[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday, the 1st of February, 2015. A called Congregational meeting was held immediately after the service.]
Do you ever get to the point where you feel like you just want to run away? When there’s so much going on that you need to escape? Where you need to find some place to get away from it all, even if only for a little while?
Well, the Sons of Korah clue us in on where to find just such a place, and how to approach it. Follow along as I read the 46th Psalm…
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
--Psalm 46 (NKJV)
Let us pray... Gracious Father, we gather this morning in the name of Jesus Christ and through the intercession of Your most Holy Spirit to worship You, to exalt You above all others, and to praise You. Open our hearts to receive Your message. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
A man asked God how long a million years was to Him. God replied, “It’s just like a single second of your time, My child.” So the man asked, “What about a million dollars? What is that to You?” The Lord replied, “To Me, it’s like just a single penny.” The man gathered up his courage and asked, “Well, Lord, could I have one of Your pennies?” And God responded, “Certainly, my child! Just a second.”
[From 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, page 297, #781: “Waiting for God”.]
I thought maybe we could spend a few seconds with God this morning.
You know, from what I’ve seen so far, most of us have no problem with doing things for God. And most of us don’t have too much trouble talking to Him, whether in somewhat formal prayer or just as we go about our normal daily life. But when it comes to sitting still and listening to God, I think that might be a different story.
The Sons of Korah tell us at the start of the 46th Psalm that God is our refuge and our strength. And that we can rely on Him in times of trouble. Maybe that’s why we have no reservations about going to Him when we need something. “Lord, I really need that job – help me get it please.” “Oh Great Physician, help me over this illness.” “God, would you help me find my car keys, please?”
There is no doubt that God can do anything He wants for us – He can heal us, He can open doors for us, He can provide us with everything we need and anything we could ever desire, if He so pleases. And he is indeed our refuge – we’re told this three times, in verses 1, 7, and 11. God is our safe haven when we find ourselves under attack from Satan’s forces. Or when we just need to get away from the world for a few minutes.
But I believe verse 10 is an instruction we need to be especially careful to follow. It tells us how to approach God, how to treat Him, how to think of Him, how to respond to Him. “Be still”, God tells us through this Psalm. Be still, stay quiet, stop fidgeting and give some consideration to this all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present deity that we are asking something from. Stop for a moment and just reflect on who God is and what He means to us and to this world we inhabit.
Now the Sons of Korah are not the only ones to provide this strongly worded suggestion. King David gives similar advice. Listen to the 3rd and 4th verses of the 4th Psalm…
A man asked God how long a million years was to Him. God replied, “It’s just like a single second of your time, My child.” So the man asked, “What about a million dollars? What is that to You?” The Lord replied, “To Me, it’s like just a single penny.” The man gathered up his courage and asked, “Well, Lord, could I have one of Your pennies?” And God responded, “Certainly, my child! Just a second.”
[From 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, page 297, #781: “Waiting for God”.]
I thought maybe we could spend a few seconds with God this morning.
You know, from what I’ve seen so far, most of us have no problem with doing things for God. And most of us don’t have too much trouble talking to Him, whether in somewhat formal prayer or just as we go about our normal daily life. But when it comes to sitting still and listening to God, I think that might be a different story.
The Sons of Korah tell us at the start of the 46th Psalm that God is our refuge and our strength. And that we can rely on Him in times of trouble. Maybe that’s why we have no reservations about going to Him when we need something. “Lord, I really need that job – help me get it please.” “Oh Great Physician, help me over this illness.” “God, would you help me find my car keys, please?”
There is no doubt that God can do anything He wants for us – He can heal us, He can open doors for us, He can provide us with everything we need and anything we could ever desire, if He so pleases. And he is indeed our refuge – we’re told this three times, in verses 1, 7, and 11. God is our safe haven when we find ourselves under attack from Satan’s forces. Or when we just need to get away from the world for a few minutes.
But I believe verse 10 is an instruction we need to be especially careful to follow. It tells us how to approach God, how to treat Him, how to think of Him, how to respond to Him. “Be still”, God tells us through this Psalm. Be still, stay quiet, stop fidgeting and give some consideration to this all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present deity that we are asking something from. Stop for a moment and just reflect on who God is and what He means to us and to this world we inhabit.
