When was the last time that you just sat in the silence and waited on God? Every day we are bombarded By noise. In fact, scientists are starting to study what different types of noise do to individuals. If you were to go to my office at work and walk through the behavioral health hallway, you'll see about 5 little machines that are white noise makers that are just making noise to help drown out the sound of voices in the offices to make a more confidential space. There are studies showing that brown noise can help people with ADHD focus more. We are bombarded by noise in so many different levels. And then when we look at the universe, we see that noise is waves that we can't see, and if we increase these to the light spectrum where we can see them, we are then bombarded with. Noise and visual stimuli through tablets and phones and computers and TV's and on and on and on. Our life is a Symphony of things coming at us.
I want to read for you the preface of the book Static Jedi by Eric Tim.
“Noise. It's everywhere. Daily we are bathed in distractions. The noise intensifies. Weaving strings around us and through us until We are dancing under these powerful puppeteers.
These cords can be broken. Pull and tug while we live a pseudo-sense of control. Daily surmounting the noise is getting louder. We discover new noise, new sound.
Rather than protecting the ears of our heart, we drown in each day like the fading tides that daily. Dance with the moon. The noise becomes a deep part of our everyday cycle, our now hurried lives. Once immersed in the noise, we struggle to hear clearly.
In my travels I'm often asked, who am I supposed to be? What is God's will? When do I know where was God? Why can't I hear God? How can I ever move beyond my past on forward?
In this noise, we decide, direct, dictate and die. At one time the noise did so easily roam. Connected was a horse to a cart.
Clarity was vital to life. In any generation there was—is--A deep need for clarity, not circumstantial to surroundings, cycles, events or trends. Continually bathed in noise, we begin to unravel. Life is a dangerous place to put. Stupor about when you are a slave to the noise, stripped of the ability to hear clearly. Your daily ritual baths have left you feeling anything but clean in the mire of the noise. Your questions are breeding and birthing. More questions. Which remains unanswered. Such offsprings are like fruit spawned from the tree of noise, not born of the tree of life.
Often God speaks life in the stillness, apart from the noise. When Elijah needed to hear, God sent a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire. God wasn't in the wind, in the earthquake, or in the fire, He whispered in the stillness. Noise hides this stillness, clouds direction breathes pain, doubt, fear and confusion.
Our core cries out for God to speak, to answer. Maybe God has already said what We. We wished him to say. I wonder if it's frustrating for God to see us holding His word while we ask for answers He already gave. Are we asking for directions with the map in our hands? With different characters but the same plot. Sometimes our story has already unfolded. It's just trapped in the pages of ink and paper.
God is waiting in His Word. Our hunger for His word must outweigh the very thing that weighs us: the noise.
Our life must contain clarity where we decide, direct, dictate and live. The noise must become a slave once mastered. It is a useful tool to position your life differently. Reverse your actions. This will change you. Your life’s cyclical tides will dance not with the moon, but with the Son of God.
Do the natural, he does the Super. Embrace your freedom! Live a life of clarity. Become like the master. Master your noise. Master the static.”
With the popularity of smartphones, people have become chained to these devices. And in some ways it can be really great and in some ways it can be really detrimental. It can be one more way of noise entering into our lives. Even without smartphones, the noise has always been there, especially for those that are news junkies or sports junkies where they have the TV on Fox News or CNN or CBS or C-SPAN or ESPN And now you can have whatever type of news network right at the tip of your fingers on these phones, things like Daily Wire or Apple News or. The New York Times or whatever type of information you want. And so we have these talking heads and commentaries constantly pouring into our lives and giving us the most up-to-date info on the hot topics or quote news and quote events that are happening. Around us, and sometimes it's stuff that we want to hear. And things that affect our local community. But more often than not, it's things that are happening on a global scale or protests that are happening and unrest that is happening that constantly comes before our eyes. And so even when we are trying to focus, it is a hard time to show Up and be real in the moment. To be fully present without any other thing going on.
Studies show that on average, an individual looks at their phone around 58 times a day. That comes out to be about every 15 to 20 minutes. And then if you factor in just young adults, ages 18 to 29, they're looking at their phone upwards of over 100 times a day. And that's roughly about. Every 10 minutes. And now, even if you're using your phone this morning with the Bible app and you're following along with my notes, how often did you jump off those notes and look at e-mail or Facebook or Instagram to check out what is happening In social media.
