Refueling Your Spirit: Finding Rest in Jesus
Summary
In today's message, we explored the metaphor of running out of gas as a parallel to feeling spiritually, emotionally, and relationally empty. We began by identifying ten reasons why we might find ourselves running on empty, both in our cars and in our lives. These reasons include not starting with a full tank, being too busy to refuel, ignoring our limits, being unaware of hidden leaks, and being in a hurry, among others. Each of these reasons serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining our spiritual and emotional health.
We then turned to the teachings of Jesus to find solutions to our emptiness. Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are tired and burdened, promising rest for our souls. This rest is not merely physical but deeply spiritual and emotional. Jesus offers us a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light, symbolizing partnership and shared load. By coming to Jesus, we are invited to give up control and trust in His guidance, learning from His example of gentleness and humility.
The message emphasized the importance of getting fed up with our current state, coming to Jesus, giving up control, and learning to trust Him. These steps are essential for refilling our spiritual and emotional tanks. We are encouraged to start each day by refilling our tanks through quiet time with God and to stay connected to our spiritual family for support and encouragement.
Key Takeaways:
- Start with a Full Tank: Begin each day with spiritual and emotional fullness by spending time with God. This sets the tone for the day and prevents running on empty. Prioritize your relationship with God to ensure you are spiritually nourished. [02:37]
- Recognize Your Limits: Understand that you have limits and respect them. Ignoring these limits leads to burnout. Embrace the Sabbath as a time for rest and worship, acknowledging that you are not invincible. [03:35]
- Identify Hidden Leaks: Be aware of the hidden leaks in your life that drain your energy, such as unresolved conflict or criticism. Address these issues to prevent them from depleting your spiritual and emotional reserves. [04:07]
- Give Up Control: The need to control everything leads to stress and emptiness. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, symbolizing partnership and shared burden. Trust in His guidance and let go of the need to control every aspect of your life. [38:52]
- Learn from Jesus: Embrace the qualities of gentleness and humility as modeled by Jesus. These traits counteract the stress caused by aggression and arrogance. Trust in God's plan and timing, allowing Him to set the pace for your life. [47:50]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction and Survey
- [01:33] - Keeping Your Tank Filled
- [02:22] - Reasons for Running Out of Gas
- [03:35] - Ignoring Limits and the Sabbath
- [04:07] - Hidden Leaks in Life
- [05:28] - The Dangers of Being in a Hurry
- [06:44] - Paying Attention to Life's Gauges
- [09:05] - The Burden of Being Overloaded
- [12:12] - Assuming Limits Don't Apply
- [13:22] - Finding a Filling Station
- [15:27] - Refilling Your Tank
- [19:07] - Jesus' Invitation to Rest
- [22:18] - Rest for Your Soul
- [29:09] - The Path to Change
- [38:52] - Giving Up Control
- [47:50] - Learning from Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 11:28-30
2. Psalm 55:22
3. Isaiah 40:29
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Observation Questions:
1. What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon for why people might feel spiritually or emotionally empty? ([01:50])
2. According to the sermon, what does Jesus offer to those who come to Him when they are tired and burdened? ([19:48])
3. How does the metaphor of a yoke relate to the concept of giving up control in our lives? ([38:52])
4. What are some of the "hidden leaks" in life that can drain our energy, as discussed in the sermon? ([04:07])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of starting each day with a "full tank" relate to one's spiritual practices and priorities? ([02:37])
2. In what ways does recognizing and respecting our limits help prevent burnout, according to the sermon? ([03:35])
3. How does the sermon suggest that giving up control can lead to a more peaceful and less stressful life? ([38:52])
4. What does it mean to learn from Jesus' example of gentleness and humility, and how can these traits counteract stress? ([47:50])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual and emotional state. Are there any signs that you might be "running on empty"? What steps can you take to address this? ([01:50])
2. Consider your daily routine. How can you prioritize starting each day with spiritual and emotional fullness? What specific changes can you make to ensure this happens? ([02:37])
3. Identify any "hidden leaks" in your life that might be draining your energy. What practical steps can you take to address these issues? ([04:07])
4. Think about areas in your life where you might be trying to control too much. How can you practice giving up control and trusting in Jesus' guidance? ([38:52])
5. Reflect on the qualities of gentleness and humility. How can you incorporate these traits into your daily interactions to reduce stress and promote peace? ([47:50])
6. How can you stay connected to your spiritual family for support and encouragement? What specific actions can you take to strengthen these connections? ([53:05])
7. Consider the concept of rest for your soul. What practices can you implement to ensure you are receiving the emotional and spiritual rest that Jesus offers? ([19:48])
Devotional
Day 1: Begin Each Day with Spiritual Fullness
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to start the day without taking time to spiritually and emotionally prepare ourselves. Just as a car needs fuel to run, we need spiritual nourishment to navigate our daily challenges. Spending quiet time with God each morning sets the tone for the day, ensuring that we are spiritually full and ready to face whatever comes our way. Prioritizing this relationship with God helps prevent us from running on empty and allows us to draw from His strength and wisdom throughout the day. [02:37]
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What specific time and place can you set aside each morning to ensure you start your day spiritually full? How can you make this a consistent habit?
