Living Under Divine Protection is an amazing offer that God makes to everyone. It’s a situation in which He protects us from sickness, financial shortage, depression, worry, fear and stress. Living under divine protection also insulates us from physical harm to ourselves and our family, our success and promotion at work is protected, God sends angels to guard us wherever we go. This doesn’t mean that we’ll never experience setbacks in any of these areas; what it does mean is that if we stay in the place of divine protection, we’ll push through the setbacks into victory.

Before you think that I’m just daydreaming or making this up, let me show you a passage of scripture to confirm what I’m saying. It’s Psalm 91.

Psalm 91:2-12 NLT This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. (3) For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. (4) He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. (5) Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. (6) Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. (7) Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. (8) Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. (9) If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, (10) no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. (11) For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. (12) They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.

This psalm promises divine protection from all the things that I listed earlier. And look at verse 7: ‘though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you’. Everybody at work may be getting the flu but it won’t touch you. The economy may be impacting businesses negatively but it won’t impact your business. Living under divine protection means you don’t have to be a statistical average in life.

But what qualifies us to live under divine protection? The answer is in the first verse of the psalm: Psalm 91:1 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  If we want to enjoy all of the benefits of Psalm 91 then we need to fulfil the conditions here in the first verse:

1. dwell in the secret place of the Most High,
2. abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The first speaks of God’s presence and the second speaks of God’s authority. Therefore, to live under divine protection requires us to dwell in His presence and to abide under His authority. Dwelling in God’s presence will be the topic of another series. This series will deal with abiding under God’s authority.

The thought of being under authority, causes instinctive recoil in the minds of many. For some, this may have developed as a result of negative experiences with a harsh leader or boss, while others are not accustomed to allowing someone else to have a say in how they do things. Some express sentiments such as: ‘I’ll submit to authority as long as I agree with them’. But as we shall see in this series, submission doesn’t really begin until there’s disagreement. The word submit means ‘to cease resistance or conflict’. The word implies there is at the very least a difference of opinion. What submission is there when you agree? None! Submission is only active in areas that you disagree.

An essential concept we must understand is that Kingdom authority cannot be understood with a democratic mindset. We live in a democratic society; it’s a rule of the people for the people by the people. In a democratic society, people discuss and debate, study opinions, take surveys, create alternative proposals to solve problems and then cast votes to decide which proposal should be approved.

While this may be the most effective way of governing without God, it’s not the way God’s Kingdom operates. God doesn’t query peoples’ opinions when He gives commands; He doesn’t check with us if it’s a good time to ask us to do something. He gives directives and expects us to carry them out. We do what He says because we recognize He knows more than we do, He can see what's ahead of us and He loves us infinitely more than we can comprehend.

But people move into confusion when they begin to analyse Kingdom authority with a democratic mindset. Let me give you a couple of examples of the sort of fuzzy thinking that can develop when we approach the Kingdom of God with a democratic mindset:

• ‘I don’t understand why God is against homosexual relationships. I mean if they love each other and it won’t hurt anyone else then what’s the problem? I just don’t agree with the bible on this issue.’
• ‘Why does God want to stop women from having abortions? It’s their life and so it should be their choice.’

These are issues plainly laid out in scriptures but when we think our opinion is at the same level as God’s thoughts, we’ll move into confusion and disagreement with the Lord.

God’s authority is not just evident in His direct dealings with us but also through the leaders He puts over us. This includes, the politicians, police, teachers, instructors, coaches, bosses and pastors. Living Under Divine Protection comes only when we abide under God’s authority – direct or delegated. There are many questions that arise when we begin to talk about submitting to authorities.

• Does God expect us to submit to authorities even if they're unfair?
• What about if they're corrupt?
• What if they tell us to do something that we believe is wrong?
• What if I don’t agree with my leader’s decision?
• What if they want us to sin?
• Where do we draw the line?
• Can't we all just be led by the HS?

This series will tackle all of these questions and more from a biblical standpoint. There is nothing more liberating and secure than living under God’s divine protection!

Part 1: Is it possible to live under divine protection?

Part 2: The Secret Power of Lawlessness

Part 3: The Consequences of Disobedience

Part 4: Does God Appoint Every Leader

Part 5: Honoring Leaders 1

Part 6: Honoring Leaders 2

Part 7: Handling Unfair Treatment

 Recorded at Transformers Christian Church