Our Rest
Don’t trust in your own righteousness, so many people think that they are living
right and are heaven bound, but the Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy
rags; trying to live a holy life in your flesh is impossible, we all need a Savior.
God wants us to rest (Jeremiah 6:16) says “thus says the Lord Yahweh, stand you
in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and you shall find rest for your souls”.
Our rest is achieved through the finished works of Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus
said “come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and
you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”.
Rest comes from trusting that what God has done s done if full and relying on the
finished work of Jesus. Trusting God is trusting in His word (Proverbs 3:5-8) says
“trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart; and lean not to your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, and depart from
evil. It shall be health to your navel and marrow to your bones”. Also in Psalms 37:
5-9, it says “commit your way to the Lord Yahweh, trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pas. And He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your
judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord Yahweh, and wait patiently for Him, fret
not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who
brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath, fret not
yourself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those that wait
upon the Lord Yahweh, they shall inherit the earth”?
Jesus tells us how in John 15:4-11, He says “abide in Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you
except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me,
and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If
a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and it withered, and men
gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to
you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be My
disciples. As the Father has loved My, so have I loved you; continue you in My
love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have
kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things have I
spoken to you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full”.
What Christians rest from is the struggle against the forces of evil, by studying the
word of God and applying the word against the devil’s trucks, we can rest by
saying “it is written”, look at how Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness when
He was being tempted, and imitate Jesus as a dear child. We shouldn’t fight
against the devil in our flesh, we should fight the devil with the word of God, just
like Jesus did (Luke 4:1-13). As we commit ourselves to God and resist the devil,
he will flee from us (James 4:7).
As we look back at the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness, we see that
unbelief stopped them from entering into God’s rest. the Israelites is a good
example of what happens when rebellion and unbelief gets into the heart. The
forty years of restless wandering in the wilderness meant that the whole adult
generation 20 years old and upward, except Joshua and Caleb, that had set out
with Moses perished without entering the promise land. You see they didn’t
believe God’s word, and even tried to turn back and return to Egypt.
We are encouraged to enter in (Hebrews 4:1-3, 9-11) “let us therefore fear, less a
promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come
short of it. For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them, but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For
we which have believed, do enter into rest, as He said. As I have sword in My
wrath, if they shall enter into My rest, although the works, were finished from the
foundation of the world. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For
he that is entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did
from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, less any man fall after the
same example of unbelief”.
To achieve our entrance into this rest, we must study the word of God on the
situation until faith comes, then pray the prayer of faith and see great results. You
can trust and rest in the Lord when you know what He says about your situation.
So let us rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Jesus says that it is God that
does the work.
When you read through chapter 11 of Hebrews, you can see the faith giants that
entered in, they were full persuaded that what God had promised, He was also
able to perform. The promises of God should give us great confidence, because
God’s word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11) “so shall My word be that goes forth
out of My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”. We return His word to
Him by speaking it (Psalms 68:11) says “the Lord Yahweh gave the word, great
was the company of those that proclaimed it”. Remember that Jesus said “I only
speak what I hear My Father speak”. The Bible says “I believed, therefore have I
spoken”.
Remember it is not by power and not by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord
Yahweh. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us “finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take to you the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The battle is not ours, it’s the Lord’s,
so rest in His finished works.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 20, 2009
Don’t trust in your own righteousness, so many people think that they are living
right and are heaven bound, but the Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy
rags; trying to live a holy life in your flesh is impossible, we all need a Savior.
God wants us to rest (Jeremiah 6:16) says “thus says the Lord Yahweh, stand you
in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and you shall find rest for your souls”.
Our rest is achieved through the finished works of Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus
said “come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and
you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”.
Rest comes from trusting that what God has done s done if full and relying on the
finished work of Jesus. Trusting God is trusting in His word (Proverbs 3:5-8) says
“trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart; and lean not to your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, and depart from
evil. It shall be health to your navel and marrow to your bones”. Also in Psalms 37:
5-9, it says “commit your way to the Lord Yahweh, trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pas. And He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your
judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord Yahweh, and wait patiently for Him, fret
not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who
brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath, fret not
yourself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those that wait
upon the Lord Yahweh, they shall inherit the earth”?
Jesus tells us how in John 15:4-11, He says “abide in Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you
except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me,
and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If
a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and it withered, and men
gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to
you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be My
disciples. As the Father has loved My, so have I loved you; continue you in My
love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have
kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things have I
spoken to you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full”.
What Christians rest from is the struggle against the forces of evil, by studying the
word of God and applying the word against the devil’s trucks, we can rest by
saying “it is written”, look at how Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness when
He was being tempted, and imitate Jesus as a dear child. We shouldn’t fight
against the devil in our flesh, we should fight the devil with the word of God, just
like Jesus did (Luke 4:1-13). As we commit ourselves to God and resist the devil,
he will flee from us (James 4:7).
As we look back at the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness, we see that
unbelief stopped them from entering into God’s rest. the Israelites is a good
example of what happens when rebellion and unbelief gets into the heart. The
forty years of restless wandering in the wilderness meant that the whole adult
generation 20 years old and upward, except Joshua and Caleb, that had set out
with Moses perished without entering the promise land. You see they didn’t
believe God’s word, and even tried to turn back and return to Egypt.
We are encouraged to enter in (Hebrews 4:1-3, 9-11) “let us therefore fear, less a
promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come
short of it. For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them, but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For
we which have believed, do enter into rest, as He said. As I have sword in My
wrath, if they shall enter into My rest, although the works, were finished from the
foundation of the world. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For
he that is entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did
from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, less any man fall after the
same example of unbelief”.
To achieve our entrance into this rest, we must study the word of God on the
situation until faith comes, then pray the prayer of faith and see great results. You
can trust and rest in the Lord when you know what He says about your situation.
So let us rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Jesus says that it is God that
does the work.
When you read through chapter 11 of Hebrews, you can see the faith giants that
entered in, they were full persuaded that what God had promised, He was also
able to perform. The promises of God should give us great confidence, because
God’s word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11) “so shall My word be that goes forth
out of My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”. We return His word to
Him by speaking it (Psalms 68:11) says “the Lord Yahweh gave the word, great
was the company of those that proclaimed it”. Remember that Jesus said “I only
speak what I hear My Father speak”. The Bible says “I believed, therefore have I
spoken”.
Remember it is not by power and not by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord
Yahweh. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us “finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take to you the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The battle is not ours, it’s the Lord’s,
so rest in His finished works.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 20, 2009
