Sermon Tone Analysis

I’m only going to talk for a short time this morning.

I want to look at verses 2-5 and come back to verse 1.

What does the angel mix in?

Prayers of the saints.

What are they praying for?

Judgement.

There is a day when God will come and claim his glory on the earth.

And prayer is a part of that.

That’s why the early Church had a communal prayer called the maranatha prayer.

It simply meant, “Come Lord.”

Because prayer is war.

It is an effective weapon of war.

And there’s lightning, and thunder, signaling God’s approval.

But what I really want to focus on this morning is the silence in verse 1.

And I want to ask the question, “Why is there silence in heaven?”

There’s a prophet in the Old Testament, Elijah, and he has a show down with the prophets of Ba’al, and he wins, but he becomes afraid and runs into the wilderness, God says he’s going to show himself to Elijah, and there’s a huge tornado that breaks stones on the mountain, and God’s not in the Tornado.

And there’s a huge earthquake that makes the mountain tremble, but God’s not in the earthquake.

Then there’s a fire.

But God isn’t in the fire.

So back to my question: why is there silence in heaven?

In the story of Elijah, after the fire, Hebrew says there was “the sound of soft silence.”

God was there, in the sound of silence.

Sometimes, it’s easy to miss God.

To miss what God is doing.

Why is there silence?

Because, God works most powerfully in silence.

Does this silence make you uncomfortable?

Why?

Why is silence so hard for us to deal with?

Do you ever experience silence?

Do you ever experience solitude?

Do you have a smart phone?

Facebook?

A TV?

More than one TV?

Do you have the radio on all day?

At work, in the car, or at home?

Do you feel like God is distant?

Do you wish God’s voice would be louder in your life?

Is there a connection between the amount of noise in our lives and our inability to hear God?

We’re always connected.

When does it stop?

Try this:

Make yourself comfortable in your chair and begin breathing slowly as you read.

If you are not still, and you do not listen, how will Jesus give you rest?

Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking about your difficult, frustrating situations as you have spent in silence, listening to what God might have to say?

Why is talking so much easier than listening?

Even our Lord Jesus needed silence

These were regular disciplines Jesus had.

Silence.

Solitude.

When is the last time you were in a solitary place?

What is it about silence that is so difficult?

Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and keep moving than to stop, be silent, and listen?

How much noise do I voluntarily subject myself to?

Does my schedule, my time, and my life look like that of a person who wants to hear God’s voice?

Maybe the healing or guidance we need won’t be found in another conversation or counseling session, or meeting

or sermon, or book

But from simply listening for the voice of God.

Do you really believe that God’s voice is more interesting than the voices around you?

Is it possible that you have been searching for God in the winds

the earthquakes and fires,

and He is waiting to speak to you in the silence?

Pray these words to yourself:

Lord, I’m sorry I have not sought you in silence.

Forgive me for placing more importance on the large, flashy, and miraculous

than in stillness and silence.

Help me, by your power to seek you

with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Help me to meditate on your Word- to hear your voice.

Help me to seek you in stillness, and silence.

Amen.

We’re going to break this silence to sing-

-to ask God to make us into the people he’s called us to be.

But if you feel like you need to remain silent, then stay silent.

If you are bearing a burden and need rest, come and be prayed for.