Resting In His Presence

Resting in His Presence

Mark chapter 4:35-41

Prayer-

Father today would you allow us to have rest in your presence. In the midst of anxiety and turmoil, would you allow us calmness maybe even in a storm. Allow us to sense that we are safely in your hands and your protection. I pray today that every single one of us has an encounter with you that is life-changing. I pray God that we can find healing in the time we spend in rest with you. In Jesus name!

Mark 4:35-41- Read form Bible

Introduction-

I want to tell you this morning that Jesus wants to give us and help us find rest in our lives. We are so busy that I believe sometimes we don’t know what we need and what we need seems like it is impossible to find or get. The older I get, the more I appreciate rest. Amen. There was a time when I did not need or desire naps. Now they are my best friends! A typical Sunday, I arrive here early in the morning before anyone is here and I begin praying and doing what is needed for service. A 1 1/2 hour service I have invested at least 20 hours of my week into. Used to be I could go and run around all day and sleep like a baby. The older I get, the more a nap is not only what I want, it is something I need. After getting some lunch, I get in my favorite chair and turn on a football game and usually 1-2 quarters later I watch the end of the game. One of my friends has said that you begin watching TV and then the TV watches you.

Jesus was exhausted, he was teaching and preaching, and His tank was empty. (Anyone been there) It says that he went to the back of the boat (stern) where he could stretch out and he grabbed a cushion. He did not nod off for a moment… He went to sleep.

While he was sleeping, a storm came

The winds picked up

The waves began to break over the side of the boat.

Some kind of a squall came up.

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

When you grab a cushion and you go to the back of the boat where there would be some room- Jesus intentionally was resting.

Jesus said to his disciples- “Let’s go over to the other side.”

Jesus could rest because of that statement.

Jesus had already told them what they were going to do.

Jesus did not say, we are going in the middle of the Sea of Galilee and drown.

Jesus did not say that to get to the other side was dependent upon what the weather was like.

NO STORM WAS GOING TO ALTER THE PLAN THAT JESUS PUT IN PLACE.

THERE WAS NOT A BACKUP PLAN JUST IN CASE

“lets go over to the other side.’

He wanted to see if they trusted more what He has said or more the circumstances that were around them.

That will preach this morning

There are a lot of people that say they rest in the Lord but if you ask them, they do not know what that means- or they say one thing and their life isn’t living it.

To know what that means is to look to Scripture and see what is meant by it and follow the example given

Resting in the Lord (write down)

Mark 6:32- “So they went away by themselves into a boat to a solitary place.”

Resting in the lord is finding a place where you can get quiet with him and less distractions.

Isaiah 26:3- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose mind are steadfast, because they trust you.”

Resting in God and the peace that comes from God is found in steadfastness, and putting your trust in him.

It is like the game you use to play as a kid and you fallback and trust that your friend will catch you.

- It is everyday, everytime, putting your trust in Jesus that He will catch you.

Charles Spurgeon-

“Rest time is not a waste of time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… it is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.”

Augustine

“Thou has made us for thyself, O, Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in thee.”

“Christ’s invitation to the weary and heavy-laden is to begin life over again upon a new principal- upon His own principal. “Watch my ways of doing things, he says, follow me. Take this life as I take it. Be meek and lowly, you will find rest.”