Psalm 46:10.
Be still, and know that I am
God; I will be exalted among
the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
WE SAW THAT THIS IS VITAL IF WE ARE GOING TO:
PRAISE AND
PRAY
IN A WAY THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
BE STILL (STOP WORRYING)
BE STILL (GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU).
BE STILL. (STOP YOUR BUSYNESS).
BE STILL, (START LISTENING).
BE STILL
STOP WORRYING.
GOD IS YOUR PROVIDER.
WE HAVE COVERED THIS RECENTLY.
WE NEED TO WEED OUT THE
CARES OF THIS LIFE.
Luke 21:34-35.
Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
CAST YOUR CARES ON THE LORD.
Philippians 4:6-8.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
BE STILL
STOP WORRYING.
GOD IS YOUR
HEALER.
Don’t let the doctor’s
diagnosis be your focus.
Luke 12:25-26.
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
STOP WORRYING.
GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.
WE ALL FACE BATTLES
(I HAVE HAD A FEW)
DAVID STEPPED UP TO FIGHT GOLIATH, SO THAT KING SAUL AND THE REST OF THE ARMY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY.
BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE FAR GREATER WHO HAS SAID, “I will fight for you”
Exodus 14:13-14.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:10-16.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!
Exodus 14:10-16.
Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
The hymn
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
and feed on His Word.
GOOD BIBLICAL ADVICE
.
I sometimes miss what my wife is saying to me. It’s not that I am intentionally blocking her out, but sometimes she speaks to me when I'm focussed on something else.
All I know is she just said something, and I missed it.
How many times has God spoken to us and we are distracted by something else?
I wonder why I don’t hear from the Shepherd anymore?
I knelt to pray, but not for long
I had too much to do
Must hurry off and get to work,
for the bills would soon be due.
And so, I said a hurried prayer
And jumped up from my knees,
My Christian duties now were done
My soul could be at ease.
All through the day I had no time
To speak a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends They’d laugh at me I feared
No time, no time,
Too much to do,
That was my constant cry.
No time to give to those in need.
At last, it was time to die.
And when before the Lord I came
I stood with down cast eyes
Within his hands he held a book
It was “the book of life”
God looked into his book and said
Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down
But never found the time.
Author unknown
GOD HAS CREATED US TO BE IN COMMUNITY
TO BE PART OF A FAMILY AND
TO HAVE REGULAR FELLOWSHIP
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS THE PERSONAL PART
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
STOP TALKING AND START LISTENING
CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND
OPEN YOUR BIBLE.
Proverbs 2:1-5.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO THOSE WHO SEEK HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS.
We saw that hearing from GOD is not just with our ears, but with our hearts
When GOD speaks our response must be prompt obedience, not just when it is convenient.
THROUGH HIS WORD.
THROUGH HIS CHURCH (LOCAL).
DEVOTIONALS.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS (MENTORS).
THROUGH HIS CHURCH (UNIVERSAL).
THROUGH SONG.
THROUGH GOOD RECOMMENDED BOOKS.
JESUS IS WAITING FOR US TO HEAR HIS VOICE
(HIS KNOCK AT THE DOOR OF OUR HEART)
Revelation 3:20.
Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.
THIS HAS AN APPLICATION TO THE CHURCH FAMILY AND TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
NOT AN APPEAL FOR A RESPONSE TO AN ALTAR CALL.
BUT A CALL FOR RELATIONSHIP.
BE STILL AND START LISTENING.
REVELATION 3:20.
JESUS WANTS A RELATIONSHIP
Many Christians have no desire for the Lord Himself,
they only want answers. solutions to their problems.
John 7:17. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
There has to first be a willingness and a desire to do God’s will before we know God’s will.
DO YOU HAVE A HUNGER FOR GOD?
Jeremiah 29:13.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Psalm 63:1-5.
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name, I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
We have a natural thirst and hunger that God used to demonstrate a spiritual truth in the desert to the Israelites. (that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God)
but Jesus made this statement.
