03 Mar Pillow (Resting on the Promises of God) Part 10
Many years ago, we took a team of young people to Guatemala to share the gospel. Our base camp was quite nice with western accommodations and food. Mid-way through our mission trip, our entire team ventured well out into the country side to minister in some border villages. We took up temporary residence in an old police hall. It was one large hall with two small bathrooms for many people! I must say at night it was very difficult to sleep.
As I mentioned, it was one large hall which happened to be an acoustical nightmare. However, the worst culprit when it came to sleep deprivation was a young man from Arizona named Joseph. Joseph was a fine young man with a great heart but one major problem…he was the loudest snorer I have ever heard (with the exception of my wife, Anne, of course!)! Joseph snored like a small calf being slaughtered! I kid you not, it was unlike anything I have heard before or since! Needless to say, I got very little sleep that night!
On nights like that, oh how we value a good night’s rest! However, once again we are not talking about physical rest but resting in the promises of God! Over the last few weeks we have shared with you some biblical synonyms for the concept of “rest” contained within the Word of God:
1. Fret not (see Psalm 37:1-9)
2. Fear not (see Mark 5:36)
3. Let not your heart be troubled (John 14:1)
4. Take no thought (see Matthew 6:31)
5. Be anxious for nothing (see Phil. 4:6-7)
Then we shared with you our key scripture for this series from Hebrews 4:11-12:
“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Then we shared with you three of the “Four Righteous Realms of Rest”:
1. Rest in the promises of God (II Pet. 1:3-4).
2. Rest in the power of a seed (Mark 4:26-28).
3. Labor to enter into the rest (Heb. 4:10-12).
This week let’s conclude our series…
4. Rest in the ultimate plan of God (Matt. 24:3-8).
“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
We live in some pretty crazy times! If you haven’t noticed, you haven’t been paying attention! If you are a 14-year old girl who lives in New York, you can’t buy a 24-ounce “Big Gulp” soft drink but you can buy “the morning after” abortion pill! We live in some crazy times. Look, however, at verse six, “…see that you be not troubled.” Jesus is speaking and telling us in the middle of tumultuous times, in essence, “All that crazy stuff is out there, but don’t you let it in here” (your heart and mind).
Remember this…the promises of God are always bigger than the problems in the world! In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon says it this way, “Guard your heart for out of it flow the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Jesus said it this way in the Book of John, “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” (John 14:27). David tells us, “A thousand will fall by your side and ten thousand by your right hand, but it shall not come near you” (Ps. 91:8-9).
Next week, we’ll continue our series.