Be Still And Know That I Am God

Psalm 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46 is a very encouraging Psalm. There are differing opinions on the setting of this Psalm and when it was written. Regardless of the backdrop or time period, this Scripture is timeless. Verse one sets the tone as follows: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This should give us the confidence to boldly read the second verse, “Therefore will not we fear…” Many times in History and even now currently this Psalm rings true. One thing for sure God will be “Exalted in the earth.”  

The phrase “Be Still” is explained by Strong’s Concordance as meaning ‘to slacken’.  Albert Barnes explains the term ‘Be Still’ as “to cast down, to let fall, to let hang down, then, to be relaxed, slackened especially the hands: …or the idea of leaving matters with God, or of being without anxiety about the issue.”

Life can cause us to experience stress and anxiety due to the current health crisis or just life in general. However, God is speaking to us these simple words, “Be Still, and know that I am God.”  That phrase answers it all. Relax, because we know God. We know the Great “I Am.” We know Jesus, and no matter what happens in life, He is in control.  As someone said, ”Worry only about what you can control.“  As humanity we typically worry about things we can’t control. 

I would encourage us to quote Psalm 46:10 every time we feel overwhelmed. “Be Still, and know that I am God.”

For the complete reference please read Psalm 46:1-11, and remember, Relax.

-Brother Jordan

The Blood's Protection

Exodus 12:21-27, “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”

The institution of the Passover Celebration is found in Exodus chapter 12. Interestingly, the Israelites were instructed to take a bunch of hyssop, a plant used for various purposes, dip it in the blood of the sacrificed lamb and sprinkle it on the lintel (overhang or upper door post), and upon the side posts. They were further instructed to quarantine themselves in their homes for the night until morning as the last and final plague was going to come through Egypt and cause Pharaoh to finally let Israel go.

As the death angel made its way through the land on this dark night in Egypt’s history, one thing and one thing only averted death from the houses of the Israelites. The blood of the sacrifice that was sprinkled in obedience to God! That night as death struck every single Egyptian home, the children of Israel were spared. The Egyptian’s cries could be heard by all, as the protection of the blood was non-existent upon their homes.

Pharaoh finally succumbed to Moses’ command to “Let my people go” that they may worship the one true God. Israel would no longer be ruled by the cruel taskmasters as they were set free to follow Moses out of Egypt, away from bondage, and onto the path towards the Promised Land.

Many years later, God manifested himself in flesh and became the Lamb for sinners slain. The blood of bulls and of goats could not produce for man what man needed as pertaining to his conscience. Without the shedding of blood, the bible declares, there is no remission of sins. Just as the blood had to be applied to the houses of the Israelites in order for them to be saved from the death angel for their exodus, we must have the blood applied to our lives to be saved from sins penalty of eternal death.

We need the protection of the blood of Jesus Christ in our lives. We obtain it through repentance of our sins and being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of those sins (Acts 2:38). Just like the children of Israel went through the Red Sea, a type of the blood of Jesus, we have the blood applied in water baptism.

Once our sins have been washed away, if we sin there is still power in the blood of Jesus Christ to wash our sins away, if we are willing to repent. Prayers of repentance and turning away from habitual sin puts the protection of the blood between us and the judgment of sins committed. We can have a clean conscience before God and we do not have to live in fear of judgment.

While we are in the process of putting every protection we can in place to give us the greatest chance of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, to save as many lives as is possible, let’s not forget that we need to spiritually make sure that we have the blood of Jesus applied to our life. While we are waiting for the medical professionals who are working very hard to provide treatment and an antidote for the coronavirus, thankfully our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, provided the antidote, remedy, and protection we need to overcome the plague of sin that begin in the garden with Adam and Eve.

Thank God for the blood!

Pastor Ken Winkler

Focus On The Home

The last two weeks have greatly changed our daily routines. Many people are now working from home. Bedrooms have been turned into school rooms. Dining out has been replaced with eating around the dinner table. Social activities are substituted with at-home gatherings. Attending church, means gathering in our family rooms to listen to a sermon being broadcast over the internet. All of this has made us feel disoriented and out of our comfort zone. But, consider for a moment how the “quarantine” has somehow put the focus back on the Home.

Maybe, the Lord is using this time to draw our attention back to the things which really matter. Home, family and Jesus at the center of it all. I can only imagine the growth we may see when this season has passed. Will family time be extended? Will spouses communicate more? Will prayer be more prevalent in our homes? Will the Word of God be read aloud in our homes? Will the Bible be a coffee table centerpiece again?

You see, although this epidemic has pushed us to seclusion in our homes, maybe the Lord is also calling us to re-focus on what is important. What is important to you? Will you allow this season to bring positive change and growth in your home? In the Word of God, many great things happened in a home, not the least of which, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2)

In a time full of concern, distractions and busyness, let’s return the Focus to the home!

-Brother Michael