Embracing the Gift of Redeeming Rest in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Cultivating a Heart of Thanksgiving

Gratitude is a powerful practice that shifts our focus from our problems to God's provision. When we start our prayers with thanksgiving, we acknowledge God's faithfulness and the many blessings we often take for granted. This act of gratitude sets the tone for a heart that is open to trust and hope. It reminds us that despite the challenges we face, God is always at work in our lives, providing for our needs and guiding us through difficult times. By cultivating a heart of thanksgiving, we create a foundation of trust that allows us to rest in God's promises.

Thanksgiving is not just a one-time act but a continuous practice. It involves recognizing the small and big ways God shows up in our lives daily. Whether it's the gift of life, the love of family, or the support of our church community, there is always something to be thankful for. As we go through our day, let us make it a habit to pause and give thanks, allowing our hearts to be filled with gratitude and our minds to be focused on God's goodness. [11:09]

Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV): "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today? How can you make gratitude a daily practice in your life?

Day 2: Embracing Jesus' Invitation to Rest

Jesus' invitation to "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" is a deeply personal and exclusive call to a relationship with Him. This invitation is not just about physical rest but also spiritual and emotional renewal. In a world that constantly demands our attention and energy, Jesus offers a place of refuge where we can find true rest for our souls. This rest is holistic, addressing every aspect of our being and providing the peace and renewal we desperately need.

Accepting Jesus' invitation requires us to come to Him with our burdens and trust that He will provide the rest we seek. It means acknowledging our weariness and allowing Him to carry our loads. As we draw closer to Jesus, we experience the depth of His love and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Let us take time to respond to His invitation, finding solace and strength in His presence. [27:31]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to bring to Jesus? How can you intentionally create space in your life to rest in His presence?

Day 3: Understanding the Biblical Principle of Rest

Rest is a biblical principle established by God Himself. After creating the world, God rested on the seventh day, setting an example for us to follow. This act of rest was not because God was tired but to show the importance of taking time to pause and reflect. Jesus also practiced rest, often withdrawing to quiet places to pray and rejuvenate. This teaches us that rest is essential for our well-being and spiritual growth.

In Mark 6:30, after the disciples had been busy with ministry, Jesus invited them to a desolate place to rest. This shows that even in the midst of our busyness, rest is necessary. It is during these times of rest that we can hear God's voice more clearly and experience His presence in profound ways. Let us prioritize rest in our lives, understanding that it is not a luxury but a necessity for our spiritual and physical health. [23:46]

Exodus 31:17 (ESV): "It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."

Reflection: How can you incorporate regular times of rest into your weekly routine? What activities help you feel refreshed and closer to God?

Day 4: Recognizing that Rest Produces Miracles

In Mark 6:30, after the disciples had been busy with ministry, Jesus invited them to a desolate place to rest. It was during this time of rest that the miracle of feeding the 5,000 occurred. This shows that rest can be a fertile ground for God's miraculous work in our lives. When we take time to rest, we create space for God to move in ways we might not expect. Rest allows us to be more attuned to His voice and more open to His leading.

Miracles often happen when we least expect them, and rest can be a catalyst for these divine interventions. By stepping back from our busyness and allowing ourselves to rest, we give God the opportunity to work in and through us. Let us embrace rest as a time to recharge and be open to the miraculous ways God wants to move in our lives. [32:36]

Mark 6:31-32 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves."

Reflection: When was the last time you experienced a miracle or a significant move of God in your life? How can you create space for rest to allow God to work in unexpected ways?

Day 5: Finding True Rest through Submission to God's Will

St. Augustine said, "Our heart is restless until it finds rest in You." True rest comes from full submission to God's will. Until we surrender our plans and desires to Him, our souls will always be searching for the next thing. Jesus offers us rest from the burdens of the law, providing grace upon grace. This rest is found in trusting God's plan for our lives and allowing Him to lead us.

Submission to God's will means letting go of our need for control and trusting that His ways are higher than our ways. It involves daily surrender and a willingness to follow where He leads. As we submit to God's will, we find a peace that transcends our circumstances and a rest that satisfies our souls. Let us seek to align our hearts with God's will, finding true rest in His presence. [37:22]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church! Today, we gather to cast all our cares upon Jesus, who is the King and Lord of our lives. We begin with a prayer of thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude for the gift of life, our families, and our church community. We also lift up those who are in need of healing and comfort, asking God to touch them in special ways.

