Be Still

 

Scripture Text

Psalm 46:10; 2:1-12

Intro: We live in a time of chaos today. Everything seems to be totally out of control. Sin is rampant. There is deception and lies everywhere. In the media, government and in people Divisiveness rules our land right now. There is little stability in our world today as we look around us but God speaks to us from His word. Let us be encouraged by God’s word. He is our only stability no matter what! He is in control of every situation and circumstance.

I. God says in His word to “Be still.” [Ps. 46:10a] Be still means to be tranquil, silent, quiet, and at rest in your soul and mind. No matter what's going on, we should have peace. a. This is a challenge for all of us. We must work at it. There is Sickness, Political unrest, biased false news media, war, hatred and division everywhere. There is no substitute for time alone with God. We are to read His word, meditate on it and we are to pray about everything. Stillness before the Lord in quiet time allows Him to prepare us for the unexpected challenges and opportunities in life. We should focus on Him rather than trying to figure out every problem we face and wondering what will come next or grieving over past things. God says we are simply to “be still, be at peace” and acknowledge His Lordship over our lives and Surrender to His will.

II. Then God says to “know” something. Know means to recognize and discern. a. We are to know, recognize and understand that He is God and has everything under control. He has everything covered, nothing takes  Him by surprise. He's already in our future working things out on our behalf and for our good. Let there be no doubt whatsoever that He  has a perfect plan for all of us. We can put our complete trust in Him in every situation and circumstance we face. We just need to wait before God quietly and simply let Him do His work in us so He can accomplish His perfect will in our lives. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

III. God says know “I will be exalted in the earth.” [Habakkuk 2:14]    a. God will be (exalted) means raised in rank, honor, power, character, glory among all the nations of the world. God’s lofty position over all will be made known to all nations who live on the face of the earth. Habakkuk 2:14 (NKJV) For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. All the idols of the world will be burned up by God’s wrath when Jesus comes to rule and reign. All the other religions of the world that have sent many to hell by their false teachings and killing will be destroyed by the fire of God’s wrath and He will be exalted as His word proclaims. God will have His salvation proclaimed in every nation, among every people, and in every tongue. The nations abroad that do not worship Him, but worship idols, shall see that He alone is the true God, and that He is worthy of universal adoration and worship. God in all His glory will rule supreme on the earth over all through His Son Jesus Christ, the Anointed One and nothing can stop that. Psalm 2:1-6 (NLT) ¹  Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? ²  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. ³  “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” ⁴  But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. ⁵  Then in anger He rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. ⁶  For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain. b. God has declared that His Son Jesus will rule the earth and all the peoples on earth will bow before His Son Jesus Christ and confess He is Lord over all to the glory of God. Philippians 2:9-11 ⁹ God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Our Safety,sanctuary, hiding place. Selah (which means) Stop and meditate on that! We must never forget that God is on our side. We have the victory thru Jesus. Romans 8:31b If God is for us, who can be against us?                                                    Conclusion: If you have not developed the habit of a quiet time to still your mind and soul in daily prayer and bible study, why not begin now so you will draw closer to God and realize He is sovereign over you and all the earth. When you do you will have rest and peace in your mind and soul. Nothing else will do that for you!

Invitation: Do you have a relationship with this all powerful God? Have you gotten still before Jesus and confessed your sins to Him and asked Him to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over? If not now is the right time!

Spiritual Growth

INTRO: When we confessed our sins to Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive us and save us, we began a spiritual journey that will not end until we leave this earth. So many Christians never grow in their spiritual life, thereby missing out on God's best. Here are a few suggestions to help you progress on the road of spiritual growth. If you do these things you will surely grow spiritually and you will gain tremendous strides in your relationship with Jesus and as a result you will experience more of Him and His blessings in your life. God has much more for all of us Christians who grow in Him.

I. Acknowledge who you are. You are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. If you can accept this idea, it will change your attitude toward many things in your life. If you have been born again by God’s Spirit, His Spirit also lives in your physical body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

II. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Look inside you, and try to find out what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. The Holy Spirit is the power by which Christians are brought to faith, then baptized into the body of Christ and then helped to understand their walk with God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ⁹ But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

III. Make an effort to think positively. Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Your life will be guided by what you think. Always try to look at the bright side of life. Open the door for the positive and close it for the negative. The word of God is very positive! If you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately direct your mind to thinking on His word. As we read the word of God the Holy Spirit renews our mind to think as God does. Colossians 3:1-2 ¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Rom. 12:2 says, "Don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." God's word will do that!

IV. Start learning and practicing meditation on God’s word. Psalms 1:1-3 ¹ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

V. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. [Eph. 5:18] And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation or excess; but be filled with the Spirit,
Surrender to the Holy Spirit's control and live the Spirit filled life. Galatians 5:22-23] ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. By bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can live for God and be victorious in every circumstance and situation. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

VI. Thank God for everything. Thank God for everything that you have in, through and from Him. [Ephesians 1:3; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 ¹⁰ "Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. ¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. ¹² Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. ¹³ "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

Invitation: Spiritual growth begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. Do you even know Jesus? If not, now is the time to admit that you are a sinner and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and invite Him to live in your heart. Then be baptized to show the sincerity of your salvation.

If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, where are you in your relationship with Him since you have been saved? Are you growing daily in your spiritual walk with Him? WOULD YOU PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUR LIFE? 

A Full Reward

 

Intro: 2 John 1:8 warns us to, "Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward" (Amplified Bible).

There are many ways to lose your rewards. Being seduced by false teachers is one way that Christians can lose their reward at the judgment. With this in mind, John writes that the reason to guard against deceivers is our own desire not to lose our reward at the judgment seat of Christ. Another way to lose rewards is listening to what people say instead of what God says in His word. Other ways of losing your rewards is not praying or reading God's word and putting other things before God. Habitual sin will also rob us of our full reward. Jesus cautioned the church at Philadelphia to “hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (see Rev. 3:11). Every believer has the potential of a full reward or a complete loss of reward. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) ¹¹  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. The determining factor is our faithfulness to Christ. Justification is not in view here because it is not something we worked for, but something we received as a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) ⁸  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹  not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. One thing is certain, no one wants to lose their full reward! Our desire is to run our race, finish our course, and receive our full reward. Paul did exactly that: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7 NAS). We can receive our full reward just like Paul! But we must be attentive to the things that come our way just like he did. We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked or distracted by sin or the things of this world. We cannot lose what we have accomplished. We want to receive our full reward! Our first priority is to focus on the task which God has assigned to us, whatever it is. Then, we must make frequent "checks" along the way. We must be certain that we have not allowed something that is second or third in importance, to take first place in our lives. We must pay close attention to what we do in life in order to continue in the right direction. There are signs to help to gauge our progress. Should we see an unfamiliar sign on our path, something that does not point in the direction of God's will, we must stop and see if we have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. We must continually ask for God's guidance in our lives. We must obey the commandment to love God with all we are and our neighbor as ourselves. Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV) ³⁰  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. ³¹  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Invitation: If you have never received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you will not even make it to heaven, much less have a reward. To receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord simply confess your sins to Him and ask Him to for give you and save your soul from hell. Be baptized to show you are sincere. Then you too, can begin to lay up treasures and rewards in Heaven.