Embracing Community and the Rhythm of Rest
Summary
In today's message, I shared the importance of being actively involved in our communities and how our roles extend beyond the church walls. My wife and I are deeply engaged in various community activities, which allows us to be the light and salt in the world. This involvement opens doors for ministry and connection, as people are more receptive when they see genuine care and wisdom in action. Our influence grows when we bring solutions and make decisions guided by God's wisdom.
I also introduced my upcoming book, "The Rhythm of Rest," which explores the biblical concept of rest. As New Testament believers, we don't have a specific Sabbath day; instead, we have the Lord of the Sabbath who sets the rhythm for our lives. Rest is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual discipline that reflects our faith. The first full day of humanity was a day of rest, indicating that rest is God's original plan for us. Unfortunately, many of us feel guilty when we rest, but this mindset is neither healthy nor biblical.
Rest is a declaration of faith, much like tithing. It shows our trust in God's provision and timing. When we neglect rest, we risk entering a "forced rest," where our bodies and minds demand recovery. This is akin to the land of Israel, which had to rest for 70 years because the people did not observe the Sabbath. Our bodies, made from the earth, also require rest to function optimally.
I emphasized the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit, who guides us in setting a rhythm of rest. This involves paying attention to our bodies, minds, and spirits, and making necessary adjustments. Rest is not just about sleep; it's about finding moments to pause, reflect, and recharge. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's rhythm, avoiding burnout and experiencing His favor and blessings.
Key Takeaways:
- Community Engagement: Being involved in community activities allows us to be the light and salt in the world. Our influence grows when we bring solutions and make decisions guided by God's wisdom, opening doors for ministry and connection. [00:00]
- Rest as a Declaration of Faith: Rest is a spiritual discipline that reflects our faith in God's provision and timing. Just as tithing shows trust in God, resting demonstrates our belief that God will multiply our efforts. [11:14]
- Avoiding Forced Rest: Neglecting rest can lead to a "forced rest," where our bodies and minds demand recovery. Like the land of Israel, our bodies require rest to function optimally, and ignoring this need can lead to burnout. [11:14]
- Listening to the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides us in setting a rhythm of rest, helping us make necessary adjustments in our lives. By paying attention to our bodies, minds, and spirits, we align ourselves with God's rhythm and avoid burnout. [11:14]
- The Rhythm of Rest: Rest is not just about sleep; it's about finding moments to pause, reflect, and recharge. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's rhythm, experiencing His favor and blessings in our lives. [11:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:00] - Community Involvement
- [00:03:00] - Bridging Gaps Through Relationships
- [00:05:00] - The Power of Godly Influence
- [00:07:00] - Introducing "The Rhythm of Rest"
- [00:09:00] - Rest as God's Original Plan
- [00:11:00] - Rest as a Declaration of Faith
- [00:13:00] - The Consequences of Neglecting Rest
- [00:15:00] - Listening to the Holy Spirit
- [00:17:00] - Practical Steps to Rest
- [00:19:00] - Aligning with God's Rhythm
- [00:21:00] - Experiencing God's Favor Through Rest
- [00:23:00] - Conclusion and Book Information
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:1-20 - The Christmas Story
2. Psalm 127:2 - "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
3. Genesis 2:2-3 - "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."
Observation Questions:
1. What role does community engagement play in being the "light and salt" in the world, according to the sermon? [00:00]
2. How does the pastor describe the concept of "forced rest," and what biblical example does he use to illustrate this? [11:14]
3. What is the significance of the first full day of humanity being a day of rest, as mentioned in the sermon? [11:14]
4. How does the pastor relate the act of resting to a declaration of faith similar to tithing? [11:14]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the pastor's involvement in community activities influence his ability to minister and connect with others? [00:00]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that rest is a spiritual discipline, and how does this align with the biblical concept of the Sabbath? [11:14]
3. What are the potential consequences of neglecting rest, both physically and spiritually, as discussed in the sermon? [11:14]
4. How does the pastor suggest that listening to the Holy Spirit can help set a rhythm of rest in one's life? [11:14]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of community involvement. How can you be more actively engaged in your community to be a light and salt in the world? [00:00]
2. Consider your current rest habits. Do you find yourself feeling guilty when you take time to rest? How can you shift your mindset to view rest as a declaration of faith? [11:14]
3. Have you ever experienced a "forced rest" due to neglecting your need for rest? What changes can you make to avoid reaching that point again? [11:14]
4. How can you incorporate listening to the Holy Spirit into your daily routine to help set a rhythm of rest in your life? [11:14]
5. Identify one area of your life where you can make a small change to align more closely with God's rhythm of rest. What steps will you take this week to implement that change? [11:14]
6. Think about a time when you felt God's favor and blessings in your life. How might aligning with His rhythm of rest enhance your experience of His favor? [11:14]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are finding moments to pause, reflect, and recharge throughout your day? [11:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Community Engagement as a Beacon of Light
Being actively involved in community activities allows individuals to serve as a beacon of light and salt in the world. This engagement is not limited to the confines of the church but extends into everyday interactions and relationships. By participating in community activities, individuals can demonstrate genuine care and wisdom, which opens doors for ministry and connection. When people see solutions and decisions guided by God's wisdom, they become more receptive to the message of faith. This influence grows as individuals bring God's love and guidance into their communities, creating opportunities for meaningful connections and spiritual growth. [00:00]
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."