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
1 Peter 2:2-3.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Colossians 3:16.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
DO YOU HAVE A HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD?
Luke 10:38-42.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
Luke 10:38-42.
She came to him and asked, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.
Jesus had been on the road to Jerusalem when he dropped by at the two sisters’ house. While He would’ve appreciated a meal no doubt, He was more interested in both Mary and Martha’s company and being able to share things with them. Martha instead prioritised serving over hearing.
Not long after, Martha realises that she’s doing all of the work herself and expresses her frustration. She comes to Jesus and says :“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”
Jesus replies “Martha, Martha. You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.
Spending time alone with God is an essential part of the Christian life. Time when we can rest in his presence, read his word and speak to him in prayer. However, many of us are consumed by our busy lifestyles and responsibilities. As a result, we can easily push this time to the side and give it less priority.
Does that sound like you at all?
I know it certainly describes me.
I can even get busy serving God in church, taking part in different ministries, writing these blog posts, and doing things on His behalf. Yet, despite all of that, it can still feel as if I have
not spent any quality time with Jesus.
I can neglect to listen to His voice and spend time
in His word.
This is a concern for us all as Christians, and a trap that Jesus saw we can easily fall into if we’re not careful. In Luke’s gospel, this very situation happens when He visits two of His friends, Mary and Martha, at their house.
DISTRACTIONS WILL ROB US OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD.
THEY MAY BE GOOD IMPORTANT DISTRACTIONS LIKE:
FAMILY TIME.
MINISTRY.
BUT THE LORD IS WAITING AND KNOCKING
(WE DECIDE THE PRIORITY)
IS THERE A LONGING IN YOUR HEART TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD
Psalm 42:1-3.
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so, my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
LOVE HAS TO DO WITH A LONGING.
Revelation 3:20.
Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.
THE LORD will not speak guidance and direction into our lives through a closed door like some unwanted visitor or salesman.
Are you busy with work and ministry, you have time for your favourite TV programs or gym & sport, but the Lord gets your leftovers?
Revelation 3:20 (TLB)
Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.
Isaiah 55:6.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Songs of Solomon 5:2-6.
I have taken off my robe must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet must I soil them again?
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left;
he was gone. My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
Song of Solomon 5:2-6
Notice that the Shulamite is not entirely distant or cold toward her Beloved (representative of Jesus Christ). He is, after all, her Beloved, and her heart does yearn for Him. Yet, she hesitates; the relationship contains a flaw, demonstrated by the moment of self-interest when she, awakened from her sleep (compare Matthew 25:5), must decide whether seeing Him is worth getting out of bed. She has already settled in for the night, already comfortable, so on some level His arrival is inconvenient to her.
She eventually comes to the right conclusion: Yes, it is worth the trouble to open the door for Him. However, this test reveals her heart: She loves Him, but not more than everything else. She ultimately makes the right decision, but it is not immediate because her heart still holds enough self-interest that she experiences an internal tug-of-war instead of an immediate, positive response. She has a relationship with her Beloved, but it does not mean everything to her.
OPENING THE DOOR TO JESUS
WHEN IT IS INCONVENIENT.
REMEMBER THE SHULAMITE WOMAN.
When she finally stopped making excuses and got out of bed to open the door, her beloved was no longer there.
Can you imagine your future spouse, the love of your life asking you to come and visit or telling you that they are coming to visit, and you make excuses
to put the visit off?
REMEMBER THE SHULAMITE WOMAN.
Saying
I am washing the car.
I am doing the washing.
I am mowing the lawn.
I am tired, I am going to sleep in.
Yet these and many more excuses
are used to avoid meeting with
the lover of our soul
IN PERSON OR AT CHURCH
The lord wants a deep relationship with you, but you need to “open” that door to him.
Read the Bible, spend time alone with HIM and have regular fellowship with the family He has placed you in.
Hebrews 3:7 and 15.
So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.
I would go as far as to say that today is not good enough, and that the time to open the door is right now.