I.        Introduction

A.      In last week message we confronted the subject of compassion.  There are those both inside the church as well as outside who, whether silently or vocally, express the anguish "No one cares for my soul."

B.      Why is stress apparently becoming more prominent today even among Christians?

C.      Why do counselors and therapists,  even Christian have more clientele than they can handle?

D.      Why,  if estimates range anywhere from 40% to 70% of Americans claim a "Born Again" experience, is our society undergoing such radical social and spiritual change contrary to God's word?

E.      If the power of God changes lives, what is happening?

F.      Matthew 11:25-29     At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NKJV)

G.      The Outline

1.         The setting

a)         Jesus had just spoke words of condemnation to Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, because although they witnessed the miracles they did not repent of their sins.  Jesus said that it would be more tolerable for Sodom than for these cities in the day of judgment.

b)         There is a strong indication of pride.

!!!! c)         Matthew 11:23 "And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (NKJV)

2.         The prologue

a)         Understanding the complete divinity and complete humanity of Christ, we see the reaction of Jesus to the rejection of his message and miracles.  This small prayer could be entitled "Father Knows Best".

b)         Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes." The pride and self-proclaimed wisdom of those people would not be sufficient to lead them to God. 

c)         The intellect has never been the gateway for the Spirit of God to reach our hearts.  God uses the simple, even the seemingly foolish as the Apostle Paul so aptly states:

d)         Corinthians 1:27-29 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. (NKJV)

e)         Have the Evangelicals and Pentecostals reacted to the worldly and liberal criticism that we are not intellectual, but rather emotional.

f)          Let me set the record straight, God primarily deals with us by His Spirit to our spirit not by His Spirit to our intellect or flesh.

g)         The kingdom of God is for those who will accept it with the simple faith of a little child not with the intellectual capacity of an Einstein. 

h)        If I get a little excited about this, forgive me, but a child should naturally get excited when he receives a wonderful present from his Father. 

i)          Our Father is Sovereign

3.         I have three points from verses 28-29 that I will make.

a)         The Invitation - Come to me

b)         The Command -  Take My yoke

c)         The Result - Learn from Me

II.       The Invitation  - Come to Me

A.      The scriptures are full of invitations to come.  To those who hunger or thirst.  To those who need forgiveness and cleansing.

B.      To those in need.

1.         Isaiah 55:1     "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. (NKJV)

2.         John 7:37     On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (NKJV)

3.         Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (NKJV)

C.      To those who need forgiveness.

1.         Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool." (NKJV)

D.      Yet not everyone will come.

1.         John 5:39-40 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (NKJV)

E.      The religious leaders in Jesus' day and in ours as well are very adept at saying you must do this or that. The Pharisees all said "Do!" and tried to make the people follow Moses and the traditions.  True Salvation is only found in Christ Jesus.  To come to him means to trust Him.  The invitation is open  to those who are exhausted and burdened down.  This is how people feel when burdened with the yoke of legalism or weighed down by sin and despair. 

F.      "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

1.         Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (NKJV)

2.         Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (NKJV)

! III.      The Command -  Take My yoke

A.      This is the deeper experience. When we come to Christ by faith. He gives us rest.  When we take His yoke and learn, we find rest.  It is the deeper rest of surrender and obedience to His will. First we find peace with God.

1.         Romans 5:1     Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

B.      The we find the peace of God.

1.         Philippians 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,  whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. (NKJV)

C.      In those days, the expression "take a yoke" meant to become a disciple.  When we submit ourselves to Christ. we are yoked to Him.  The word EASY means well fitting.  His yoke is tailor made for us.

D.      Take My yoke upon you.

IV.     The Result - Learn from Me

A.      The first two points represent moments of decision in our lives.  The first is coming to Christ and the second is yielding to Him. The third point, "Learn from Me" is an ongoing process.  As we  learn more about Him, we will find a deeper peace, because we know Him better and we trust Him more fully.

B.      With Christ as our teacher we learn by example.

1.         Matthew 16:24     Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV)

2.         John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (NKJV)

3.         Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)

C.      True learning from Christ is an ongoing process.

D.      "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

V.      Conclusion

A.      We began asking the following questions:

1.         Why is stress apparently becoming more prominent today even among Christians?

2.         Why do counselors and therapists,  even Christian have more clientele than they can handle?

3.         Why,  if estimates range anywhere from 40% to 70% of Americans claim a "Born Again" experience, is our society undergoing such radical social and spiritual change contrary to God's word?

4.         If the power of God changes lives, what is happening?

B.      It is a breakdown  somewhere along the line. 

1.         Coming to Christ means admitting to ourselves, to God and even to others that we are not able to bear our burden alone.  This means humbling ourselves before God and asking Him to bear our burdens.  Some people today, like those in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum where Jesus pronounced judgment  because of their unbelief, never reach the point of coming to Christ.

2.         Taking His yoke and our cross is essential to growing closer to Him.  The most miserable people in the world are the TWEENERS, that is those trying to keep one foot in the world and the other in heaven.

3.         Finally, the result of coming to Christ is learning more about Him and what He desires to do in us.  Verse four of the hymn says it all:

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea.
There are heights of joys that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw Me Nearer