Open Door, Test 4: "Rest in the Arms of God"
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An open door for 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:15:47
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· 2 viewsThe journey through Open Door 2024 has brought us to a pivotal moment, a test not of our strength or endurance, but of our ability to embrace rest. In a world that prizes constant motion and productivity, God invites us into a counter-cultural practice – the sacred rest
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An open door for 2024
An open door for 2024
Test 4: "Rest in the Arms of God"
Test 4: "Rest in the Arms of God"
Humor
Why did the procrastinator never finish his to-do list? (Because he was too busy planning when to start it!)
Why did the busy baker refuse to take a break? (Because they didn't want to be caught loafing around!)
Why did the calendar apply for a vacation? (Because it was tired of being booked solid all the time!)
I’m so busy, even my calendar needs a calendar
I’m so busy that my multi-tasking is multi-tasking.
I’m so busy, my to-do list has its own to-do list.
I’m so busy, I’ve hired a personal assistant to find me a personal assistant.
I’m so busy, I don’t even have time to complain about being busy.
I’m so busy, even my problems have to make an appointment.
I’m so busy, I’m thinking of hiring a body double.
A garden gnome is busy destroying some plants when suddenly a house cat appears. "What are you?" asks the cat. "I'm a gnome. I steal food from humans, I kill their plants, and I raise a ruckus at night to drive them crazy. I just love mischief! And what, may I ask, what kind of creature, are you?" The cat thinks for a moment and says, "I guess I'm a gnome."
I was busy in my garden and the neighbour looked over the fence and said.. “What are you doing?”
I said “I'm putting all my plants in alphabetical order...”
She replied “Really? I don't know how you find the time..!”
Oh that's easy I said, “Its right next to the sage.”
A duck is standing next to a busy road, cars zooming past while he waits for a break in traffic. A chicken walks up to him and says, "Don't do it, man. You'll never hear the end of it."
Introduction
I. the importance of rest in our fast-paced world.
I. the importance of rest in our fast-paced world.
In our fast-paced world, where productivity is often valued above all else,
the importance of rest cannot be overstated.
many people value business.
It’s sometime feels like your doing something wrong when your not busy
I know for myself I normally struggle on vacation when I don’t have something to do
but is that the way God wants it to be.
many of you know one of my favorite places of earth is the caribbean
I’ve noticed a trait down there that is very foreign to our way of thinking.
I call it Island mentality
I sum it up like this “Why do today, What can be done tomorrow?”
kind of opposite of our way of thinking.
maybe its because they don’t live in a place where the air can hurt your face.
maybe its the sunshine that saps all your energy
I don’t know
but its a more peaceful way to live in my opinion
But does God intend us to be busy people?
Sure the Bible says alot about no being lazy
4 Lazy people are soon poor;
hard workers get rich.
5 A wise youth harvests in the summer,
but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
24 Work hard and become a leader;
be lazy and become a slave.
Its clear God does not appreciate lazines, but does God promote business?
I don’t believe God does
38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Yes God has work for us to do, but what He has called us to do is to work with Him
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “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.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Business is not Gods plan for us
Not Resting can have detrimental consequence on the life of a believer
Not Resting can have detrimental consequence on the life of a believer
1. Physical Health:
1. Physical Health:
Rest is essential for physical health and well-being.
Continuous activity without adequate rest can lead to burnout, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to illness.
Rest allows our bodies to repair and rejuvenate, replenishing energy levels and strengthening our immune systems.
2. Mental Health:
2. Mental Health:
The relentless pace of modern life can take a toll on mental health.
Rest provides an opportunity for mental relaxation and stress relief.
It allows us to step back from the pressures of work, school, and daily responsibilities, promoting mental clarity, emotional stability, and resilience in the face of challenges.
3. Creativity and Innovation:
3. Creativity and Innovation:
Rest is a catalyst for creativity and innovation.
When our minds are constantly occupied with tasks and deadlines, there's little room for new ideas to flourish.
Taking breaks and allowing our brains to wander enables us to think outside the box, make connections, and come up with fresh solutions to problems.
4. Relationships:
4. Relationships:
Rest is vital for nurturing meaningful relationships.
When we're constantly on the go, we may neglect spending quality time with loved ones,
leading to feelings of disconnect and loneliness.
Taking time to rest allows us to prioritize relationships, fostering intimacy, communication, and emotional support.
5. Productivity and Performance:
5. Productivity and Performance:
Contrary to popular belief, rest is not antithetical to productivity;
it's a prerequisite for sustained high performance.
