INTRODUCTION:
We are living in a world where the average person desperately needs rest! Not sleep, but true genuine, refreshing rest!
Many seek after and will trip all over themselves for the opportunity to win a free vacation, which ends up not being free at all. In this message we will look at a gift that will bring true, sweet, peaceful rest!
Today’s passage is one of those that have been referred to as a “Great Text” of the Bible. If you have been in church for even a small length of time you will probably recognize it right away. If you’re not familiar with it, you might find it one of these verses which will prove to be a source of true blessing in your life.
The Lord Jesus, our Great Shepherd, our loving savior is speaking, and he invites a group referred to as “All.”
Notice our Text: 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.”
Illustration: One old Gospel song says,
"Hear Jesus calling, 'Come unto me, Come and I’ll give you rest.'
Don’t you remember what Jesus said? 'Bring you burdens and come to me.'”
Today’s message is about “The Gift of Rest.”
We will look at…
1. THE INVITE: The request for your participation. “Come”
2. THE INVITER: The one sending out the invitation. “Christ”
3. THE INVITEES: Those invited. “All Burdened and Heavy Laden.”
4. THE INVITATION: “Come and Find Rest unto your Souls.”
Humor:
Liz Taylor was married 8 times. So, I am going to tell you like she told her husbands, “I’m not going to keep you long.”
George Burns said, “The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and to have the two as close together as possible.”
I will try to remember that! LOL
Lead into sermon…
I would like to start with the topic of REST.
Question:
Who do you know right now at this moment that needs rest?
Do you need rest?
This is not necessarily physical rest but rest for your soul.
True Rest: True rest seems elusive for most Americans. Only one in seven adults (14%) set aside a day a week for rest. And on that one day a week, what do they do? Mostly, they work. More than four in ten say they do enjoyable work, and an additional nearly four in ten (37%) say they’ll do non-enjoyable work if it needs to be done. Only one in five (19%) say they don’t do any work at all on their day of rest. Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place Baker Publishing Group.
The Value of Rest: Today many of us have been [so] conditioned by efficiency that times [of sitting on the porch] feel unproductive, irresponsible, lazy, even selfish. We know we need rest, but we can no longer see the value of rest as an end in itself; it is only worthwhile if it helps us recharge our batteries so we can be even more efficient in the next period of productivity.
Waiting for Our Souls to Catch Up : An archaeologist once hired some Inca tribesmen to lead him to an archaeological site deep in the mountains. After they had been moving for some time the tribesmen stopped and insisted they would go no further. The archaeologist grew impatient and then angry. But no matter how much he cajoled the tribesmen would not go any further. Then suddenly, the tribesmen changed their attitude. They picked up the gear and set off once more. When the bewildered archaeologist asked why they had stopped and refused to move for so long, the tribesmen answered, “We had been moving too fast and had to wait for our souls to catch up.” Source: based on a story told in the movie Beyond the Clouds
WHAT IS “REST?”
The English word ‘rest’ means to cease work or movement to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. It is an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in a strenuous or stressful activity. It is an intermission or cessation from any motion.
How many of us have gone on a vacation, which involved so much frustration, tireless hours in the car, rude people, uncomfortable environments. When we return, we need a vacation to get over our vacation. Not to mention how long it will take to pay for our vacation!
Elaborate on the topic of Rest!
WHAT IS “THE GIFT OF REST THAT CHRIST OFFERS?”
The Gift of Rest our Lord Jesus offers us so much more!
But because the rest the Lord gives us is inward in nature, we can be in a very busy or difficult outward environment yet enjoying inward rest the whole time. Whatever our situation, when we come to the Lord, we find a rest that’s for our very souls.
This rest is not merely something He gives us apart from Himself; He is our real rest.
God is not interested in giving us things; instead, He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, to be everything to us.
The “Gift of Rest is learning to “Be still before the Lord.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The “Gift of Rest is learning to “Wait on the Lord.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Recap…
WHAT IS “THE GIFT OF REST THAT CHRIST OFFERS?”
God’s Rest is taking a break from “Life” as we know it, and getting alone with God, with His Spirit and His Word.
God’s Rest is simply stopping everything, even if for a brief time, and turning your attention completely on Christ!
God’s Rest is finding a quiet place to seek God in prayer.
God’s Rest is quieting our inner voice and just listening to the Lord through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Notice our Text again: 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.”
