The Value of Silence

Do you enjoy Silence or endure Silence? Have you ever gave Silence any thoughtful rational for its existence? Silence is more than odd times of saying nothing, but Silence serves as an opportunity for enlightenment. Silence has different meanings at different times in our lives. You can find multiple examples of Silence in Scripture that remains relevant for today’s situations.

In the Old Testament, this Scripture reveals Silence uniquely: “No hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.” (I Kings 6:7) This text unfolds the building of the Temple under King Solomon’s administration. King Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, which took seven years and six months to complete. “Actually, this verse means that the stones were so carefully tooled and skillfully prepared when first cut from the remote quarries that they needed no major adjustment when they were transported to the construction site.” (Russell, Dilday, The Preacher’s Commentary) Remember, the intent of this temple represented the house of God not the house of His people. Unlike today’s churches, the seating capacity of the temple did not include worshippers only the presence of God. As you read this Scripture notice the work of God continues in the mist of Silence without any sound of hammering or chiseling.

In the New Testament, the Savior places Mary and Martha on Silence by delaying His time for two additional days before He delivers Lazarus from the grave. This Silence discloses a timetable that is void on human interference. Even in the book of Revelation, Silence occurs for ½ hour to signify the beginning of eternal glory when the seventh seal opens. (Revelation 7:11) Since a ½ hour in eternity is unmeasurable for this present age of time, the measurement of Silence in the book of Revelation is timeless on earth.

When you experience unanswered prayers or delayed requests, think about Silence. Mainly, Silence occurs for you to acknowledge its existence instead of displaying intolerance. Silence allows you to resonate about the unseen world as you connect your spirit with God. You must recognize God’s quiet presence unlike the noisy surroundings of this world's media hype. The work of God transpires in Silence by inconspicuous means. During Silence, you feel uneasiness and apprehension as reflected by your physical being, but Silence interchanges with your spiritual beings. If you welcome Silence as demonstrated in Scripture, you will envision more than the ordinary. The Apostle Paul notes that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. (I Corinthians 3:16) So when Silence materializes you must tune into your spiritual being to recognize how the natural realm is shaping your temple for God. Like the skillful cutting of stones for the physical Temple of God, the Holy Spirit works in Silence to build and shape your life for the dwelling place of God in the spiritual realm. In other words, SILENCE represents, God building your life for Him to dwell just like the temple that Solomon built.

Thanksgiving 2019

As we celebrate this national holiday of Thanksgiving, I must really rationalize my most thankful thoughts. Yet, such rationalization lead me to this verse of giving praise to the Lord. I realize that my Creator, the Sustainer of life enables each of us to enjoy these earthly things like Thanksgiving. For this day, our nation stops to enjoy family and friends as we cherish each other. So I must proclaim His name and acknowledge what He has done and is doing in my life and lives of others around me. Yes, I know I have shortcomings or lack certain things or even have failed to achieve certain goals. Nevertheless, today I lay all those thoughts aside and PROCLAIM HIS NAME as I realize without HIM, I am nothing more than the dust from HIS creation. Even the Apostle Paul referenced the mystery of this Thanksgiving when he states, "that from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesian 3:9) 
So today, I proclaim HIS Name for all my family and friends that HE, my Creator is worthy of this Thanksgiving in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, AMEN!

What you need to know about Demons!

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Mark 5:6-7

by Aaron Burden from  Unsplash.com

We live in an amazing Cosmos that allows us to reside in a natural existence while interacting in a spiritual realm that evolves around us. Yet, Scripture vividly demonstrates the spiritual realm, especially when the Savior interacts with unclean spirits or demons. The verses above acknowledge a unique interaction with demons because these demons knew the Savior prior to their face to face contact. Notice how they (demons) recognized His royalty by giving Him adoration. They even recognized His authority by pleading their freedom of torment. Mainly, they acknowledged His status as the Son of the most High God. Even in the spiritual realm, like our natural realm, you have identifiable characters with individualized events that alert ones to the memory of past dealings. For instance, when the Savior confronts these demons who are within this man in Gadarenes, these demons identified themselves as Legion, meaning that they are many. Legion immediately requested that the Savior refrain from tormenting them which gives us the assumption of past dealings. Yet, it is hard to believe that one human can possess so many unclean spirits. As for this scenario, the demons’ count equated to 2000 because when these demons requested that they enter the swine nearby, it was 2000 swine who committed suicide. I assumed that each demon occupied an individual swine who then decided to run off a cliff and drown in the sea instead of tolerating their existence with demons or an unclean spirits. (Mark 5:1-13)

