Sermon Cloud

Looking up To God For Rest

Matthew 11:28-30

 Well we have made it to the unofficial close of summer – Labor Day!

• It is time to put away the white shoes, sandals, and swimsuits
• School is back in session
• Dust off your leaf rake and get ready for fall and winter!

Is that depressing to you?

• I hope not!
• I am ready for the cooler weather!

 Over the past numerous weeks we have looked at God’s Holy Word in Psalm 119.

• We have seen how David looked to God and His Word with determination and with a will “not to quit”

Paul encourages us with these words in Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 In this morning’s text we find that Jesus offers us an invitation to rest!

Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 QUESTION – Do you ever feel like you are at the end of your rope and there simply isn’t enough rope left with which to tie a knot?

• Then you are the kind of person Jesus is addressing in these verses

The world offers long weekends, cookouts, and road trips.

• And these are all fine
• BUT they only address the physical aspect of rest

FRIENDS – There is a greater rest that we all need and this rest comes only from knowing God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28 - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 THE REST OF SALVATION

A.  Note the Invitation

1. “Come unto Me…” – Imperative mode

• Jesus does not say – “Come unto the church”
• NOT – “Come unto religion”
• NOT – “Come unto anything – or – anyone other than Jesus!

FRIENDS – This may seem basic to some of you who are here today – but this is truly profound!

• There is only one way to salvation

Acts 4:12 – “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

It has always been this way and always will be this way

• True Biblical Salvation is in a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Anything else is NOT salvation!

QUESTION- DO YOU LONG FOR SALVATION?

• Come to Jesus!

B.  Notice the Scope of this Invitation – “All ye”

FRIENDS – I have done an extensive word search through the KJV Bible on the word “ALL” – You know what I have found?

• “ALL” means “ALL”
• I am so thankful that God’s invitation is extended to “All”
• This is important because He tells us that “ALL” have sinned and fallen short of His glory
• Isaiah told us that “ALL” like sheep have gone astray

HEAR ME CHURCH – Since “ALL” are in need – the invitation to come is extended to “ALL”

Revelation 22:17 – “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

C.  V.1c - Notice the Benefit  - “I will give you rest”

FRIENDS – It is only as we come to Him that we can find rest for our soul

1. The word translated rest has the idea of quiet and calm
2. Rest of soul and peace of heart are precious virtues which ultimately come only in Christ.
3. Man say we must work hard, hold on, strive and struggle.
4. Jesus says to simply come to Him and He will give you rest!

WHAT A BLESSING! WHAT A TRUTH THAT IS!

• Most ‘psychological’ problems which people have are rooted in the simple fact that they do not have the rest of soul or peace of heart.
•  In coming to Christ and following Him altogether, there comes that rest and peace which no psychiatrist or psychologist can ever give.
•  But it indeed requires a turning to and coming to Him.

FRIENDS - THAT IS CALLED REPENTANCE AND FAITH.

This rest will manifest itself in several unique and special areas.

1.  We are given peace with God

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2.  We are given calm assurance of our salvation

Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

3.  We are Given A Quietness Concerning The Future

4.  We Are given Strength For Our journey

Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

FRIENDS – Perhaps you would say: “Pastor Dave, that is what I need – that is what I have been looking for all my life!

• Then look up to God for this rest that comes through His Son Jesus Christ!

THE REST OF SATISFACTION

Matthew 11:29-30 – “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1. Satisfaction Is Found In Service

1. Initially – this doesn’t make much since – does it?
2. We think of taking up the yoke as “getting to work – not resting”

FRIENDS – God didn’t make a mistake here!

• Taking up His yoke would be easy!
• Our service with Christ is not a burden – but it is a blessing!

The Key is the “YOKE”

1)    A yoke was an ancient wooden implement used to harness oxen or other draft animals to work together.

2)   It implies both work and cooperation

FRIENDS – The “yoke” was a symbol of service

• The peace and rest which is in Christ comes as we willingly begin to serve Him – taking His yoke of service upon us
• It also implied that we must become a laborer together with Him as Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:9

1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

3)   But Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden light

WHY?

Because He has already done the work – as we “yoke” up with Him it is for fellowship!

• This is the same promise that God made to the nation of Israel as they prepared to enter into the Promised Land!
• All they needed to do was be obedient and God would take care of the obstacles

FRIENDS – The rest of satisfaction is found in our service to Him.

2. The Rest of Satisfaction Is Found In Surrender

1)    Take note of the commands given by Jesus – COME, TAKE, LEARN

2)   All of them are verbs

3)   They are words which anticipate some action on the part of the hearers

FRIENDS – In addition to coming to Him and serving with Him, Jesus also said: “Learn of Me”

• Jesus succinctly notes two of His character traits
• He is: meek and lowly of heart

Wonderful qualities to have in our Lord.

The word “meek” basically means to be “even natured”

• It implies a discipline of one’s emotions, attitude, and tongue
• Another way of putting it: “cool, calm, and collected”

The word translated as “lowly” refers to being ”humble of spirit”

 FRIENDS – Thus Jesus characterized His Person as being even tempered and humble of spirit.

• That is all the more extraordinary when we recall that He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
• He is the Creator and Judge
• The Alpha and Omega
• The beginning and the end

HEAR ME THIS MORNING CHURCH: Thus a clear pattern for our spirit and attitude is established for our example in being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

• We are to place ourselves at His disposal and allow Him to be absolute LORD and MASTER of our lives
• When we do this – we will find genuine satisfaction for our souls

Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 CLOSE

The Lord invites you this morning to COME unto Him

He invites us to YOKE with Him in service and fellowship

 He invites us to LEARN of Him and His character.

 Only then can we know true rest:

• The REST of Salvation, and
• The REST of Satisfaction

FRIENDS – WHAT ABOUT YOU THIS MORNING?

• Are you weary and heavy laden?
• Do you long for rest?
• Do you long for satisfaction?

COME TO JESUS

Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.