In the past two issues of SET FREE, we’ve looked at the first eight verses of Psalm 91, seeing how we are set free from fear as we “abide under the shadow of the Almighty”, which in this New Covenant means we are “in Christ Jesus.”

Because you chose to dwell in Christ and have Him dwell in you …

…then verse ten becomes your God-ordained promise.

“No evil”, “No disaster “, “No harm” – will come on you.

How much is no?

None at all!!!

No evil, no disaster, and no harm!

Is it possible to live in this world without disaster, harm, or evil coming on you? I could ask you, “what do you think about that statement?” but it doesn’t matter what you and I think, what matters is do you believe the Word of God.

Most people interpret what the Word of God promises in the light of their or someone else’s experiences.

The first step in living the life of a believer is to be a believer.

You and I need to believe the Word of God. We need to believe that it means what it says and says what it means.

Theologians and other well-meaning people write volumes of books trying to explain away the things that have happened or not happened in their lives. When disaster falls, when harm and evil prevail, they have to explain it somehow.

“Well, God has allowed this into my life to help me develop character, to strengthen my faith.” Faith in what?

If things happen in your life that is opposite to what God has promised in His Word, then your faith isn’t being developed in His Word, is it? It’s being developed in your personal ability to endure hardship.

Who gets the glory when you, in your own strength, struggle through the problem

– you or God?

When I tell you about the hardships I’ve come victoriously through, I’m not teaching about what a staunch little trooper I am. I am teaching you how the Word of God and standing on that Word got us out of the problem – not how to endure the problem.

This statement, “There shall be no evil, no harm, no

Disaster befalls you”, is so straightforward, so unencumbered, so simple, and yet so staggering in its implication that most people will refuse to take it at face value.

They try to put a caveat on it or a footnote – something to dispel its simple yet profound implications.

“There shall be no evil, no harm, no disaster befall you”

The word: “befall”, means: happen to, or occur; come to pass. Or in the straight talk, “nothing bad will ever harm you!”

Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Now you have a choice. You can filter that through your past experiences in life and say, “well, I don’t know if that can be taken so literally,” or “I’ve had stuff hurt me in the past, so it can’t be true,” or “I’ve known wonderful people who loved God with all their hearts and harmful things happened to them.”

You can go by how others’ lives have been and your past has been, or you can say, “God said it, and I believe it.”

Then having said you believe it, to act, talk and think as you believe it from this moment forward.

“No evil shall befall you”. No harm, no disaster.
“In the Name of Jesus, I declare that from this moment on, nothing will ever harm me!”

Are you bold enough in your faith in God’s Word to say that out loud? Then do it now!

“In the Name of Jesus, I declare that from this moment on, nothing will ever harm me!”

That could be the boldest statement you’ve ever made since the day you proclaimed Jesus as your Lord. You didn’t declare war on the enemy you just declared victory over him and the fear he brings.

You declared that victory that Jesus has already won for you. You have declared yourself set free from the fear of any harm coming to you.

This is bold, joint heir, Spirit-filled, Word of God believing, devil chasing, faith proclaiming, set free, victory talk.

The second half of this verse takes this proclamation and speaks it to your house and home.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, the Children of Israel were instructed to write the scripture on their gates and doorpost and anywhere else that they would see it to remind themselves of God’s covenant promises to them.

Even today, if you go into the house of an Orthodox Jew, you will find those little holders in the doorways where they have scripture verses.

We are so fortunate in this Church Age today. We not only have the written Word of God to read whenever we want to, but we also have it IN us.

We have the Word of God written on our hearts.

That Word, in this passage, says, “neither shall any plague come nigh they dwelling”.

Some translations say it won’t come near your tent, which might be a good promise to use when you go camping.

Another translation says, “no violence will come near your home.”

There is a difference between a house and a home. A home is the people, while the house is where they live. You can’t buy a home despite what those real estate signs may say. You can buy a house, but not a home.

God’s Word is telling us that those disasters will not come near our house or our home. Domestic violence, fighting, quarreling, marital breakdowns, and financial lack – none of this shall come into your home.

It said that it wouldn’t even come near your house. Not even in the backyard!

When trees start coming down in a wind storm, when storms come, when brush fires start to spread when flood waters start to rise, sewers start to back up, when the shingles start flying off of roofs, when violence and break-ins become epidemic when pandemic flu’s and AIDS spread throughout the land.

When others at your workplace get layoff notices, when

“Devil, you are not coming to my house!”

“I am dwelling in the secret place of the Highest, I am “in Christ Jesus, I’m abiding under the shadow of the Almighty – you can’t touch my family or me.

– I have covenant promises – and I shall not be moved from them!”

No violence, no evil, no hurt, and no destruction is even coming near your house and home. That’s a covenant promise of Almighty God.

