Rest for the weary, and Relief for the heavy! - Matthew 11:28-30

In every story that you've ever watched our movie, there's a turning point. There's a moment where all the tension comes to a head and the rescue is initiated. Jesus here says, hold on. Forget the striving. Forget the heavy laden. If you come, I'm a give you rest. Notice carefully child of God, the first word come. He does not say come to church. He does not say come to the pastor. He does not say call on the deacons. He says come to me. He says come to me. And the danger today is people may be coming to church but ain't came to Jesus. [01:02:05] (43 seconds)  #ComeToJesus

But what Jesus is speaking here, he's saying we're not suffering from physical fatigue. We're suffering from soul fatigue. It is the exhaustion of trying to be the hero of your own story, trying to be good enough for people, seeking to please everybody, acting strong enough when you know life is breaking you down. Self sufficient saying, I got it. I don't need no help. And God says, we do need help. [00:40:41] (30 seconds)  #StopBeingYourOwnHero

This heavy laden it it refers to a ship that has been overloaded with cargo or a strong horse that has been carrying too much weight. This is not the weight you pick up yourself, it's the weight that's placed on you. He says if you're not careful, if you don't learn to say no, people will load you down. It's the picture. A ship can't talk and a horse can't talk and people just constantly pack on. And you're a person, watch this, you say yes to everything because you're hoping yeses get the right approval. [00:52:27] (46 seconds)  #LearnToSayNo

And if we're not careful, church, I wanna teach this if we're not careful, church, we can teach people how to pretend. It's okay to say, it been it's it's okay to say, I've been to so many funerals lately that is weighing on me. It's it's okay to say, I've been going to the hospital so often, I'm tired of getting on elevators. It is okay to say, this thing that I'm thinking about that won't leave my mind is wearing me out. It's okay to be honest, it's just not okay to quit. [01:01:09] (39 seconds)  #HonestNotQuit

The people were working but they were not worshiping. They were striving, but they were not resting. And right in the narrative of all this, Jesus steps on the page, of God, listen to me carefully, he interrupts their exhaustion with grace. He does not offer a new program. You know, he offers himself. In three short verses, theologic theological, Christological movements, I wanna give them to you and I'm a take my seat. Here it is. The first one, notice the conflict of our condition. [00:41:42] (32 seconds)  #WorshipNotWork

The pages of our lives are stained with the sweat of striving and also the tears of burnout. Life can leave you tired, weary, and broken. We are a generation that has mastered the art of moving fast, yet we have completely forgotten the holy rhythm of stopping and resting. We are chronically over committed, over stimulated, overburdened, but the exhaustion that plays the human heart is not merely result of a full calendar child of God. If our only problem was a lack of sleep, all we have to do is go take a nap. [00:39:44] (57 seconds)  #PracticeHolyRest

Let me say it again. Ain't no sin in saying my calendar full, I can't make that. Ain't no sin in saying listen, I'm gonna send an offering but I ain't gonna be there. I got other stuff to do. I'm trying to help somebody because somebody said, pastor Terry, why are you trying to cut it down where we can only serve in two ministries? Because I'm trying to show you what a shepherd is, that a shepherd doesn't just care what he can get from you, he cares about you. And how you gonna take care of your husband? How you gonna take care of your wife? How you gonna feed your children if you're at church seven days a week? [00:55:42] (41 seconds)  #SayingNoIsOkay

If they name if somebody else name on the program and they don't even know your intent, they will charge you with being ungodly and they meant to do it child. How they remember Sheila and didn't remember my name, How they remember Terry and didn't remember my name. And then the rubber hits the road and you hear the holy spirit ask why did you do it? Did you do it to get your name called or did you do it that at the end of the day you wanna hear serving well done. There are people that are addicted to compliments. [00:53:33] (29 seconds)  #NotAddictedToPraise