In modern days, people tend to get their news from these social media platforms and so looking at context or sources Has become such a vital role in trying to figure out what is real and what is not, and with the rise in AI technology, there are more and more. Fake things that are being put out there that can make you wonder, did that really happen? TV and newspapers still have an audience, but as people grow older and the younger generation that grew up on phones is becoming adults, this shift in news is flowing primarily through social media platforms. Rather than news outlets as in Previous times.
I say all this because we are in an age where we are bombarded with all sorts of information and it can be really hard to be fully present in the moment.
Illustration:
Yesterday I was changing the oil on the car and Judah was my primary helper and while we were filling the car back up with oil, he just kept looking at me and going, Daddy, you're the best. Daddy, you're so nice to me. And it's really funny because it wasn't like I was doing anything for him except trying to make him feel included in the process of changing the oil. But we weren't playing a game. But what he did have in that moment was me present with him. We weren't watching TV, but we were doing stuff together and he just loved the fact that Daddy was there giving him my full attention as we waited for the oil to drain into the engine.
I think it'd be really easy for us to just allow these. It can be really easy for these slight distractions to become our obsessions where we can't l Fully functioned. Without the use of our phones Or Internet connections. But there's something special when we disconnect.
I really enjoy camping or hiking for that reason, getting out to a place where I don't have cell signal and I can just be present with the kids. Last week and I took Lori and Josiah out on a hike and Laurie called the grueling nearly four mile, 900 foot elevation hike the best day ever because. She had me without distractions of anything else. And that's the exact same way God wants with us. He wants us fully engaged, going after Him without distraction.
Well, we can't all take the time to go out into the wilderness, although we do live right on the brink of it here in Tok. We can take moments where we focus and. Pause just to be in the present. In counseling, we call this practice mindfulness, and it can just be a time where you pause and wait.
1. Take Time to Be Still and Know that he is God
Joshua. 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
What we're going to do is we're going to take a moment right now. To focus on God. And to let everything else fade away. If you're comfortable, go ahead and close your eyes. And justice focus on God. Be present. In the moment.
Psalm 46:10 says Be still and know that I am God. So be still and present. Right now in this space. And know that God is here. is here in the moment with us.
In the beginning, when God formed man out of the dust, he breathed his life. Into him. All of the rest of creation became alive through God's voice, but God breathed into man. The formal name of God is Yahweh And in Hebrew the. Vowels weren't written and so it would be written as capital YHWH. The name is often compared to the sound of breathing. Yah—the inhale. Weh—The Exhale.
I want you to take 5 deep breaths and meditate. On God's Word. And on God.
1: Fully inhale…. Expanding your belly in your chest as much as you can. Yah!
Hold it for a moment…
And exhale… Feeling God's presence roll over you like a wave….Weh
2 Inhale… Filling your entire system with fresh oxygen. Fresh life from God.
Hold it…
And exhale… The relaxation gently sweeping over you Like sitting beside still waters.
3 Inhale…. So that you're brimming. With God's love.
Hold it… Let it permeate every area of your body.
And exhale…. Letting your body relax. Like a child in the arms of their father.
4 Fully inhale… Feeling these breaths of life purifying your entire body….Yah
Exhale…. Notice how you are feeling.
5 Inhale…. Peace and joy coming in. And hold it. Feel God's transformation in your body, allowing your mind to relax. To let go of the worries of this world.
And exhale. Allowing His love to blanket you. Just feel the warmth Of who he is and what he has done for you. Weh
Just take a moment and notice how you feel.
This is how you were created to feel.
Breathing deeply and fully as an expression of who he is.
Go ahead and continue to breathe. Slow and deep. And notice the abundance of His love. And what he has for you.
Begin now in. Scanning over your body, notice in the very top of your head and how it feels.
Let your focus move to your eyes.
Noticing how they feel. Allowing them to relax.
Continue moving down your body. Notice any tension that you're holding in your chest or your back? Notice how your back feels pressed against the surface behind you. Allow further relaxation as you move on down to your pelvis and legs. Feel the seat pressing against you, holding you up. Move down your legs to your feet, feeling them grounded. On the floor.
Take a moment and just listen. To the sounds around you. Notice anything? That you haven't been hearing before.
As we move on from noticing the exterior, move your attention inward. Are you holding on to Wells? Of fear and anxiety. Now is the time to get them over to God. Because fear and anxiousness is not from him.
