Sermon Central
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Be Still And Know
Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Feb 20, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Even as Christians, we can find ourselves struggling against God at times. We need to stop and consider. It is far better to travel with the current than against it.
Be Still and Know
Griffith Baptist Church – 2/22/09
P.M. Service
Text: Psalm 46
Key verse: Psalms 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Premise: Even as Christians, we can find ourselves struggling against God at times. We need to stop and consider. It is far better to travel with the current than against it.
The Introduction
We live in a culture where speed is king. I find myself in a hurry even if there is no reason. People get uptight today if they miss a revolution in a revolving door. We are an uptight generation of compulsive activists. There are ten times more things to do in a day than anyone can do, and so we feel we are always behind and failing to do all that we could. All we do is respond, respond, respond to stimuli. We want peace but it just does not fit into our agenda. Peace calls for doing nothing sometimes, and we can’t handle that. Pascal the great Christian philosopher and scientist said, "Most of man’s troubles come from his inability to be still." SOURCE: Glenn Pease in THE FRUIT OF PEACE. http://www.intohisword.net/pauline/galatians13.shtml
In our key verse, God is telling us to “Cease striving and know that I am God”
What does He mean, Be still . . .; cease striving . . .
You might say, “I’m not striving with God. I love Him and I am faithful to Him.”
But we struggle with God in so many ways we don’t think about:
o When God tells us what to do and we ignore it
o When God tells us how to do something and we want to do it our way or modify it a bit
o When sin knocks on our hearts door and we answer it and invite it in
o When we try to change others in our own power and image
o When His will takes a back seat to ours.
There are four aspects of God in this Psalm we would do well to note and keep in mind to keep ourselves in sync with God and not struggling with Him.
Body
1. God Is A Protector – 1-3
A. A little boy went with his fisherman father for a first trip on a lake. Fear gripped his little heart, and he held on so tight his little knuckles were white. "Is the water over my head?" he asked. "Yes, son," said the father. "Is it over your head?" the boy asked as the land grew farther and farther away. "Yes, son, I’m afraid it is," replied the father. Tears rolled down the boy’s cheeks, and then he asked, "Is the water over God’s head?" The father grew very sympathetic and told him that it was not over God’s head! Our troubles may seem to be above our heads, but God is able to help. Gary Bowell p. 178
B. We put too much confidence in false security:
i. We feel safe in our homes – but they can be broken into
ii. We feel our money is safe – there is no adequate protection for our finances
iii. We feel that our job is secure – even the best employees are let go
iv. We feel safe with our family and friends – but even they cannot keep us safe, no matter how much they have good intentions to do so.
C. Our only hope for true security in this life is God
i. Psalms 91:1-5 – 1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
ii. He is:
a. A place of protection – refuge - 1
b. A source of power – strength – 1
c. An available rescue – present help in trouble – 1
d. A rock of courage in a dangerous world – 2-3
2. God Is A Provider – 4-5
A. Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God’s faithfulness. In his journal he wrote: Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning… He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all… Depend on it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. Our Daily Bread, May 16, 1992
