Tag: #faith

BE STILL AND KNOW


If there is anything I have learned in these last 8 decades of living, is that if we want to know the mind of God, we must follow the admonition of Psalm 46:10, to:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

The entire chapter of Psalm 46 exalts the sovereignty and majesty of God, beginning with verses l-2,

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

Verse 6 says, The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted.”

Verses 8-9 say,

“Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.”

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

In this majestic Psalm, surrounded by the greatness of God in every verse, God, in verse lO, exhorts His children:

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted on the earth.”

The Hebrew in this verse translates to, “be still in order to know.”How important it is for each of us, every day, to have a quiet place, and a quiet time with God. As we become still and surrender our lives, wills, and desires, we will get to know God in all His glory and majesty.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says this about Psalm 46:10:

“Let those who deny God be still, and threaten no more…Let them rage no more, for it is all in vain; ‘He that sits in heaven laughs at them;’ and, in spite of all their impotent malice against His name and honor, He will be exalted among the heathen…”

“Let His own people be still; let them be calm and sedate, and tremble no more, but know, to their comfort, that the Lord is God, He is God alone, and will be exalted above the heathen.”

This morning, at 5 a.m. on my son Mike’s porch [who passed away on August 6, 2024], I waited in stillness before God. I didn’t say anything, and, for an hour, I let God do the talking. It was so beautiful. I left that place of prayer with renewed hope and added strength for the journey.

Precious friends, in a world gone mad, in these times of anxiety and stress, set aside time, every day, to “Be still,” in the Presence of God.

“For God alone, my soul, [must] wait in silence; for my hope is in Him.”[Ps 62: 5-6]

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Worship the Father as Don Moen sings, “Be still and know thou art God.” https://youtu.be/HK_FOAXpjBo?si=L4aiW6fRkV1A7WM

THE ROMANS ROAD TO HEAVEN

                                

     This week in my Men’s Prayer Group, we are studying Romans l0 1-l3. Reviewing those verses took me back to l960, when I was l6 years old. My two brothers, my sister, my mom, and my dad were all members of Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church in Birmingham.

     For five wonderful years, our Minister of Music and Youth at FFH was Rev. Dick Thomassian.** While he was there, the Youth Choir and Adult Choir grew to 60 in each group. Every Wednesday night, the highlight of the week was Bible Studies taught by Bro. Dick to more than 75 young people.  

        I wanted to be around him all the time because he was such a living example of Christ. Bro. Dick mentored me for three years, and taught me how to share Christ, with the lost through the Romans Road to Heaven.

     We went out every Tuesday night presenting Jesus. One night Bro. Thomassian told me it was my turn to share Jesus. I gave the plan of salvation to Rebecca, a 9-year-old girl. After I witnessed her, she prayed the sinner’s prayer and was gloriously saved.

     From that day forward, I spent many years sharing the Romans Road to Heaven with the lost around the world.

      Here is the outline I used:

                            ALL ARE LOST

     Romans 3:23, tells us,  

     “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

     God’s Word lets us know everyone is a sinner. We all have sinned, and because of our lost condition, we, “fall short” [miss the mark] of the Glory of God.

                         THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH

 Romans 6:22 (a) reads, “

     …the wages of sin is death.” If we remain lost and do not trust in Jesus, the wages of our lost condition is death, which is eternal separation from God.

      But here is the good news!  

               THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE

     The auspicious news is that God has provided a way, a “gift,” for the wages of our sin. Romans 6:22 (b) proclaims,

      “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

     Jesus, virgin-born, lived 33 years on this earth, and was crucified on a cross for our salvation. On the third day, he rose again. God offers an awesome gift to all who believe and receive Jesus, a gift that atones for our sins and gives eternal life.

            HOW TO RECEIVE THIS GIFT OF SALVATION

        Romans lO: 9-lO, tells us how to receive Jesus.

     “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

     “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

      If we pray and confess with our mouth, “Jesus as Lord,” and believe with our heart God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.

               WHOSOVER SHALL CALL ON HIS NAME

      I, then, asked the lost person, “Would you like to receive Jesus, right now? Read with me Romans l0:13:

     “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”

     I then told them, “Precious friend, you are a ‘whosoever.’ Right now, you can pray a prayer, call on His Name, ask forgiveness for your sin, and God will give you the gift of salvation.

     “Would you like, right now, to pray that prayer and receive Jesus into your heart?”

    If they said, “Yes,” I led them in this prayer:

                   PRAYER TO RECEIVE CHRIST

    “Dear Lord Jesus, I call upon your Name, and I thank you for dying on the cross for me. Right now, I ask you to forgive my sin and come into my heart. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole. Amen’”.

     After they prayed that sinner’s prayer, I told them that “on the authority of God’s Word, you are ‘born again,’ and on your way to heaven.” I encouraged them to follow Jesus every day and spend time in God’s Word and Prayer. I let them know that “now that you are saved, you need to make a public decision as a new Christian at your Church.”

     Pastor Tony Walister at Silverdale Baptist says it this way:

      “How can I know for sure that I am saved and will go to heaven? It’s a simple matter of believing with the head, down deep in the soul, and confessing with your mouth publicly your new faith in Christ.”

     Friend, if you don’t know Jesus, let the Romans Road to Heaven lead you down the path to salvation and eternal life. I encourage all my Christian friends to take the time to study and memorize these passages in Romans, and share the good news with others God places in your path.

[I would love to hear from you about your personal experience of salvation.]

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! https://youtu.be/aT0FB6o7Jgk?si=4o_qxOV4Bu0ZM27u

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     **Rev. Dick Thomassian, went home to be with Jesus three years ago, after a life of preaching Christ around the world. He was my hero, and I will see him soon on the other side.