Finding Rest and Peace in Jesus
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we gathered to partake in communion, reflecting on the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We were reminded of the prophecy in Isaiah that by His stripes, we are healed, and through His suffering, we find peace. This act of communion is a testament to our trust in God and His promises. We sang praises, declaring our unwavering trust in God, who never fails us.
The central theme of today's message was about who or what we turn to in times of need, celebration, or doubt. We explored the importance of turning to Jesus, who invites us to come to Him for rest and peace. Jesus offers an exchange: our burdens for His rest. We delved into Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus calls us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart.
We discussed the significance of being yoked to Jesus, learning from Him, and finding rest for our souls. Jesus teaches us meekness, humility, how to deal with betrayal, loss, and grief, and how to forgive. He exemplifies how to submit our will to God's will, even in the most challenging circumstances.
We were encouraged to intentionally set aside time for God, just as we would prepare for any important activity. This intentional pursuit of God involves daily reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and worshiping Him. We must choose to break off any yokes tied to the world and instead, yoke ourselves to Jesus, learning from Him and finding true rest and peace.
As we concluded, we opened the altar for those who wanted to recommit to turning to Jesus in all aspects of their lives. We prayed for our students and educators as they prepare to return to school, asking for God's guidance, protection, and wisdom.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trust in God's Promises: Reflecting on Isaiah's prophecy, we are reminded that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross brings us healing and peace. Trusting in God's promises means believing that He holds us in His hands and provides all that we need. This trust is the foundation of our faith and our relationship with God. [30:04]
2. Turning to Jesus for Rest: Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened. In Matthew 11:28-30, He promises to give us rest. This rest is not just physical but a deep, soul-refreshing peace that only He can provide. Turning to Jesus means finding true rest and peace in Him. [54:43]
3. Learning from Jesus: Being yoked to Jesus means learning from Him. He teaches us meekness, humility, how to deal with betrayal, loss, and grief, and how to forgive. Jesus exemplifies how to live a life that honors God, and by learning from Him, we grow in our faith and character. [01:01:13]
4. Intentional Pursuit of God: Just as we prepare for important activities, we must intentionally set aside time for God. This involves daily reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and worshiping Him. An intentional pursuit of God leads to a deeper relationship with Him and a more fulfilling spiritual life. [47:31]
5. Breaking Worldly Yokes: We must choose to break off any yokes tied to the world and instead, yoke ourselves to Jesus. This means rejecting worldly influences and aligning ourselves with God's will. By doing so, we find true freedom and purpose in our lives, guided by Jesus' example and teachings. [01:09:13]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[30:04] - Communion and Reflection
[31:30] - Proclaiming the Lord's Death
[36:41] - Trusting in God
[41:28] - Declaring Our Trust
[42:27] - God's Faithfulness
[45:52] - Introduction and Purpose
[46:41] - Intentional Pursuit of God
[47:31] - Preparing for God
[48:27] - Back to School Prayer
[50:03] - Who Are We Going To?
[51:29] - Solomon's Wisdom and Counsel
[54:07] - Turning to Jesus
[54:43] - Matthew 11:28-30
[56:07] - Finding Rest in Jesus
[01:01:13] - Learning from Jesus
[01:09:13] - Breaking Worldly Yokes
[01:20:55] - Altar Call and Worship
[01:28:27] - Praying for Students and Educators
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus promise to those who come to Him according to Matthew 11:28-30?
2. How does Jesus describe His own heart in Matthew 11:29?
3. What is the significance of the yoke that Jesus mentions in Matthew 11:29-30?
4. In the sermon, what were some examples given of what we can learn from Jesus? ([01:01:13])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to take Jesus' yoke upon ourselves and learn from Him? How does this concept challenge our daily lives? ([54:43])
2. How does Jesus' promise of rest in Matthew 11:28-30 differ from the rest that the world offers? ([56:07])
3. Why is it important to intentionally set aside time for God, as mentioned in the sermon? How does this practice impact our relationship with Him? ([47:31])
4. How can breaking worldly yokes and aligning ourselves with Jesus lead to true freedom and purpose in our lives? ([01:09:13])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt burdened or weary. Did you turn to Jesus for rest? If not, what did you turn to, and how did it affect you? ([54:43])
2. Jesus teaches us meekness and humility. Think of a recent situation where you struggled with pride or anger. How could you have handled it differently by applying Jesus' teachings? ([01:01:13])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of daily reading God's Word and spending time in prayer. What specific steps can you take this week to be more intentional in your pursuit of God? ([47:31])
4. Identify any "worldly yokes" in your life that you need to break off. What practical steps can you take to yoke yourself to Jesus instead? ([01:09:13])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of celebrating God's faithfulness in your daily life, even when things are going well? ([41:28])
6. Think of someone in your life who needs to experience the rest and peace that Jesus offers. How can you share this message with them this week? ([54:43])
7. Reflect on the example of Jesus dealing with betrayal, loss, and grief. How can His example guide you in handling similar situations in your own life? ([01:03:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Healing and Peace
Reflecting on Isaiah's prophecy, we are reminded that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross brings us healing and peace. Trusting in God's promises means believing that He holds us in His hands and provides all that we need. This trust is the foundation of our faith and our relationship with God. When we partake in communion, we are not only remembering Jesus' sacrifice but also reaffirming our trust in His promises. This act of faith is a powerful testament to our belief in God's unwavering love and provision. [30:04]
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
Reflection: Think of a specific promise from God that you are struggling to trust in your life. How can you actively choose to trust Him more in this area today?