Now the Sons of Korah are not the only ones to provide this strongly worded suggestion. King David gives similar advice. Listen to the 3rd and 4th verses of the 4th Psalm…
3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
--Psalm 4:3-4 (NKJV)
If we want to be set apart for God, so that He will hear us when we call on Him, then we need to meditate within our hearts and be still! Be still and know that He is God! And please remember that everything in our Bible, though written by the hands of man, is fully inspired by God just as if He wrote the words down Himself. God is telling us to be still and to understand just what He is to us.
I’d like to read one more scriptural reference. This one from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verses 35 through 41, as Jesus and His disciples sail across the Sea of Galilee…
I’d like to read one more scriptural reference. This one from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verses 35 through 41, as Jesus and His disciples sail across the Sea of Galilee…
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
--Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)
Can’t you just imagine the scene on that boat as the storm suddenly rose to engulf them? They’re all scurrying about, trying to bring down the sails and tie things off and probably bail water out of the boat. And there’s Jesus, back at the stern, fast asleep. So they wake Him up and shout over the wind, “Doesn’t it bother You any that we’re all about to die!?!”
Jesus stands up, maybe yawns and stretches a bit, and tells the wind and the sea to be still, be at peace. Immediately the wind ceases and a great calm comes over the sea. And then the amazed disciples utter the kicker: “even the wind and the sea obey Him”.
Jesus said, “Be still”, and the wind and the raging waves listened and became still. Do we listen?
Do we even know what it means to be still anymore? The wonder of technology has brought some great time-saving devices into our lives. We have phones on our hips to make communications faster and easier, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. We have better cars and planes to get us where we’re going faster than ever. We have computers to bring us information from all over the world instantly. Microwave ovens cook our meals in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Satellite radios, 24-hour news and weather, instant-on TVs. Faster, faster. Now, now, NOW!
But what are we doing with all this time we’re supposed to be saving? We are constantly rushing around and never seem to get anywhere. No matter how hard we try or how fast we fly we just can’t get everything done that needs doing. We never seem to have enough time.
When do we stop long enough to reflect on God, to think about just who He is and how much He means to us? When do we take a little extra time to get to know Him better and build a stronger relationship with Him, to grow with Him? How many friendships never get off the ground because we don’t take enough time to establish a true relationship? How many marriages fail because one stopped walking and growing with the other? The same holds true for our relationship with God, with Jesus.
We must take the time to establish and then develop a true and lasting relationship with Him, and then grow in that relationship, learning more about Him as we go along. We need to stop rushing around for a few minutes a day and just sit there and read our Bible, to think about all the blessings God gives us, to listen for His voice in the quiet of our own thoughts.
Maybe the Amish have the right idea. With no modern devices and very few of what we might consider conveniences, they have less of the stuff in life that distracts us from getting to know God. Even their primary mode of transportation – a horse and buggy – lends itself to spending more time in contemplation of God’s goodness as it takes them longer to get anywhere and there are fewer distractions involved with the process.
I’m not saying we need to give up all our modern conveniences. Some of us would go into withdrawal without our smart phones and computers! And no one wants to take all day just to go to the grocery store. But we do need to set aside a few minutes each day to put all those distractions away and to simply be still! God is at work all around us – we just need to stop long enough to notice, to reflect on His handiwork, His marvelous creation.
As King David said, we need to set aside some time so that we can be set apart for God, so that He will hear us when we call out to Him. We can continue talking to Him – He wants us to tell Him how our day has been, how we’re doing. He wants to hear from us. But He also has things He wants to tell us. If we’re the only ones doing the talking, we’ll be missing out on half the conversation.
Stop for a while. Sit down and get comfortable. And listen for what God has to say. Be still, and know that He is God.
Amen.
