27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)
INTRO
When I started out my prayer time yesterday, these were the first words out of my mouth: "God, I’m tired..."
(talk a little about busy schedule, many responsibilities, pastoring, etc)
You might be eating a different dinner, but your plate is full, too.
MAN WAS MADE FOR WORK
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Gen 2:15 (NIV)
Man named the animals as God brought them by… God’s intent was to partner with man in the administration of his creation.
Mark Lowry talks about how Adam’s creativity waned as time went on (names of animals became less complex – started with names that had several syllables, such as rhinocerous, hippopotamous, etc... By the end of the day he was calling them things like cat, dog, cow). Man got tired. God understood this.
God also knew he needed a HELPER.
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Gen 2:18 (NIV)
God didn’t make man to be a superhero. He didn’t create us to be a lone ranger. We need others.
But the combined work of Adam and Eve was only productive because of their relationship with God.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day Gen 3:8 (NIV)
It was only when the relationship between the man, his helper, and his God got messed up that work became a struggle.
Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life… By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground… Gen 3:17, 19 (NIV)
And on the eighth day, God created stress…
Well – I’m not sure that God actually created it. Perhaps it is just the natural result of our work when we are not in harmony with God.
You see – Adam had decided to be the master of his own world, and God let him. The problem was, Adam was not as good at being god as God was.
WE ALWAYS FALL SHORT
We run out of ENERGY
We run out of ANSWERS
We run out of RESOURCES
This is why we need to stay in close relationship with God
He does not grow tired (v 28)
His understanding is unfathomable (v 28)
He gives… (v 29)
IT’S OK TO BE TIRED
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him… Psalms 103:14-17 (NIV)
From the beginning, this whole effort was intended to be a partnership with God. He knew we would run out of energy, answers, and resources. You might think, “Huh? He set us up to fail?” Absolutely not – he set us up to depend on Him, and succeed!
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)
The only way to regain strength is to rest
This was the blessing of the Sabbath – and the refusal to honor the Sabbath was man’s greatest demonstration that he was not partnering with God.
Sometimes we are like babies that are fighting sleep. That baby is miserable, and getting all worked up, because it fears that it might miss something. And we’re just saying, if you would just sleep – it would all be ok. That must be how it is so often between us and God. He’s saying, “Would you just relax??”
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)
A yoke – that’s what you put on beasts of burden. But the picture here is not God taking his yoke off and giving it to us. Most yokes were double, allowing the weight of the burden to be shared between TWO beasts. God is inviting us to partner with him. He says learn of me… I am gentle and humble… His yoke is a double yoke.
God is inviting someone here today to rest. Remember whose yoke this is.
SO WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
What is it that you are trying so hard to accomplish? What is it that God has called you to do?
I am so proud of all of you. You’re excited about what is happening at ConnectPoint. You’re excited about what is happening in your family, or in your job. Many of you have been working to make this a great place to come to church. You’ve been working to share the Gospel with people. And that is good – it is exactly what God wants you to be doing.
But now – I feel like God has a word for us. He’s saying, “Don’t forget that I’m really the one that is pulling the load here…”
We are going to fall short. We’re going to drop the ball. We’re going to get tired.
God is saying to us, “That’s OK. You’re going to fail. But I’m not. So relax – and stick with me!”
[Rhonda sings “His Strength is Perfect”]
[Have everyone stand, get a hold on their “yoke” I want them to imagine they have a yoke over their shoulders, with their arms up over it…]
I want you to bow your head with me. And I want you to think about this past week. What was it that kept you awake? I want you to think about your biggest problem. What is the greatest struggle in your life right now? What is that yoke that you’ve got your arms wrapped around right now?
Now – I want you to relax. How? Give it to God (again). I want you to look at that yoke – and follow it across to the other side. Take one look at the man on the other side in the yoke with you... He’s done this a time or two… He’s an old hand at fulfilling dreams. This is really his burden – you can relax your grip on it…
