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Welcome. Greetings in Jesus’ Name - Im Carol Brooke and we count it a privilege to share
Gods Word with you. We trust it will be from the Lord and it will build you up in the faith.
Were glad to have you laadies participate in filming and we give thanks to Chuck and
Pat Hansen for the use of their home. Were continuing in this 28 part series called Times
and Seasons, taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1. Were seeing aspects of life God allows His
children to walk where He says in every thing, theres a time within a season and a purpose
we need to discover to all of these experiences – so our living is not in vain. My hearts
cry is Oh God, dont let my living be in vain. I dont want to come to the end of my life
and say My life was one big waste. I want to feel Ive fulfilled the purpose – though
it may not be significant–I did fulfill what God put me on earth for. Theres contentment
in knowing that no matter what comes, that theres a reason youre here. You that are listening
to me, its not an accident you happened to be walking around on this earth –God has
purpose within you –theres a niche you fit that God created you for as He designed you
in your mothers womb. You say, I was an accident or Oh, I wasnt even wanted. I can say a lot
of those things about myself. But God has a purpose and the seasons you walk, God wants
to bring out the purposes He planned for you throughout them. Weve got to look for that
and seek the Lord so we are gleaners of the good and let go of the bad. Eat the meat,
forget the bones. We dont want the chaff, we want the wheat. In life, if you hang on
to the dregs and negatives it will swallow you up. Youll be buried in it as you get older,
like me. If you look for the good God has worked in your life through things you go
through, you will find your life was not in vain. It will have worth. This is lesson 23
and the subject is To Keep Silence. Were not going to be rude and say shut up. But the
Spirit of God might get that strong if we dont get quiet; He might say Shut up. To keep
silence, theres a place, a time, a season when we need to put a zipper on the mouth,
say no more, be still. What does the Word say because youre not impressed with what
I think. Theres a good portion of scripture to cover so God help me get through it and
give hints out so you can glean and move on with that. Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 says, TO EVERYTHING
there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: A time to rend, and
a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. Ladies, underscore in your
study Bible the words season, time, and purpose? I hope youre conscious of all three factors.
Thats very important. There is timing in our lives when we need to be still, say nothing.
God used three minor prophets to demand that the people of God be silent. There are times
in the presence of God, we are to be silent. I grew up in a full gospel faith, there was a lot going on, and its not the
quietest of services. There was a season when the Lord sent me to be a part of a church
that was very ritualistic, formal. We read off the paper what we were supposed to do
next – and some of you listening to me attend those churches. They had a time when we were
to be quiet. There was nothing happening at all in the service. In a full gospel church
that would make people nervous. They would wonder, Why isnt something happening? God
used me to minister in this formal church, in the Word – when that silent period came
I felt at a loss. I had to learn to adapt to all of a sudden in the service being still,
being quiet. I had problems harnessing my thoughts so I was really silent before God
because that was new. Some have grown up perhaps in churches where that was practiced and thats
wasnt a problem. But theres a place, a time, according to the Word and at least three minor
prophets God used to demand people of God be silent at His presence and in His presence.
Habakkuk 2:20 says But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence
before him. Why - because the Lords presence was in His holy temple. Do you know, in the
day of Solomon, when he dedicated the Temple he built to God the glory cloud of God came
down and filled that Temple –the priests couldnt even minister. Everybody was stunned
because of the power and presence of God. Sometimes we fail to stand in awe of who God
is, have reverence for Him, know His might, miracles, power and that were like little
grasshoppers in comparison. We need to know God is a mighty God and bow low in His presence.