Jesus tells us in John 14:27: I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Listen as God speaks this peace over your body, over your mind. Over your worries. And let everything just fall away. David writes: Even when I walk through the darkest valley. I will not be afraid. For you are close beside me. (Psalm 23:4)
So right now, don't try to change the circumstances that you're worrying about. Simply be present with God. Noticing his presence beside you. And because of him. You don't have to be afraid.
Allow him To be your shepherd and your place of safety. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and our strength An ever present help in trouble.
So recognize that peace does not come from being removed from the storm, but trusting in God in the midst of the storm. So find peace while the world rages around you.
After focusing on the calm and the storm, I want to shift our focus now. To the awareness of our thoughts and sensations. Imagine yourself in a calm, safe place. This may be a scene in nature, like a beach or mountains. Or somewhere from a pleasant memory. Or picture yourself. Like David does in Psalm 23. Resting in green meadows. Besides peaceful streams. There's no right or wrong place, as long as you feel safe and secure there.
Now reflect on the fact that you are deeply loved and fully known by the Father. Oftentimes we focus too much on our own faults and assume that God is displeased with us. But in reality, as Zephaniah 3 states, he delights in us and rejoices over us.
Here in this safe place, Imagine God looking directly into your eyes and expressing deep, Genuine love for you.
Envision him calling you by saying, “You are my beloved, and with you I am pleased.”
After all, these are similar words God used to express his love and acceptance to His own Son Jesus in Matthew 17, and we have been adopted Into his family through Jesus As Paul writes in Ephesians 1:5:
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
He chose to adopt us and it gave him great pleasure. Therefore, we too are deeply loved and fully accepted by God as His own sons and daughters. Continue meditating and reflecting on these scriptures that indicate this love and delight.
the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11
For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 1 John 4:9-11
Continue breathing deeply as your focus shifts. To God's peace and gentleness.
Listen to the Words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Stay here, meditate on the scripture as long as you need.
Here's where we truly find rest for our soul as Psalm 130:5 states
I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
Just take a moment. And be still. Be present. Breathe.
When you're ready, slowly open your eyes. Stretch and return your focus to the room. Reflect on your experience on this time being present with God. Maybe in your notes write out any feelings or images that came up as we did this exercise.
Consider identifying a phrase or a piece of scripture or truth. That you'll carry with you throughout the day. And make this a daily practice Of just being present with God.
I'm going to tell you the backstory of our main man today. He was a tax collector For a prosperous Roman city Within Israel. Jericho. You see, Jericho was well known for its agricultural wealth, its palm trees and balsam plants. There was money to be had in Jericho. As This important tax collector in Jericho His job was to collect that money for the Romans. And so. he became, In love with wealth and money and power. So much so that he would often cheat his Countrymen out of their money and make them pay more than what they needed to in taxes so that he could pocket the rest. He became very wealthy doing so. And he did have friends, as long as the money didn't run dry. But he soon realized that these friends provided shallow pursuits. At the end of the day, he was lonely. You didn't really have anyone around that cared For him as an individual.
And so he did what so many other people do. He tried to ignore these feelings that were creeping in and focused more on his work. He cozied up to the Roman government and helped them get their money in an exchange. It was OK if he took a little off the top and bought that new item that he had been looking at. The new robes. The new. Saddle the new house the best food. After all, he deserved it. And he enjoyed walking around town showing everybody else how wealthy he was and how much of an important person he was because of the wealth. Who cares if people hated him? He had money and he wanted them to know it.
Well, one day while he was walking along the way and. Flaunting his brand new cloak with his brand new studded sandals. Nobody was paying attention to him and it kind of bummed him out. They kept talking about this guy Jesus from Nazareth. What good thing has ever come from Nazareth? It's just some backwater town up in Galilee. It's not even the biggest Roman town. After all, all the good things came from the cities like Zephyrus which was pretty close to Nazareth and maybe the guy grew up near it, but But he was known from the backwater, not from the city. He was probably some Hick. I mean, there was these guys that followed him everywhere.
But why were people talking about him? They weren't mentioning his clothes. They weren't talking about his money. He had a lot of followers, but he wasn't rich. They didn't say he was good looking. He even seemed to be that charismatic, but people were always talking about his teachings. Why did they care so much about this Jesus?
And, you know, he heard these things and it kind of got into his head, but he tried to put it aside. He heard that he healed the sick, he touched lepers. Ohh how disgusting. He was definitely a different guy. And then one day, this guy that he'd been hearing about was coming through Jericho. Zacchaeus's interest was peaked and he had to see Jesus.