Day 2: Finding Rest in Jesus
Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened. In Matthew 11:28-30, He promises to give us rest. This rest is not just physical but a deep, soul-refreshing peace that only He can provide. Turning to Jesus means finding true rest and peace in Him. When we are overwhelmed by life's challenges, Jesus offers an exchange: our burdens for His rest. This divine rest rejuvenates our spirit and strengthens our faith, allowing us to face life's trials with renewed vigor. [54:43]
Jeremiah 31:25 (ESV): "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."
Reflection: Identify a burden you are currently carrying. How can you lay this burden at Jesus' feet and accept His offer of rest today?
Day 3: Learning from Jesus' Example
Being yoked to Jesus means learning from Him. He teaches us meekness, humility, how to deal with betrayal, loss, and grief, and how to forgive. Jesus exemplifies how to live a life that honors God, and by learning from Him, we grow in our faith and character. Embracing Jesus' teachings transforms our hearts and minds, enabling us to navigate life's complexities with grace and wisdom. His example provides a blueprint for living a life that reflects God's love and righteousness. [01:01:13]
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV): "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to respond with meekness or humility. How can you apply Jesus' example to similar situations in the future?
Day 4: Intentional Pursuit of God
Just as we prepare for important activities, we must intentionally set aside time for God. This involves daily reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and worshiping Him. An intentional pursuit of God leads to a deeper relationship with Him and a more fulfilling spiritual life. Prioritizing our relationship with God requires deliberate effort and commitment, but the rewards are immeasurable. By consistently seeking His presence, we cultivate a vibrant and dynamic faith that sustains us through all seasons of life. [47:31]
Psalm 63:1 (ESV): "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prioritize your time with God? How can you make this a consistent habit in your daily routine?
Day 5: Breaking Free from Worldly Yokes
We must choose to break off any yokes tied to the world and instead, yoke ourselves to Jesus. This means rejecting worldly influences and aligning ourselves with God's will. By doing so, we find true freedom and purpose in our lives, guided by Jesus' example and teachings. The world's yokes can be burdensome and misleading, but Jesus' yoke is light and life-giving. Embracing His yoke liberates us from the constraints of worldly expectations and aligns us with God's divine purpose. [01:09:13]
Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
Reflection: Identify a specific worldly influence that is hindering your spiritual growth. What steps can you take to break free from this influence and yoke yourself to Jesus instead?
Quotes
1. "We exist to get people to a place where they will acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily. Acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily. need Him every single day. And things happen. And the more things happen, the more I can look and say, God, I need you to intervene in my life, to intervene in my family, to intervene in my children, to intervene in all that I go to do." [46:41] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Intentionally set aside the time for God. The night before, prepare it. The night before, you say, you know what? I want to wake up early tomorrow. So go to sleep a little bit earlier. Like, oh, but it's early. You know, don't be like Anna. The sun's awake, so I'm awake. You remember Frozen? The sun's awake, so I'm awake. It's all right to go to bed a little bit earlier." [47:31] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Who are we going to? Who are we going to? I could actually say it this way as well. What are we going to? Because every single one of us, we all go to something. We all turn to someone or we go to someone. When I ask the question, who or what are we going to? I want us to think about this. Who do we go to when we have questions? Who are we going to when we have doubts? Who and what are we going to when things are tough?" [50:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus said, come to me. Jesus said, come to me. And describes it. He says it. The word come, when you look up the definition, it means to move or travel towards. So Jesus is in a place, and he is saying to all of us, and I don't know about you, but I'm going through stuff. Stuff that's not easy. Stuff that's hard. And the question is, in that midst of that hard decision, of that hard circumstance, of that hard situation, of that hard situation, whom am I searching, or what am I going to? And Jesus says, here's the answer. Come to me." [55:26] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We must tie ourselves to Jesus. Look at verse number 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find there's that word again, rest for your souls. Take your yoke upon my yoke upon you. What is a yoke? A yoke is a wooden cross piece that went across the necks of two animals. And. And then it tied them to a plow or to a cart, something that they were moving. And Jesus is saying this. We're all tied to something. We're all tied to someone. Tie yourself to me." [01:00:23] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We learn from Jesus how to run the pace, how to spend time with the Father. You know, the Bible is full of examples of Jesus going off by himself to pray. We know that he knew the word. Jesus would go into the synagogue and read it and quote it to people. And God speaks to us through his word. We need to daily read his word. Get in it. And some of us will say, well, I tried, but I don't understand it." [01:12:15] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Who or what are we going to? And we learn from him. Let me describe the way that a yoke works one more time, just to make sure we got that. They get an experienced animal, an ox, if you would, and they tie him to a young one and have it go plow the field, or walk around the mill to grind the grain or whatever it's doing. And the reason they take an experienced one and tie him to the younger one is because that experienced one knows the pace that it takes to get the job done." [01:10:02] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We go to him when we need, but we don't celebrate him for what he's done. See, we start to think, I did it. So I'm good. I got into the school I wanted to. I'm at the college I wanted to be at. I got the job I wanted. I got the this and I got that. I got this, I got that. And I did that. You know what that is? That's pride starting to grow. And humility leave." [01:17:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So I ask you again this morning, who, what are we turning to? So I'm going to ask you to stand to your feet this morning. This is what we're going to do. We're going to open the altar. And this is not, let's be very clear, coming to the altar is not that there's sin this morning and that I walked away from God or I'm unsaved. This is what God put in my heart as I prepared this message. Is there's anything in your life that you have begun to allow to be what influences you instead of God?" [01:20:55] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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