"Be STILL, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"---Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
"To whom He said, 'This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,' and, 'This is the refreshing'; Yet they would not hear..."---Isaiah 28:12 (NKJV)
"No thought, no action, no movement, total stillness: only thus can one manifest the true nature and law of things from within and unconsciously, and at last, become one with heaven and earth."---Lao Tzu
Still: remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary; free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent; subdued or low in sound; hushed; free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm
Synonyms: at rest, closed-mouthed, fixed, HALCYON (love that word!), inert, noiseless, peaceful, restful, serene, stationary, tranquil, undisturbed, untroubled
(As a conjunction): after all, besides, even, for all that, nevertheless, notwithstanding, though, yet
Antonyms: agitated, moving, stirred, unquiet
Rest. Sabbath rest. Let me share for just a second why the Sabbath (Friday evening to Saturday evening-Genesis 2:1-3) is such a special thing to me. One thing that I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on is what "Miss Kara" said to me a few months ago: "Jesus did not come to start a new religion. He was fine with the one that he was in."
And you know what, Christ followers? I've said it before and I'm about to say it again: Christ did not die a CHRISTIAN; he died a JEW. If we're going to follow him, we should honor all of who he was. There should be no debate about when the Sabbath is. Talk to a modern-day Jew and they will tell you that they still keep the original Sabbath (the Muslims, too). NOTHING HAS CHANGED...but man and his flawed philosophies. (Colossians 2:23) I tell people all of the time that I find it to be absolutely no coincidence that the 4th commandment says "Remember" while all of the others (every single one) says, "Thou Shalt Not" (Exodus 20:1-17). The Enemy has done all that he can to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) every other commandment. Why would you think the 4th would go untouched? The devil...wanting people to rest? Please believe that he doesn't want that! With stillness comes a knowing...of God. (Bookmark that!)
But here's the deeper point: Like all of our money belongs to God, there is something extraordinary about the tenth tithe and first fruit. (Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9) Every day is God's as well, but it is the SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH that he set a part to be blessed and hallowed. (Exodus 20:11) As my mother often says, it's on the Sabbath (not "my" Sabbath, but THE SABBATH) that we receive extra-special blessings on; the day that he said he is Lord over (Luke 6:5)...the day he made for man TO REST (Mark 2:27) and DO GOOD (Matthew 12:12).
THIS is why I look forward to every Friday. Not to observe the Sabbath from a Pharisee perspective (and we know they exist in full swing as well-John 9:16), but to take a few moments to chill...to rest...to be still...to do what God commanded that I do. And you know what? The more I do it, the more I get why it's a command and why the Enemy hates it so. Two synonyms of "still" are "calm" and "peaceful". The Bible says that a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. (Proverbs 17:27) and that it is those who love God's law who have great peace. (Psalm 119:165) When you have those two things, the evil forces within this world get very nervous.
A calm person isn't agitated or disturbed. A peaceful person isn't argumentative or quarrelsome. A lot of us are bordering depression right now. Do you know where the Word says that comes from? ANXIETY OF THE HEART. (Proverbs 12:25) Do you know what anxiety is? An uneasiness of the mind. The Bible prescribes a remedy for it...it's prayer. (Philippians 4:6) But do you know how many times I have found myself emotionally eager, distressed and worried to the point that I was too consumed (in myself and my issues) to even do that? (James 5:16) When the demands of the world get me off focus, the Sabbath "reels me back in". Even when I fall short (Romans 3:23) of acknowledging who God is in my life, the Sabbath brings me to a place of a "spiritual time out chair"; of God telling me, not asking me, to sit down somewhere and let him handle it...whatever "it" is.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass."---Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)
Some of us right now are BUSY seeking a word...direction...answers from the Lord and because we are so BUSY, we don't see the solution that is right before us...just hours away. The Lord said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He will give us "refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor". He will give us "relief or freedom, esp. from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs". He will give us "a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquility".
One day last week, I had a mild case of insomnia. Now, I can go about three days on limited sleep (and even that is unhealthy). Oh, but come about day four and there are gonna be some problems. I'm irritated...moody...hypersensitive...just not the best kind of person to be around. Some of us are emotional/relational grouches and it's because we are spiritual insomniacs. We just keep going...and doing...and doing...and going and God, being the patient and loving God that he is, just sits and watches, hoping that we will someday take him at his word: ALL OF HIS WORD. (2 Timothy 3:16) A lot of physical insomniacs don't need medication; we need some chamomile tea, a bubble bath, a good pillow and no technology in our bedroom (married people, most interior designs say that the bedroom is for s*x and sleep only...get the TV outta there!). Those of us in the spiritual realm of unrest...we don't need to do anything but what God told us to: honor his Sabbath---the one that he created for us, not just to rest...but to come to a STILLness so that we can get to KNOW who he really is:
That he's a just judge. (Psalm 7:11)
That he's with the righteous. (Psalm 14:5)
That he's our refuge and strength. (Psalm 46:1)
That he's King of all the earth. (Psalm 47:7)
That he's our helper. (Psalm 54:4)
That he's our defense. (Psalm 59:9 & 17)
That he's our salvation and glory. (Psalm 62:7)
That he's holy. (Psalm 99:9)
That's he's gracious and merciful. (Psalm 116:5)
That his word is pure and a shield to those who trust him. (Proverbs 30:5)
Sigh...exhale. Now do you see why the Enemy hates the Sabbath so? It's no coincidence you got this message today. For whatever ails you, "Be still and know." He wants you to REMEMBER that.
Happy (Almost) Sabbath. Enjoy!
©Shellie R. Warren/2009
Posted By: The SISTAHS Ministry
Tuesday, April 14th 2009 at 11:12AM
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