Be Silent, All Flesh, Before the Lord

Be Silent, All Flesh, Before the Lord

Be silent! Why? Because the flesh has only done what is bad. It is utter vanity and foolishness! Nothing good has ever resulted from it. It has done only mischief. Everything that comes from man is simply a minus. Therefore be silent!

In the old covenant there were some people who honestly endeavored to do good, but they acknowledged that they could not do it. Therefore deliverance came in Christ Jesus. For all flesh to be silent could only be achieved in and through Jesus Christ, who silenced it by nailing it to the cross. Everyone has an opportunity to silence the flesh since the Spirit has been sent down to earth. The entire person can be silenced, through faith in being crucified with Christ.

The tongue is restless; it wants to speak. It wants to speak about everything possible; it wants to speak and disturb the peace and rest in Christ Jesus. This is the evidence that the flesh is alive. However, its place is on the cross. Man speaks pure foolishness which is often dictated by vain ambition. People are busy with what others think and believe about them and so they speak to please people, instead of thinking, “I wonder what God thinks about me?” Generally, people think, like, imply, and have a fixed opinion. All this is confusion, a total chaos. It is brewing in their inner man like a witches’ cauldron. Thoughts are swirling around; there is constant commotion in their hearts; it explodes at the slightest touch! This is Babel which cannot be healed. There is only one way out, which is to die—die while you are alive. Surrender it into death; not only what you do not like but the entire man. Be silent before the Lord, all flesh! It happened in Christ, and by faith it happens in us. Shall we not say anything? Just very little! How will it go then? Remarkably well! The witches’ cauldron causes only mischief. It is good for a man to be quiet and die to himself. The word of the Lord is liberating! When you hear it, speak it, and say nothing more! Be quiet!

In Romans 7:18 it is written: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . . .” Seeing that nothing good is there, it is of the utmost importance to get rid of it. On the cross with it, into the death of Christ! Our fathers chastened us as seemed best to them (Heb. 12:9-10) so that we would conduct ourselves properly according to the flesh; but that is a bad guideline. We shall be chastened according to God’s Word and His laws in order to become partakers of His holiness. Be silent until the Lord has spoken, and then repeat it correctly. What we need is to come before God’s face and be silent. God speaks when we are silent. I cannot be silent, and I cannot hear God’s voice when words and thoughts swirl around in me. My sincere prayer and longing is that everyone would take this exhortation seriously to heart. God’s Word speaks about everything, and my words are of no effect if the Lord has not spoken.

We enter into rest when the old man with his restlessness has been put off. Then it becomes quiet in the innermost recesses of the heart. Then nothing more is brewing; there is nothing more that “thinks” and “implies.” There is quietness and rest! We have been deposed. He is Lord. He does not desire any interference from man, for He is the one who rules, and He alone wants to rule. This is inexpressibly great! It becomes so peaceful in our heart as if we were in heaven. If this is not your experience, then things are not right with you! Your flesh is not on the cross. These heavenly goods are so very great that earthly things become correspondingly small. Tons of sins are destroyed because earthly things become nothing.

If I could, I would go around and push this blessedness into every single heart. However, you have to silence your flesh yourself through faith in the finished work of Christ. Is this to be taken literally? Yes, and again, Yes. Death is something special. Death has a powerful effect; it takes all of your life; it leaves nothing behind. The spirit is gone, the corpse is buried, and his goods are divided up. Death means death. Then you have no more opinions. Then everything on earth is indifferent to you. Imagine all the sin that perishes when the old man is put off. What an excellent remedy that is for the nerves! When something is going on, people say, “It’s getting on my nerves.” But when the flesh is on the cross, oh how soothing that is for the nerves! When the flesh has been silenced and we have entered into rest, the result is a permanent stay at a health resort so the nerves can heal. You can rest when God leads.

Be silent! God speaks at the right time. He is not too late. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord! May God help us and have mercy on us, so that we take this matter very seriously.