Don’t Just Do Something… Stand Still!
May 19th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today….” Exodus 14:13
As I write these words this morning and reflect on the series of discussions we are having on this passage, I can’t help but think we shall be tested on this topic very soon. Change is in the wind and with that comes uncertainty. It will soon be more important than ever to know how to “fear not,” to know how to “stand still” and to learn to see the salvation of the LORD. This is a time to strengthen your cords, not just lengthen them.
When you “fear not,” you have gotten your mind, will and emotions under control. The next thing God required of the Israelites was to get their body under control. Stand still! Don’t run. Don’t walk. Don’t lie down in a fetal position. Stand. It’s getting your soul and your body in agreement so that by the Spirit you will be able to see the salvation of the LORD.
“Stand still” literally means to present yourself. Think of it as facing your accuser, facing your challenger, facing your circumstances. Take a stand! Put your body posture into agreement with an inner decision to fear not. Nearly 14 years ago, a business venture went bad. I was overwhelmed with unpaid bills and very much in fear. The fear I had was evidenced by one major thing: I couldn’t stand still (so to speak) and present myself both to God and then to the adversary.
The turning point came for me when I laid my bills out on the floor. I presented myself to God and faced my bills. Something happened in the spirit that day that began to turn things around. One year later, the bills were long gone and provision was not an issue. It’s not enough to say you have no fear. Sometimes we need to take a stand. Present ourselves. Face our trials head on… and then we shall see the salvation of the LORD. What do you need to face?
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May 19th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hello Michael
As I looked at your topic I beg humbly to differ with who sdaid what. Chapter 14 verse 13 says AND MOSES SAID it did not say THE LORD SAID The Lord had already given his instruction in versen 1. I believe that we are to Fear not That is always God (Yahweh’s ) word to us but Moses said “Stand Still” and further down you find that God asked Moses why cry to Him He said “Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.” They were not to stand still. Also Moses I believe responded to the ignorant behavior of the children of Israel who were complaining. I always link this scripture to having Faith in God’s instructions brings us to movement.
Gloria Bradford
May 19th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Stand Still…….As I read this today I thought about my own situation. Today I must tell my employee’s we are closing our doors in 2 weeks. I have loads of unpaid bills not to mention I am $250,000.00 in debt on our business failing.
After reading this story I have renewed my courage to stand still face my demons and let the blessings of my GOD come down on me. This may cost me my marriage, it will cost friendships, not to mentioned the loss of my life savings, but I know that GOD loves me and has a plan for me. I just need to stand still and wait his direction.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Fear Nor. At the crucial point of Israel’s deliverance they must see that their salvation is entirely God’s work, not ours. Vs 18 the Lord will fight for them. Why, He will get the glory.
Many years of disobeying God in the area of disobedience, especially in finances, and I do not care how many times you spread all the stuff on the floor, without true repentance, God is not going to deliver anyone from financial bondage. God is not Santa Claus. He is God and he must get the all of the glory.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Gloria;
I thank you very much for your kind and humble correction as to who said what. Thank you for that. I believe however that Moses was speaking the will of God at that moment. Fear not. Stand still. See the salvation of God. They were not allowed nor capable of moving forward until God parted the waters and dried the ground. To do so ahead of seeing God’s divine intervention would have been presumption and disastrous. They very much needed to stand still and see… At least that is how I read the account, but I wasn’t there.
Blessings,
Michael
May 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Hi Kern…
What happened when I “spread all the stuff on the floor” was indeed a very private and vulnerable time which fyi did include true repentance. I sincerely hope you are not suggesting that we are painting God as Santa Claus, cuz we are definitely not.
