Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "shadow". We'll be looking at these verses from the Old Testament: Psalm 17:8 and Psalm 91:1:

Psalm 17:8 Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.  AMP

Psalm 91:1 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. AMP

"Shadow" here is the Hebrew word "tsel". The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: In a positive sense "shadow" conveys the idea of shade, protection, and defense. We can see in Psalm 91 that the conditions for being in position for this Godly protection is to "dwell" or live in the "secret place" of the Most High. I believe that this "secret place" is that place, or state, of being aware of His presence, and it comes through prayer, through praise and worship, through study and meditation of the Word, and through intimate fellowship with Him. This brings faith, trust and confidence in His ability and willingness to protect and provide. David had this confidence in Psalm 17, and he got there through obeying the Word and by calling on God. We can see this in verses 5-6:

Psalm 17:5 My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped.  6 I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. AMP

The verse in the New Testament we'll be looking at is this: Acts 5:15:

Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. KJV

This is the Greek word "skia". Vine's Expository Dictionary of the New Testament says this: a shadow caused by the interception of light, or, in other words, a natural shadow that we all cast when the light is at a certain angle. The word "overshadow" is the Greek word "episkiazo". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to throw a shadow upon, to envelop in shadow, to overshadow. The people had confidence that if they could get close enough to Peter that His shadow would touch them, then they would be healed. The power was NOT in the shadow, but within and upon Peter, because He was filled with, and anointed by, the Holy Spirit! It was the presence of God's own LIFE within Peter that healed them, when they had faith to be healed! As you and Kristine stay in the Word of God, in fellowship with Him and filled with His Spirit, YOU can count on His protection, provision and safety, AND, you will have the people YOU come in contact with begin to have faith in coming to YOU for prayer! This will give you the opportunity to show off your God to them! We are living in exciting times! Here is a new song from Hillsong United's upcoming album, Empires, called "Touch The Sky":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!