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Breathe: Be Still
Jeff Burkholder
Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians
2016 July 17
Good morning, everyone
Good morning, everyone
Yes, I’m standing over there,
but this morning, I’m going to be
“speaking” from over here.
Speaking of “speaking”…
Speaking of “speaking”…
Let’s watch a video about public
speaking and how profound
someone can seem…
Speaking of “speaking”…
Let’s watch a video about public
speaking and how profound
someone can seem…
Without actually being so.
It’s funny, isn’t it?
It’s funny, isn’t it?
It’s funny how someone can talk so
much without saying anything.
I’m going to try something
different today.
I’m going to try something
different today.
Let’s see how much I can “say”
without speaking a word.
“Be still,
and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
This year’s teaching theme
has been “Breathe”
We’ve spent a lot of time
talking about the Breath of
God: The Holy Spirit
We’ve spent a lot of time
talking about the Breath of
God: The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of Jesus
We’ve spent a lot of time
talking about the Breath of
God: The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of Jesus
The Gifts of the Spirit
We’ve spent a lot of time
talking about the Breath of
God: The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of Jesus
The Gifts of the Spirit
The Fruits of the Spirit
We’ve spent a lot of time
talking about the Breath of
God: The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of Jesus
The Gifts of the Spirit
The Fruits of the Spirit
The Poor in Spirit
This week,
let’s not talk at all
This week,
let’s not talk at all
…and let’s focus on the literal
breath that God has given us.
There are three main times
when we focus on our
breathing:
There are three main times
when we focus on our
breathing:
• When we’ve been running and
are now out of breath,
There are three main times
when we focus on our
breathing:
• When we’ve been running and
are now out of breath,
• When women are giving birth,
There are three main times
when we focus on our
breathing:
• When we’ve been running and
are now out of breath,
• When women are giving birth,
• And when we are still
Relax!
I’m not going to ask you to
run around the sanctuary!
Relax!
I’m not going to ask you to
run around the sanctuary!
(And I’m not really qualified to
make an object lesson out of
Lamaze techniques!)
Relax!
I’m not going to ask you to
run around the sanctuary!
Instead, let’s… well…
Relax.
“Be still,
and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
“Cease striving [let go; relax],
and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10a (NASB)
How often are we actually still?
How often are we actually still?
•In the car?
How often are we actually still?
•In the car?
With the radio blaring…
How often are we actually still?
•In the car?
With the radio blaring…
Or a cell phone ringing…
How often are we actually still?
•In the car?
With the radio blaring…
Or a cell phone ringing…
Or the engine knocking…
How often are we actually still?
•In the car?
With the radio blaring…
Or a cell phone ringing…
Or the engine knocking…
Or a semi passing
How often are we actually still?
•At night, before bed?
How often are we actually still?
•At night, before bed?
With your head nodding…
How often are we actually still?
•At night, before bed?
With your head nodding…
And eyes drooping…
How often are we actually still?
•At night, before bed?
With your head nodding…
And eyes drooping…
And attention wandering…
How often are we actually still?
•At night, before bed?
With your head nodding…
And eyes drooping…
And attention wandering…
And spouse snoring…
How often are we actually still?
•At church on Sunday?
How often are we actually still?
•At church on Sunday?
Aside from the fact that Sunday only
comes once a week, how often do you
ever see anyone around here
(particularly me) be still??
So… let’s be still.
So… let’s be still.
Let’s breathe.
So… let’s be still.
Let’s breathe.
And let’s focus.
Because I should point out:
When I’m talking about “being still”,
I don’t just mean “not moving”.
Just because you’re relaxing in your
La-Z-Boy doesn’t mean you’re a
paragon of virtue.
Because I should point out:
When I’m talking about “being still”,
I don’t just mean “not moving”.
Just because you’re relaxing in your
La-Z-Boy doesn’t mean you’re a
paragon of virtue.
Sorry about that.
