Discipleship: Rest

-This morning, it’s ok to sleep during the sermon

-Tomorrow is Labor Day

-A day off from work for many filled with picnics, BBQ’s, shopping, recreation, telethons and other activities

-Labor Day History -It’s whole purpose is to pay tribute to the contributions American workers have made for the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. There is debate as to who first proposed the idea. Peter J. McGuire or Matthew McGuire. The first holiday was held on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. By 1885, it was being celebrated in many of the industrial centers of our country. The first state to make it an official holiday was Oregon in 1887. By 1894, 31 states had made it an official holiday. Later that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

-While this weekend we celebrate the wonderful job of our working folk, I want to tell you this morning that what I think wee need in America today is a little less work and a lot more rest

ILL - The only industrialized country in the world that takes less time off from work than we do is Japan. In fact, the situation there is probably worse; although they supposedly get two weeks of paid vacation a year, most don’t take even that. The Japanese work so hard that one of the most pressing health issues in Japan is "karoshi," or "death by overwork".

-Matthew 11:28-30

I. The Call To Rest

-We saw this spoken of directly in our text

-Where Christ is calling us to rest in Him

-Yet, this is seen clearly early on in scripture

-Ten Commandments

-Exodus 20:8-11

-This, in some sense, seems like the most unusual of the commandments

-Q: Why would God require us to not work on the seventh day?

A. Because it is a special day

-Genesis 2:2-3

-While we need not go back to blue laws, I think we need to more often act as if they were there

-Q: Why do we want a day off, while expecting others to have to work to meed our “so-called” need, which are usually only wants?

B. Because we need to rest

-We were not created with limitless energy

-God could have made us that way, but He didn’t

-All of creation needs rest

-Animals

-Ground

II. The Example Of Rest

A. God after creation

-Genesis 2:2-3

-Q: Did God need to rest?

-Certainly not

-Even though it was a very busy week

B. Christ on earth

1. Mountains to pray

2. Asleep in the storm

III. The Resistance To Rest

A. Busyness

-We spend our lives running from appointment to appointment

-We live guided by our calendars, day planners and PDAs

B. Peer pressure

-We don’t want others to think we are lazy

ILL - A man told his doctor that he wasn’t able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. After the examination he said, "Now, Doc, I can take it. Just tell me straight out, in plain English, what is wrong with me." "In plain English?" the doctor said, shrugging his shoulders, "You’re just lazy!" "Okay..." said the man, rubbing his chin. "Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife."

-Q: How many were asked the question this morning, “What did you do this week”?

-Q: What do you suppose the response would have been if you had said, “I took a good nap the other day”?

-In all likelihood you would receive some snickers or jeers

-Rest is not admonished in society

-Most of the time we equate busyness with success

-But it is not always so

-As a matter of fact, often busyness leads to less success

IV. The Benefits Of Rest

A. A rejuvenated body

-Q: Do you know why you sometimes get sick?

-It is because your body is saying it needs to rest

-It is forcing you to do what you have failed to do before

-After rest comes greater energy to be more efficient in our endeavors

B. A renewed mind

1. Mentally

2. Emotionally

C. A restored spirit

-Psalm 23:1-3a

V. The Look Of Rest

A. Spend a DAWG (Day Alone With God) each week

-A day to rest and spend your time focusing on God

-His promises to you

-His commands to you