This month, our focus is on "Redeeming Rest." We often find ourselves weary from the demands of life, much like Joseph Force Crater, who left a note saying, "I am weary." This weariness is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional. Jesus offers us the greatest invitation to rest, saying, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This invitation is personal and exclusive, calling us to a deeper relationship with Him.

Rest is not just about taking a break from work; it is a biblical principle. God Himself rested on the seventh day, and Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to rest. In Mark 6:30, after the disciples had been busy with ministry, Jesus invited them to a desolate place to rest. This shows that rest is essential for our well-being and can even be a time when miracles happen.

Rest is also about submission to the Lordship of Christ. St. Augustine said, "Our heart is restless until it finds rest in You." Until we fully submit to God's will, our souls will always be searching for the next thing. Jesus offers us rest from the burdens of the law, providing grace upon grace.

As we go through this month, let us embrace this invitation to rest, finding peace and renewal in God's presence. May we be an embodiment of God's rest in our families, communities, and wherever we go.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 4&t=669s'>[11:09]
2. The Greatest Invitation: Jesus' invitation to "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" is deeply personal and exclusive. It calls us into a relationship with Him, where we can find true rest for our souls. This rest is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional, offering a holistic renewal.

3. Biblical Principle of Rest: Rest is a biblical principle established by God Himself. After creating the world, God rested on the seventh day, setting an example for us. Jesus also practiced rest, often withdrawing to quiet places. This teaches us that rest is essential for our well-being and spiritual growth.

4. Rest Produces Miracles: In Mark 6:30, after the disciples had been busy with ministry, Jesus invited them to a desolate place to rest. It was during this time of rest that the miracle of feeding the 5,000 occurred. This shows that rest can be a fertile ground for God's miraculous work in our lives.

5. Submission to God's Will: St. Augustine said, "Our heart is restless until it finds rest in You." True rest comes from full submission to God's will. Until we surrender our plans and desires to Him, our souls will always be searching for the next thing. Jesus offers us rest from the burdens of the law, providing grace upon grace.