Adequate rest improves focus, concentration, and cognitive function, enhancing productivity and efficiency in the long run.
By incorporating periods of rest into our schedules, we can work smarter, not just harder.
6. Spiritual and Emotional Renewal:
6. Spiritual and Emotional Renewal:
Rest is essential for spiritual and emotional renewal.
It provides an opportunity for introspection, prayer, and meditation, fostering spiritual growth and connection with the divine. Additionally, rest allows us to recharge emotionally, cultivating a sense of inner peace, gratitude, and contentment.
There is a time to work and a time to rest
1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
The issue is, if we are always busy we should be asking ourselves why?
Is it procrastination?
Is it taking on too much?
Is it doing things we were never called to do?
Could it be an unreliance on God and instead doing things our way instead of His?
I Have to admit....I’m preaching this message to myself as well!
There are many reasons why we may feel busy?
1) Wasting Time -Doing things God never asked us to do
1) Wasting Time -Doing things God never asked us to do
28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
Before committing to anything, seek God and ask Him if He telling you to do it
There are alot of “good things” we can do. But we need to focus on the right things
2) Doing things on our own
2) Doing things on our own
this can be multi pronged…as simple as
a) Not enlisting the help of other
a) Not enlisting the help of other
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
Just because you can do it alone doesn’t mean you should!
b) Without Holy Spirits help
b) Without Holy Spirits help
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
II. God's Design for Rest
II. God's Design for Rest
A. God rested on the seventh day after creating the world.
A. God rested on the seventh day after creating the world.
2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
B. The commandment to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
B. The commandment to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 “Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
11 “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
I have heard some people say “Well the sabbath is OT, we live in the New”
27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
28 “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
God instituted the sabbath so man would have rest. He never took that away
God's intention for rest as a part of His divine rhythm for human life.
III. Jesus as the Source of Rest
III. Jesus as the Source of Rest
A. - Jesus invites us to find rest in Him.
A. - Jesus invites us to find rest in Him.
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “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.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Its about trusting Jesus instead of trusting the enemies plans will prevail
B. Jesus modeled the importance of rest to His disciples.
B. Jesus modeled the importance of rest to His disciples.
31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
Jesus took the time to rest.
C. The significance of finding spiritual and emotional rest in Christ amidst life's challenges.
C. The significance of finding spiritual and emotional rest in Christ amidst life's challenges.
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The first step is not only give yourself the permission to rest, but the recognition that God expects us to rest
When we learn to rest what happens?
IV. The Restorative Power of Rest
IV. The Restorative Power of Rest
A. God leads us beside quiet waters and restores our souls.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
B. "Be still, and know that I am God."
B. "Be still, and know that I am God."
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
C. Rest rejuvenates us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
C. Rest rejuvenates us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Rest allows us to accomplish what God i calling us to do!
So How do we overcome the barriers that prevent us from being in His rest
V. Overcoming Barriers to Rest
V. Overcoming Barriers to Rest
A. Addressing common obstacles such as busyness, worry, and guilt.
Overcoming Busyness:
Overcoming Busyness:
Prioritize:
Prioritize:
identify your top priorities and focus on what truly matters, rather than trying to do everything at once.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Set boundaries:
Set boundaries:
Its very important to setting boundaries to protect personal time and prevent overcommitment.
Saying "no" when necessary is essential for maintaining balance.
Schedule downtime:
Schedule downtime:
Schedule regular periods of rest and relaxation into their calendars just as they would any other appointment or task.
Overcoming Worry:
Overcoming Worry:
Practice mindfulness:
Practice mindfulness:
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
become more aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment, this allows you to reduce anxiety and worry.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Foster trust:
Foster trust:
Trust in God's provision and sovereignty,
worrying does not add anything to their lives but instead detracts from their peace of mind.
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Focus on gratitude:
Focus on gratitude:
Cultivate a spirit of gratitude by reflecting on the blessings in your lives,
shifting your focus from worries to blessings.
Overcoming Guilt:
Overcoming Guilt:
Challenge perfectionism:
Challenge perfectionism:
You don't have to do everything perfectly or meet unrealistic standards.
Perfectionism often leads to feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
The phrase I use it this
“God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does want our best!”
Offer grace:
Offer grace:
it's okay to take breaks and prioritize self-care.
Extend grace to yourself, just as God extends grace to us.
Reframe rest as a necessity:
Reframe rest as a necessity:
The Bible tells us rest is a gift from God rather than a sign of laziness or failure.
taking care of oneself is essential for serving others effectively.
39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Conclusion