Sermon Tone Analysis

The rest God has for you.

· As a young boy I played various sports—baseball, basketball….I was proof that a child could not be any good and still play…or at least, practice.

I remember running laps, doing drills.

I remember very clearly, when doing those laps and drills, that we had to continue and could not stop until the coach said so.

We would go for what seemed like a long time.

My legs were weak from running and squatting and jumping.

My arms were sore from throwing and passing.

When the coach said, “Alright, you can rest.”

We stopped.

And that rest was so sweet.

Similarly, and so much more, there is a rest in God that is so sweet.

· The season of life--I was a young adult--that I received God's rest for me was a season that radically changed me and, to some extent, my trajectory.

I lived life differently--freer.

What changed is that I had inner completeness--an inner wholeness--I had internal satisfaction independent of external approval because God gave me rest and I received it.

There was a spiritual transaction that impacted every area of my being.

And while I had not arrived--and I still have not arrived--I was free to "become" because I was allowed "to be".

· In receiving God's rest for me I let go of chasing hard after validation and accomplishments.

Over time I still received them both--validation and accomplishments--but received them as accessories to the finished work of Jesus Christ and without losing my soul.

· (Thinking of Jesus' question: Mark 8:36 (NKJV) 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?)

· I think REST is an invitation to what may be God's greatest gift to you.

· Today, I want to talk about that rest.

Opening Passage: Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV); Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

· Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

· ---------

· Rest is a natural and supernatural way for God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

· (PRAY)

Defining Rest

· In culture, rest is “The practice of ceasing work or [ceasing] activity [in order] to relax and restore one's energy.

· American culture often bad-mouths rest saying taking a break undermines success, achievement, wealth, and progress.

· Being a workaholic can project that “rest” is “laziness” in disguise.

· Contrary, perhaps, to popular belief, scientific research has borne the truth of how God engineered the human body through proper rest to heal itself, reduce stress, boost creativity, enhance productivity, and improve decision-making.

· (Rest is a game-changing element that people many around you are looking for but don't quite know it...or believe in it.)

· (https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2021/01/15/the-benefits-of-resting-and-how-to-unplug-in-a-busy-world/)

· (https://www.inc.com/rhett-power/a-day-of-rest-12-scientific-reasons-it-works.html)

· But more than that (those benefits), rest can position you closer to God.

· Well, how do we get there?

Biblical Rest

· In scripture, rest represents a break from physical labor and worldly striving.

· The concept of rest is represented in the Hebrew word “Sabbath”.

God in His own activities rested a moment (in fact, a day) and ordained this moment the Sabbath—to be observance as a day of rest on which no work was to be done.

· The Sabbath's rest was initially and continuously meant to benefit you--the people who observe.

· Jesus, in His 3 1/2 years of ministry on earth, made a point of highlighting the Sabbath's purpose--Jesus conveyed God made the Sabbath to benefit people--to give people rest (Mark 2:27).

Jesus addressed religious leaders who, through legalism, turned the Sabbath observance--what was meant to be a blessing--into a burden for people.

Jesus taught the Sabbath was made for the people; not the other way around.

· (Okay, that’s fine preacher.

but how does one get the benefits?)

· (Thank you, okay, I’m glad you asked.)

· (God commanded rest as a way of living.)

· God gave the Jewish people through the 10 Commandments a way to live that was counter-cultural of their day (and I would argue, of our day also).

God said of rest and the Sabbath:

· Exodus 20:8–11 (NKJV)

· What I find interesting is that God, in His sovereignty, created daytime and nighttime, formed it into consecutive days, and marked the seventh one as holy and blessed.

God created a recurring cycle of blessing to benefit people--to benefit you...and basically, all He asks us to do is stop so that we can receive the blessing.

· (Well, what are you talking about preacher?

I am blessed when I can work.

I'm blessed when I can study.

I'm blessed when I can serve.

I'm blessed when I can come and go.)

· (Yes, but there is also a blessing in you being still.)

· The definition for rest, "to cease", is a little misleading because while you are at rest there subsequently is meaningful activity going on.

· (God told the Israelite people:)

· Exodus 23:12 (NKJV):

· Rest is a time of refreshment and restoration--mental, spiritual, biological, physical, and relational.

· (Proper rest is a tool of endurance)

When To Rest: a time of rest

· (Okay, when do I get the rest and benefit?)

· (Glad you asked.)

· (Old Testament Scripture teaches us)

· The scripture verse we just read is within a set of verses my bible commentary describes as "The Law of Sabbath."

Basically,

· God spoke of rest as a day to be taken--the 7th day of the week, a Sabbath.

· God also spoke of rest as a practice of rest--to be taken every 7 years, every 7 days.

· Exodus 23:10–12 (NKJV): The Law of Sabbaths

Where To Rest: a place of rest

· God not only spoke about when to rest (7th day.

7th year).

God also spoke about where to rest--a place of rest.

· To the people of Israel, before the birth of Jesus Christ, God gave them a place to rest referred to as The Promised Land--geographically located across the Jordan River.

This place served as rest for the Israelites who had been wandering in the wilderness.

And it served as rest from their enemies.

(Deut.

12:10)

· This physical land is not the only place:

· Those who have received salvation in Jesus Christ will, in eternity, enter God's rest for us, resting from all of our work.

· The author of Hebrews speaks to it:

· Hebrews 4:9–10 (NKJV)

· Well, what determines who are the people of God--the people who will enter this rest for eternity?

· Jesus claims it:

· John 14:6 (NKJV): Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.

In Whom To Rest: rest in Jesus

· (Well, Who is this Jesus, and do I have to wait until eternity to have God's rest for me?)

· Hebrews 4:15–16 (NKJV)

· Scripture says we have Jesus, our High Priest, who can sympathize with our weakness.

He was at all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

· The author of Hebrews tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and to find grace to help...in our time of need.

· Well, what do we need?

REST

· Rest from physical labor and worldly striving.

· Rest in the midst of suffering and struggling.

· We know we need rest because God commands it.

· But Jesus also invites us to it.