Blessings,
Michael
May 19th, 2008 at 9:28 am
And if you do repent, he may still not deliver from financial bondage, until He takes you home. Ie Paul. Just like he does not necessary heal someone of aids after years of homosexual relationship. We are to trust God and obey all his commandments. As Paul mentions that a life time of hardship what is that compared to a eternity of being with God. God is our joy, not our earthly circumstances.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Thanks again Michael! As an ADHD adult my “standing” is sometimes on my bike, riding to get my mind still before the FATHER. We have put our home on the market and are considering a total life change and location. It is our “fleece” before HIM, seeking HIS will for us. The “do not fear” part is what I needed to read. Bless you and keep helping me see what you see. I see so much wrong doctrine out there, especially now, it is nice to see your vision of HIS will for our world. Indeed many might die failing to see HIS promises, but my focus will be on my face (bike) before HIM.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
The Lord is not an ATM. The Lord is a LOVING FATHER provides for his children. Specilaly when we are obedient, we are blessed by him. Akk it is for his GLORY. Have faith in the LORD. When we have faith in him, What so ever you desire, when you pray, beleive that you received it, and you shall have it: Mark 11:24. When we are faithfull, the LORD is glorified in us.
We are a small business owners in Ponce, Puerto Rico, USA. We are in a terrible mess. We started a business in very difficult economic times. However, we are trusting the LORD in every step we take. He commands that we gather the containers for the OIL. Read 2 Kings 4:1-7. The Lord eill mulitiply whatever we have. Only when we believe and when we do as it is his will. like the widow on the story of 2 Kings 4.
Stand Still!!, Believe in the LORD.
May the Lord Bless you!
Josue O Gonzalez
May 19th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
This could not have come at a greater time. I was sexually assulted/raped 3 years ago and the District Attorney along with the police took me through a grouling process. The district attorney picked and choose which charges she wanted to use and which ones she did not. One of the police told me I had coaxed my son on his confession meanwhile I had not idea he had witnessed the entire event. The district attorney over 2 years ago assured me this man would not see day light and he he would be adequately charged. This man has been fully released from jail and I see him at least once a week. His parents live next door to where I live. I called the DA’s (district attorney’s) office to find out about my case it appears that my case was pushed into a corner or on someone’s shelf to collect dust. My life has been completely devastated just by seeing this man, my son is petrified to go outside and now the DA wants me to come in again and go over the case with them again. I have been really resentful towards everyone including God trying to understand how anyone could have let this happen…and am quite distrubed that I have to rehash this situation again!!! I told my girlfriend I did not want to go and that this was bothering me…She asked me where was my faith in God? I told her this wasn’t about God that it was about man and their slow justice how we are nothing but numbers to the system….She spends alot of time telling me to stand still but I never really knew what that meant until now…very enlightening…
May 19th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Theresa,
Thank you for sharing, I know how hard it was.
One of the big obstacles to loving our enemies is that we feel like justice is not done. But Paul says,
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (19) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (20) To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
Justice will be done. God will do it. And this promise that he will do it gives us a wonderful freedom to love.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (44) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-46)
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
Stand firm in your faith and let God be the revenger.
May God bless you
Kern
May 20th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Wow! I’m amazed at the number of Christians who are going through really harrowing stuff right now. Theresa, you go for it and prevent this man attacking some other innocent girl/woman. Jesus will take the heartache, just take it to Him and ask for a great big dose of His Love and peace. We’ll pray.
Time we learned to fight the good fight against the demonic realm that is having a field day with us believers. I believe that we have to continue working on our mindsets, and be open to hear the Holy Spirit’s leading to save our lives, our families and our livelihoods - not to mention our sanity!
Kern, I know God is not Santa Claus, HE IS WAY BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS! The bills we put on the floor to pray over amounted to $14000. They were all paid for by the 20th of the month, and half the money arrived in our account that very night we prayed, courtesy of the Inland Revenue tax refund, unexpectedly. God is GOOD! He answers when I call, He loves me when I am unlovely, He picks me up when I fall, He encourages me through the fear, and He is there with me, wow IN me 365 DAYS A YEAR, 24 HOURS A DAY. Not just at Christmas. Hallelujah! How is that for Emmanuel, God with us. I’m not afraid to ask Him anything at all, as I am confident that His plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. If He wants me to repent His Holy Spirit convicts me, it does not take thousands of dollars of debt to get me to see my sin and confess it.
