Be Still And Know...

Be still and know…

10/17/01

Purpose: To convince a troubled audience that there is only one place in which we can find peace right now. Conclude with an invitation to God’s refuge and river.

Text:Ps 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has made desolations in the earth. (SLIDE) 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Intro: (SLIDE)After two years of being here at (Address) and not having had to face the prospect of funerals, suddenly we’re faced with a having one 2 weeks ago, and now 3 this week alone. Two of them were very sudden. One, a murder of a 22 year old young man The other, a 70 year old mother who wasn’t known to be ill. She simply didn’t wake up Tuesday morning. And all of this occurrs to the backdrop of September 11, anthrax scares, wars, and rumors of wars.If ever there was a time of trouble, this is certainly one. Without a doubt, we are living in a time of crisis, both personally and globally.

I. Characteristics of a Crisis

A. Fear escalates. Crisis produces the fear of

potential loss.

1. Fear is not of God

a. Perfect love casts out fear.

i. We need to come into an experience of

perfect love.

· Perfect love has you in mind.

· Perfect love has the wherewithal, not

just the desire to preserve you.

Þ Even if physical death prevails,

God’s perfect love calls

it “precious” and “gain,”

not “loss.”

· Only God is capable of perfect love.

B. Crisis becomes a test of character

1. Crisis draws out the worst in people

a. Copycat syndrome rampant

b. “Retaliation” mindset can be taken out of

proper context.

i. Osama “dead or alive” mentality as

translated by young people is

dangerous when taken out of context.

· Can reinforce carnal tendencies of

"schoolyard" retribution.

2. Crisis has a way of drawing out the best in

people

a. People draw together.

i. Two are better than one.

· Demonstrated compassion lightens the

load

· Unity breeds security

Þ Nations are joining together

Þ Locally, people are taking on a

mutually supportive role.

C. Crisis is for a season – no crisis has ever

lasted forever.

1. We need to get through it, rather than settle

in it.

a. Keep a hopeful attitude that “this will

pass”

i. A fatalistic view is a faithless view

· “Without faith” we are not pleasing

to God

2. God is a very present help.(v1), the need is

in the moment.

a. God is our refuge to get through it.

b. God is our strength to get through it

II. God is our refuge in the time of crisis

A. What is a refuge?

1. A place of safety that needs to be entered

into in order to be beneficial.

a. There are two sides to a refuge, inside

and outside.

b. It doesn’t come to you, you must choose

to enter it.

c. We can choose to stay where we are.

i. “choose life”

2. There are “house rules” in the refuge of

God.

i. It’s a holy place. Expectations that the

righteous live as such.

· To live like the world and expect God’s

refuge is foolishness.

· And yet, there is abundant grace for

those who humbly recognize the absolute

need for such.

III. God is our Strength in the midst of crisis. V1

A. With His perfect love comes His “perfect”

strength.

1. Such strength comes to those who concede

weakness. (2 cor 12:9)

a. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to

me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for

My strength is made perfect in