Be Still
Title: “Be Still”
Text: Psalm 46
Outline:
How priorities can change.
The busyness of life: “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”
A photographer was snapping pictures of first graders at an elementary school, making small talk to put his subjects at ease.
"What are you going to be when you grow up?" he asked one little girl.
"Tired," she said.
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Two ministerial students from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, were doing summer evangelistic work in a rural area near Montgomery. One hot day they stopped their car in front of a farmhouse and proceeded up the path through a gauntlet of screaming children and barking dogs. When they knocked on the screen door, the woman of the house stopped her scrubbing over a tub and washboard, brushed back her hair, wiped perspiration from her brow, and asked them what they wanted.
"We would like to tell you how to obtain eternal life," one student answered.
The tired homemaker hesitated for a moment and then replied, "Thank you, but I don't believe I could stand it."
33% of Americans says they are too busy.
60% of Americans say it is often, or always true that busyness of life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God.
65% of pastors were most likely to say they rush from task to task which adversely affects their relationship with God.
Psalm 46
When do you think life will slow down?
Wind – earthquake – fire
God is found in the whisper (1 Kings 19:9-13).
Can we slow down? GREG STORY God commands us… “Be still”
I. Be Still – God is our Help. (cf. 1-3)
a. Life does not consist of the abundance of our riches.
“A good lesson from a bad example” – Haddon Robinson (Luke 12:13-21)
1 Timothy 6:17
17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.(ESV)
b. Flypaper and the fly
c. Dan Crawford on the way back to US from his missionary journey in Africa. Four men travel with him. Lights no flame, wagons no animals, food not spoiling. Mr. Crawford, “To be better off is not to be better.”
d. Be still, God is our help.
II. Be Still – God is our Hope. (cf. 4-7)
a. Life does not consist of our control of tomorrow. Planners & Daytimers, constantly on the move as if the more we get done the more fruitful life will be. The more uncertain and difficult, the busier we get.
b. A possible background of Psalm 46 is: (Sennacherib – Assyria – 185,000) Hope not in deliverance from a nation, but from the river of God.
c. Jesus’ example of what to do in uncertain times: Be still, God is our hope.
III. Be Still – God will be Exalted (cf. 8-11)
a. Life does not consist of the abundance of personal praise. The reaction of those in the presence of God is always one of self abasement. “You are worthy!” “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!” Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord when he appears in glory!
b. American Idols – money, fame, names, appearances
c. Considering the brevity of life (Psalm 73:12-25). He considered their way of life, their indulgence in personal pleasure, their relentless pursuit of power and wealth, and the heights to which they climb. David was tempted to think that maybe he was foolish to pursue the things of God. But then he went to the temple…he was still and silent before God and God revealed to him the truth of the matter. Often we strive to win people to Christ by sharing the benefits of being a believer.
d. Why does God whisper? He will not compete with anything. There is nothing that rivals him so there is no need to shout. We are to seek him.
What is the good confession? (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12-15; John 18:37; Romans 10:9)
Be still, God will be exalted.
Conclusion:
Do we live on bread alone? Not about food, but priorities. Would Jesus live his life under his own power to satisfy his own needs, or in reliance upon the Father?
“For when there is a question as to whether a man is good, one does not ask what he believes, or what he hopes, but what he loves.” – St. Augustine