Grace World Outreach Church

THE STRENGTH OF STANDING STILL
Be Still And Know

Psalm 46:1–11 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with 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 fortress.

Selah

The structure of this psalm is simple, but important to note. It is broken into three separate stanzas. The first is a declaration of God as our refuge in the midst of natural upheaval (vv. 1–3). The second focuses on God as our security in the midst of national uproar (vv. 4–7). And the third concludes with a call to worship the God who over all things (vv. 8–11).

These three stanzas offer us wisdom when facing an upside down & chaotic world

#1 WHAT DOES GOD SAY WHEN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AROUND ME IN UPHEAVAL?

God says… Do Not Fear

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah

Notice:
The earth gives way
The mountains fall into the sea
The waters roar
The mountain swells and quakes

There will be events that take place that are outside your control

* You didn’t cause them
* God did not send them

God says… Do Not Fear Them

Why? He is…
MY Refuge
MY Strength

MY very present Help

#2 WHAT DOES GOD SAY WHEN THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ROUND ME IS IN AN UPROAR?

God says, “Find me in the river”

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Note the Contrast in the second stanza.
The nations rage - There is a River
Kingdoms collapse - God is in the River
The earth melts - The River is not moved

The natural state of the world is CHAOS
The natural state of the kingdom is PEACE and JOY

When your world in is chaos it is a sign your are outside of the river

#3 WHAT DOES GOD ASK OF ME WHEN I FIND MYSELF PINNED BETWEEN AN OBSTACLE AND AN OPPORTUNITY

God says "be still and know He is the Lord!"

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with 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 fortress.
Selah

Be Still

- Turn off your phone & TV
- Get off social-media
- Stop talking
- Stop complaining
- Stop arguing
- Stop questioning
- Stop moaning
- Listen!

And Know

- Be sure
- Have faith
- No doubting
- No second opinion

I Am God

- Almighty
- In control
- Absolute love
- King
- Your hope, rock and refuge
- Ever-present
- Your help
- Your Father
- Your Shepherd
- I will lead you, nourish you, protect you and restore you