Reflection: What specific community activity can you engage in this week to demonstrate God's love and wisdom to those around you?
Day 2: Rest as a Spiritual Discipline
Rest is not merely a physical necessity but a profound spiritual discipline that reflects faith in God's provision and timing. Just as tithing is an act of trust, resting is a declaration of faith that God will multiply efforts and provide for needs. Many people struggle with guilt when taking time to rest, but this mindset is neither healthy nor biblical. Embracing rest as a spiritual practice allows individuals to align with God's original plan for humanity, which includes moments of pause and reflection. By trusting in God's timing and provision, believers can experience a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment. [11:14]
Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate moments of rest into your daily routine to reflect your trust in God's provision?
Day 3: Avoiding the Consequences of Neglecting Rest
Neglecting rest can lead to a "forced rest," where the body and mind demand recovery due to exhaustion and burnout. This concept is similar to the land of Israel, which required rest after the people failed to observe the Sabbath. Just as the earth needs time to rejuvenate, so do our bodies, which are made from the earth. Ignoring the need for rest can result in physical, mental, and spiritual burnout, hindering one's ability to function optimally. By recognizing the importance of rest and making it a priority, individuals can avoid the detrimental effects of neglect and maintain a healthy balance in their lives. [11:14]
Leviticus 25:4 (ESV): "But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard."
Reflection: What signs of burnout have you noticed in your life, and how can you address them by prioritizing rest?
Day 4: Listening to the Holy Spirit's Guidance
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding individuals to set a rhythm of rest in their lives. By paying attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, believers can make necessary adjustments to align with God's rhythm. This involves being attuned to the needs of the body, mind, and spirit and finding moments to pause, reflect, and recharge. Listening to the Holy Spirit helps individuals avoid burnout and experience God's favor and blessings. By seeking the Spirit's guidance, believers can cultivate a balanced and fulfilling life that honors God. [11:14]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: How can you create space in your life to listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit's guidance regarding rest and balance?
Day 5: Aligning with God's Rhythm Through Rest
Rest is not solely about sleep but involves finding moments to pause, reflect, and recharge. By doing so, individuals align themselves with God's rhythm, experiencing His favor and blessings in their lives. This alignment helps avoid burnout and fosters a deeper connection with God. Resting allows individuals to step back from the busyness of life and focus on their relationship with God, gaining clarity and strength for the journey ahead. Embracing rest as a spiritual practice enables believers to experience the fullness of God's love and grace. [11:14]
Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV): "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to incorporate moments of rest and reflection into your life, aligning with God's rhythm?
Quotes
"Yeah, you know, it's just such an honor to be a part and serve our community. And, you know, my wife was just nominated or elected to be the president-elect of the Arts Association for our area. So we're both doing stuff. It's a collection of arts, education, politics, business. You know, we're here to be the light. We're here to be the salt. We don't want to hide in the ivory tower. We have to get out among other people. And minister to people. That's good," [00:02:04]
"It has to come through. I think we talked about this last time. It has to come through relationships. Yes. Because, you know, that old adage, you know, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Yeah. And so through that, you're able to bridge the gaps. That's good. You'll be able to connect with people. And the people will actually want to listen to you." [00:02:40]
"be right all day long, but if they don't know we actually care about them, they don't care that we're right. They won't give us the time of day. But when we're out there bringing solutions, making decisions because we have the wisdom of God and the anointing of God, we actually make a difference. Well, how did you do that? Well, you know, I have a relationship with God. I pray about this. And so there are things I'm able to do as a pastor that I probably wouldn't be able to get into as a pastor, but because I'm the president of a business association or because I'm a community leader, I get to go to places and I'm very well so welcome because the attention I bring, all the different things we get covered in the press, all the different things that we're bringing, and we're partnering with different schools. So yes, and they don't, you know, they say, oh, he's a pastor. And some of you watch me online, but it's not the doors aren't closed" [00:02:56]
"So I have a book coming out. It's called The Rhythm of Rest. It's come out later this year. And so it's a rhythm because, you know, in the New Testament, as New Testament believers, we don't have a Sabbath. We don't have a day of Sabbath. We have a Lord of Sabbath. And our Lord of Sabbath sets the rhythm for our lives. And so a rhythm is a continual pattern, continual motion. And what happens is we as Americans within this culture, even in ministry, we don't know how to rest. And we feel guilty when we rest. I remember a couple years ago, you know, I did a whole full day of ministry, preaching, counseling, planning, writing, all the stuff we had to do, all the administrative work. I spent time with my wife. I spent time with my kids. Now it's time for me to rest. But I felt guilty. I said, well, maybe I should be praying more. Maybe I should be studying more. I said, well, actually, this is not healthy. I've done everything that I was supposed to do. And now I feel guilty about resting. That is not a good mindset. And it's not a biblical mindset. Because the thing is like, oh, we've got to hustle. We've got to grind. Yes, we work hard. Yes, we work smart. But the plan of God for our life flows from rest. And one of the things I was studying, I was writing this book, is that, you know, the first full day mankind ever experienced was a day of rest. Mankind was created on day six. The Sabbath begins at sundown on day six. The first full day mankind ever experienced was a day of rest. So I call rest God's original plan for man." [00:05:42]
