From The Pastor’s Desk – Sitting with Jesus
Sitting with Jesus Reading: Psalm 46
Key Verse: (Psalm 46:10a) “Be still and know that I am God!” Just under a year ago I began a series of messages entitled “Sitting with Jesus.” It was pre-lockdown. I gave three messages. The last message, on Sunday 8th March was: “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
So much has happened since then. The preaching series entitled “Lockdown” has been given, but I have never gotten away from the sense of this call: “Sitting with Jesus.” As I was doing exactly that a couple of weeks ago, I received this prophetic word:-
“Sit with Me and you will hear My heartbeat.
Sit with Me and you will know My mindset.
Sit with Me and you will taste of My goodness.
Sit with Me and you will leave with My special touch for situations.
Sit with Me and you will see My Glory.
The key is to sit with Me.”
We find ourselves in Lockdown 3. The Lord has not chosen to take away Covid 19 – something that He could easily do, if He chose to speak The Word. So, what is His Word to us – when some people are being pushed beyond themselves with responsibilities – for some there aren’t enough hours in the day, for others there are too many hours in the day, leading to frustration with life; isolation; lack of opportunity and ability to make decisions.
David Jeremiah, in his 365 Day Devotional, “Ever Faithful.” January 7th says that “Psychologists are warning we’re losing some basic skills of life by our reliance on mobile devices. People no longer add or subtract; they use calculators on their phones. We don’t memorise anything, our devices become our brains. We don’t think as much because we plug into our earphones and listen to podcasts, music, T.V.” He warns, for all our electronics nothing can replace the simple act of meditation and prayer, of faith and trust, of quietness and confidence and obedience.
“Be still and know that I Am God!” (Psalm 46:10a)
[1] The Practice of Sitting with Jesus! Last Wednesday Jeff, at Wednesday Fellowship, began looking at the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” The word ‘fear’ here means ‘Reverence….. Awe.”
No one else can sit with Jesus for us – we need to do it ourselves. There can be no proxies, no substitutes. It takes discipline. Two of the Godliest men that I have known in my life were not key note preachers at Conventions. They were Jill’s Grandad Perks and my Grandad Yates. When they’d finished their morning’s work, in the ‘retired years’ they would enjoy lunch, then sit and read The Bible, Meditate and Pray. It was their practice of sitting with Jesus – their reverence and awe of God that produced the fragrance of ‘Godliness with Contentment’.
[2] The Privilege of Sitting with Jesus! Over the years hundreds of homes have been open to me as people have welcomed me across their thresholds. This has been the great joy of being ‘Pastor Nigel’. I have been, so, so blessed to hear Testimonies, learn life lessons, drink tea and eat cake – The wonderful privilege of sitting with people – you. We have shared life together. It’s not the same doing it virtually but we are grateful for modern communication in these Covid days.
Jesus says (Matthew 11:27) “All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows The Son except The Father, and no one knows The Father except The Son… and those to whom The Son chooses to reveal Him.
This last week Abbie, our daughter, has been searching her ancestry. I was able to talk to her about relatives that I have known – no longer with us on the earth – as I did so I realised how much I miss them. I began to think of the Spiritual impact that many of them have had on me. They are part of the great cloud of witnesses, cheering me, us, on now.
[3] The Pleasure of Sitting with Jesus! There is no one like Him!
I love John chapter 15. Jesus talks to us about, “Abiding in Him!” “Remaining in Him!”
Jesus is our Home not our Prison.
As we remain in Him, His Word remains in us. That’s how we produce the fruit that eternally remains. He calls us His friends – Chosen Ones.
“To be in His Presence, not rushing away. To cherish each moment, here would I stay. This is my desire, O Lord, this is my desire. This is my desire, O Lord, This is my desire.” (Noel Richards arr L.Evans)
Jesus calls us Family. Adopted into His Family we are “Children of God.”
[4] The Purpose of Sitting with Jesus! Is simply ‘To Become Like Him!’
“For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Rom 8:29)
To become like Him: In Character: Personhood. Expressed through our unique personality and gift mix. Who would Jesus be through me?
To become like Him: In Mind. Processed Thought Life “The mind governed by The Spirit is Life and Peace.” (Rom 8:6b) What would Jesus think?
To become like Him: The Fruit of The Spirit: Practical Expression of Life Lived Out. “But the fruit of The Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Fruitfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Against such things there is no law… Since we live by The Spirit, let us keep in step with The Spirit.” (Gal 5:22-23 & 25) How would Jesus respond?
[5] The Priority of Sitting with Jesus! There are many people, situations, responsibilities that call for our attention.
Ultimately we are each answerable for the choices that we make – before Jesus – on The Judgement Day. To prioritise Sitting with Jesus takes Determination, Focus and Commitment.
Some years ago a preacher, whose identity I can’t remember, said that whenever he sat down to spend time with Jesus all sorts of things that he needed to do came into his mind. He learnt to take his pen and notepad and begin to list the distractions that the flesh and the enemy reminded him of. When all was silent he thanked them for his “To Do” list and made his choice – To Prioritise Sitting with Jesus.
Coming into the known Presence of Jesus – Sitting with Him – is never wasted time. Come with an open Bible, a pen and a notepad/journal. Sit with Jesus….
“Be still and know that I Am God.” (Psalm 46:10a)
