Emmanuel Baptist Church

I Will Give You Rest

will1.mp3

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
  1. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I Will Give You Rest

Matthew 11:28

This morning we begin a new series called "The 'I Wills' of Christ." When Christ says He will do something, you can count on it. "It is impossible for God to lie . . ." (Hebrews 6:18).
Rest is the craving of every heart. For rest the businessman toils behind his desk. For rest the widow weeps in misery alone. For rest the homemaker works all day. Some seek rest in honor, others in wealth, others in love and even others in hate. Yet it is rest that is sought by all.
  1. The Comfort Christ Gives . . ."I will give you rest."
    He refreshes the spirit. He renews the soul. He encompasses the sinner with his peace.
    The storms of life are like hurricanes, but the one with rest is in the eye of the storm.
    He does not always give rest from earthly toil, but will always give rest in earthly toil.
    He binds up the wounded heart; He heals the broken spirit. He gives to His people rest.
    Synonyms for rest would be "peace, contentment, joy, happiness, etc. . ."
  2. The Condition Christ Gives . . ."Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden."
    There are two kinds of people in this text; those who labor and those who are heavy laden.
    1. Laboring people . . .
      They know they have a job to do. They have a goal before their eyes. They work!
      These people are those that know they are at odds with God. They see their sin.
      They labor to make it right with God. They long to be made right with God.
      (Examine the lives of Augustine and George Whitefield and David Brainard).
      That which needs to be heard: Jesus does forgive you; not Jesus will forgive you.
    2. Heavy laden people . . .
      These are people who have stopped laboring. Their sin has turned into hopelessness.
      Those who labor may be heavy laden, but it's possible for the heavy laden to not labor.
      Some have received Christ for salvation but try to earn their sanctification (Job 22:23).
      Christ Jesus is made unto us "sanctification" (II Corinthians 1:30).
    Why are there so many "professing Christians" without rest? They've never labored. We have many who come to the Physician without knowing they're sick. We have scores who have come to the Savior without knowing their sin. Refreshment is only for the weary.
  3. The Call Christ Gives . . . "Come . . ."
    It is not . . . "Wait." Christ does not say "I'll come." He simply tells you: "Come."
    1. Where do you come? Come unto me . . .
      It is coming to Christ that brings rest; not to a doctor, nor a priest, nor a preacher.
    2. When do you come? All ye that labor and are heavy laden . . ."
      The moment you feel impressed to work for God's favor, and burdened by your sin.
    3. Why do you come? "I will give you rest . . ."
      You believe Christ will do for you what no person, no circumstance, no event can do.
    "He will give you rest."



Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade