Rest Weekly
Series: Vision Series 2025- Rhythms of Grace
Speaker: Ash Kwok
Date: 2nd March 2025
Passage: Hebrews 4:1-10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 Imagine that you are at school, for a while, a few of us.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 It's week four of school after the holidays and there is an impending assignment.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 And you are already thinking of the end of the school term.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:20 How about this one?
00:00:21 --> 00:00:26 You've come back from your Europe trip, day two, sitting at the work desk,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 sitting behind the digger maybe, and you're already scrolling webjet,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 planning for your next holiday or your next cruise.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:35 Does that sound familiar?
00:00:36 --> 00:00:42 We are all hungry for rest because at the bottom of this,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:50 you are yearning for more rest or perhaps what you want is respite from your work.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 And so therefore perhaps the rest that you are pursuing
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 aren't actually the antidote to your problem.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Your problem is a lot deeper.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:10 And so today we are unpacking rest and specifically God's vision for it.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:17 And by God's enabling, I pray that we might see and have illuminated in our hearts and minds
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 the clarity of scripture that says rest is beautiful.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:27 Rest is a beautiful gift when you find it in Jesus.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 It's a resource to be stewarded regularly so that you might, like all the other rhythms of grace,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 behold Christ's beauty in your life.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 For that is what these rhythms are indeed about.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:46 If you think that all these rhythms are purely just doing it because Jesus says to do it,
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 then you're missing out on the grace of Jesus.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:55 Reading the Bible is to gaze at God's glory, the wonder of Jesus who came to this earth.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:03 We gather right now as people who've been redeemed by Jesus to sing of the goodness of Christ the Redeemer.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:11 And so too, rest is an experience of God's grace.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:12 So let's pray.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 Loving Father, we thank you that you are the creator of all things.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 We ask that you might help us with our longing for rest.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 Lord, we want our life to seek the interests of Christ Jesus above our own.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:33 And by doing so, experience your promise of Jesus' purpose of coming for us to have life.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 Life to the full.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 Amen.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 So I've got three points.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 You'll find them also in the Paul's app, the outline there.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 Three points.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 Number one, the world story of rest.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 Number two, God's story of rest.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 And your story of rest.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 But let's think of the world story of rest.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 What do we see?
00:02:55 --> 00:03:02 Nearly 100 years ago, in 1930, John Maynard Keynes, an economist, suggested by the time
00:03:02 --> 00:03:10 that his children would grow up to be of working age, all people would be working only 15 hours
00:03:10 --> 00:03:10 a week.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:17 And so you'd think, you know, his grandchildren would work even less than that.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 I mean, that sounds pretty good, right?
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 So let's do an inspection on that said generation.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 They did some research of his family and descendants.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 And they do this fun interview, and they talk about how long they're working for, right?
00:03:29 --> 00:03:35 And so the interviewer asks, so how many works a week are you, you know, working?
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 And then the descendant says, yeah, I work 15 hours.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 15 hours.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:43 That sounds like Keynes finally has made it.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 His family are actually succeeding.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 And then you realise he actually hasn't stopped the sentence.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 15 hours a day!
00:03:51 --> 00:03:58 And his family even say that Keynes, before he died, did not take his own advice because
00:03:58 --> 00:04:05 he was busy, stressed and overworked, trying to solve, I don't know what, some economic
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 crisis.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:12 And for you and I, I guess when we engage in small talk, there's this common phrase that
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 you and I will hear.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 However, I'm good, but I'm busy.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 It's probably because you're trying to keep all the balls up in the air.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:22 You've got your family commitments.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 You've got your friendships.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 You've got your work, your health, your appointments.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 You've got church, wellness, extracurricular, sleep, eating, hobbies.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:33 And you can often feel so overwhelmed.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:42 And for me, when I get this inner agitation, I find myself blame work or some other externalised
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 problem.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 And don't get me wrong, that could be the case.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 There are lots of things going on in life.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:52 There might be cases when it comes to work that your role gets overloaded.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 Maybe there are office politics.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 Maybe there are problems with colleagues.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:57 Absolutely.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 But is this always the case?
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 Let me put it another way.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:11 If I were to tell you, go and rest, you are probably thinking, all right, all I just need
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 to do is just nothing.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 Sit on the couch.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Kids, go do your own thing.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:16 Watch Netflix.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:24 And for us, I think when it comes to stress management and rest from work, I wonder if our
00:05:24 --> 00:05:30 solution always tends to be to get rid of all the work things we do.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 So we will have more days off.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:33 We'll have a holiday.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 We'll plan for retirement.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Maybe we'll eat some food to find some comfort.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 Maybe we drink alcohol to forget our problems.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:50 Even on your days off or those first few days on holidays, are you still restless?
