Down Time #3 – Quiet Down

Pastor Bill Johnston concluded his sermon series, Down Time, with a message on quieting down. The pace of our world is consistently speeding up, so the discipline of meditation and reflection is often a difficult one to make a habit.

DOWN TIME

Message by Bill Johnston – November 26, 2017

QUIET DOWN

Psalm 23:1-6

Concept 1: Susceptibility

Concept 2: Sustainability

This is about the volume of life

The volume of life often impacts your ability to pay attention

The main indicator that you need to quiet down is being consistently distracted

TWO CAUSES

1. ENVIRONMENT

2. SELF-INDUCED

CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DON’T QUIET DOWN

1. HEARING LOSS

2. ANNOYANCE

3. RELATIONAL UNWINDING

4. WE WON’T HEAR THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICES

Words of Wisdom: Quiet down before you deaf down

What is necessary is reflection

James 1:19 (NIV) Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…

KEY ELEMENTS

1. THE PLACE

Psalm 23:2 (NIV) He makes me lie down in green pastures…

2. THE ENVIRONMENT

Mark 6:31 Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

3. THE ATTITUDE

RESULTS WHEN YOU DO QUIET DOWN

1. WE LEARN TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH SILENCE

2. WE BEGIN TO RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE VOICES OF THOSE AROUND US

Proverbs 17:1 (NIV) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife

3. WE START TO RECOGNIZE THE STILL VOICE OF THE FATHER

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV) 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 mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. 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 gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

4. WE BECOME CENTRED IN GOD AT THE SOUL LEVEL

Psalm 131:2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself…

Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength…”

TAKE AWAY: VOLUME OF LIFE ASSESSMENT

Determine if the volume of your life is sustainable

Determine the impact of the volume of your life

Decide the first thing you need to do to quiet down

Begin to apply your decision today

Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength…”