“Being still” involves
your body
“Being still” involves
your body
your heart
“Being still” involves
your body
your heart
and your mind
“Being still” involves
your body
your heart
and your mind
All together, being focused on God
Because there’s more to the
verse than just “Be still.”
Because there’s more to the
verse than just “Be still.”
More than “Be still and know
that I am God.”
Because there’s more to the
verse than just “Be still.”
More than “Be still and know
that I am God.”
In fact, the verse continues…
“Be still,
and know that I am God;
I will be exalted
among the nations,
I will be exalted in all the earth.”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
“Let be and be still,
and know [recognize and
understand] that I am God.
I will be exalted
among the nations!
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 (Amplified)
What’s going on here?
What’s God talking about?
What’s going on here?
What’s God talking about?
Psalms 46, 47, and 48 seem to be
written from the setting of a wartorn land, where God has stepped in
and abruptly ended the fighting.
The word “still” is translated from
the Hebrew word rapa, which
means “to slacken, let down, or
cease”.
The word “still” is translated from
the Hebrew word rapa, which
means “to slacken, let down, or
cease”.
The connotation here is that of two
fighters going after each other, until
someone else – God, in this case –
steps in and stops them.
(I won’t point
out that this is
just like in Star
Trek, the Vulcan
word “Kroykah”
was used to
separate Kirk
and Spock
during a battle
to the death.)
God isn’t just telling the reader –
telling us that we might want to
chill out a bit.
God isn’t just telling the reader –
telling us that we might want to
chill out a bit.
He’s commanding us,
demanding that we…
STOP.
STOP.
Now.
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
Recognize
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
Recognize
Understand
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
Recognize
Understand
Comprehend
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
Recognize
Understand
Comprehend
Realize
STOP.
Now.
And then, know
Recognize
Understand
Comprehend
Realize
GET IT THROUGH OUR HEADS
That HE is GOD.
That HE is GOD.
That HE is GOD.
That HE is GOD.
We should lay down our arms
We should lay down our arms
Drop our weapons
We should lay down our arms
Drop our weapons
And come out
with our hands up.
“But the LORD is in His holy
temple. Let all the earth be
silent before Him.”
Habakkuk 2:20 (NIV)
“The eyes of the arrogant man
will be humbled and the pride
of men brought low; the LORD
alone will be exalted in that
day.”
Isaiah 2:11 (NIV)
Keep in mind, He’s not just
talking to warriors.
Keep in mind, He’s not just
talking to warriors.
We all need to stop striving to
control things.
Keep in mind, He’s not just
talking to warriors.
We all need to stop striving to
control things.
That’s His job
And honestly? It’s not a
matter of, “God is in
control, if we let Him be.”
And honestly? It’s not a
matter of, “God is in
control, if we let Him be.”
There is no “if”.
God is in control.
God is in control.
Period.
God is in control.
Period.
He’s just asking us to acknowledge
that sometimes.
Think about that. It’s very
good news, isn’t it?
Think about that. It’s very
good news, isn’t it?
We don’t have to take care of
everything. HE’s got this.
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
Think of all the things that occupy
our minds most of the time:
•Going to work
•Paying the bills
•Taking care of
our family
•Watching TV
•What’s happening
in the news
•Playing
•Eating
•Sleeping
God’s asking us, through all our
worries, to be still and recognize
that He is God.
God’s asking us, through all our
worries, to be still and recognize
that He is God.
By doing so, we can find calm
despite our anxieties, trust
that overcomes our fear, and
peace in the midst of our
battles.
God’s asking us, through all our
worries, to be still and recognize
that He is God.
By doing so, we can find calm
despite our anxieties, trust
that overcomes our fear, and
peace in the midst of our
battles.
God’s asking us, through all our
worries, to be still and recognize
that He is God.
By doing so, we can find calm
despite our anxieties, trust
that overcomes our fear, and
peace in the midst of our
battles.
And remember, as God’s
people, we don’t need to
find peace:
And remember, as God’s
people, we don’t need to
find peace:
He’s already given it to us!
“Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you.”
John 14:27a (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
“Let the peace of Christ rule
in your hearts, since as
members of one body you
were called to peace. And
be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
“Be still,
and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
Now, will this make everything
perfect?
Will ignoring the harshness of
life make it all go away?
Now, will this make everything
perfect?
Will ignoring the harshness of
life make it all go away?
Of course not.
God is in control of the
“Big Picture”
And when bad things happen,
we need to have faith that He
is able to make good things
come out of them.
There have been, are now, and
will be war, death, and
destruction.
There have been, are now, and
will be war, death, and
destruction.
Kingdoms and governments will
fall.
There have been, are now, and
will be war, death, and
destruction.
Kingdoms and governments will
fall.
Everyone and everything you
know will eventually come to an
end.
So much of what we spend our
energy on, so much of what
consumes our thoughts,
So much of what we spend our
energy on, so much of what
consumes our thoughts, is
actually fighting a battle we will
lose.
So much of what we spend our
energy on, so much of what
consumes our thoughts, is
actually fighting a battle we will
lose.
All things will pass away…
But don’t despair!
The Lord God,
our Creator and Savior
will triumph over everything
and bring an end to all conflicts.
But don’t despair!
The Lord God,
our Creator and Savior
will triumph over everything
and bring an end to all conflicts.
But don’t despair!
The Lord God,
our Creator and Savior
will triumph over everything
and bring an end to all conflicts.
But don’t despair!
The Lord God,
our Creator and Savior
will triumph over everything
and bring an end to all conflicts.
“Step out of the traffic!
Take a long, loving look at me,
your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
Psalm 46:10 (The Message)
“Step out of the traffic!
Take a long, loving look at me,
your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
Psalm 46:10 (The Message)
(I really like that part.)
Take a moment and realize:
He’s God. We’re not.
Someday, everyone and
everything will figure that out, too.
Psalm 46:10 (Jeff’s Translation)
Being still is part of that.
Being still is part of that.
And fair warning:
It’s not easy to do.
Why not?
“Silence introduced in a society that
worships noise is like the Moon exposing
the night. Behind darkness is our fear.
Within silence our voice dwells. What is
required from both is that we be still. We
focus. We listen. We see and we hear.
The unexpected emerges.”
–Terry Tempest Williams
When we turn off everything…
When the only thing we hear are
the voices in our own heads…
When we force ourselves to feel
things we don’t like to feel…
When we turn off everything…
When the only thing we hear are
the voices in our own heads…
When we force ourselves to feel
things we don’t like to feel…
When we turn off everything…
When the only thing we hear are
the voices in our own heads…
When we force ourselves to feel
things we don’t like to feel…
It can be terrifying.
But if we use that time to focus our
bodies, our hearts, our minds on
God?
It can be terrifying.
But if we use that time to focus our
bodies, our hearts, our minds on
God?
“And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the
will of God is, that which is good
and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
So…Let’s take a breath.
And another.
And one more.
So…Let’s take a breath.
And another.
And one more.
So…Let’s take a breath.
And another.
And one more.
“Be still,
and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
I encourage you, in the coming
week, find time despite the
busyness of life to breathe.
And be still.
And know
that HE is GOD.
I encourage you, in the coming
week, find time despite the
busyness of life to breathe.
And be still.
And know
that HE is GOD.
I encourage you, in the coming
week, find time despite the
busyness of life to breathe.
And be still.
And know
that HE is GOD.
I encourage you, in the coming
week, find time despite the
busyness of life to breathe.
And be still.
And know
that HE is GOD.
I encourage you, in the coming
week, find time despite the
busyness of life to breathe.
And be still.
And know
that HE is GOD.
Feel free to remain here
in our sanctuary
in stillness
for as long as you’d like.
When you’re ready to leave,
please do so quietly.
Feel free to remain here
in our sanctuary
in stillness
for as long as you’d like.
When you’re ready to leave,
please do so quietly.
God’s peace and blessings
go with you,
ever and always