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 Still thinking about work?
00:05:53 --> 00:05:58 There's a sense that you're worrying about friendships, a charity organisation that is floundering,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 your financial stability.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:05 And even maybe for some of you, you're like, well, I haven't worked in like 20 years.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 Let's celebrate that for you.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:14 But even if you are retired, it seems that retirement doesn't resolve this restlessness.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 Have you spoken to someone with retirement plans?
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 Keyword, plans.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:26 And they sometimes seem more busier than when they first started working because they've
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 got all this limited time.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 They're like, let's cram it in with more and more and more.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 Because also, you know, they've been wrote by their children to take care of their grandkids.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 There's all these trips they want to go.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 They're the president of the Stamp Society.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:39 Who knows?
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 Why is this the case?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:48 I wonder if it's because you are restless.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:55 The problem is not that you are just busy, but that your heart cannot rest.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 Forget about doing nothing or going on and doing your hobbies and your leisure.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 Because if you feel restless and your mind is ruminating on life and you have this regular
00:07:06 --> 00:07:13 depletion of your mental bandwidth because of all the noise in your head, doing nothing
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 means nothing.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:22 So resting equally doing nothing is not the antidote to your restless spirit.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 But I wonder if the Bible has the best answer.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:32 There is hope here because I think the feeling and experience of restlessness that we have
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 is a sign.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 It's a sign to turn to Jesus.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:40 It's a sign to turn to the one who says in Matthew 11, 28,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:46 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:51 So let's look at the Bible's story of rest.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:59 And to understand the unfolding plan of God's salvation in the Bible, particularly on rest,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 we're simply going to put it in these three categories.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 Number one, creation.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 Number two, fall.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 And number three, redemption.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 So creation.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:16 The reason why we start talking about creation first because it's at the very beginning,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:23 imprinted at the very beginning into its narrative is rest.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:30 Now, if God is the creator of all things, he also creates rest.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:34 And if you know the creation account, it all begins in Genesis 1.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:38 God does the most amazing, wonderful, created, magnificent act.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 He creates the word purely from utterance.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:49 He speaks the very nature of creation into being.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 So God makes the world in six days.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 Then he does what?
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 Genesis 2, verse 2, it says,
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 So on the seventh day, he rested from all his work.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 He rests.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:14 I think when you think of the musician who goes on tour and everyone gets dazzled by their music
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 and the crowd wants more, what do they say?
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 Encore.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 One more song.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 And you might expect that God is going to make more.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:30 No.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 God rests.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 But he doesn't rest from his work in the sense that he does nothing.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 It's the kind of rest that says he has finished.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 He's accomplished creation.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 God says, wow, about his work.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 His creation in 2, verse 3, he says,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:53 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:58 because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 You see, God's picture of rest is so beautiful, isn't it?
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 Rest is holy.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:10 Holy simply meaning set apart by God for his purpose.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:17 In other words, the day of rest is not just an experience that God has,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:23 but one that his creation, his world is to behold and experience.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 Because rest propels the rest of the story.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:33 In fact, God ordains rest as a part of the weekly cycle for his people.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 It's one of the Ten Commandments.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 It's Deuteronomy 5, verse 12.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 It says,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:41 Observe the Sabbath day, the rest day, to keep it holy,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 as the Lord your God has commanded you.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:49 And Jesus later himself summarizes all the Ten Commandments into two sections.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 Matthew 22, verse 37.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 It says,
00:10:51 --> 00:11:06 And do you know where the Sabbath rests?
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 That commandment.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 Where does that fall?
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 In the two summaries.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 If you look closer in Deuteronomy,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 God informs Israel as to why they rest.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:21 What should they remember to encourage rest for the rest of your life?
