Rest

Rest

Matthew closes out the 11th chapter of his Gospel with these very familiar words. True words. God breathed words.

Words that maybe God brought you into this room today the second Sunday of the year 2020… to speak directly to your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Words that you may have heard before, but this morning are they are about to come alive and be active in new and fresh ways.

OKAY – picture Jesus saying these words to you.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

Weary – (Kapiao) = to be tired, to feel fatigued, to be exhausted with toil, burden or grief

(It is the word used in Luke 5 where Peter says to Jesus, ‘Master we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything’)

Ever experience that kind of weariness?

Heavy burdens – (phortizo) to place a heavy burden or a load upon…

(It’s the word used in Luke 11 – by Jesus to the religious leaders who were putting heavy burdens on the people that they could not carry and they would not even lift one finger to help them out)

Come to me…

• all who have worked hard all (night, week, month) and maybe even for years and haven’t caught anything

• all who are overloaded by things that they cannot carry

And I will give you REST.

Rest – (anapauo) to cause or permit someone to cease from any movement, to recover and collect one’s strength, to be refresh

(It is the word used in Mark 6:31 – when so many people were coming to the disciples that they did not have time to eat… (ever been there) So Jesus said ‘come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and qet some rest.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

(I will refresh you and help you recover your strength)

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Prayer

NOW - if you were here last Sunday… you had the opportunity to hear Josh Smith (from College Ministries of Virginia) speak on effecting change in our own lives and in the lives of others, using Daniel as an example of a guy who did just that.

I listened to message on Monday morning and man, Josh really crushed it.

In fact we talked on Monday and I told him just that.

AND – among other things he told me how much he loves to come to Maple Grove.

HE SAID - you guys are great and that he can always sense God’s presence and movement among us.

NOW SINCE – Josh was speaking I took the opportunity (along with my daughter Mei-Leigh after we cooked for the breakfast club) to drive up to Chantilly Virginia to worship with HIS body at New Life Christian Church.

And the message was about how Jesus can bring peace to our storms, to the Chaos that so often invades our lives…

MAYBE - you know the story, the disciples in a boat, going to the other side of the sea of Galilee because Jesus told them and then a fierce storms begins crashing against the boat…

AND - the storm was so rough that even the 4 seasoned fisherman were freaking out.

And where Jesus, asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat.

HEY – do you remember what the disciples shouted as they woke up God… “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”

(Ever want to ask Jesus the same question?)

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” - Mark 4:39,40

YEAH – last Sunday was a good start to the New Year…

Here at The Grove as Josh shared a great message

AND – also at New Life in Chantilly.

OKAY SO THIS SUNDAY – is my first conversation of 2020, and I want to share with you a word, that I think could be a great word for you to embrace as the theme for this new year.

NOW - I have heard of people choosing a single word to be a theme for a year before.

IN FACT - my daughter Chelsea and her husband choose the word 'Trust' as they began 2019, and little did they know how much they would need that word, as Ezra their baby boy born in May had (and still does have) many health issues.