The Advantages Of Standing Still

Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burdens are light. For I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” God may be taking you the long way to teach you something. He may not come when you want him, but He’s always on time.

When we stand still we can listen to God just like Moses did. Moses listened for the Lord’s instructions. He realized that without listening to God, he couldn’t get where God wanted him to go. Without God’s instructions, his leadership, his guidance we cannot be successful as God’s people. If you want to be successful, stand still and listen to what God has to say.

When Pharaoh’s army was pressing down behind Moses and the children of Israel, they found themselves faced with mountains on both sides, and the Red Sea in front. Moses took the position of standing firm on the word of God. I heard the Lord say just the other day, “If I’m for you, I’m more than the world against you. I hard him also say, Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.

The Children of Israel were moving but Moses told them to “stand still.” Sometimes when your enemies are pressing down on you, the best thing for you to do is stand still. If God says, “stand still,” he will be with you. He will be a present help in the time of trouble. He will not only guide you but He will protect you from your enemies. When the world is running from place to place looking for a solution, God’s people can just stand still. When everybody else is crying and complaining about their situation, God’s people can stand still.

I wonder can I get any witnesses this morning:

When the 3 Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego were told, either bow down to the golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace, They decided to “stand still.” They told Nebuchadnezzar, “we don’t know how we’re going to get out of this mess, but one thing we do know is that the “God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.”

Daniel was told that if he prayed to any God but the king, he would be placed in a lion’s den. But Daniel decided to stand still and pray to God any how and God shut up the jaws of the hungry lions.

Paul and Silas were in jail and at midnight they decided to stand still and pray and sing praises to the Lord. Sometimes standing still means giving God praise in the midnight hour. Somebody here today is approaching midnight in their lives. But I JSB to tell you even in the midnight hour give God the praise. It may be 11:30 right now, but midnight is coming soon, you ought to give God the praise. It might be a quarter to midnight in your life; you ought to give God the praise. It might even be 5 minutes to midnight in your life; you ought to give God the praise. Because on the other side of midnight, there is Joy. There is peace on the other side of midnight. There is happiness on the other side of midnight. “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.”

Before I sit down, let me give you one more example of someone who stood still. When they talked about Him, he just decided He would stand still. When they lied on Him, he just decided He would stand still. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he decided to stand still. When they marched him from judgement hall to judgement hall, he decided to stand still. When they nailed Him to an old rugged cross, He decided to stand still. He died and was buried. Stayed there 3 days. But early Sunday morning. He got up with all power….