Sunday, January 20, 2013

Rest in His Presence - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

 photo anigifCOME1_zps9bec505f.gif
Rest in His Presence - Christ’s Commission Fellowship


Evidence of Intimacy Series
Speaker: Peter Tan-chi 
Are you always in a hurry, uneasy about the way things are going? Are you trying to control every little detail of your life? Are you tired and stressed? Have you ever considered rest?
An evidence of intimacy with God is REST. When you know that God is with you, you are able to rest. Problems are inevitable, but worries are optional. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus clues us in on how to rest in His presence. He said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Come to Me

Jesus is giving an open invitation to everyone. He wants all people to pair up with Him and He promises them rest. But then no one would partner with someone they do not know. This is why in Matthew 11:27 Jesus establishes who He is and why we should trust him: “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” Here we see Jesus disclosing the kind of authority He has and His exclusive relationship with the Father.

All Who Are Weary and Heavy-laden

If you are humble enough to admit that you need God because you are exhausted and burdened, then you are invited to come to Jesus. Running away from problems or from relationships will not solve the problem. The good news is you don’t have to bear them by yourself; you can come and accept Jesus’ invitation.

I Will Give You Rest

Rest is not in the absence of work, but it is in the presence of God. The distinguishing mark of God’s people is God’s presence in their life (Exo 33:16). God’s people respond to problems differently as they practice the presence of God. Intimacy with God results to restedness.

Take My Yoke Upon You

When we respond accordingly to Jesus’ invitation, He becomes the senior partner and us the junior partner. When we are yoked to Him, we are God’s co-workers (1 Cor 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).

Learn from Me

When we take the yoke of Christ, we walk beside Him and learn from Him. As we walk with Jesus under His yoke, He will teach us and guide us. - (To be equally yoked with the Lord Jesus is actually learning from Him close up and personal with a friend state of relationship, where trust is at active and dynamic.)

For I am Gentle and Humble in Heart

Jesus then describes Himself as someone who has a gentle and humble heart. He wants us to trust in His character and to get to know Him even more.

Find Rest for Your Souls

We are promised true peace in every area of our life – at home, in our career or profession and in our ministry because God is intimately involved in our life and cares for us. In Christ, rest is a certainty.

For My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light

God’s yoke is easy and light because it is just right; it is perfectly “fitted” for us.
In the Bible there was a man who allowed God to be his senior partner. From his humble shepherd boy beginnings, David understood that when God has a plan for you, no one can overrule it.
David rested in God. He trusted God’s plans and waited for them to come into fruition rather than forcing himself in it (1 Sam 16:1, 10-13; 18- 21). David did his part but he didn’t try to control people or manipulate events in order to get his way, because he was secure in God.
Are you stressed and tired? Perhaps it is time to rest and trust in God as David did. Come rest in His presence today.

No comments:

Post a Comment