A Four Letter Word _ _ _ _!

Gratitude...

Thank you for these last seven weeks of rest. I am overwhelmed by the grace and love of this church and our leadership that you allow your pastor to take a sabbatical every seven years.

It was a blessed time / very restful

I was able to read some books that I have desired to for some time now

I listened to each of the messages preached from the scriptures each week here and had my heart blessed and challenged on multiple levels! (WHAT A BLESSING)

I am excited to share my heart from God’s Word

I would like to take today and the next two Sundays to express some things God taught me personally during this time…

In order for me to express a hard lesson learned over these weeks… I need to take you to a few passages of scripture in the Old Testament.

Sabbath...

From the opening pages of scripture… God gives mankind an example… Genesis 2:1-3

Genesis 2:1–3 NASB95

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Later we see as God free His people Israel bringing them into the promise land and He gives them His law… It is God who gives the people (His People) His moral law and civil law…

(God always wants our best when He gives His law)

In Deuteronomy 5:12-14a we see Moses remind the people of What God has commanded in His Moral Law

Deuteronomy 5:12–15 NASB95

‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God;

God gives this not only to them but also states in Chapter 6 to pass these things on to following generations!

Sabbath, a moment for rest, focus on God, it was HOLY = set apart, pure, dedicated to purpose

As God would lay out His civil law to the people of Israel He instituted “sabbath years” and “years of jubilee” to give the land rest, this too would serve as a rest for the people too, a change of pace

Warren Wiersbe summarizes them well…

Be Resolute (1. Insight: Learning God’s Plan (Dan. 9:1–2)) God revealed to Jeremiah that the people of Israel would be taken to Babylon and be exiled from their land for seventy years (Jer. 25:11–12; 29:10). God had commanded His people to give the land a “sabbath rest” every seven years and a “year of jubilee” every fifty years (Lev. 25). Both the forty-ninth and the fiftieth years would be “sabbatic years” when the people were not allowed to sow seed or cultivate their orchards. They had to trust God to make the food grow to meet their daily needs. This law was not only good for the land, helping to restore its fertility, but it was also good for the spiritual life of the nation. However, it was not until the nation’s captivity in Babylon that the land enjoyed its sabbath rests.

Can you believe that one of the nation of Israel’s greatest struggles was the sabbath and sabbatical years!?

Sabbatical Struggle...

As a student of the scriptures I have had a hard heart towards the people of Israel in regard to their lack of FAITH in terms of following the sabbath year and trusting God.

God gave such a clear IF / THEN statement “do this and I will bless”

God even challenged the people, warned them with prophets, and they still did not trust God

WHY WAS IT SO HARD FOR THEM TO TRUST GOD IN THIS REST… ???

Have you ever been frustrated with someone just to find out YOU are no different?! There was a moment this summer where I had a David and Nathan moment where I felt God say to me “you are that man”.

Four days into my sabbatical and I was struggling with taking this time of REST…

When I left finances were in the negative

We were approaching summer with low attendance being the norm

Several were struggling with cancer and illness

Some marriages were having difficult times

Things were left unfinished

My wife was gracious as she listened to me say foolish things like:

I need to be THERE

I need to DO this

I need to FIX that

I need to CARE for this or that

She asked some good thoughtful questions, I had no answers and there was silence for long portions of the drive. I am amazed how loudly God can speak to a heart when there is silence… really it would be over the next few weeks that God revealed some things in my heart that I did not want to admit were there…

The Four Letter Word REST revealed some FIVE LETTER word issues that your pastor needed to deal with…

WORRY

What will happen, uncertainty, concerns

PRIDE

Thinking it had to be me… we have five shepherds at this church

Men who are able to handle God’s Word

Not to mention the Chief Shepherd!!!

TRUST

Was my God big enough?

Could my God do … xyz

I looked at Israel and it was like I was looking in a mirror

God did work in my heart in these areas, but for Him to do so I had to pause… I needed to REST!

