Building

If you were empowered by last week’s message to “do something,” chances are this week you’re either confused or at the very least a little less inspired than before.

Why is that? Because, in general, we have a “do something” mentality.

We live in a “do something” world where if you want to see a change you have to take the initiative and “do something” about your current circumstances.

And doesn’t that make sense?

Well, yeah…unless that something that you’re supposed to be doing is nothing.

[Some of you may be lost as your brains try to process that concept with the overload of exams and the energy crash from your last Red Bull.]

Often we are to simply sit and listen. Or the action God calls us to take isn’t one of great excitement or exhilaration like we would expect.

So, how does this fit in with the whole concept of “doing something?”

Isn’t the point to actually do something?

Take action?

Step out in faith?

By being obedient to God you are taking action.

As Senior Pastor Jim White explains, “Obedient faith is what brings triumph when you hear from God and it seems to make no sense.”

The Lord’s instructions to Joshua didn’t make much sense.

The Lord promised Joshua the city of Jericho and then directed Joshua to “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (Joshua 6:3-5)

I don’t know about you but seven priests blowing horns sounds more to me like holy road rage than the precursor to a triumphant victory and conquest of a city.

But Joshua was obedient. He immediately carried out the Lord’s instructions and commanded his army to follow suit. And as the Lord promised, Joshua was victorious as “the trumpets sounded, the army shouted and at the sound of the trumpet when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20)

What will it take for you to trust God like Joshua? What will it take for you to really honor God by being obedient, even when His call doesn’t seem to make sense?

If you don’t know the answer yet, be challenged to just wait and listen to what God wants to share with you.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).

Why do we have so much trouble being still?

Aside from what we consider as a lack of productivity, a main reason we don’t want to be still is because it causes us to face everything we desperately try to avoid.

Being still means listening to God and let’s be honest: we don’t always want to hear what He has to say.

But just as all of the plans He has for us are for good, all that He has to say to us can be for good as well.

In your quest to be obedient to His call, try also to be still and really listen to God. Just when you think He’s not saying a word, His truth will become so loud and unmistakable you won’t need to question a thing.

And if you’re obedient, well, that’s when the real fun happens.

Resources

James Emery White. Momentum. Sermon series available at Mecklenburg Community Church.