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Deuteronomy 5, verse 15.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:28 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 and an outstretched arm.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:41 Therefore, the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 Love God.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Love God.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:50 The centerpiece of the Sabbath rest in the Ten Commandments
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 begins with who God is.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 You rest.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:58 You cease striving because of who God is.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 God is the one who saved the Israelites out of Egypt.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:06 They just needed to rest and lean into trusting in God.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 They did nothing.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 Absolutely nothing.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 They didn't part the Red Sea.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 They didn't change Pharaoh's mind.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 They didn't control him.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 It was all God.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 And so too by every other measure.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:22 God is sovereign and he sustains all things.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 That's the premise of rest.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:29 Yet we've already discussed,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:33 and we can simply see from the experience of our lives,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 of what we spoke earlier,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 that despite knowing the goodness of rest,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 we still feel restless.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 And there is a deep longing in our hearts
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 that we are trying to fill.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 We're still yearning for this deep rest.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:51 And when there are the good days of work,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:56 there can also be plenty of weary and difficult days too.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 In Genesis 3 verse 17,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 we see the result of humanity's sin,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 that work is tainted because of brokenness,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 because of the brokenness of the world,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 work isn't perfect.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 And so of course, rest for our soul
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 is also endlessly difficult.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 We're forever chasing the next high
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 or wanting some fleeting escapism.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 We are chasing everything
00:13:22 --> 00:13:26 that God's rest was designed to fill,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 our longings.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 Augustine of Hippo said,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 our heart is restless
00:13:32 --> 00:13:36 until it rests in you.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 Friends, the good news is that this is not the end.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 You don't have to have the restlessness.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 There is one to look to.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 There is a future hope.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 If you are one who trusts in Jesus,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:53 you know that Jesus becomes the pinnacle to everything.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 He changes everything.
00:13:55 --> 00:14:00 And so too is Jesus the pinnacle of rest.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 If you don't know Jesus,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 my prayer is that you listen to this story,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 this wonderful story of Jesus,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 that it might bring encouragement,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:14 and curiosity of who Jesus is to you.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 So this story is about Jesus
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 hanging out with two ladies,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 Mary and Martha,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 and we see this in Luke chapter 10.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 It's clear in verse 38
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 that it is Martha, not Mary,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 Martha who invites Jesus in.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 So you might assume,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 oh, Martha is opening her house
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 to the Lord and Savior of the world.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 She's doing the best thing.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:42 And understandably, hands up for me,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 when it comes to hospitality
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 and people coming over
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 and my house is a mess,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 I don't want anyone to be there.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 I want to make sure that everything's clean.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 So what does Martha do?
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 She does homely preparation.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 Maybe she's cleaning,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 maybe she's cooking,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 getting a meal ready,
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 who knows?
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 But in her exasperation,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 she exclaims to the Lord,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 she's doing it all by herself.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 She says,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 Luke 10, 40,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 Lord, don't you care
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 that my sister has left me
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 to do the work by myself?
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 Tell her to help me.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 Because surely if she doesn't do it,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 Mary won't,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 because all she's doing is lying down,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 hanging out,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 chilling at Jesus' feet.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 And what you must understand here
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 is that Martha is doing practically
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 what is expected of her,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 of her culture.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 What the world says is expected
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 when a guest comes over
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 is that, you know,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 you'd prepare the house.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 Probably not dissimilar to us now.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 And so Jesus responds
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 with something contrary
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 to what the world expects of her.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 Luke 10, 41 to 42.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 Martha, Martha,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 the Lord answered.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 You are worried
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 and upset
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 about many things.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 But few things are needed.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 Or indeed,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 only one.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 This is the king
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 who removes all pretenses
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 and just wishes
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 to be in relationship
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 throughout all the mess.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 Don't worry about
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 all the preparations
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 for when there is time
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 with Jesus.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 Nothing else matters.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 Sit and gaze
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 at the glory of Jesus,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 God who is condescended.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 Only one thing matters.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 Notice again
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 how clearly Jesus
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 is trying to speak to her.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 Martha,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 Martha,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 you are worried
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 and upset.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 Friends,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Martha's issue
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 is not simply
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 that she's doing things.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 In fact,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 notice that Jesus
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 doesn't even talk
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 about her actions at all.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 It's that she's worried
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 and upset.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 She's restless.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 When faced with the image
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 of the invisible God,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 the firstborn over all creation,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 instead of hanging out with him,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 she goes and does something
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 that is probably good.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 It's important,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 but it's not the best.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 In our claims
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 for doing good
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 and seemingly important things,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 making our kids happy
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 by taking them
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to every extracurricular
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 there is under the sun,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 appeasing the boss
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 with the phone of our...
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 The boss calls us
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 during a non-emergency,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 and we answer the phone
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 on a rest day.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 We have to ask,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 is it the best thing
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 I could be doing
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 with my time?
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Good is good,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 but are you living
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 in the best?