Habakkuk 2:20 says, But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth hush and keep
silence before Him. Does quietness make you nervous? The Word is very strong – Hush,
because the Lord is in His temple. The Word would be, if when God is mightily moving sometimes,
the flesh didnt move in and spoil the whole thing and the Holy Spirit lifts. Ive seen
that happen where God came in a mighty way and somebody in their fleshly energy got up
and interfered and the Spirit was squelched and God ceased the operation of the mighty
things He was doing. We must be careful to not be rude and interrupt the Spirit when
He is moving. Zephaniah 1:7 says, Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for
the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath big his
guests. Another way of saying Be still. The Amplified says, [Hush!] Be silent before the
Lord GOD: for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared
a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation.
There is a time, and season in the presence of God its not all yak-yak and pray and talk
and give Him your laundry list but just be quiet. Zechariah, another minor prophets,
that was used to command Israel to be silent for a time and season –Zechariah 2:13 says,
Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Zechariah 2:13. In the Amplified Vs, it says, Be still, all flesh, before the Lord, for
he is aroused and risen from his holy habitation. Theres a time in His presence we need to be
still. And if were not willing to do that from time to time, how are we going to hear
His voice? Some of us talk so much that God never gets a chance to speak. Matthew 17:1-5
where Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John says, AND SIX days after this,
Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain
by themselves. And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone
clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. And behold, there
appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him. Then Peter began to speak
and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put
up three booths here – one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. While he was
still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from
the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted.
Listen to Him! I can imagine Peters face when he was rebuked. Jesus was gracious enough
to allow them to go up the mountain with Him to the very presence of the Father. As He
is communicating with the Father, the appearance of Jesus is transformed. Hes like glistening
light. And by vision, Elijah and Moses, that led the children of Israel out of Egyptian
bondage, appeared. These had passed away many years previously but God allowed them to have
a communication with Jesus. Here are Peter, James and John, on their faces to the ground,
perhaps because of this experience of seeing Jesus glorified. And what does Peter do? He
butts in to the conversation that Jesus is having with Moses and Elijah and says Oh,
its wonderful for us to be here, Lord. Im willing to build some booths so we can stay
here and keep this wonderful experience. What happened? God spoke right out of heaven and
rebuked him saying This is my son – you listen to him. Be quiet, Peter, youre speaking
out of turn. We have to be careful we dont let our aggressiveness run ahead of us like
a horse without reins. This tongue is an unruly member and hard to harness. Sometimes were
too quick to speak. Peter interfered in the conversation, he was rebuked and told to listen
to the son of God. Theres a time we need to be still. Instead of having ideas before the
Lord, listen and see what He tells us to do. In I Kings 19:12 the prophet didnt hear the
voice of the Lord in the earthquake, the fire; or in the wind, but in a still, small voice.
Thats why theres a time to be silent. You may pour your heart out to God of all the
issues concerning you. But then quiet yourself before the Lord and listen –He may not put
it in the newspaper or send you a wire. He may not shout it but speak in a still, small
voice. If you are not quiet you will not hear that voice. If you dont turn the volume down
in your life, and your circumstances or you wont hear the voice of God. I wonder if the
more we grow more mature in the Lord, the more the Lord softens His voice. It gets more
still; more quiet. Its not that Hes speaking less but less dramatic. When were younger
in the Lord we need something dramatic to get our attention, we heard it and know its
God. But the more we walk with the Lord and learn to discern His voice, the Lord - to
cause us to listen and walk more closely - the Lord lowers His voice and we have to listen
and keep our ear tuned to the Spirit. In my younger life and others testify the same,
walking with the Lord, things were more dramatic; more pronounced so I knew it had to be God.
As I get older, more mature in the Lord, the Lords voice becomes a still, small voice.
We have to wait; be quiet before God to be able to hear that small voice. We walk closer
than we ever walked before as He lowers His voice. Like when you speak to your child.
