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Do Not Be Silent
by Rev. Moses K. Ndereva, Pastor – Lifeline Community Fellowship
Text Scripture: Psalm 94:16-19 (NIV)
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.
When problems come knocking at the door of our lives, they tend to give us a reason to think, talk, associate or withdraw. It would appear then that problems speak to us in very distinct terms only realized in the course the reaction takes. Carl Perkins, Loose Talk (Quick Fox) wrote; “If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song?. Isn’t it so true that problems in our fleeting lives tend to influence the tunes we sing, the complaints we advance and the defenses we adopt? My considered view leads me to believe that the best sound we can make when in trouble is whisper a prayer or sing praise to our God.
Firstly, there are many ways to tackle problems in life but the best is looking and hearing from above! (Psalms 121:1-3). Some of the questions we need to answer in order to address problems accordingly include but not limited to the following:
1. Who is with you?
Rarely will you find people willing to rise up for you when you are in serious trouble! Most people walk away! Calls made to people bring more torment and questions than answers. The bible says that the Lord’s hand is not short to reach you wherever you are, whatever the problem. Just Call on Jesus! The Lord will rise up for you.
2. Who stands up for you?
Most people keep silent even when they can say something to exonerate you from falsehoods and a host of other accusations. It is ironical that people tend to open up their mouths more frequently in fault finding than in defending a person. Amazingly, the Lord has a way of having His voice come through on your behalf when no one is willing to speak up for you. No wonder He advises you to hold your peace when you are accused because He will stand up for you.
3. Do I need help, and is it there?
Often times we are afraid to confess that “we are slipping? and soon we find our mouth shut by the drowning that ensues. Under this circumstance, our ability to call out is gone and we can only be helped by those observing us struggle. The best time to call for help is when danger shows. We must know and understand danger signs because they warn us in advance. There is no shame in calling for help when you are slipping away into oblivion. In calling out, we have the following assurances:
- The Lord’s love and support is unfailing
- You can count on God’s help!
- You can depend on His voice
- You can rest assured in His love
- You can obtain solace in His consolation
- No one ever put his hand in the Lord’s hand and lost his way.
- His hand is mighty, strong, capable, and far reaching
- The Lord has many ways of helping you out
In considering some of the ways the Lord uses to help us out, let us consider the
following passage:
Exodus 14:24-26 (NIV)
24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.
25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off [a] so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
Clearly, the Lord has more than one way to help you out. He can send your enemies into confusion, keep them in darkness about what He is doing for you by hiding you under His shadow, or blind them with super light (for God is light) if you continue walking in the light. Most troubles happen in dark areas of our lives, dark places we visit or in relationships that are shrouded in darkness and secrecy. When the Lord shines His light on us, it is the first step in our rescue. No critical helping operations can be successful in utter darkness. Thank God for the light of His word. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Further, the Lord can send your enemies a “drag? by knocking off their wheels so they cannot pursue you while He strengthens you to flee away from them. From the passage, we can clearly see that the purpose of knocking off the wheels from the Egyptian chariots was to slow down Pharaoh’s army while giving the Israelites the advantage to speed off across the Red sea. For you too, there are times the Lord will slow down your enemies. It is not a time to laugh at them or waste your time on them. It is a time for you to get on with your mission and fulfill the will of your God. The Lord may not use fire or hailstones to silence your enemies. The waters, winds, earth and the creatures thereof are His and He has used them before but He does not have to if He elects to do so. Your prayer is simple and specific. Just call out! It is for the Lord to determine how and when He will help you out, but He is sure to help you!
Remember:
- The Lord is not coming; He is here waiting for your call!
- The Lord is not slow, He is always on time.
- The Lord will not try to help; He is able, more than able to help you out.
- Anxiety is within you, cast it out to Him for He cares for you!
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