Embracing Faith and Rest in Our Journey
Summary
In this sermon, I focused on the importance of faith and rest in our spiritual journey. I introduced a new series called "The Gift of Faith" which will be the foundation of our teachings for the rest of the year and probably into the next. I emphasized that faith is the foundation of our lives and we should strive to make our lives a replica of the faith of God who created the world based on the faith of His word. I also introduced the concept of the "Rest Challenge", encouraging the congregation to institute a period of rest in their lives to be effective in their faith. I defined rest as ceasing work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
In the second part of the sermon, I reiterated the importance of rest in our spiritual journey, stating that we are all close to receiving the blessings we desire, but the only thing standing in our way is rest. I encouraged the congregation to keep their faith strong, keep pushing, keep believing, and keep receiving the word of God. I also emphasized the importance of remembering what Jesus did on the cross and making it real in our lives every day. I concluded the sermon by inviting those who do not know Jesus or have fallen away from Him to receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith is the foundation of our lives and we should strive to make our lives a replica of the faith of God who created the world based on the faith of His word. [35:53]
- Instituting a period of rest in our lives is crucial to being effective in our faith. Rest is defined as ceasing work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. [38:04]
- We are all close to receiving the blessings we desire, but the only thing standing in our way is rest. [01:07:33]
- It is important to remember what Jesus did on the cross and make it real in our lives every day. [26:24]
- Those who do not know Jesus or have fallen away from Him are invited to receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior. [01:31:37]
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The foundation of our lives and our church is faith. We are called to create our world based on the faith of God who created the world based on the faith of His word. [35:53]
2. Rest is a crucial part of developing our culture of faith. To be effective in our faith and in what we're expecting to see happen, we have to institute a period of rest. [38:04]
3. The power of the cross and the remembrance of what happened on the cross is significant in our lives. Healing, prosperity, deliverance - everything we need was taken care of on that cross. [29:01]
4. There is a time for everything under the sun, including a time for rest. We are called to recognize and embrace this time of rest in God. [01:23:51]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Hebrews 11
2. Matthew 11:28-30
3. 1 Peter 5:7
4. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
5. Leviticus 25
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In Hebrews 11, how is faith described and exemplified in the lives of the people mentioned?
2. How does Matthew 11:28-30 illustrate the concept of rest in God?
3. What does Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tell us about the timing and seasons in our lives?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of faith as the foundation of our lives apply to your personal experiences?
2. How can we understand and apply the concept of rest in our faith journey, as described in Matthew 11:28-30?
3. How does the idea of there being a time for everything, including rest, resonate with your current season of life?
Application Questions:
1. How can you apply the principle of creating your world based on the faith of God in your daily life?
2. What practical steps can you take to institute a period of rest in your life to enhance your faith?
3. How can you better remember and apply the power of the cross in your life?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Faith in Receiving God's Blessings
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It is through faith that we receive God's blessings. When we trust in God and His promises, we open ourselves up to His divine favor. This is seen in the story of Abraham, who by faith, received the promise of a son, and became the father of many nations.
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you had to rely solely on your faith to get through a situation. How did you see God's blessings manifest in that situation?
Day 2: The Importance of Communion and Remembrance
Communion is a sacred act of remembrance, a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His love for us. It is a time to remember His body broken for us and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 - "And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"
Reflection: How often do you partake in communion and what does it mean to you? How can you make this act of remembrance more meaningful in your spiritual journey?
Day 3: The Gift of Faith
Faith is a gift from God, not something we can earn or achieve on our own. It is through faith that we are saved, and it is by grace that this faith is given to us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: Can you identify a moment in your life when you felt the gift of faith was particularly evident? How did that experience shape your understanding of faith as a gift, not a work?
Day 4: The Rest Challenge
God calls us to rest, not just physically, but spiritually as well. He invites us to enter into His rest, a place of peace and trust in His promises.
Hebrews 4:9-10 - "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his."
Reflection: How do you currently practice Sabbath-rest in your life? Are there areas where you struggle to rest from your works? How can you make every effort to enter that rest?
Day 5: The Power of Rest in Receiving God's Promises
Rest is not just a physical state, but a spiritual one. When we rest in God, we are able to receive His promises and experience His peace.
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Reflection: When was the last time you felt truly rested in your soul? How can you incorporate Jesus' invitation to rest into your daily life to receive His promises?
Quotes
1. "Keep your faith strong, keep pushing, keep believing, and keep receiving the word of God. Don't know why I feel led to share that this morning, but now we're here." - 26:13
2. "It's the manner of man or woman of God that believes that receives everything that they say out of their mouth. They can't be scared, they can't be shook, they can't be disturbed, they can't be detoured from their faith." - 01:17:53
3. "Father, we declare that we shall enter into the rest. We believe we receive the rest of God in Jesus name. We declare that it is so in Jesus name." - 01:34:04
4. "If only you could just stop walking by sight and walk by faith. If only you could just stop moving about what you see happening around you and just move by what I said. If only you could just get like Jesus at the bottom of the ship and take rest in the middle of the storm." - 01:04:25
5. "You're this close to seeing the finished work, the promise, the manifestation, the healing. You're this close. Have you taken rest? When you take rest, you're not worried about the timeline, it just happens." - 01:04:25
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