This episode with demons in the book of Mark provides a colorful insight into the spiritual realm of reality. First, demons are real and their habitation consists of this earth because of their defeat in the heavenly realm. Scriptures reveal that Michael and his angels defeated Satan and his demons and after their defeat they left heaven to live on earth. (Revelation 12:7-8). Secondly, humans are made in the image of God, “So God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:8) You must grasp the totality of this momentous statement because you will then understand why demons engage with humans in warfare. Since humans reflect God’s image, demons continue their fight with God here on earth through their interaction with humans. Remember, God disrupted the demons’ earthly kingdom by creating another creature who reflects His image and likeness. Originally, Demon had dominion within the earth. When God created humans, He gave them dominion over the demons’ habitation. What an awesome plan of God! Remember God’s angels defeated demons in the heavenly realm, and now God allows a lesser creature (humans) to continue the same war but in another realm when He gave them dominion over earth.  

Although, Satan temporarily defeated man with their first encounter by luring man and woman (Adam and Eve) to disobey the Creator in the Garden of Eden. Thereafter, God sent His Son to the same realm with a simple weapon of offense to defeat Satan. Now, through unpretentious faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to redeem mankind, a redemptive man can continue this spiritual war right here on earth. Presently, this heavenly war continues with new soldiers who are created lesser than heavenly angels; yet they are armed with heavenly weaponry. When these soldiers become knowledgeable of their dominating power in the earthly realm, they can easily defeat demons like Michael and his angels defeated them in the heavenly realm.

Now please ponder these two questions. Did you join this heavenly war on earth when you became a member of God’s family? Do you use your heavenly weaponry when engaging demons? Remember when you interact with demonic forces in the spiritual realm on earth please become mindful as follows: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. (II Corinthians 10:4) Now engage your demons like your Savior with Legion.

Who am I? Woman the Bible

My name means my father is joy. I am quick witted, wise, beautiful, and a great peacemaker.  I gave one of the longest speeches recorded by a woman in the Bible. I was once married to a rich but foolish man. He was a blockhead, a numb skull, and a nincompoop. We had lots of land and herds. David and his army were taking refuge from Saul, and they camped near our land. They protected our sheep from wolves, and bandits, and subsequently, our herds prospered.

One day David’s men came and asked of my husband if we could give them some food and drink. Of course, my foolish husband said no insulting to the future king of Israel. David’s men went back and told David what had happened. So David gathered 400 men to come and kill my husband along with his servants.  Well, our servants knew my wisdom. So one of them informed me of the conversation between my husband and David’s men. I immediately saddled up a few donkeys to take David’s army some food that consisted of 200 loaves of bread, two wine skins of wine, the meat of five sheep, a bushel of grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. Mainly, I had heard about David and his kindness toward Saul and Jonathan. I heard about his victories and his love for the Lord God of Israel. When I met him, I fell to mine knees to display humbleness. I asked forgiveness for the disrespect of my husband and reminded him of how the Lord had taken care of him and that the Lord will avenge his enemies. 

David thanked me for reminding him of the sinful behavior of revenge when pursued by his own hands. He accepted my gifts and told me to return home in peace.  Well, I returned to explain to my husband the seriousness of these events but he was intoxicated at the time. So I waited until the next morning to provide the anticipated results of his stubbornness. When I finished my story, my husband had a stroke and 10 days later he died.

Now when David heard about what had happened. He remembered my beauty and wisdom. Then, David asked me to become his wife of which I consented immediately. Who am I?

My name is Abigail. My story is found 1 Samuel 25.

It is very important to pray for our husbands. Ask God daily for His wisdom and understanding.  Strive to become peacemakers and not mess makers.  Abigail was called and set apart for the purpose of a peacemaker. Mathew 5:9 reminds us that, “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

by my sister, 

Dena Baker Brooks