How To Have The Best Summer Ever (1)

Intro:

What’s going on guys?! I’m so happy you are here with us tonight. These next few weeks are gonna be awesome as we dive in to what God wants us to hear as this school year comes to an end. As I was praying and preparing for what God wanted to teach us, God showed me what we all need as we get ready for summer. He showed me 3 important facts to pay attention too and I’m gonna break them down these next 3 weeks! So don’t miss it!

Here’s what I’m showing you...

HOW TO HAVE THE BEST SUMMER EVER! Here’s why I think this is important to YOU and ME.

Because you earned it! I’ve had the privilege of walking through life with y’all for almost a year now and there are some really cool things I’ve picked up on.

You guys are funny and I love y’all.

You work HARD at the things you love!

You genuinely want to know God and love Jesus and be filled with His Spirit.

So as I’ve been preparing for this, God has answered and given us exactly what we need in order to have The Best Summer Ever. So let’s get there!

Turn to...

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

ALL WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN

What does Jesus mean here? (Working harder to “rest.” Contradiction)

What does take my yoke upon you mean? (Jesus restored the work, we’re still called to work, but this work is different and we are freed up to serve, rest, worship/instead of held down reminded of failure and slave to unjust authority.)

Rest? Check Below...

Rest/take a break from worrying about what others are doing.

Rest/take a break from making sure you look perfect and “fit in.”

Rest/take a break from fighting to be honest with yourself and let people in.

Rest/take a break from ignoring genuine time with God and trust Him at His Word.

Rest/take a break from believing God can’t speak to you at church or through your brothers and sisters who love you and love Jesus.

Rest/take a break from believing God can’t change you.

Rest/take a break from ignoring your relationship with God in front of others.

Rest/take a break from living ASHAMED.

Rest/take a break and let God’s Word satisfy your deep cravings.

Rest/take a break and fill your time with satisfaction in Christ instead of WiFi or cell service.

Rest/take a break because God did. God rested. God did/does what we should too…take a look at the screen.

Rest means stopping your thoughts and trusting God’s Word.

Rest means stopping and relaxing in God’s promise.

Rest means practicing out the eternal perfect peace we’ll experience one day.

Rest means we can experience what God has promised.

God commands us to rest so that we will remember.

Rest for your body. “Out of sight/Out of mind.”

Rest for your soul.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Rest

This coming of Christ will be the climactic point of all history and the moment of the entry of God’s people into the full and unending enjoyment of his rest. The completion of the redemption purchased by Christ at the cross will mean rest and freedom from all sin, and this in turn will mean rest and freedom from all sorrow, pain, suffering, persecution, frustration, injustice, and death (Rv 7:9–17; 21:1–7). The rest of mankind, moreover, will involve the rest of God’s whole creation as it is brought to the perfection of that glorious destiny for which it was intended from the very beginning (cf. Rom 8:19–25).

Rest for your soul means that there is no longer any seeking for forgiveness.

Freedom from the crushing weight of judgment and condemnation.

Freedom from the need to cope with destructive and repetitive decisions.

The Yoke

The yoke of this day was the legalistic burden of maintaining what they thought was the perfect law to keep God happy.

Jesus steps in and exposes his yoke is not crushing, but freeing.

Christ’s yoke is lighter which in turn…literally frees you up to work better and more freely.

The Sabbath “rules” to keep the Sabbath which means rest.