Entering into God’s Rest God’s Plans: Rest and Work

Hectic Lives Everyone is busy We often miss the important things Friend from Estonia We are often too tired to appreciate God’s goodness We are often to rushed and noisy to hear God’s voice Burdened, worried, anxious, stressed

God intends more and better for us Experience God’s presence Hear God’s voice Enjoy God’s creation Enjoy relationships Enjoy work

Work Corrupted Work has been corrupted and cursed Wrong Perspectives Genesis 3:7 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. Wrong Perspectives Work-a-holic early marriage experiences Avoid all work Only “Sacred” work is important

Changing our Perspectives on Work God’s Perspective Work is a good gift from God - Gen 2:15 God is working still - Jn 5:17 Whoever doesn’t work, doesn’t eat – 2 Thess 3:10 All honest work is honorable to God Col 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord Entering into God’s rest

God’s Solution: Sabbath Rest God worked six days and then rested He didn’t need to rest, but we do Mark 2:27 - The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. God’s Sabbath rest is both an attitude and a time period Matt 11:28 - Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Hebrews 4:9-11 - There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.  Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest

Proper balance Proper balance between work and rest Summer – kids “I’m bored” Rest is necessary but only appreciated when work is done in the right way God’s patterns: Daily rest, daily time with God 6 days of work, 1 day of rest, time with others and God Several yearly festivals – times of rest, celebration, with others and God Wrong perspective leaves us in the wrong place Bored and unfulfilled Overworked and tired and needing a “rest/vacation” even when returning from vacation

Take Action Work unto God When tempted to complain – thank and praise God for it instead Remember what has been provided from the work When tempted to gossip or say bad things about co-workers, boss, pray for them instead When tempted to give up, ask God for help and strength to keep going