The Promise of Rest ! ! ! !
Dr. Jerry L. G. Taylor ThD.
Dr. Jerry Lee Garza Taylor ThD
Intercessory Prayer Department
http://WWW.crossroadschristianministries.org
How many here are physically and mentally, tired this morning?
How many here have had a long week and are exhausted?
How many here just do not seem to get enough rest?
8/22/04jt
We are going to learn how to enter into God’s rest and Rest in the middle of tests, trials and tribulations.
Let’s all turn too: Matthew 11:28-29 To read what the bible has to say about, Entering into God’s rest. Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. (KJV) There is a rest for us, in God. Oftentimes, I talk to people who are born again, are filled with the Holy Spirit and who truly love God, but, they don’t operate in the rest of God. Their life, is still being dominated, to the point of losing sleep. They are dominated by fear and worry, so much so, that it affects their life and their interaction with others.
God has provided a place of rest, for believers, while you are dealing with tests, trials and tribulations here on earth. One of the Definitions for rest, is causing to cease. Another Definition for the word rest, is a sabBatical. For example, a man works 6 days and on the Sabbath, he rests his body and spends time with God. This last example of rest, is fellowship with God.
You may be in the midst of pressure, you may be in the midst of a difficult situations. I have good news for you! There is rest available for you and you don’t have to be affected, by what’s going on, outwardly.
We’re not talking about a rest from work! We’re talking about a rest, in work. Jesus said, Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I’ll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and (learn) from me. The word yoke here, means to follow the teaching of a teacher. In other words, if you will follow Jesus words and His teachings, then you will find, that there will be rest available for you, in His word. When people took on the yoke of an Old Testament teacher, they were accepting his teachings and they became his Pupil. Jesus is saying, become my Pupil, and you’ll find rest, in your souls.
In order to enter into that place of complete confidence and faith in God, an individual, has to believe. Lets all read: Hebrews 4:1-4 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [1] not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath,
"They shall not enter My rest,"'[2] (KJ)
Acting on the word of God, is what causes you to have confidence and operate in the rest of God. Our Lords words say, God meets your needs, whether it looks like it, or not. When you mix your faith, with what God’s word said, you will have rest. Operating in that rest, would then, cause you to be able to operate in greater faith, because faith, moves the hand, of God. Fear, moves the hand of the enemy! FAITH, will cause you to have the things you desire, in the Lord. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Even though, you are saved, even though, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, even though, you go to church, It is possible to come short of operating in the peace and rest that God has provided for His believers. If you don’t mix your faith, with the word of God, you will not operate, in God’s rest.
What does this mean? Well, Whether or not, we enter into the Gods rest, is not dependent upon God. Whether or not we enter into the rest of God, depends on us! Entering into the rest of God has got something to do with, our faith.
How can we Rest, in the middle of a disaster? Lets all read: Hebrews 4:9-12
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing Asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (KJV)
God will sometimes speak to you, to give you peace in the midst of your disasters. You don’t, have to hear a voice, because the Bible, is God speaking to you, through his words. You need to have rest, in the middle of your tests. I mean, when the bill collector is calling and saying, Pay up!, you can have rest, knowing that somehow, our Lord will make a way. When you get the word, from a doctor, that you are going to die in two months, you can have rest in knowing that Jesus, Himself, took your infirmities and bore your sickness. You don’t have to know how, All you need to know is, that He is the Great Phy si cian. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Messiah!
Lets all take a step backwards, while in His rest and let God fix it. Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (KJV) Have you ever tried to help God out? He wasn’t moving fast enough for you? I have!! When we talk about being in the rest of God, you’re talking about activating God’s supernatural abilities, If, we get out of God’s way. When you are entering, into God’s rest, you’ll stop, trying to fix it yourself.
We must Labor, to enter into the rest of God. Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (KJV) God has rest for you. But, you have to labor, to enter into God’s rest.
I want you to notice, that this Scripture tells us that the place of rest is not automatic. That place, of comfort, that place of peace, that place of assurance, that place of quietness, must be labored diligently for, in order to get into the rest of God. Now, that takes the responsibility of whether or not, you walk in the PLACE of rest, that is reserved for you, off of God. And places It, on you.
Lets all read: 1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things Write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (KJV) A part of laboring, to enter into the rest, of God, is making an effort, to fellowship with other believers. You receive strength from other believers. That means then, that you shouldn’t just run into church, get the word, run out of the church, and never talk to anybody until the next Sunday. That’s when you begin to feel lonely. You can’t shut yourself off, from the body of Christ and expect to enter into God’s rest. Fellowship, helps you to enter into the rest of God. That is, fellowship with God and with other believers.
There is joy in the place of rest, with God. James 1:1-2 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (NKJV) When you are full of the word of God, JOY will start bubbling up. Then, in the midst of your tribulations, you begin to remember how good God has been to you. When you labor, to enter into God’s rest, you’ll find that there’s joy in the middle of that test. There’s dancing in the middle of that trial. There’s shouting in the middle of that rest.
And sometimes, it’s just laying back and being cool about it. You have God’s word on it.
Lets all Read this last scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
By adding Prayer to all of this, we will activate the peace of God, to Surround us and this will help us, to get into the rest, of God. When you pray in a way, that leads to praise and thanksgiving to God, then, you’re experiencing, the peace of God. And When the peace of God comes on you, You’re resting in God.
Amen and Amen
Reverend Jerry
Mojacar, Spain
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his own rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. KJV
Prayer:
Lord I believe You have given me Your Word. It is imparted into my heart. It is Your Word, and I will not be in unbelief, that my heart would then be hardened. I will continue to believe, and enter in Your gates of rest. I leave in Your hands my situation, and rest at Your feet. You are Sovereign, and I know the outcome of my situation will be Your will. Amen
Reverend Jean