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...and I will give you rest

by Pastor Jim Brown
Horizon Christian Fellowship
(www.calvarychapel.com/hcfw)



Jesus made a very profound statement in Matthew 11:28-30. In this passage, Jesus tells us that all who are heavy laden (carrying a big load) and all who labor (working very hard) can come to Him and He will give them rest. He continues and tells us that instead of our yokes of toil and labor, we should put His on and learn of Him – for He is “meek and lowly in heart” and then we shall find rest unto our souls. Here we now see contextually that Jesus is speaking of “spiritual” labor and a being “spiritually” heavy laden.

The key to gaining rest from Jesus is found in verse 29...take our yokes of burden off, put His on then learn of Him (for He is meek and lowly of heart). In learning of Jesus we will indeed see that He was meek as He walked the earth. The word “meek” in the Greek means “strength under control” and Jesus’ strength was under complete control of the Father in Heaven. Lowly in heart speaks to the knowledge that as a human being (remember Jesus condescended to become the form of a man but He was truly God as well) there is no opportunity for pride, boasting or arrogance, rather we should be poor in spirit, mourn our poor spirit and be meek to be blessed (Matt 5:3-5). The key to resting from our striving burdens and toils is to STOP, and walk in the leading of the Holy Spirit for our lives doing ONLY that which the Holy Spirit tells us (and He knows our name, so we don’t have to be told by someone else to do it!).

When we stop striving to do “good works” that are not of God but are rather a feeble attempt on our part to please God or to please a man, only then will we begin to rest! Then, when we have put Jesus’ yoke on and learned of Him and begin walking in meekness, we will see that (verse 30) His yoke truly is easy and His burden truly is light. If today, you are doing something that God has not called you to do, stop! Right now – right here - just stop. It won’t gain you anything in Heaven and that’s where our focus must be. But, if God HAS called you to something (and you know that you know that you know that HE called you and not some man) “be not weary in well doing”.

Jesus loves us, this we know, for the Bible tells us so. He is just looking for those whose heart is perfect towards Him that He may show His strength on their behalf. Jesus’ yoke is easy and is the only yoke we can use as our comparison. Labor to enter into the rest that only comes from Jesus when we cease our own works and take on His (Heb 4:10).

Pray with me that we might only follow the leading of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...
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Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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Email me at pj-brown@sbcglobal.net

posted by Pastor Jim @ 10:00 AM