Let's read what happens in the book of Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was so despised that as Jesus was coming, people wouldn't even move aside so this short man could see the well known prophet everyone had been talking about. No, he had to go climb a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus. And the moment that Jesus looked at him, something changed.
Maybe not for Zacchaeus yet, When Jesus looked at him, he didn't see who he was as the despised and hated tax collector, but who he could be for the Kingdom of God. Back to the verse that I read earlier, in Ephesians 1/5 it says that it gave God great pleasure. When he decided in advance to adopt us into his own family and it gave God great pleasure when he looked up at Zachias up in that tree and said, I am going to your house today. Today is the day everything changes for you.
You see, even though everybody around Jesus was displeased that he was paying attention to this wicked, sinful man, Jesus saw the potential where everybody else saw the Disgrace.
2. Jesus sees who we will be in him, not who we are in our sin.
Read Vs 6-7
The people around Zacchaeus. were really displeased because he was a notorious Sinner and didn't deserve Jesus attention. But thank God that we don't get what we deserve and that even though we are sinners. We can still receive attention from the Father.
Everybody was upset because they knew who. He was the type of man that he was. He was self-centered. He was greedy. He was Dishonest and nobody wanted to be around him. Nobody was even willing to make room for him in the front of the line. But Jesus stopped what he was doing on his way through Jericho that day. And by looking up at Zacchaeus, everything changes.
I want you to notice there is no great sermon here. There's no command to repent. There is nothing going on here except him saying I'm going to your house today. And Zacchaeus could have let nothing change. But when you encounter Jesus, everything changes. And Zacchaeus encountered Jesus that day.
3. Internal transformation has external results.
Vs 8-10
Zachias. Comes down out of the tree. He stands before Jesus. And before Jesus ever even makes it to his house where Zachias can honor him or feel like this great person because this prophet everybody had been talking about had wanted to go to his house, Zacchaeus repents in the moment and starts giving away his money and starts making up for what he has done. And not just making it up, paying it back with interest. There was an internal transformation that led to external results.
Zacchaeus didn’t just stand before Jesus, but he was fully present, feeling all of who Jesus was. And as he stood before Jesus, he showed up. Not just with his mouth, but with his wallet. And started to make amends for what he had done. And Jesus recognizes it and he says to everyone around that he didn't come to for the religious. He didn't come for those that already believed they were saved. He came to seek and save those who were lost. A man like Zacchaeus who was a Notorious Sinner.
I don't know about you, but I hear Notorious. I just don't hear about somebody that it was taking a little money on the side. I feel like this guy could have been a mob boss. He had some extra extra going on…you know what I’m talking about, but in that moment, everything changed.
When we take the time to make room for Jesus, maybe that means we got to go climb the tree to get the better view, or maybe that means we got to go climb the mountain to get away from the noise. But when we take the time to fully be present. It shakes us to our core and changes our direction to realign with the Father.
CONCLUSION/ALTAR
Are you willing to be present with the Father today and every day? To allow God to actually change who you are So that everybody around you sees the new you.
I saw a clip recently about the scene in Beauty and the Beast where the beast finally becomes the Prince. The Animator for this Scene was Glen Keane the supervising animator for the Beast Character.
Here's what he said about this scene: “There are moments in animation where you think ‘I was born to do this scene.’ For me it was the beasts transformation in Beauty and the Beast.
I had been waiting for it the whole film, but by the time it came I only had a week to finish it. I told the director there's no way I can give this scene the heart that it needs in that amount of time.
He replied. Glenn, forget the deadline. Take the time you need and put your whole heart into it.
I can't tell you how much I needed to hear that it was such a gift. As I animated, I began to realize that this scene was really about my own spiritual life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore. Any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.
It meant so much to me that I even wrote that verse on my animation sheets. For me, the beast transformation was a parable of my own life. Through Jesus, I experienced a change from the inside out. I don't think I've ever seen a clear illustration of what can happen in a person's life than the moment when the beast became the Prince.
God makes us new. And the old passes away. That's the very image of baptism. That's the image of salvation. That's leaving. A spiritually dead life and joining a spiritually new life. The problem is, sometimes even though we are spiritually new and walking with God, the world beats us down to the point where we just need to surrender it again to God. We've been tired, we've been beat up, and we have to say God. I need to start fresh.
This morning as we sing this last song. Let's just take the time to focus on what God has for us, allowing Him to make us new once more. Laying down our old religious selves, laying down the things of the past and focusing on Him.
Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