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Is your calendar
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 filled with good options
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 that overshadows the best?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Jesus is the greatest best
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 you can choose.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 In fact,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 the Bible says
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 in the passage
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 that was read out for us
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 in Hebrews 4,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 chapter 1 to 11,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 starts by saying,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 verse 1,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 therefore,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 since the promise
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 of entering his rest
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 still stands,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 let us be careful
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 that none of you
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 be found to have
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 fallen short of it.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 The writer of Hebrews here
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 is pretty much saying,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 there are all these people
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 who were trying
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 to enter the rest of God,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 but this ultimate rest
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and peace
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 that they wanted,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 they were not able to have.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 In verse 2,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 it says,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 for we also
00:18:37 --> 00:18:41 have had the good news.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 The implication here
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 is that the good news,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 the gospel,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 leads to rest.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 The good news
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 for God's chosen people
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 now and then
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 is rest.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 But how do we receive
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 the gospel's promise
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 of this rest?
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 full verse 10,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 for anyone
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 who enters
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 God's rest
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 also rests
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 from their work.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 You rest from your work.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 Why?
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 It's because Jesus
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 died on the cross.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 It's his great work.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 It's his great accomplishment.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 He was the one
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 who said,
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 it is finished.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 You don't need to work.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 You can't work
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 to earn God's favor.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 You rest.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 Jesus worked
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 so you could rest.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 You see,
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 if Jesus is the one
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 who died on the cross,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 you don't need to do anything.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 That is grace.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 It is the undeserved gift
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 that Christ paid for.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 You didn't earn it.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 It was simply a gift
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 for you to receive.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 And if that is
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Jesus' grace,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 then there is actually
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 a logical conclusion
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 you can make about rest.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 The logic of grace
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 is simple as this.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 If you have received
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 the grace of our Lord Jesus,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 then you rest.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 in Jesus.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 Your rest begun
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 when you first took
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 a glimpse of the gospel.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 For you trusted in Jesus
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 and not your works.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 The logic of grace
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 is rest.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 If this,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 then that.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 If grace,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 then rest.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 Now,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 when it comes to
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 the story of our rest,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 your rest,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 I think it's important
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 to understand
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 what you are resting from.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 And I hope that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 as we were talking
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 about the world story
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 of rest,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 it was clear that
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 what we are to rest
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 from is work.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 But what exactly
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 qualifies as work?
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 Spicy topic,
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 I know.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 What is work?
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 And I want to hold
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 loosely to this definition,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 but for this exercise,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 let's call work
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 success
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 or striving.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 We're in an aspirational
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 culture here in Chatswood,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 and so I just want to ask you,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 what is it
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 that you are striving for?
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 How are you trying
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 to make it in this world?
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 What things are you doing
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to bring you purpose
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 and meaning?
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 Because maybe you're not
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 working,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 employed by a boss.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 Maybe you're self-employed.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 Maybe you're the parent
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 at home.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 Or you are studying
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 or you are retired.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 People might not think
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 it's work.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 But let's go
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 with our definition
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 of work.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 What is it that you invest
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 your energy,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 your mind and your heart,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 your resources towards?
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 That's your work.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 That's where you need rest.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 You need rest
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 from the Martha heart
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 that cannot stop worrying.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Have you gotten
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 to the end of the day?
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Gone to bed
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 and still just been wired?
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 Do you feel like
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 you are in this
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 endless cycle of working
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 because you are
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 defining yourself
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 in what you do?
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 I need not just a body
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 that can cease striving,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 but a heart
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 that stops worrying too.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 You can believe
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 that you are saved
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 by your works,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 but be in a habitual pattern
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 of physically,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 emotionally,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 mentally exhausting
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 your head,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 heart and hands
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 by striving for your own
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 agenda
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 and what you are
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 contending for.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 And some of us
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 know this.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 Ephesians 2,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 8 to 10,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 for it is by grace
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 you have been saved,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 not by works.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 So,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 why is it
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 that you suddenly
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 are striving
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 for everything else
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 in life?
