COME INTO THE CHAMBER

Isaiah 26:20, 21 "Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut the doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place, to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain."

Colossians 3:3 "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Believe it or not, like it or not- there is judgment coming to the earth. We must take refuge from the coming judgment. We must enter the chamber and close the door and go into "that place" of safety.

In the nuclear age, bomb shelters were a common topic. There were no windows, provisions were set up to wait out a nuclear attack. It was a place of safety. God doesn't need a nuclear attack to bring judgment on sin. But we still need a place of safety. This "place" is not a literal, physical shelter- but a spiritual one. We must hide ourselves in God.

The ark was pitched inside and out. Noah and his family went in and God shut the door. (See Genesis 6 and 7). Noah could still hear the noise and mocking of the people outside the ark. Later he began to hear the rain falling. But he was INSIDE the ark- a place of safety- a picture of what our place of refuge is in the Lord. We may still hear the noise around us, we may hear the laughing and mocking of those around us- but we must enter into that place of safety- that place of refuge-- Jesus Christ.

Genesis 32: 24-29

Jacob wrestled with God. He got back in touch with God. He needed to get hold of God. His name was then changed.

1 Samuel 30:1-6

David was going through a great ordeal. Outside was the loss of his home and family and there were people who wanted to stone him. But David strengthened himself in the Lord.

Those dear praying saints of old would enter into a literal closet to pray and touch God. They shut out all other things around them to get in touch with God. It is true we can not stay in a literal closet praying all day long. We have responsibilities to attend to. But we must first of all be shut in with God spiritually. That means to completely surrender our lives to Him, obey Him, follow Him and live the Christian life to the fullest. This is a spiritual thing. We do, however, need to spend time in that literal closet with Him in prayer at least once a day if not several times a day- whenever we can. But we need to be in that "place" of safety-Jesus Christ. Only those who are found "in Him" will be in this place of safety. We can't wait until the last bell tolls or just before our last breath. We must do this now-- now is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Psalm 46:1,2  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea:"

Psalm 18:2 "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies."

(Taken from Pastor Keith's sermon 10/28/2012)