Day 2: Respect Your Limits
Understanding and respecting our limits is crucial to maintaining spiritual and emotional health. Ignoring these limits can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Embracing the Sabbath as a time for rest and worship is a way to acknowledge that we are not invincible and that we need regular intervals of rest. By recognizing our limitations, we can better manage our energy and resources, ensuring that we are not overextending ourselves and depleting our reserves. [03:35]
"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever." (Exodus 31:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What are some signs that you are reaching your limits, and how can you incorporate regular rest into your weekly routine to prevent burnout?
Day 3: Address Hidden Leaks
Hidden leaks in our lives, such as unresolved conflict or criticism, can drain our energy and leave us feeling empty. These issues often go unnoticed until they have significantly depleted our spiritual and emotional reserves. By identifying and addressing these hidden leaks, we can prevent them from causing further damage. This involves being honest with ourselves about the areas in our lives that need attention and taking proactive steps to resolve them. [04:07]
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." (Ephesians 4:25-27, ESV)
Reflection: What hidden leaks in your life might be draining your energy, and what steps can you take today to address them?
Day 4: Surrender Control
The need to control every aspect of our lives can lead to stress and emptiness. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, symbolizing partnership and shared burden. By surrendering control and trusting in His guidance, we can experience peace and rest. This involves letting go of the need to manage everything ourselves and trusting that God has a plan for our lives. Embracing this partnership with Jesus allows us to share our burdens and find rest for our souls. [38:52]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." (Psalm 37:5-6, ESV)
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?
Day 5: Learn from Jesus
Jesus models qualities of gentleness and humility, which counteract the stress caused by aggression and arrogance. By learning from His example, we can trust in God's plan and timing, allowing Him to set the pace for our lives. Embracing these qualities helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and patience, trusting that God is in control. This involves actively seeking to embody these traits in our interactions with others and in our relationship with God. [47:50]
"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." (Matthew 11:29-30, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate the qualities of gentleness and humility into your daily interactions, and what impact might this have on your relationships and spiritual well-being?
Quotes
Not starting out every day with a full tank means you're going to be on empty much of the day. Number two, being too busy to stop and refuel, that's the second reason we run out of gas. When you're too busy to stop and refuel, some of you can relate to that in your emotional life, in your relational life, in your spiritual life. [00:02:37]
You have limits, and one of the limits that God puts in your life is actually in the Ten Commandments. It says this: every seventh day is for worship, rest, and relaxation. It's called the Sabbath. If you ignore the Sabbath, you don't take a day for worship, rest, and relaxation, then you're going to pay for it, and you're going to be running on empty most of your life. [00:03:35]
Most common causes of leaks in your life, because you are draining energy all the time, are your relationships. They drain you, and your responsibilities, they drain you. Conflict drains you of energy, criticism drains you of energy, disappointment drains you of energy, frustration drains you of energy. These are common leaks that empty your soul. [00:04:07]
The greater your need to control things, the more overloaded and stressed you're going to be in life. You got to learn to give up control. The greater your need for control, the more overloaded, the more empty, the more stressed, the more depressed you're going to be in life. Jesus's third solution to Running on Empty is this: take my yoke upon you. [00:38:52]
Learn from me, for I'm gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your soul. That's the refilling your tank. For the Yoke I share with you is easy to wear, and it makes the load light. The load is light. Now, I want you to circle, if you're taking notes, circle the word come, circle the word take, and circle the word learn. [00:47:50]
Jesus says this in Matthew 11:28-30: If you're tired, I would assume that includes a lot of people sitting here right now and those who are listening. If you're tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me, and I will give you rest. He's not talking about physical rest. He's talking about emotional and spiritual rest. [00:19:07]
The purpose of a yoke is to lighten the load, not to make a heavier load. The purpose of a yoke is so that you share the load you're carrying. You're already carrying the load. Jesus says, yoke up with me, and I'll help you carry it. When two animals team up together, it makes the load lighter, not harder. [00:39:33]
The two biggest causes of overload and stress and emptiness in your life are aggression and arrogance. Aggression is we don't want to wait for anything. We're aggressive. We don't want to pause for anything. We don't want to consider anything. We don't want to be patient for anything. We want to just jump right in, and we get overcommitted. [00:49:33]
The church is Christ's body, and it is filled—that's the opposite of empty. It is filled with Christ, who completely fills, which is the opposite of empty, everything else. You need to be at church. You need to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ. They will help refill your emptiness. [00:53:40]
Start every day by filling my tank. Now, we've talked about this so many times. I don't feel like I have to go into it in any detail, but I'm talking about a daily quiet time. I'm never going to stop talking about this because it is the key to stability and the key to energy in your life. [00:52:07]
The antidote to your emptiness, the antidote to your overload, the antidote to all the ucky things that you're feeling right now, that overloaded soul, that empty soul, it's not a plan for time management, okay? It's not a program for stress relief. It's not a philosophy. It's not a program. It's not a pill. It's a person. Come to me. [00:33:40]
The truth is, friends, you're going to be yoked to something in your life. There is some kind of controlling entity in your life. It may be your own expectations, the expectations of your parents, the expectations of your boss, the expectations of society. You're going to be yoked to something. Why not choose the easiest yoke, Jesus, the easiest yoke? [00:45:20]
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