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 And it makes sense
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 logically.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 The reason why
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 you strive and worry
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 for everyone
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 is because maybe
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 if you don't do it,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 no one else will.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 Your boss,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 your friend,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 your parents,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 your spouse,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 your child doesn't care.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 And so,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 if you don't do it,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 no one will.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 And I can tell you
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 all the theological reasons
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 as to why rest
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 is a good thing,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 but what is firmly
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 lodged in your heart
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 and mind
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 is that you've got
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 to be the one
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 who holds
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 everything together.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:15 but what if I told you
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 there is someone
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 who has,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 someone who is in fact
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 holding and sustaining
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 everything together.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 Colossians 1,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 15 to 20 says
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 that not only was Jesus
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 there in the beginning
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 of creation,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 but he too
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 is the sustainer
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 of all things.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 The reason that you
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 are successful
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 by any measure,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 the reason you have riches
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 is because God
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 has given it to you,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 not because you're pretty,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 not because you're smart,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 not because you're needy
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 or a hard worker,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 it's because God
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 is a generous God.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 You've got to remember
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 that God
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 can do it
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 better than you.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 He's a better sustainer
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 than you.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 It all comes down
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 to who he is,
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 doesn't it?
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 What good news
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 is that?
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Remember Jesus.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 He is not your fountain
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 that begun
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 your journey
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 with Christ.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 He is the ocean
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 by which everything
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 has been formed
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 and is still sustained.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 Your marriage
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 is sustained by Jesus.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 Your super fund,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 your retirement plan,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 your mortgage
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 is not solved by you,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 but by Jesus.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 And I think there are
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 four intrusive thoughts
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 you might be telling
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 yourselves
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 which are not true
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 for the one
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 who trusts in Jesus.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:36 I am what I do.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 I need to prove myself.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 My meaning
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 is from
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 what I do.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 And if I don't do it,
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 no one else will.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 For me,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 there are places
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 where I have
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 this disbelieving power
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 and I disbelieve
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 the gospel
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 in my life.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 I must admit
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 for you
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 that stopping
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 is not actually
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 something that I'm
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 very good at.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 In fact,
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 I must confess,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 yesterday we had
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 a training session
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 here for our
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 youth leaders
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 and I was telling
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 a few people,
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 oh yeah,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 I'm preaching
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 on rest tomorrow.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 And they're like,
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 um,
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Ash,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 isn't Saturday
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 your Sabbath?
00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 And when it comes
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 to busy weeks
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 like this,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 I find I can be
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 prayerless
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 because I feel
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 like I have to
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 work on my own
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 strength.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 Or even worse,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 I might overwork
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 myself
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 because I must
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 do it myself.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 But friend,
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 Ash,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 you cannot
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 lean into Jesus,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 stop and come
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 to the foot
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 of the cross
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 and lean on
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 his sovereignty,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 provision,
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 and kindness
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 to you.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 But you might
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 have a different
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 intrusive thought
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 and we need
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 to be actively
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 preaching gospel
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 truths,
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 gospel glue
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 in your brain.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 If you believe
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 on the screen,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 I am what I do,
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 trust in the
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 better news
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 that you are
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 who God
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 says you are,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 a beloved
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 child of God.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 If you believe
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 in I need to
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 prove myself,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 know that
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 the gospel
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 reality is that
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 you have
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 already been
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 justified,
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 you have been
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 made right
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 with God
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 by faith in
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 Christ.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 If you're
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 hearing,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 my meaning
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 is from what
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 I do,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 my prayer
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 is that you
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 experience that
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 the good news
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 makes really
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 clear your
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 purpose in life
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 is to glorify
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 God and enjoy
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 him forever.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 If you have
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 this anxious
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 feeling,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 the one that
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 I get often,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 if I don't
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 do it,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 no one else
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 will,
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 brother,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 sister,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 remember that
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Jesus has
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 done it all
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 and all that
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 is necessary,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 the most
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 important thing
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 on the cross.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 He's dealt
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 with your sin
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 and punishment.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 Friends,
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 preach the gospel
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 to yourself
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 regularly.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 And so,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 lastly,
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 there's just
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 three tips I
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 just hope
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 will propel
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 you into
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 having rest
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 weekly,
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 making it a
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 rhythm in
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 your life.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 Good is
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 the enemy
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 of best.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 Your most
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 powerful verbal
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 tool you
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 might actually
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 have is the
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 ability to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 say no.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Because every
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 time you say
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 yes to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 something,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 you're actually
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 saying no
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 to another.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 Matthew 5,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 37,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 let your
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 yes be yes
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 and your
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 no be no.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 Your no
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 means your
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 biggest yes
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 to what truly
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 matters.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 Reality is,
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 you and I
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 are finite
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 beings and we
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 can't do
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 everything.
