Study

You’ll Find Rest

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

Genesis 2:1-3:

1:  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3: And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

(not used as text but other key scriptures)

Matthew 11:29:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Hebrews 4:9:

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

 

Theme:

You’ll Find Rest

 

Introduction:

  • Genesis is the first book of the Biblical canon, the Penteteuch, the Old Testament, Books of History…the Bible as we know and believe it to be.
  • Genesis literally means “the beginning”. It is an account of the creation of the universe and the beginning of the world and God’s chosen people within it.
    • In the Beginning, God…took NOTHING and made SOMETHING
    • In the Beginning, God…took SOMETHING and made EVERYTHING
    • In the Beginning, God…took EVERYTHING and made it good for EVERYONE
    • In the Beginning, God…took EVERYONE and through the Word became eternal life to ANYONE
    • In the Beginning, God
  • Our text takes place on the proverbial seventh day of creation:
    • After light took hostage the darkness that reigned upon the earth
    • After the heavens were crowned above the earth as the separator between the waters above and the waters below
    • After the land of the earth and all its emerging herbal life had corralled the waters as a sheepdog herds its sheep.
    • After the Sun and the Moon were placed on the walls of the day and the night respectively to herald new days, weeks, months, and years
    • After the seas and the air were filled with living creatures ranging in size from the one-celled amoeba to the wide-spanning albatross to the mammalian mammoth of the seas, the whale.
    • After the land was populated with its creeping things, beasts of the fields, and the one given rule and dominion over all of the earth, man.
    • Then came the SEVENTH DAY!!!
  • The seventh day is unlike the other six!
    • On this day God ended His work
    • On this day God RESTED

  • You’ll Find Rest

 

Body:

  • There is a physical REST:
    • Fatigue, exhaustion, physically spent…EXAMPLES
    • We then seek physical rest…EXAMPLES
    • The Bible speaks of physical rest:
      • Exodus 23:13 refers to the structure in Judaic culture of working for the first six days and designating the seventh day for REST.
      • Leviticus 23:3 explains the Sabbath Day, “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
      • After having fed the 5000 men, Jesus took the disciples onto a boat to go to the other side. This journey although ending in the miracle of Jesus calming the seas with the words, “Peace, be still”, had the purpose of allowing Jesus to physically rest from his traveling.
    • This is not the rest that is referred to in our subject of “You’ll Find Rest”
  • There is a spiritual REST:

Matthew 11:29 says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

  • This form of rest is realized in the gifts of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5 (explain rest in each one):
    • Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance:
  • The PHYSICAL REST and SPIRITUAL REST are very DIFFERENT:
    • Physical rest is the relief of the body…Spiritual rest is the relief of the soul.
    • Physical rest is temporary comfort…Spiritual rest is eternal security.
    • Physical rest is the body’s request…Spiritual rest is the soul’s requirement.
  • You’ll Find Rest!
  • Our text shows a history of this spiritual REST:
    • Yesterday’s Inception — Genesis 2:1-3:
      • Rest existed before the creation of the heavens and the earth
        • 2 “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
      • God BLESSED this day – Established rest as an available privilege for mankind in this world/life
      • God SANCTIFIED this day – Made spiritual rest an holy activity
        • Only God can provide it.
        • It has responsibilities attached
          • You have to work just to get it!
    • Today’s Invitation — Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
      • You’ll Find Rest!
      • Jesus is asking us to:
        • Receive Him
        • Learn of Him
        • Understand Him
        • Be like Him
        • Then, You’ll Find Rest!
    • Tomorrow’s Inspiration – Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
      • For the children of God there is a REST
        • A rest from the worry
        • A rest from the stress
        • A rest from the anxiety
        • A rest from the working
        • A rest from the toiling
        • A rest from the problems
        • A rest from the struggles
        • A rest from your enemies
        • A rest from your tears
        • A rest from your fears
        • Yes, You’ll Find Rest!!!

 

Conclusion:

  • There are many hymns that speak of this REST:
    • Jesus Is Calling — “Jesus is calling the weary to REST. Calling today.  Calling today. Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest.  He will not turn thee away”
    • Is Your All On The Alter — “Is your all on the alter of sacrificed laid? Your heart does the Spirit control?  You can only be blest and have peace and sweet REST as you yield Him your body and soul.”
    • In The Cross — “In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, ‘til my raptured soul shall find REST beyond the river.”
    • Sit down, Servant – “Sit down, Servant, sit down. Sit down, Servant, sit down.  Sit down, Servant, sit down.  Sit down and REST a little while.”
  • One particular hymn gives the key to receiving rest

“Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?  Your heart does the Spirit control?  You can only blessed and have peace and sweet REST as you yield Him your body and soul.”

  • Mark 12:30 says clearly, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
  • Rest is only attained after you have given God ALL!
    • Physically
      • We live to die — We cannot break the journey of life that inevitably ends in death.
      • We die to live – As born-again believers in Christ, 1Corinthians 15:52 says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
    • Spiritually
      • We live to die – Mark 8:34 explains, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
      • We die to live – John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
        • We have to die but we don’t have to PERISH!
      • When you are giving him all, Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
      • When you have given Him ALL, as Hebrews 4:9 says, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
    • You’ll Find Rest
    • That’s why Jesus said after His Resurrection that He had ALL POWER in His hand!
      • When we have given all and receive rest, WE TOO HAVE POWER…ALL POWER!

 

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