4. Heb 4:9-11 (NLT)
So there is a special rest still waiting for the
people of God. 10 For all who have entered
into God's rest have rested from their labours,
just as God did after creating the world. 11 So
let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we
disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will
fall.
5. Sabbath Rest
Gen 2:3 NLT And God blessed the seventh day
and declared it holy, because it was the day
when He rested from all His work of creation.
Rested = Shabath: abstained
8. Communion
• I am who I am
– Eph 2:10 NLT For we are God's masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good
things He planned for us long ago.
• Workmanship requires
– Skill
– Perspective
9. Communion
• I do what I do
– Jas 1:22-24 NLT But don't just listen to God's word. You
must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling
yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't
obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You
see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
– Mirror, Mirror
We all now how important it is to rest both for our bodies and our minds. But rest is even more important as a spiritual concept.
Rest from works: We rest from trying to earn God’s favour through doing good. We know that salvation is by faith alone. We receive God’s favour and become part of His household through believing in the completed work of Christ.
Work from rest: But rest is not a passive thing it is from this faith that we can do good. We do good not to earn salvation but because we have received it, not as n payment plan (get saved first and pay later) but because we have been set free to be able to do good. We don’t merely have a responsibility to do good we are now able to respond.
Why the need to abstain? Obviously it wasn't because of tiredness! God's resting from creation teaches us that as human beings created in the image of God, we too need to make time for rest and purposely abstain from interfering with creation one day of the week. The passion to create can sometimes be dangerous — especially for a technological society that prides itself on its ability to create, manipulate and control the world around it.
There's a great story I would like to share with you from Mrs. Lettie Cowman's wonderful book, Springs in the Valley. In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Coolies had been engaged from a tribe to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they just sat and rested. On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, and that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.
We each carry God’s I am with us we are because He is I am. We have to step up into the next level of Godly authority to influence this world. But this only comes by resting in Him and working from that place of Rest.
We work from rest by Working from
Communion – We work from having our identity secured in Him.
Community – We are not alone but find our place in the community of faith. We cannot do it all but recognize that we form part of a team wherein each is free to be whom God has made them to be.
Commission – I am sent by God along with others to do only what He has called me to do. I am free and able to respond to his call.
In 2015 I believe God wants to take us to the next level of effectivity. That will only come about if we step up to enter the rest and operate not from striving but from faith in what He has done and who He has made us. Are you stressed and struggling then can I encourage you to check the three C’s. Are you secure in your relationship or are you needing to rest from works? Are you vitally connected to community, do you enjoy the covering, encouraging, and sharpening of community? Do you have a clear sense of the commission, are you doing what God has called you to do, or are you trying to be someone else?
God is the only one qualified to make you. There are many that would like to make you, yourself, your parents or children, your society etc but only God the creator is qualified because only He knows enough about you and the future plans that He has for you. Only he has the skills and the insight.
God is the only one qualified to make you. There are many that would like to make you, yourself, your parents or children, your society etc but only God the creator is qualified because only He knows enough about you and the future plans that He has for you. Only he has the skills and the insight.
Once God is the source of who you are and what you are to do then you can with security step into community and offer yourself and your abilities to the community.
Once God is the source of who you are and what you are to do then you can with security step into community and offer yourself and your abilities to the community.
