21/07/2019: In the Lions Den: Be Still

21/07/2019: In the Lion’s Den: Be Still

CALL TO WORSHIP: PSALM 46

(A special song for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

¹God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.
²And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea. ³Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains. ⁴A river and its streams bring joy to the city, which is the sacred home of God Most High. ⁵God is in that city, and it won’t be shaken. He will help it at dawn.

⁶Nations rage! Kingdoms fall! But at the voice of God the earth itself melts. ⁷The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. ⁸Come! See the fearsome things the Lord has done on earth. ⁹God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields.
¹⁰Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honour me.” ¹¹The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.

OT SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 6:16-20 (CEV)

¹⁶So Darius ordered Daniel to be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. But he said to Daniel, “You have been faithful to your God, and I pray that he will rescue you.” ¹⁷A stone was rolled over the pit, and it was sealed. Then Darius and his officials stamped the seal to show that no one should let Daniel out. ¹⁸All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him. ¹⁹At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. ²⁰He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”

QUESTIONS:

When we read the Bible there should be a creative tension between ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Take note of the following: Lectio Divinia^[i].

Lectio – we read the text

Meditatio – we meditate the text

Oratio – we pray the text

Contemplatio – we live the text

Divina – the text connects us to God

Let your imagination guide your reading of Daniel in the pit – what do you think Daniel saw, smelt, felt, thought about…? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The presence of angels in the OT is always a sign of ______________________

The major lesson that Daniel learnt was: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your thoughts on Psalm 46:10: “Calm Down and learn that I am God”? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you think about my statement “Fear and anxiety are twins”? Does fear play an integral part in your life? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why is it vital to learn the lesson of “Calm down/Be still …God is with me”? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 22:42-44 ⁴²“Father, if you will, please don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.” ⁴³Then an angel from heaven came to help him. ⁴⁴Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.

Does believing “Be Still and Know that I am God” mean the crisis moments in your life are taken away? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A verse to think about: 1 Corinthians 1:18 “Christ Is God’s Power and Wisdom – ¹⁸The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God’s power at work.”

Practical exercise for this week – for times of prayer and in times of stress and pressure. Breathe deeply and slowly; consciously slow your breathing down; and say to yourself “Be still… Calm down… I breathe God in… and I remember …. God is in charge!”

NOTES:

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God bless,

Rev. Tim

[i] “Eat this Book”: Eugen Peterson: 2006: Hodder and Stoughton: pg. 91

21/07/2019: In the Lion’s Den: Be Still

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