rahab's scarlet thread saved her household. That same blood covers you today.
Illustration: Rahab, who was 'not in a kosher business', hid the spies and was saved by hanging a scarlet thread from her window, a picture of the blood of the Lamb.
“The blood today still has power.”
- Galatians 3:13
- Exodus 12:35-36
- Exodus 12:7
- Joshua 2:18
- Revelation 12:11
1. Enter daily
The psalmist called on the Lord every day. The secret place is not an occasional visit but a daily meeting.
“So, the secret place is where you meet God every day in your life.”
- Psalm 88:9
2. Enter with expectation
Pray expecting everything you ask to be met, because God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Expect pain to leave, confusion to depart, revelation and supernatural peace, whatever the economy is saying.
“Expect supernatural peace to explode in your heart.”
- Hebrews 11:6
3. Enter before you make financial decisions
Take your financial choices into His presence first, trusting the God who supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory.
- Philippians 4:19
4. Enter confessing your weaknesses
Everyone has weak places and an Achilles heel. God does not judge you; He gives you mercy and another chance, so come expecting the Holy Spirit to make you strong where you are weak.
“God does not judge you. God gives you another chance.”
5. Enter with a broken and contrite heart
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility is not about refusing a nice car, clothes or house; it is a heart that is always thankful to a God of abundance. He urges parents to use their hands to bless their children, not to spank them.
Illustration: Joel Osteen's mother used to run along the pavement as he went to the school bus, telling him he was blessed, and today he leads a church of tens of thousands.
“Your hands are for blessing.”
- James 4:6
6. Enter when you feel forsaken and all alone
If people reject or backstab you, it is their loss; God is still with you. Stop blaming yourself, celebrate other people's blessings, and tell your story of how God brought you from nothing to something so you stay grateful.
Illustration: He once drove a VW Beetle so rusted there was a hole in the floor, and parked where he could kickstart it. When he accompanied his pastor to bless the rich members' new cars, he quietly celebrated for them and believed that one day he would drive a new car too.
“People may forsake you, but you are never alone.”
- Psalm 37:25
7. Enter when you need mercy
God is ever merciful and His mercies will always be with you. Whatever others do, leave them in God's hands, because He is your defence and your shield.
“Leave them in the hands of God. God will take care of you.”
- Psalm 37:26
Putting it into practice
- Set apart a private place and meet the Holy Spirit there every day.
- Forgive yourself and love yourself so you have love to give others.
- Take financial decisions and personal weaknesses into prayer first.
- Lay your hands on your children and grandchildren and speak a blessing over them.
- Celebrate other people's blessings instead of envying them.
Closing
He reminds the church that God's mercies will always be with them and that God is their defence and shield. He asks those who received something to stand, clap and repeat a confession after him, and ends by declaring there is no condemnation in Christ and that they are the righteousness of God.
Declarations he led
- I am not alone. God is a merciful God. He will always show me mercy.
In his words
- “When you enter the secret place, you become involved with the Holy Spirit. When you exit the secret place, he becomes involved with you.”
- “If you want to know where God lives, just shout back your address, because God lives in you.”
- “The only person who requires no explanation.”
- “If you love yourself first, then you've got love to share with others.”
- “Your hands are for blessing.”
Every scripture in this message
- John 16:7
- John 16:13-14
- John 14:18
- 2 Corinthians 6:16
- Romans 5:5
- Galatians 3:13
- Exodus 12:35-36
- Exodus 12:7
- Joshua 2:18
- Revelation 12:11
- Psalm 88:9
- Hebrews 11:6
- Philippians 4:19
- James 4:6
- Psalm 37:25
- Psalm 37:26
- Romans 8:1
- 2 Corinthians 5:21