Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Walking With God Into The Secret Place: Sermon By Apostle Gobanga

When Jared was 162 years old, Enoch was born. Jared lived after the birth of Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. So Jared lived 962 years, and he died. When Enoch was 65 years old, Methuselah was born. Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].

Genesis 5:18 (AMPC)

You can say the right things and do the right things and yet you do not have an experiential relationship with God. Living a perfect Christian life does not equate to relationship with God. People that seek to do and say the right things make decisions based on the circumstances not the rumination of the word of truth and the love of God. 

God is not looking for people who are perfect or those that can articulate things very well. He is looking for relationship. God did not call us to be Christians only. He called us to be friends of God. 

It is the relationship with God that will give you capacity to live the life of a believer.

There is a deeper reality beyond the veil of visibility; a reality of communion, relationship and fellowship with God. 

Love is a function of relationship. If love hasn’t been revealed to you from a divine perspective you will miss out on what love is. We cannot be effective believers if we do not have the knowledge, revelation and understanding of the love of God. We will operate under the influence of like or lust but not love.

Most people define themselves in the most inaccurate manner and end up in the wrong direction because of having fallen short of the right perception of themselves in the love of God and His truth. This definition is not based on truth but others’ opinion, for example, our pastors, or on our accomplishments or even self-defeating lies. 

We need to trust God and get our definition from Him. Even when it is beyond our own understanding.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMPC)

Direction will show up after you have the right definition of yourself.  

We live in a fallen world, and there will be pain, we need to know that God still loves us and is always with us in the midst of pain and misfortune. We therefore should trust God to use all things to work out His purpose in us. 

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. 

Romans 8:28 (AMPC)

We were created for relationship. When we are born, we are with guardians. Then we find friends, then after, life-long partners. All this is to be a reflection of the life-long relationship we are to have with God.

Eve was created to relate with Adam. This resulted from the relationship Adam had with God. It is God that perceived that Adam needed a partner. 

There is a walk one has with God that results with Him bringing you partners. There are needs that are only met in relationship. 

The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Proverbs 18:24 (AMPC)

God created man for the express intent of having a relationship with Him but He has also given us the power of choice and free will, even to decide whether we are to be in relationship with Him or not. 

When Adam fell in Eden, man has been trying to find ways and means to relate with God. This is what brought religions and cults made from human patterns not heavenly ones. Christ is the way to the Father. 

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. 

John 14:6 (AMPC)

We have not been called to be religious, which is a cogitation of man. In our world, everyone wants to be religious. God has always wanted relationship. 

Religion will not help you relate with God and is in fact the biggest roadblock to relating with God. There is no religion that has ever brought man closer to God. 

People who relate with God do so out of divine wisdom and understanding imparted by God.

God is not after you doing something and neither is He seeking more of your prayers or sacrifice but is seeking relationship. 

We are not to have a premeditated posture before God but to have a broken heart – one that knows how to seek God and is ready and willing to relate with Him. The broken and contrite spirit enables us to seek God from a place of not knowing what to do other than to seek God. 

All supplementary work (fasting, giving, prayer, etc) you engage in to add to your faith means nothing, if you don’t have relationship with God. 

My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. 

Psalm 51:17 (AMPC)

We are to be vulnerable before God and this will in turn cause us to be vulnerable with other people.
 
God chooses them that people have written off for His glory as He has seen something in them that He is interested in.

What we do should be a culmination of the real altar of your heart. If the altar of your heart is defiled then what we do is void. The altar in your heart is a much better altar than any external altar. The altar of your heart will connect with the common altar of your church. 

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 

1 John 1:9 (AMPC)

What makes our heart right and blameless is the relationship we have with God. The relationship we have with God cleanses us.

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. 

Ephesians 5:25-26 (AMPC)

David was more of a sinner than Saul, but the difference between him and Saul was that he knew how to repent. He knew how to seek after God’s own heart into the secret place. 

He was not just a king but a prophet. He had insight of the revelation the Father had with the Son and the crucifixion of Christ, because of the relationship he had with God. 

The Lord (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool. 

Psalm 110:1 (AMPC)

He knew of the crucifixion of Christ: 

They gave me also gall [poisonous and bitter] for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar (a soured wine) to drink. 

Psalm 69:21 (AMPC)

All religions are made up of works and they try to use good deeds as a form of reconciliation with God.

The more you relate with God the more you draw supernatural power. God hasn’t called us to be common but to be supernatural. When you relate with God, you cease to be earthly bound but more Heavenly bound.

And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]. 

Daniel 11:32 (AMPC)

You will find rest in relationship not outward works. There is rest in God. It is rest and relationship with God and in God that causes there to be an ebb and flow of our ministry.  

Relationship defines how we walk with God and what patterns of living we are to live specific to our individual selves. It gives us a sense of identity and opinion of ourselves. 

We should not make the mistake of trying to be like someone else. God wants to define our lifestyle based on our relationship with Him..

Relating with God and not “do’s and dont’s” will cause us to overcome issues in life. 

Bring no more offerings of vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility); [your hollow offering of] incense is an abomination to Me; the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure—[it is] iniquity and profanation, even the solemn meeting. Your New Moon festivals and your [hypocritical] appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 

Isaiah 1:13-14 (AMPC)

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell a savor or take delight in your solemn assemblies. 

Amos 5:21 (AMPC)

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? 