"And so the thing is, this generation could have kept carrying on, but because they didn't rest their body, rest their mind, rest their emotions, they couldn't continue. It's something I call the forced rest. So you know when you study the Old Testament that, you know, there's the day of Sabbath, but there's also the year of Sabbath. And so when Israel stopped having faith in God, they stopped keeping the Sabbath, which is called the sign of the Old Covenant. So they stopped keeping the Sabbath day and they stopped keeping the Sabbath year. So remember, they're kicked out of the land for 70 years. Why? Because they did not let the land rest. Instead, the land had rest for 70 years. The land entered to a forced rest and they were removed from the land. Now, what are we made out of? Dirt. Now, if the land of Israel had to have a forced rest, don't you think our bodies have to have rest? And so there's some people who are trying to get healed, right? They're praying, standing on healing scriptures, confessing. And I wonder if they'd just get healed if they would sit down and rest." [00:08:19]
"One of the things I write in the book is that our rest is a declaration of faith because our tithe is a declaration of faith. We're saying that we can do more with 90 % under the blessing of God than we can do with 100 % by ourselves. Wow. Our rest, our rest is the same type of declaration of faith that I believe I've done what I'm supposed to do. So I'm going to take this time to rest and believe that God is going to multiply me. And so when we don't rest, it's actually a sign of lack of faith." [00:13:10]
"on me i remember we were at a specific point i'm walking around and the lord said he was giving me he says this is something that's coming to the body of christ he was talking about a move of refreshing that's coming minister to me about what's coming in the next couple years and this a few years ago so he hadn't even released me to teach on it yet and he says here's what i need you to do so i'm you know sometimes okay i need to pray more i need to fast i need to study he says i need you to stay refreshed and that's what his word for me so i had to begin to rethink and it's like am i sleeping at night because you know i'm a very energetic person some people call me hyper some people wonder why do you even have coffee why would anybody introduce you to those things because i'm energetic i got stuff to do boom boom boom boom boom i do a lot but he had to get on to me and say hey you need to sleep and so i had to begin to reprioritize my day when do i need to go to sleep when i need to wake up i began to track my sleep yeah i began to track the type of sleep do i have sleep depth in my life which means your body is piling up all this debt because you didn't rest and so i'm looking at those things and learning and so i you know like you say on a nap sometimes that's an opportunity to rest you know tells us in ephesians chapter 5 and in the evil days what do you do you're supposed to take advantage of every single opportunity so we think about that as times of ministry right but what if god brings you an opportunity to rest do you pass up on his opportunities to rest now sometimes it's not just good night's sleep what if it's just 15 minutes right you might say well 15 minutes is not a lot so if god brings you 15 minutes to rest or to take a breath or refresh what do we do we pick up our phones we look at social media we get scrolling we find something that gets on our nerves now we get mad at the algorithm we get mad at ai now we're stressed out we have 15 minutes to rest but we blew it looking at social media and now we've missed that opportunity good and so what happens god continually brings opportunities our way and as we take advantage of them we're able to experience like for me i got we have four kids we got one on the way and so there are times that they may wake up in the middle of night and they need daddy right but if i was in tune with the holy spirit he might have told me the day before you need to go sleep a little bit earlier he may not have seen why but he knew the kids are going to need me the next day but if i would have listened i would have had rest ahead of time and so i'm not exhausted when i wake up in the morning the holy spirit knows our future better than we know our past and so he sets the rhythm of rest for us so we have to learn to listen to him and be led by the spirit and not by exhaustion" [00:14:07]
"with what you did there pay attention to yourself because so many people don't know that data right it's like i put in the book it's called say law what they pause and think about that you know be still and know that i'm god as a part of reflecting it's good we don't stop enough to reflect because what happens is we can keep making the same bad decision because we never paid attention to see the results and so we have to take a look what are we doing every single day is this working for me because we also have to ask ourselves our question how do you rest because the way you rest may be different the way i rest which is a different way that we rest so how do you rest when do you find your body most at rest when you find your mind most at rest when you find your emotions most at rest you have to ask yourself those questions and you need to write it down you need to journal you need to think about these things and ask yourself these hard questions you have to pay attention you know the voice of your body is feelings