Be Still to Go Forward
Notes
Transcript
Intro; We live in a fast paced world, maybe even an instant society. We want what we want without waiting.
How many of you stand in front of the microwave, impatiently waiting for 30 seconds for something to warm up?
How many get in the “HOV” lane or “Express Pass” lane when you are on interstate?
How many of you get impatient when the fast food lane is moving slow?
How many look at their watch to wonder when the preacher is going to get finished, but never question the time used for the music or announcements?
There are times in our lives we need to be expedient or in a hurry, but the success of our occasional fast paced life depends upon the consistency of our daily exercise, eating and resting.
If we are rushing all the time without the proper rest for body, soul and mind, then it will catch up with us at the most inopportune time!
Mark 14:35–38 (NKJV)
35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.
36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Tonight I want us to look at the paradox of “Be Still to Go Forward”
Text: Isa. 40:30-31
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
The context of this scripture is comfort to the nation of Israel in the power of their God. Their time of trial in captivity is almost over and God’s blessings would begin. Though it’s been a long wait [70 yrs.], if you would have rushed God you would fail. But those who have waited in the Lord will have strength going forward.
1. Learn to Be Still; 31a
1. Learn to Be Still; 31a
Wait on the Lord- practice/learn to be still
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
How is God exalted among the nations [people] and in the earth? His people, the church!
God wants us to cultivate a heart for Him so we can deal with the problems of the heart of man.
Do you realize that every problem we have in our world is a problem of the heart? Moral, economic, political, social, racial, gender, etc…
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
A divided heart is a disobedient heart that cannot exalt God among the peoples in the earth, because it will not serve God!
The French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) wrote, “All the troubles of men are caused by one single thing, which is their inability to stay quietly in a room.”
If we will not be still, we cannot hear God. If we do not hear God, we will not obey Him!
Waiting on the Lord is exchanging our weakness for His strength. To do that we have to be still long enough to hear Him!
2. Learn to Sit Still; 31b
2. Learn to Sit Still; 31b
If we are going all the time, we will eventually run down physically. If we don’t take time to spend with the Lord, grow in His grace and mature in His Word, we dry up spiritually.
How long does it take a eagle to learn how to fly? The young eagles normally branch for up to 7-10 days before fledge, exercising theirs wings and legs, taking short flights to branches in the nest tree. At ten-to-twelve weeks of age, the eaglet is physically ready to fly. Most eaglets fledge around 12 weeks.
We have to Grow in the Lord before we can Go in the Lord! Too often we get ahead of God and out of His will and we wonder where He is!
After Ruth had presented herself to Boaz on the threshing floor, her kinsman redeemer, she received a valuable piece of advice from her mother-in-law Naomi:
18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
Naomi is telling Ruth that she has done her part in this matter, now sit still and let God do His part!
We need to sit still long enough for God to do His part. While we are learning to fly God is doing other things in our life as well.
Did you know that while the young eaglet is learning to fly, he is also maturing in other skills.
Strength and Speed- the eagle is one of the strongest creatures on earth. it is able to catch and carry lambs, small deer, salmon, and small antelope. An eagle has enough strength in its claws to break the bones in a man’s forearm by merely grasping it firmly. An eagle can fly up to 50 miles per hour and when diving for prey it reaches speeds over 100 mph. It can fly as high as 15,000 feet.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Sight- the eagle has the greatest sight of any animal alive. As humans, our eyes have 200,000 visual receptors per square centimeter. An eagle by comparison, has 1.6 million receptors per square centimeter. If you and I had the eyesight of an eagle, we could read three-inch high letters on a billboard a mile away.
A eagle has two sets of eyes. Their first set is the natural eye used in rest mode. But when they take flight or during a kill or feeding their young they have a second eye that operates. It is a clear eyelid called “nictitating membranes.” It covers the natural eye to protect it’s vision allowing the eagle to see through storms and even fly directly into the sun blinding any attacking birds.
We have two sets of eyes, the natural and the spiritual. The natural eye reveals the things we see. The spiritual reveals the will of God!
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.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We need to take time to be holy, and that can only happen when we take time to sit still in the Lord.
3. Learn to Stand Still; 31c
3. Learn to Stand Still; 31c
You’ve heard the old saying, “You have to learn to crawl before you walk.” Well you actually have to learn to stand before you can walk or run.
Standing Still in the Lord is the confidence we have in Christ not to be moved by the ways of the world.
If we are to run without growing weary, and walk and not grow faint, we have to stand firm in Christ!
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
How do we do what Paul tells us to do?
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
Remember when the Israelites were standing at the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army was breathing down upon them.
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
When we stand in the Lord, we will have confidence in His ways!
Close;
Thomas A. Edison wisely said, “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.” How do you hustle and wait at the same time? You are “on the move” inwardly, learning, trusting, and growing, but waiting outwardly for God to work out His plan.
If we are to go Forward in life, we first must learn to be “Still in God”