I. THE INVITE: An invitation to rest!
Maybe someone has come up to you and asked, “Did you get an “Invite?”
They are asking did you know and were invited.
The Invite is an announcement, an offer, a request for your participation.
The first word of our text is the “Invite.” Mat 11:28-30 “Come unto me…”
Next, we want to know, “Who’s Asking?”
Who’s throwing the party? There are some places we would not go to!
II. THE INVITER: “Christ”
Notice in Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said…”
Notice the personal pronouns “I, my, me, “
“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.”
a. This is an invitation from the Son of God, the Messiah.
This fact should certainly capture our attention.
1) One whose word is true.
2) Whose intent is pure.
3) Jesus shows His authority when He says come unto Me. This invitation is unthinkable in the mouth of anyone else but God, and woe to the men who call people to themselves instead of Jesus!
As the old familiar hymn says,
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer
b. This invitation compels us to make a choice. “Come!”
I. The Invite
II. The Inviter
Next, notice…
III. THE INVITEES: “All who are Burdened and Heavy Laden.”
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
If you are burdened
If you are worn out and struggling
If you feel like you are going to sink beneath the load…
Then that’s the “Burden of the World.
That’s the Yoke of the World.
It is not the burden or yoke of Christ!”
The invitation goes out to those that labor under a heavy load.
A. The Heavy load of Sin:
Some claim that obedience to the Lord is an unbearable load. They should consider the burden of sin.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalm 34:18 - The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
B. The Heavy load of Serving:
Jesus calls His disciples to follow him.
Jesus commands His disciples to obey him.
His burden is not heavy, and His yoke is not hard.
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
C. The Heavy load of Sorrow:
Psalms 34:18 - The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Psalms 147:3 - He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 - To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalms 73:26 - My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
Recap: We have seen…
I. The Invite
II. The Inviter
III. The Invitees
Now, notice…
IV. THE INVITATION: “Come and Find Rest to your Soul.”
(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.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Illustration: Rest in submission: The text suggests a figure. Two oxen are yoked together at the plow. But they toil unwillingly. They fret and chafe themselves. They strive to force themselves free of the galling yoke. They are weary, oppressed with their slavery. Would it not be rest for those oxen if they would cheerfully submit; simply accept the toil before them; encourage their spirit quietly and bravely to suffer, and bear, and do; fret no more at the yoke, but take it, bear it, and in bearing it discover how light and easy and restful the very yoke can become? (R. Tuck.)
Jesus’ invitation… Come unto Me
a. All you who labor and are heavy laden: Jesus directs His call to those who are burdened. He calls those who sense they must come to Him to relieve their need, instead of living in self-sufficiency.
b. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me: Jesus makes a wonderful offer, inviting us to take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. We must come as disciples to learn, willing to be guided by His yoke - not merely to “receive” something.
c. For I am meek, gentle, and lowly in heart: Jesus displays His nature when He describes Himself as gentle and lowly of heart. It is His servant’s heart, displayed throughout His ministry, that qualifies Him to be the one who bears our burdens.
d. And you will find rest for your souls: Jesus describes His gift to His followers as rest for your soul. This gift is as simple as it is powerful and profound.
e. My yoke is easy and My burden is light: Jesus summarizes this wonderful call with this. The yoke is light and the burden is easy because He bears it with us.
When training a new animal (such as an ox) to plow, ancient farmers would often yoke it to an older, stronger, more experienced animal who would bear the burden and guide the young animal through his learning.
If your yoke is hard and your burden is heavy, then it isn’t His yoke or burden, and you aren’t letting Him bear it with you. Jesus said it plainly: My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
CONCLUSION:
Here the Lord speaking today…
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Our Text: Matthew 11:28-30
(28) 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.
INVITATION:
Come Unto Me
Hear the blessed Savior calling the oppressed
“Oh, ye heavy-laden, come to Me and rest
Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”
Come unto Me, I will give you rest
Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blest
I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
Have you by temptation often conquered been
Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best
In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.
Come unto Me, I will give you rest
Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blest
I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
Written by: OMERROR C. III DAWSON
Disclaimer: I am sharing as one beggar to another; many have blessed me with their sermons and I hope this will be a blessing to you. This sermon is an accumulation from several sources for which and to whom I am grateful, so I claim no originality to all the sermon, only as I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon to fit my style and audience. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
