The Lord worked tenderly calling His church to rest tonight out of [Matt 11:28-30.] We talked about being burned out and exhausted and loaded down with burdens. To such people the Lord invites to come and find rest in Him.
Funny thing how so many are serving Him and yet so few seem to know of this rest He mentioned. As I write this, a few have lingered in His presence in worship. Many people went around the sanctuary praying for others who are weary and heavy laden. Once again many tears cascaded down the cheeks of the worshippers.
The highlight of the whole evening for me was getting to go around the room praying over people. I prayed for several students, one lady, and couple who need God to bring rest to them. Tonight the ministry of the Lord was tender and nurturing. He manifests His presence in different ways each night.
We went back and took a stroll through [Acts 2:42-47] to see the simplicity of the early church and contrasted that with how complex we have made church today. In all our complexity I think we are at times guilty of hurting the very people we want to minister to by our endless activity. Jesus invited people to come to Him to find rest in salvation and rest in tranquility of their souls.
Out of the Ten Commandments, the ones that have the most emphasis are not making or worshipping graven images and setting aside the Sabbath. The word Sabbath means “intermission or to repose in peace.” Interesting how we make that one commandment more of a suggestion than a commandment. We must have rest, down time, and time to be replenished spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
What I see far too often are those who are tired, burned out, and emotionally and spiritually numb. They do the right things but those things do not produce the peace and tranquility Jesus promised in [Matt 11:28]. We have equated activity and busyness with spirituality. Many people serve God with weary heavy-laden hearts rather than out of the overflow of His continual replenishing.
Jesus actually withdrew from the crowds from time to time. He was replenished from time alone with the Father. When He slept He did so in perfect peace [Mark 4:38]. He never seemed to be in a hurry and when He worked in people’s lives He seemed to be genuinely interested in them. [Matt 8:1-3] Though Jesus was continually sought out by the throngs of people, He never seemed to resent them for it. He did not seem to resent them even when He sought solitude with His Father and the crowds found Him. [Mark 1:35-38]
Jesus says His yoke is easy and His burden is light but His people do not seem to be living in that truth. Tonight the Lord removed heavy burdens and replenished strength to scores of people who have been exhausted and overwhelmed with life and at times life in the church. I am not saying I know all the solutions. I am saying the Lord touched the hearts of many tonight. His hand was kind, caring, affectionate, warm and compassionate tonight.
I am thinking of that Dennis Jernigan song tonight, “If I Could Just Sit With You Awhile.” That is what many of God’s people continue to do as I finish this blog. That is rest needed by disciples. We must find time to allow Him to minister health, vigor, and passion back into our souls. This is revival.
Great post! We all need to learn how to rest and take Sabbaths. It took me a year to learn from God that if a day off was good enough for God it is good enough for me. I've had to learn to schedule and guard my rest days from the hectic lives and expectations of others but over the years I've come to treasure them. I now couldn't live without them.
ReplyDeleteMore Christians need to learn about the rest and time out that God requires of us.
Thanks for the reminder :)