### [11:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:09] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
[12:55] - Praying for Healing and Community
[13:37] - Praying for Leaders and Nations
[14:11] - The Lord's Prayer
[16:53] - Greeting and Fellowship
[18:45] - Introduction to the Month's Focus: Redeeming Rest
[19:34] - The Story of Joseph Force Crater
[21:49] - The Weariness of Modern Life
[23:46] - Biblical Principle of Rest
[25:31] - Jesus' Invitation to Rest
[27:31] - Establishing Jesus' Authority
[28:19] - The Personal Invitation of Jesus
[29:24] - The Need for a Relationship with Christ
[32:36] - Rest Produces Miracles
[37:22] - Submission to God's Will
[41:13] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[47:46] - Communion Service
[58:03] - Announcements and Offering
[68:51] - Closing Blessing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus promise to those who come to Him in Matthew 11:28-30?
In Mark 6:30-32, why did Jesus invite the apostles to a quiet place?
According to Genesis 2:2-3, what did God do on the seventh day after creating the world?
How does the sermon describe the weariness experienced by Joseph Force Crater? [21:49]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to take Jesus' yoke upon ourselves and learn from Him, as mentioned in Matthew 11:28-30?
How can rest be seen as a biblical principle based on Genesis 2:2-3 and the sermon? [23:46]
Why is it significant that Jesus invited His disciples to rest after their ministry work in Mark 6:30-32? [32:36]
How does the sermon explain the connection between rest and submission to God's will? [37:22]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current state of weariness. Are you experiencing physical, emotional, or spiritual fatigue? How can you respond to Jesus' invitation to find rest in Him? [21:49]
How can you incorporate a regular practice of rest into your weekly routine, following the example set by God in Genesis 2:2-3? [23:46]
Think about a time when you were busy with work or ministry. How did you feel afterward? How might taking intentional rest, as Jesus advised His disciples, change your approach to work and service? [32:36]
In what ways can you submit more fully to God's will to find true rest for your soul, as St. Augustine suggested? [37:22]
How can you embody the rest that comes from God in your family and community, as encouraged in the sermon? [01:09:36]
Identify one area of your life where you feel burdened by the "yoke of the law" or societal expectations. How can you seek Jesus' grace and rest in that area? [39:21]
How can you practice gratitude in your daily prayers to shift your focus from problems to God's provision, as mentioned in the sermon? [11:09]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "When we go through the week. You have no idea. Sometimes the things we go through. But some way. Somehow. God gets us through it. Amen. Some way. Somehow." [17:19] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If God rested then you and I can also rest. Amen. This Amen was very weak. I said if God rested then you and I can also rest. Amen. That's right. Amen." [24:23] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus offers us the greatest invitation for the burden of the law he gives us the finished work of Christ on the cross finished work of Christ on the cross because the Jewish sources you know spoke to the yoke of the law and wisdom through the law many people and scribes and traditions they missed it when the law was misunderstood as a way of meriting salvation it became a yoke of bondage it became a heavy burden and Jesus telling us that he is gentle and lowly in heart that we learn from him and take his yoke that means that Jesus has fulfilled all the righteousness because under the law the law was a burden but under Jesus there is grace upon grace amen we find grace upon grace" [38:34] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The only option Jesus gives is an invitation into God's self that's the only option the only option is the preaching of the gospel that so many people may come back to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that is the option the option is a surrender of the will to our Lord and Savior Jesus I pray that in the rest of this month and the years ahead the Lord's invitation will become true in our lives and we will find real rest deep down here in our souls" [40:11] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "May the month of August, be your month of rest may God grant us deeper inner rest may the rest that comes from God flow into your life in your heart in loveofannon in our lives into your families, into the community. Wherever you find yourself that you go, may you be an embodiment of the rest that comes from God. We pray that God would make us safe from all alarms, make us safe in this month from all accidents and incidents. May the Lord protect you. May the Lord keep you. May the Lord make his gracious face to shine upon you." [01:09:36] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "Rest is very important for the believer. I am all for work. Amen. I am all for work. I am all for championing the cause of the church. I'm all for moving on every day, day by day. As long as we have bread, we must keep moving forward. I'm all for that. But I also know we need. What I call in my theology, a solid balance. We need a balance of work and play, a balance of work and rest, a balance of being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ." [23:46] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus himself told them feed them and God you know by the God's providence a little boy presented two five loaves and two fishes God the Lord Savior Jesus he gave thanks blessed it and then it multiplied and fed many people that miracle happened in the moment of rest somebody here today you blessed by the message this morning the miracle happened in the moment of rest so it doesn't mean that when we rest we don't get we don't see God move God will move either way amen God will move whether you rest or not God will move but when you follow the instruction to take rest for your soul you find out that the miraculous can even happen" [36:10] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus tells them yes you've gone to do the nice things you've gone to make errands you've gone to you know the productivity is going on but I invite you to take breath go to a quiet place and then and then when they went to the quiet place the Bible says that what you do while they are in the area they realized that there were people there that were hungry and that was where the miracle of feeding the 5,000 people happened while they were resting they realized that the people around are hungry and they came asking Jesus what can we do and Jesus himself told them feed them" [35:21] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus was speaking this was the last part of the chapter in Matthew 11. he says come to me all who weary and burdened and I will do what I will give you rest come to me all and burden in fact before jesus says this jesus was having conversation with the people around him because as at a time they were denying all they were challenging his masonic authority they were challenging him and jesus has to tell them that i and the father are one in the previous verse 27 he said all things have been committed to my father no one knows the son except the father he was telling them if you say you know god and you don't know me then you don't know the true god i am god revealed in man i'm god revealed in you and no one knows the father except the son and those whom the son chooses to reveal in fact jesus was saying that god chooses us" [25:31] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus give the invitation that come when you come I will give you rest rest for your soul Jesus tells them yes you've gone to do the nice things you've gone to make errands you've gone to you know the productivity is going on but I invite you to take breath go to a quiet place and then and then when they went to the quiet place the Bible says that what you do while they are in the area they realized that there were people there that were hungry and that was where the miracle of feeding the 5,000 people happened while they were resting they realized that the people around are hungry and they came asking Jesus what can we do and Jesus himself told them feed them and God you know by the God's providence a little boy presented two five loaves and two fishes God the Lord Savior Jesus he gave thanks blessed it and then it multiplied and fed many people that miracle happened in the moment of rest somebody here today you blessed by the message this morning the miracle happened in the moment of rest so it doesn't mean that when we rest we don't get we don't see God move God will move either way amen God will move whether you rest or not God will move but when you follow the instruction to take rest for your soul you find out that the miraculous can even happen" [35:21] (119 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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