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 In fact,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 I've got
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 printed on
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 the side
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 of church
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 over there
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 a reflection
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 document,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 a time
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 audit to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 help you
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 reflect on
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 biblical
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 principles and
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 priorities and
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 understand your
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 time and
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 where it's
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 going and
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 to help you
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 run for
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 the best
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 yes.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 Quick
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 side note,
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 make sure
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 you're saying
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 no to the
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 things,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 sorry,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 restart,
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 make sure
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 you are not
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 saying no
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 to the
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 things that
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 propel
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 God's
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 mission.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 You're
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 why that's
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 driven by
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 God's word.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 And I
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 wonder,
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 too often
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 we get so
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 tired and
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 then we're
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 forced to
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 rest by our
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 bodies and
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 say no to
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 the things
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 that we are
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 commanded by
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 God to do.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 Even I need
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 to ask myself,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 Ash,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 why did you
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 overcommit?
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 Maybe you
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 shouldn't have
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 said yes to
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 all that
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 training and
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 that party
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 if it
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 meant you
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 weren't able
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 to rest and
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 you were
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 preaching the
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 next day.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 Good is
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 the enemy
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 of best.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 Number two,
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 preach the
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 gospel to
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 yourself.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 If you
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 want that
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 hope of
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 non-restlessness,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 those four
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 things that we
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 spoke about
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 before,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 preach the
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 gospel against
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 those four
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 things.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 Read the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 Psalms like
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 chapter 46
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 verse 10,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 be still and
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 know that I
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 am God.
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 Rest by
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 knowing who
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 God is.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 Rest knowing
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 he is your
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 redeemer.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 You don't
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 need to
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 prove yourself
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 to him
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 anymore.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 He likes
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 you as you
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 are.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 He is
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 sovereign.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 He is the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 sustainer of
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 all things.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 Put your
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 work phone
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 and emails
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 down.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 Stop
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 pottering in
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 the kitchen.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 Let someone
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 else do it.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 The world
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 expects you to
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 have your
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 kids that
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 are successful
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 and happy,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 but all they
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 need is
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 Jesus.
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 Model that
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 rest for
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 them.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 Be still.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 And lastly,
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 book in
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 time to
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 rest and
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 create a
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 rest
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 action plan.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 In your
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 magazines,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 you'll see
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 that there
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 is a
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 helpful
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 crawl,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 walk,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 and run
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 table.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 And from
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 what we've
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 already gathered
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 about rest,
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 it is clear
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 that it is
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 both ceasing
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 your strivings,
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 but a
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 worship of
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 Jesus.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 And so
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 your day
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 of rest
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 should be
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 ceasing,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 delighting,
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 and
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 worshiping.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 Perhaps
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 you are
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 really good
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 at the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 ceasing
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 bit,
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 but not
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 the
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 worshiping
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 bit.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 And
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 vice
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 versa.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 And if
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 you're
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 stuck on
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 things to
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 do on
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 your rest
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 day,
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 here's
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 three ideas
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 for you.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 Number
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 one,
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 creation.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 Go out
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and have
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 a look
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 at the
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 sky,
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 the heavens,
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 the trees,
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 and see how
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 magnificent God
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 is.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 Be in awe
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 and wonder
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 of him.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 Second,
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 avocation,
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 not avocado.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 Anti-work,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 a
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 vocation.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 What do
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 you do
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 for your
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 works and
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 strivings?
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 Do the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 opposite.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 If it's
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 your hands,
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 read a
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 book.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 Join a
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 book club.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 If you
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 use your
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 mind for
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 work,
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 do a
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 painting.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 Learn
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 to knit.
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 If your
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 work involves
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 you by
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 yourself,
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 maybe serve
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 in a team.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 Join a
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 soup kitchen.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 Engross
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 yourself with
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 being with
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 God's
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 people.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 And three,
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 reflecting.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 Think.
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 Consider how
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 God has
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 been changing
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 you over
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 the last
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 few days,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 weeks,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 and months.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 How has
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 he been
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 doing it
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 by teaching
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 you from
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 his word?
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 Maybe the
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 circumstances
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 he's placed
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 you in.
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 What is
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 he teaching
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 you?
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 How are
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 you tracking
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 in your
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 relationship
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 with him?
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 Now,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 over to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 you.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 What might
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 you consider
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 helpful for
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 resting in
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 Jesus?
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 On the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 screen,
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 you are
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 going to
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 see three
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 questions on
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 ceasing,
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 delighting,
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 and
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 worshipping
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 to ponder.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 And then
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 the band
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 will come
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 up in
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 a few
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 minutes.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 But what
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 I want
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 you to do
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 is take
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 some time
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 to jot
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 something
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 down.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 Thank you.