Let us pray… Heavenly Father, if we would just take the time to glance at our surroundings, we would see so much of Your handiwork in this world. You bless us each and every day with glorious beauty all around us. Yet, Lord, we tend to let all the day to day craziness of our modern life distract us from spending more time with You, listening to You, getting to know You better. Forgive us, please Lord, when we just can’t seem to stop long enough to be still and think about just how much You mean to us.
Hear us now, Father, as we do pause for a moment in the stillness, as we quietly listen with our hearts for Your voice…
Help us, please Lord, to find the time each and every day to be still and listen for You in the quiet. Help us grow in our relationship with You, that we might know You better and discern Your will for us. Help us set aside time, dearest God, that You might set us apart and hear our prayers. Speak to us, Father, when we are still and quiet. In the most holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master we pray. Amen.
Jesus stands up, maybe yawns and stretches a bit, and tells the wind and the sea to be still, be at peace. Immediately the wind ceases and a great calm comes over the sea. And then the amazed disciples utter the kicker: “even the wind and the sea obey Him”.
Jesus said, “Be still”, and the wind and the raging waves listened and became still. Do we listen?
Do we even know what it means to be still anymore? The wonder of technology has brought some great time-saving devices into our lives. We have phones on our hips to make communications faster and easier, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. We have better cars and planes to get us where we’re going faster than ever. We have computers to bring us information from all over the world instantly. Microwave ovens cook our meals in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Satellite radios, 24-hour news and weather, instant-on TVs. Faster, faster. Now, now, NOW!
But what are we doing with all this time we’re supposed to be saving? We are constantly rushing around and never seem to get anywhere. No matter how hard we try or how fast we fly we just can’t get everything done that needs doing. We never seem to have enough time.
When do we stop long enough to reflect on God, to think about just who He is and how much He means to us? When do we take a little extra time to get to know Him better and build a stronger relationship with Him, to grow with Him? How many friendships never get off the ground because we don’t take enough time to establish a true relationship? How many marriages fail because one stopped walking and growing with the other? The same holds true for our relationship with God, with Jesus.
We must take the time to establish and then develop a true and lasting relationship with Him, and then grow in that relationship, learning more about Him as we go along. We need to stop rushing around for a few minutes a day and just sit there and read our Bible, to think about all the blessings God gives us, to listen for His voice in the quiet of our own thoughts.
Maybe the Amish have the right idea. With no modern devices and very few of what we might consider conveniences, they have less of the stuff in life that distracts us from getting to know God. Even their primary mode of transportation – a horse and buggy – lends itself to spending more time in contemplation of God’s goodness as it takes them longer to get anywhere and there are fewer distractions involved with the process.
I’m not saying we need to give up all our modern conveniences. Some of us would go into withdrawal without our smart phones and computers! And no one wants to take all day just to go to the grocery store. But we do need to set aside a few minutes each day to put all those distractions away and to simply be still! God is at work all around us – we just need to stop long enough to notice, to reflect on His handiwork, His marvelous creation.
As King David said, we need to set aside some time so that we can be set apart for God, so that He will hear us when we call out to Him. We can continue talking to Him – He wants us to tell Him how our day has been, how we’re doing. He wants to hear from us. But He also has things He wants to tell us. If we’re the only ones doing the talking, we’ll be missing out on half the conversation.
Stop for a while. Sit down and get comfortable. And listen for what God has to say. Be still, and know that He is God.
Amen.
Let us pray… Heavenly Father, if we would just take the time to glance at our surroundings, we would see so much of Your handiwork in this world. You bless us each and every day with glorious beauty all around us. Yet, Lord, we tend to let all the day to day craziness of our modern life distract us from spending more time with You, listening to You, getting to know You better. Forgive us, please Lord, when we just can’t seem to stop long enough to be still and think about just how much You mean to us.
Hear us now, Father, as we do pause for a moment in the stillness, as we quietly listen with our hearts for Your voice…
Help us, please Lord, to find the time each and every day to be still and listen for You in the quiet. Help us grow in our relationship with You, that we might know You better and discern Your will for us. Help us set aside time, dearest God, that You might set us apart and hear our prayers. Speak to us, Father, when we are still and quiet. In the most holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master we pray. Amen.
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