When theyre younger you speak more loudly to get their attention. It shouldnt be that
you speak more loudly because theyre teenagers and wont listen. It should be as they are
older you soften your voice and they come closer and listen better to hear your voice. Psalms 46:10 says, Be
still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the
earth. Amen. The Lord said it; He meant it and Hes going to do it. I look forward to
seeing the Lord be exalted in the earth, among the heathen and men will see Hes the answer
to their need, He is the Way, the Truth and Life. There are times when the Spirit of God
will tell you to be still and experience He is God instead of running around fretting,
trying to solve it with your own hand. Theres a time, a place, a season where only God can
handle the situation and youve got to not meddle. Youve got to be still and know Hes
God. He will be exalted and take command of that situation. Ill never forget one time
in my life there was an incident that was upsetting and disturbing to me. It seemed
it required my immediate reaction- I should take charge and take action and do something
about this unjust thing. I was on the verge of doing that and the Lord awakened me in
the night and said: Be still! That verse came so strong it was like a voice. Be still and
know that I am God. Im telling you, the fear of God came on me and I said Oh, Lord, forgive
me. I will not take this up in my hands and take charge of a situation. I had to release
the reins to God and let go. Have you ever felt like that? There was something that happened
and you felt, this is wrong and Im going to make it right. There are times when God isnt
going to let you do that. It will have to be God because youll make a big mess out of
it, like I would. Ive been so thankful as Ive looked back on that situation and said,
Oh, thank You God – You didnt let me do what I was going to do. That very morning
I was going to take action and He stopped me in the night - it would have made a total
difference in my life and ministry. God is merciful. As well as in relationship to God
our being quiet, but what about our relationship with others? How should we handle ourselves
and is there a time to be silent? Yes, there is. We cant always do all the talking. James
1:19 says Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath. Were to be quick to listen but very slow to speak. Take time to weigh
your words. Proverbs 10:19 says, In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that
refraineth his lips is wise. Those that hold back from something they feel like saying,
that they shouldnt say when they need to be silent – that person has wisdom. The wise
man can refrain and control his lips. Some people have to let her fly. Whatever they
think –its out before they can call it back. Sometimes we wish we had not said some things
– you cant bring them back can you? Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 says theres a season for that, lets read that, ladies.
It says, Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing
before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ooh, God help us. He says let our words be few. Thats not easy. For a dream cometh through
the multitude of business; and a fools voice is known How do you know its a fools voice
thats speaking? by multitude of words. We dont want to be put in the category of being
a fool. The scripture makes clear those who are full of a multitude of words never stop
talking – that is how you recognize a fools voice. Proverbs 29:1 says, a fool uttereth
all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Are you a person that doesnt
utter everything you think? I know people that everything they think comes out of their
mouth. It says, a wise man keeps it in until afterwards. Its significant and important
when spoken after the fact. Dont let your mouth run away like a wild horse. Proverbs
11:13 speaks about a gossiper. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful
spirit concealeth the matter. He will keep it quiet. Maybe theres something you know
about someone. Instead of running around revealing private secrets –have a faithful spirit,
conceal the matter. Dont bring it out in public unless theres a necessity, a time and place.
James 3:5-6 tells about this little tongue, it can set a forest on fire when out of control.
It often is filled with deadly poison. Out of the members in our body the most deadly
is our tongue. God help us grow in Him, let this tongue be more sanctified to God and
let our conversation be praise-worthy. Oh, bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within
me bless His holy name, the psalmist said. I say it too and Im sure you say it with me.
He is worthy to be blessed. God bless you and God keep you. God strengthen you. Father,
I pray right now for our listeners that you will give them the wisdom, the reins of the
Holy Spirit in their life that theyll know when they need to be quiet and when to speak.
Help us know the difference. Lead us by your Spirit we pray, that You may be seen through
our lives that other lives might be touched for You. In Jesus name, we ask You. Amen.
We ask you to pray for us as we pray for you and if we can be of help in some way, let
us know. We count it a privilege to share Gods Word with you. We trust that God will
take our simplicity and through His Spirit, make it of advantage so that your time will
not be spent in vain. Next time will be on A
Time To Speak. We love you in Jesus. Amen.