Micah 6:6-8 (AMPC)

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen, The people I formed for Myself, that they may set forth My praise [and they shall do it]. Yet you have not called upon Me [much less toiled for Me], O Jacob; but you have been weary of Me, O Israel! You have not brought Me your sheep and goats for burnt offerings, or honored Me with your sacrifices.

I have not required you to serve with an offering or treated you as a slave by demanding tribute or wearied you with offering incense. You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, or satiated Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have only burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]; let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right). Your first father [Jacob, in particular] sinned, and your teachers [the priests and the prophets—your mediators] transgressed against Me. And so I will profane the chief ones of the sanctuary and will deliver Jacob to the curse (the ban, a solemn anathema or excommunication) and [will subject] Israel to reproaches and reviling. 

Isaiah 43:18-28 (AMPC)

Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require. 

Psalm 40:6 (AMPC)

God is not interested in the do’s and don’ts of the Mosaic law.  Relationship with God trumps any religious rituals. We are not to extend love based on acts.

The basis and foundation of religion is guilt and it is built on fear. This causes us to work to appease God. 

Pride is the capstone of religion and the people who practise it take pride in what they have done and want to be the scale and yardstick to measure others by.

Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees about their traditions not the word of God. Religion wants people to conform to traditions; be it church traditions or other traditions. 

Religion is a spirit and it masquerades as the angel of light. It operates in the same pattern as a pyramid scheme where very few get to the top. People below fight each other. There is rife manipulation, oppression and control. The people at the top seek self-preservation.

God is not only looking for a Bride that is clinging onto to Him but He is looking for a partner who will walk with Him. He desires companionship, partnership, dialogue, mutual desire and shared dominion.

The Secret Place isn’t a destination but a place of intimacy in relationship and friendship with the Divine. It is a catalyst for everyday living. It is designed to fashion us in friendship worked on in our daily lives where there is unbroken communion.

God wants to confide things to us. Friendship means God confides in you not just about you but the Body of Christ and even the Nation.

The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.

 Psalm 25:14 (AMPC)

The Secret Place is a prophetic environment with a divine atmosphere where intimacy is multiplied and grown. We cannot localise atmosphere. It is spontaneous and not premeditated nor programmed. 

It is a place of being at home with God; it is a protected place in God. There are no angels in the Secret Place. The Holy of Holies is where the presence of God is; there no covering cherub. 

After the crucifixion, we have unlimited access to receive grace.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. 

Hebrews 4:16 (AMPC)

Your relationship with God isn’t defined by angels and no angel can come into the intimate space we have in God. No demon or circumstance can interfere with this space unless we allow it to. 

No other person has a more coveted place in God’s heart than you. No one can take your place of relationship with God.

It is a place holy people relate with God and the holy estate of God and His people. The people are holy just like God is holy.

And I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 

Exodus 29:45 (AMPC)

Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.

 Revelation 21:3 (AMPC)

And to Seth also a son was born, whom he named Enosh. At that time men began to call [upon God] by the name of the Lord. 

Genesis 4:26 (AMPC)

Enoch was the first man to uncover the true delight of walking with God. He went to and fro with God. He was continually conversing with Him, growing close with God and walked arm and arm with Him to the point that God was his very life. 

He didn’t taste death though Adam did. He had a deeper walk with God much more than Adam. 

God is looking for people who will walk with Him to and fro until they are translated out of the reach of satan. It is possible to come to the place where the devil has no access to certain places in our lives.

If we define ourselves by what we do then the enemy will have access over our lives.

And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 

Job 1:8-10 (AMPC)

For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor). 

Psalm 5:12 (AMPC)

Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed? 

Amos 3:3 (AMPC)

God loves to walk with people. The only condition is that we agree. God is looking for those with zeal and passion to walk with Him. 

Our walk with God is progressive; from glory to glory. To live in glory is a lifestyle.

God found it hard to withhold Himself from Enoch. He had no option but to translate Enoch into paradise. There are places where when we walk with God to the point where God finds it hard to withhold Himself from us as was the case with Abraham and Moses with whom He shared His secrets. 

He told Abraham of a truth of 400-year slavery. It was a secret.  

God is willing to share sensitive information with us in the secret place. He requires us to be people who walk in discretion. When God talks to us and tells us secrets, He requires us to keep it secret unless directed to speak. He wants each of us to come to a point of knowing His plans.

He speaks when we are in solitude not when we are always in motion. We must have rest in our soul.

He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 

Psalm 23:2 (AMPC)

When God translates us He will not allow us to remain in the environment of the common. A place where people cannot figure you out. It is where your spirit man is with God.

In the Secret Place, He uncovers His glory. As you read the Scriptures, He will reveal Himself to you. He will pour out the spirit of revelation, counsel and might. 

You need the seven Spirits of God to provide solutions to serve our generation.

Enoch walked with God in an environment of a wicked society. He had an ordinary life of career and family. We are not to abdicate our responsibilities in the name of walking with God. God did not save humanity so that they can abdicate their responsibilities but to occupy until He comes.

Enoch was detached from the wickedness that surrounded him. The more we walk with God the more detached we are. God wants us to be detached from the world but still remain relevant in our generation. It means we have a heavenly mind expressing our citizenship on the Earth. 

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. 

John 17:15-16 (AMPC) 

God does not work through us before we walk with Him. God working through us is a heavy responsibility. 

He does not work with strangers but with friends. We may be sons of God but that does not mean that we are friends of God. Where God has a friend, there is an acceleration of divine activity.

When we walk with God, He starts to unfold the dimensions of His Kingdom.