Love to you all, and Michael, keep going, the Body of Christ needs this teaching.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:28 am
G’Day Chrissie… Your comments are always helpful and muchly appreciated. Thank you for weighing in with your compassion for others and your strong faith. Blessings!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am
my advice to stephen would be to work on your marriage - it is more imporant than your business - if you lose your marriage but save your business you have lost.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Joe,
Great advice. What good does it do for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. or marriage.
Kern
May 20th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Michael,
I assumed you and your wife had true repentance but I wanted to be sure others knew it. Thanks for sharing a private matter. We need more of that and not less, not necessarily from you but from all of us. It builds up others to see how God is working in our lives.
No I do not think you paint God as Santa Claus but many of the so called Christians do, just watch tv sometimes if you do not believe it. I just wanted to share that even when it is not your fault, God will not bale us out. Our job is to trust and obey. As Peter and David I think said, even if you kill me, I will follow you. Why? Because He is God and for no other reason.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
This is on the Money, pun intended, and so where we need to be right now as believers. Face it down, with God’s help and move toward kingdom provision and God’s greater provision for our nation and the nations, reformed and restored.
This isn’t a multiple choice anymore. It’s becoming clear that we need a clear cut plan as Christians that is comprehensive, strategic and visionary, in each area,
to take back the territory, and morei mportantly, to be
in God’s timing and guidance.
We do need to think globally and communally in order to combat the comfortable and ungodly. And we need to be
clear about the cost of the battle. We’ve seen that withdrawing isn’t a strategy, so what are we up for?
May 20th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
God’s PERFECT timing!!!! I’ve prayed for confirmation, and now I have it through this posting. Praise the Lord! And thank you. I will now STAND still.
With love to all who are reading this and are going through it togther with me. WE ARE NOT ALONE!! God Bless!!
May 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The problem is… Most so called christains do not stand on God word. Even though your feelings might tell you that it will not work out and your friends & family do as well… You must stand on the word of God not your feelings… Timothy said to Fight the good fight of faith… Why? Because he know it was going to be tested on every front… The enemy will send everybody and fight your faith or revelation of the truth your decide to believe in the word of God. Get your word from the bible and stand on it!
Give God all the Glory or Don’t Rob God of his Glory. I hear that and so many are mis-informed on what this means…
Did you know that you are the glory of God? We are his manifested glory on this earth. The bible calls us the bride of Christ. Does the husband hide the wife? No way… He adores her and showcases her to the world as his own… Also God never thinks you are “robbing him of his glory” because you are his glory on this earth! We are called children of the light & friends of God…
May 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Kara,
I like you have ADHD in the severe range as my Doctor puts it. I’m tried several meds mainly so when I try to be quiet in front of the Lord I can hear him. They have not worked, but I understand what your saying. I just wish I could be quiet. I bike a lot myself to try to get close to Him.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
After talking to David Johnson today I also opted to fast for 24 hours. This seems to help slow the thoughts down a bit. We have a high wind advisory today, so no biking for this chickie and I STILL need to hear, but stand still to do it. Blessings to you! Kara
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:21 am
This article describes me and husband’s current situation now! I have been listening to Graham Cooke’s #7 CD on the Arise Warrior teaching set for days….soaking in this prophetic CD. I guess a prophetic friend of mine in the San Antonio area sent me a link about the In Jesus on line community. I want to send this article to my husband, but I do not know how. I guess I can print it out and read it to him. Blessings to all. United we stand, divided we fall. The Word tells us to put on the full armor of God and when we have done that to STAND. THERE IS A MIGHTY ARMY OF GOD COMING TOGETHER AND STANDING. I HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF THE SCENE IN THE MOVIE BRAVEHEART WITH MEL GIBSON, WHEN THE ENEMY WAS ADVANCED. MEL GIBSON AND HIS ARMY….MEL CRYING OUT LOUDLY…..HOLD, HOLD. HOLD. WE ARE HOLDING THE LINE IN THE SPIRIT….STANDING AND FACING THE ENEMY…..HOLD, HOLD, HOLD. OUR DELIVERER, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING….HE IS ON THE WAY, RIDING HIS WHITE HORSE!!!!!