the voice of your spirit is your conscience your voice of your mind is reason listen to the different voices of your body write it down now you don't yield to the voice of your mind you don't yield to the voice of your body you live to the voice of your spirit because your spirit is born again but you do need to pay attention to what your body is saying because sometimes your body is learning you to say hey something's going on and you need to rest good and so you have to pay attention to those things it's what i'm doing working because you know one of the definitions i heard growing up of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results so you have to take some time make the time to sit down examine your life and write down what are you doing is it working then what do you need to remove yes we all like great tv shows great movies but do i need to watch that today is that resting because sometimes we like to watch content that's full of drama and you're not resting and now you amped up and you can't sleep so maybe you don't need to watch does that and so sports is good but it's like maybe if i watch sports maybe i have a plan how am i going to calm down after the game right and so if my team didn't win what am i going to do that's exactly people don't talk about it you have to know yourself right yeah these aren't bad things or deep things you have to know yourself pay attention to yourself and when you get all this data don't make up a plan on your own get this data and take it to prayer all right holy spirit this is what i know about myself but you know me better than i know me so how do i apply this data what is data knowledge what is the correct application of knowledge wisdom and god loves to give wisdom it says wisdom flows from his mouth so we take this data to him how do i implement it and the thing is i call a rhythm because sometimes you'll get off beat right but just don't don't live off beat so you get off beat okay i got off beat how do i get back on so what do i need to shift and it's small changes it's not gonna be overnight change if you don't rest at all you're not really gonna start resting tomorrow it'll be great but it's gonna take some time it's gonna take time to shift to make the mentality shift to do the different things and so you have to pay attention to yourself write it down take it to prayer and begin to make small changes here and there and it's easier to make changes when you know you need to before you're in a forced rest because when your body enters into a forced rest now your mind has to recover now your emotions has to recover now your body has to recover and now you're trying to make decisions because you're forced to so instead of being in a position where you're in a forced rest make a decision when you realize hey i need to make a shift in my life and begin to ask yourself those questions write down the answers and begin to implement those different things do you" [00:16:59]
"been prepared because you know even said in the minister of jesus he rested often now so you talked about when he took a nap but he also kept the south so that's one day off he would take a rest and that he would do that but also when you remember after john the baptist yeah he was beheaded yeah and but you remember the other story at the same time there are so many people coming and going they could not eat so he took his whole crew on a vacation just so that they could rest and while they're on vacation people found them and that's when he fed the people he was moved with compassion" [00:22:36]
"yeah rest is so important because you know think about it you know think about pastors they don't rest yeah and then their ministry is cut short and you know resting is part of our faith it's part of our longevity in ministry yeah and you know one of the things i write in the books like anytime i make decision hey i'm getting the rhythm rest for life i'm going to rest i run into crazy favor so i can say hey this is my time i'm going on vacation i get favor and upgrades and stuff i remember one time we're going through new york city and they said do you mind if we upgrade you to the next to the highest um hotel room and you can go see the whole city look over broadway no i don't mind let the lord use you but that's what we run into we go on vacation we can go break here there's favor we're going to break in florida there's favor because what is it i'm obeying the biblical principle god says we should rest and when we rest there's favor and that's what we have to understand this is god's will for our life and people are burned out right now there's a lot of ministers who think they can confess away burnout you can't because you're trying to confess away something that as a result because you're still not obeying god if you want to recover from burnout you have to sit down and rest and some people's key for breakthrough is they need to rest so they can hear from the holy ghost and once they hear and get through this breakthrough the old testament shows that after breakthrough there's a period of prolonged rest prolonged prosperity and prolonged building and so there's periods where we are supposed to enter and prosper and build but we miss because hey i got through this battle let me work hard no he brought you to a slower tempo so you can recover so that you can prosper so when the holy ghost gives you a slow tempo you keep it slow you don't speed it up but when he gives you a fast temple you don't slow down you have to enter into his rhythm for your life so you're prepared because he's all he's going to show you things to come he may not tell you what's next but he is preparing you say hey this is coming you need to do this you may not know the details but if he's telling you it's part of the comforting ministry of the holy ghost to prepare you for what's to come wow so when it hits say hey i'm energized i'm strong i can handle it now i'm barely hanging on and so it's the rhythm of rest because we have a lord of sabbath and the holy spirit sets that rhythm for our lives so good amen oh my goodness well we" [00:24:33]
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