Silence - What then?

Silence can best be described as a total absence of noise. Most people shun silence. Some people have to have continual noise in their lives; such as TV, radio, music or the sounds of a big city. It’s almost as though they are frightened of silence.

Why is this so?

When there is complete silence, a man begins to think of who he is, and what he is. Since there are no noisy distractions his thoughts will become pre-eminent.

When we keep silence in our souls; that’s when God can speak to us. God speaks to us in the silence.

1 Kings 19:11, 12 reveal an incident in the life of the prophet Elijah.

(11) “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; (12) and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”

1 Kings 19:3, “...What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah was in the wrong place, utterly discouraged, and thinking that he was the only one faithful to the Lord. The Lord soon set him straight and told him that He had 7,000 faithful men in Israel; then He sent Elijah off on a mission to Syria.

The important thing to note here is that the Lord’s voice was not in the wind, or earthquake, or fire but in the quietness after these events.

Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nation, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Habakkuk 2:20, “...the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

Isaiah 32:17, “The work of righteousness will be peace and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”

Many of us lead busy lives, but are all these activities from the Lord? How much of it is our own doing? I often hear people say they don’t have enough hours in the day to get everything done. We all have 24 hours in each day!

If your days are so full of activity you feel you can’t keep up the demanding self imposed regime; it’s time for you to re-prioritise your life. You need to de-clutter your life.

Stop and think! You have chosen your current lifestyle. You can choose to change it, if it needs change.

Proverbs 3:5, 6, “(5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Isaiah 30:15, “...In quietness and confidence shall be your strength...”

The Lord knows what is needful in each of our lives. Is it time in your life to “be still and know that I am God”?

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

Peace like a river

As I sit at my desk and compose this blog post; the Johnstone River at Innisfail, Queensland, Australia flows peacefully past my unit. The Johnstone is a tidal river which ebbs and flows with the changing tides; the river flows out into the Coral Sea.

There is a sense of order and calmness as the river wends its way to the sea. The river banks not only guide the concourse of water but also control its flow. At evening and sunrise the scene is particularly pleasing; especially so if it slack tide, when the surface of the water is like glass.

In Isaiah 48:18 the Lord is remonstrating with the nation of Israel.

“Oh, that you had heeded my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Note, if they had obeyed God’s commandments, then they were assured of a peaceful and righteous life. Instead they had been disobedient and worshipped idols. Their judgement was that the Chaldeans would sweep into their country, conquer it, slay many and make the rest captives.

Isaiah 48:22 states, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

There is no real peace of heart and soul until you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

1.      One of His names is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)

2.      Ephesians 2:14, “For He Himself is our peace...”

3.      Philippians 4:7, “...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

4.      Philippians 4:9, “...and the God of peace will be with you.”

5.      Colossians 1:20, “...having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

God given peace is the only true peace.

Peace like a river is peace that is constantly flowing.

May it be so with you.

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

The Evening Wolves

In Habakkuk 1:8 a reference is made to fierce evening wolves.

Wild wolves are mentioned in the Scriptures as being predators of domesticated flocks and herds. They appear to target hoofed animals, particularly sheep. They are very cunning in their methods of attack and focus on the sick or weak. As they often hunt in packs, humans can also be at risk.

So what’s the significance of the evening wolves? Why is the evening wolf fiercer? Surely, it’s because they have hunted all day and have not had anything to eat. By evening they are even more ravenous and fierce. With nightfall they become more dangerous and harder to detect.

Wolves were a major concern to shepherds; their animals had to be guarded at night.

Acts 20:29, “for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” 

The apostle Paul was counselling the elders of the church at Ephesus. He warned them that after he had passed off this scene unscrupulous men would infiltrate their gatherings and cause havoc among the believers. They are classed as “grievous wolves”.

These wolves in sheep’s clothing would bring in false doctrine and error, seeking only their own gain, “not sparing the flock”.

Jude 1:11-13, “(11) Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (12) These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about  by the winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; (13) raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

When you listen to a sermon, or an address; be prepared to examine what is being said, in the light of the Scriptures.

Acts 17:10, 11, “(10) Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

We are not helpless in these matters. The Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer “will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13). Sometimes when we are listening, or reading a book, we sense that something is not right. Even though it may sound OK, it does not seem quite right.

Check the matter out! Be like the Berean Christians and search the Scriptures to find out whether these things are correct, or not.

Don’t fall prey to the fierce evening wolves.

Jon Peasey 

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]