“But Ray, you don’t know what it’s like at my house. You don’t live where and how I live.” True – but the Lord does and wants to fulfill His Word and promises to you. All that you need to do is believe it!

“According to his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness”

He has promised us everything we need here and now for our spiritual life, which includes our daily life in this world.

He has “given unto us exceeding great and precious promises”.

When He has promised to you in His word that no evil shall come on you or your house and home, that to me is an “exceeding great and precious promise.”

Before you were a believer and a born-again child of God, you didn’t have these covenant promises functioning in your life. They had been bought and paid for, but you hadn’t claimed them. So you were like an alien; you had no hope and were in this world without God.

You’ve been made nigh. In the dictionary, one of the definitions for the word “nigh” is: closely allied by blood or friendship.”

We’ve been brought nigh, not to disaster, but nigh unto Jesus – we are “in Him.” We’ve been brought nigh to dwell in the secret place of the Highest because of the blood of Jesus.

Knowing this, we are SET FREE from fear. His word to you and I today is:

Have you ever felt like you were a failure in life? Have you experienced insecurity about your appearance, abilities, personality, and life? Have you ever felt unloved and worthless? “I’m not attractive,” “I can’t do all the things that those people can do.” “I’m not good enough.” “Nothing good ever happens in my life.”

If you’ve ever had thoughts or feelings like that, I want you to understand those lies from the devil truly.

He aims to get you down so you will never experience God’s best for your life. He wants to make you feel like you are not good enough, so you will start to think, “why should God want to bless me?” Why would He want to do good things for me or through me – there are much better, more talented, more gifted people that He’d rather bless.”

I want to assure you that you are valuable to God on the authority of God’s Word. You are somebody to Him. You are His prized possession.

He sent Jesus to the cross and the depths of hell to make it possible for you to be His child – to win you into His family. Today you are in His family, you are in Christ Jesus.

You are special not because of who you are, what you’ve done or what you have. You are special because you are “in Christ Jesus.”

Because you are “in Christ Jesus, ” you are a joint heir, a child of the Highest God. That’s where you are!

That is why you are God’s prized possession. You are somebody special to God. You need to know this so well within you. Not just for your own sake but also those around you.

Jesus said we are to love one another just as we love ourselves. If you don’t love yourself, how will you love somebody else?

People with low self-esteem begin to treat others with the same lack of esteem. That’s why you find a high concentration of crime and abuse in the same areas.

People who don’t like themselves, often because others told them they are worthless, treat others around them with that same lack of worth. They steal from each other, they abuse each other, and they hurt each other. Why? Because they feel that other people are just as worthless as they are.

Low self-esteem is a result of a lack of knowledge. Many Christians live way below their privileges as children of God because they don’t know that they are highly favored by God. They don’t realize who they are in Christ Jesus.

The Psalmist is saying, “Lord, You’re so magnificent and creative, why would You have anything to do with a man? Why did You create us? The word “angels” used in this verse is an unfortunate choice of the translators. The original Hebrew word is “Elohim” or “God.” The translators figured, how could we be just a little lower than God?

What they didn’t realize was that God didn’t make you be less than an angel. Angels are our servants.

Why? Because of where you are! You are IN Christ, Jesus!

Doubt and insecurity will vanish as you become more and more conscious of just how much favor and honor God has given you.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God so loves you that He is more than willing to give you all things freely.

Don’t go calling yourself stupid or a failure.

You are God’s handiwork. He made you be “in Christ Jesus”.

Hebrews 1:13-14 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make Thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they, not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Angels are our servants. We are the ones sitting next to God God never said to any of the angels, “come here and sit beside me”. But according to the Word of God, we have been raised up to be there.

We are sitting there, not because of who we are but because of where we are. We are the ones who are in Christ.

You are washed by the blood of Jesus and made a new creation in Christ Jesus. As a born-again child of God you now have the very nature of Almighty God!

When you see yourself as God sees you (“crowned with honor and glory”), you’ll expect favor and success. You’ll expect adversity to be turned into victory. You’ll expect to have authority over your circumstances.

God has given you freely all things to enjoy. You are special to Him and He loves you.

When those thoughts of condemnation come into your mind, don’t accept them, they are not from God.

You are “in Christ Jesus”, so God is not condemning you. It’s only the devil that brings that garbage your way. Don’t accept it! Instead, accept what the Word of God has revealed to you. Remember where you are

– you are “in Christ Jesus.”

You’ve been justified in the sight of God. Nothing shall separate you from His love.

You are His special delight. Don’t run yourself down – ever! Don’t talk ugly about yourself.

Ephesians 2:10 (Amp.) For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

You are that new creation. You are loved. You are highly favored of God. You are SET FREE from condemnation!