4. But Only the silent hear and those who are not silent do not hear.
5. During a very difficult time in Israel’s history, God sought out Elijah, a discouraged prophet, to teach him something new.
6. The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind .
7. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake . After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire . And after the fire came a sound of sheer silence … 1 Kings 19:11-13
9. Scholars struggled how to explain that God spoke in the “ sound of sheer silence ” so they translated the Hebrew phrase as a “still small voice,” or a “gentle whisper.”
10. But there was only silence. And in that silence Elijah met God.
16. Silence is actually a mode of activity – not just a refraining from speaking or undue noise, but a special form of attentiveness to God. Anonymous Author
44. If silence is difficult for you, why do you think that is?
45. What are the noises in your life that need to be quieted so you can hear God speaking?
46. What calls out to you from these words? “ Silence is the discipline by which the inner fire of God is tended and kept alive.” Henri Nouwen
47. Learning silence is so important that in the 4 th century Agatho, a Christian abbot, carried a stone in his mouth for three years until he learned to be silent.
48. How many stones might you need to carry in your mouth to be silent and listen?
49. “ When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent .” Psalm 4:4
50. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. Eclessiasters 5:2
51. Let’s now try silence without words once again. Only this time let’s do it for 3 minutes.
52. We will begin and end our three minutes with a chime.
53. Ready? Take a deep breath, relax and you might want to ask: “ God how do you want to come to me in these 3 minutes of silence?”
57. The Lord is in holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (That includes us) Habbakuk 2:20
58.
59. Is it possible that you have been searching for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, and He is waiting to be with you in the “sound of sheer silence?”