Todays passage in Mark has many times over ministered to me in this need in believer’s lives... Mark 6:7-14 a

Mark 6:7–14 NASB95

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. “Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” They went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known;

The Work of Ministry

WOW!!! what an exciting and amazing time of ministry… God was working in some amazing ways!

Consider the impact their ministry has had…JESUS IS PROCLAIMED… Herod hears of it!

The Disciples Were Given a Mission

The apostles had a mission, a task, work to do

The harvest is plentiful; laborers are few

The work is good and needed

They were obeying

You and I are called to work as well…

Serve the body of Christ

Salt and light to a lost world

What Christ does when they return has always fascinated me... Mark 6:30-32

Mark 6:30–32 NASB95

The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

REST...

When God Works… It Is Amazing!

They share and are excited (I am excited what He is doing in and through GBC)

God is working… when God works it is exciting to be a part of it and watch Him do His work!

When good things are happening, life is busy, and you are single focused...

Brady Boyd, author of the book, “Addicted to Busy” said this…

“if people really slowed down, they would have to pay attention to what's goin' on in their heart, in their marriage and with their kids. And busyness is a way to medicate, to ignore bigger issues.”

“the greatest risk to restfulness is success, because failure invites us to pause, to regroup, to take stock and to rest.”

Focus on the Family put out an article that stated the #1 attack on the family is: Exhaustion/Busy Schedules

More than infidelity… pornography… finances… or unemployment

This attack has created families who have:

No meals together

No time together

Eventually No common ground or interest

No energy to raise Godly children

No energy to fight for marriages

No real need for each other (each is going their own way and too tired to invest in anyone else…)

This attack has crept in and is doing the same if not worse damage on the Family of God!

Christ Has Them… REST

Jesus was not using the momentum to wear them out more… God cares for you

Come away… off alone WITH Christ

Rest… We pride ourselves on the busyness of our schedules…

“R E S T” In our society and lives has become a FOUR LETTER Word!

Bible Word Study |Rest ~ ἀναπαύω

anapauō rest; revive; remain quiet; stop; give rest

to become physically refreshed after ceasing activity or work

A focus on restorative character of rest rather than mere ceasing of activity

anapauō ( A - NAP - POWER)

Jesus had taught many times concerning the sabbath. He invented it, He was the one who exampled it (at creation and as He lived) Mark 2:27 Jesus declares:

Mark 2:27 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

The ultimate reason for the sabbath and sabbatical rest is rooted in God’s care for His people.

REST… Why Do It?

I find three good reasons, other than the simple fact God commands us to, for God’s people to REST.

Reflection

God’s example Genesis, He looked and saw that it was very good.

Stop and see what God is doing don’t miss it

Refuel

The abiding in Christ rest is crucial

There is more work/ministry to be done!

Christ had not lost compassion for the need (forward movement)

May we see the same need and have compassion and the strength to minister

Refocus

In all the busyness of life what is important?

Two Things are eternal… God’s Word and People

Are you missing what God desires you to be a part of

Cautions

NOT… An excuse to be lazy

Proverbs says a great deal about the sluggard and the warnings that come with that lifestyle

Not taking REST may lead to consequences… just as it did with Israel

Closing Thoughts

I was wearing my busyness as a badge of honor, wrongly so. This church and the Lord graciously gave me the gift of rest. Thank you!

I came to a spot where God showed me my pride, He is working in my heart, I want to focus on what is important to Him.

As I REFLECTED in those areas of worry, pride & trust...

God took care of the finances

We had amazing attendance

People are cared for in this church

God is working, this church is moving forward!

As I REFUELED… all I can say is I am excited for the days and years ahead!

As I REFOCUSED… there are areas I need work on, there are areas we need to consider in scripture

Coming back from this sabbatical I am so grateful for you all and I count it an honor to be a part of the church family.

Rest is a God Given Gift… Use it wisely for His Glory