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Entering Spiritual Rest New Haven Fellowship

I.

3 TYPES OF WORKS

A. To begin to understand what the Scriptures say about spiritual rest we must also understand what the Scripture has to say about works.

B. Sometimes the topic of works can be confusing because the Scriptures do not always explicitly explain what type of works that they are referring to.

C. For example:

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

D. At first glance it could seem that these two statements stand in opposition to each other, but if you understand that there are different kinds of works that the Scriptures reference, then it helps to clear up the confusion.

E. There are three types of works mentioned in the Bible: 1. Works of the flesh 2. Works of the law 3. Good works, or "God-works"

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality...

Romans 3:28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Eph 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

F. The works of the flesh, are obvious. Our carnal desires have been corrupted by sin and now crave iniquity.

Galatians 5:19-20 The works (acts) of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

G. The works of the law are essentially are own self-justification efforts: Works of the law include religious law, civil law, social norms, etc. Essentially, anything that provides a form of selfjustification:

I'm a good person because ____________________________ I treat others well

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Entering Spiritual Rest New Haven Fellowship

I go to church I do charity I work hard to provide for my family I pay my taxes I'm faithful to my wife

H. These kinds of self-righteous works outside of the grace of God is called striving.

Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight...

Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse;...

I. These types of works can be less obvious than works of the flesh, because they have some worldly benefit (God's principles work whether you relate to God or not.) The spiritual laws generally work like the physical laws. The law of gravity works whether you believe in it or not. So too the laws of sowing and reaping... These spiritual laws, while they can be profitable in a worldly sense, do not, in and of themselves, produce of an eternal value, or lead to rest for one's soul.

J. The third type of works the Bible teaches is works of the Spirit, or what the Bible calls good works.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

K. The Bible teaches that God has prepared works for us to do. When God prepares works for you, it means He has already knows every need and provisioned every resource you need to complete the work.

Phil 2:13- for it is God who works (by the Spirit) in you, both to will and to work (by faith) for his good pleasure.

James 2:14 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

II. 3 TYPES OF REST

A. Now that we have an understanding of the types of works mentioned in the Bible, let's take a look at the rest that Jesus offers us.

Matthew 11:28 - Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your souls.

B. Jesus offers us rest from the weariness of the works of the flesh, which is slavery to sin. And He offers us rest from the heavy burdens of the work of the law.

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Entering Spiritual Rest New Haven Fellowship

John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

Matthew 23:2-4 "The scribes and the Pharisees s... tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders,

C. A yoke is an instrument of labor, which represents our physical exertion. So Jesus is not saying that He'll give us rest from hard physical labor. He never said we wouldn't have long hours and difficult assignments. He said we'd find inner rest in the course of working out our assignments in God.

D. The third type of rest Jesus offers us is the supernatural rest found only in working with Him. So this type of rest is different than the first two because it is found not in giving up works but in taking them up.

E. Jesus invites us to experience life-giving work, the fruit of which is a soul that is at rest in the work of the kingdom.

F. Our ability to grow in this revelation is directly related to the amount of fruit we'll see as individuals and as a community.

III. OVERCOMING UNBELIEF

A. The Lord knows our weaknesses. He knows our fears and insecurities. He considers our human frame. And because of this He prepares us by revealing Himself to us in ways that help us have confidence to take up His works.

B. Psalm 23 gives us insight into how the Lord helps us enter into rest. David says that he's been led by the Lord into a place of rest, as a Shepherd would lead a sheep to a place of rest. He then describes the revelations of God that brought rest to His soul.

Note: Psalm 23:2 ? quiet waters is also be translated "waters of rest"

1. He's a God who delights in me (enjoys me) 2. He's a God who protects me 3. He's a God who provides for me

C. There is a power in these revelations to escort us into a faith that can voluntarily lay down our own works and enter into the works of the Lord and a supernatural rest. The powers of hell work overtime on these truths to obscure and distort our ability to see and believe them.

D. The Journey of the Shulamite in the SONG of SOLOMON parallels Psalm 23 as the Lord brings her through the revelations of Himself in ways that declare His delight for her and His commitment and ability to provide and protect her through every season.

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Song 2:3 - I sat down (rested) in His shade (protection) with great delight (enjoyment) and his fruit (provision) was sweet to my taste.

E. When we believe we are enjoyed, protected, and provided for we feel secure. And only when we feel secure are we free to move by faith, do the works the Lord has called us to, and experience supernatural rest.

F. Pretty much all insecurity can be traced back to an absence of any one or more of these truths. Without security, we become susceptible to fear, and fear unchecked leads to control. Once we seek to control our lives, we are no longer able to experience rest in that area.

G. Israel failed to remember the revelations of God through their deliverance from Egypt and therefore they were unable to enter into the promise of rest. They serve as an example for us so that we may not come short of entering that rest...

Hebrews 3: 16, 18 ? For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? ...18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4: 11 ? Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

H. Believing God is the work of God that leads to rest.

John 6:27-29 - Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. ..." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

I. It was right after this that Jesus went on to challenge them by speaking truths that were incredibly hard to believe.

John 6:60, 66 - When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it? 6 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

J. Have you ever felt that the thing the Lord was asking you to believe was too difficult?

K. It could be that the things that you're having difficulty believing God for are the very places where the Lord is inviting you to enter into His works and experience supernatural rest.

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Entering Spiritual Rest New Haven Fellowship

IV. REMEMBERING, RETURNING & REST

Isaiah 30:15 - For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

A. The Lord invites us again into the works He has planned for us, even if we walked away from them in the past because we felt like what the Lord was asking of us was too difficult.

What is it for you?

What is that work the Lord has been inviting you into that you've been hesitant to move into or have completely walked away from...

Ask the Lord.

L. Remembering, Returning and Rest serve as a roadmap to RESET.

- This is the pattern of the story of the prodigal son. - This is the pattern of Joel 2 - This is the pattern of Revelation 2:5

Joel 2:12-13 - "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Revelation 2:5 ? Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.

M. Before we can return to God, we must remember who He is, what He's done, and what He's said. Without this we will lack confidence in returning and could end up returning to something other than the Lord.

N. We will only know the true rest of become who we were created to be and doing what we were created to do after returning to the Lord.

O. Psalm 103 is a great Psalm to read, meditate on, and pray... It's an admonishment to our soul to remember and believe the Lord's enjoyment, protection, and provision.

Psalm 103 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

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