100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,920Providence200:00:03,920 –> 00:00:08,200Many people know the President of the United States.300:00:08,200 –> 00:00:15,040Many people could, if they wanted to, introduce you to the President of the United States.400:00:15,040 –> 00:00:19,799But what Jesus is saying here is that with God it’s different.500:00:19,799 –> 00:00:24,480No one knows the Father except the Son.600:00:24,480 –> 00:00:26,680Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:26,680 –> 00:00:27,840I’m David Pick.800:00:28,160 –> 00:00:29,840I’m so pleased you’re with us today.900:00:29,840 –> 00:00:34,320And Colin, we often talk about knowing God or having a relationship with God.1000:00:34,320 –> 00:00:36,160But it sounds as if you’re saying we can’t1100:00:36,160 –> 00:00:39,320actually have a relationship with God the Father.1200:00:39,320 –> 00:00:41,759Except through Jesus Christ his Son.1300:00:41,759 –> 00:00:44,279I often have conversations where people will say,1400:00:44,279 –> 00:00:46,119you know I like to think of God like this,1500:00:46,119 –> 00:00:53,240and the idea that’s common these days is that we somehow all have an intuitive knowledge of God.1600:00:53,240 –> 00:00:54,759No, actually we don’t.1700:00:54,759 –> 00:01:00,480No one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son reveals him.1800:01:00,480 –> 00:01:04,080So it’s through Jesus Christ that we come to know God the Father1900:01:04,080 –> 00:01:07,440and that’s why to get to the Bible to get to the gospels2000:01:07,440 –> 00:01:11,320is going to be the only way in which we’ll come to know God as he really is.2100:01:11,320 –> 00:01:15,320So it really is important for us to be spending time in God’s Word,2200:01:15,320 –> 00:01:20,120discovering who Jesus really is and what he’s done for us and his character.2300:01:20,120 –> 00:01:23,160That’s where we’re going to get the knowledge of God and nowhere else.2400:01:23,160 –> 00:01:26,080But that’s why the revelation of God speaking,2500:01:26,080 –> 00:01:29,120revealing himself and revealing himself through his Son2600:01:29,120 –> 00:01:30,919is such wonderful good news for us.2700:01:30,919 –> 00:01:33,360That’s what we’re going to examine in today’s broadcast.2800:01:33,360 –> 00:01:39,160It’s a new series called ROC solid 7 Promises Christ Makes to You.2900:01:39,160 –> 00:01:42,760Today’s message is Jesus will give you rest.3000:01:42,760 –> 00:01:43,879Here’s Colin.3100:01:43,879 –> 00:01:49,400I hope you’ll open your Bible then at Matthew Chapter 11 verse 28.3200:01:49,400 –> 00:01:51,160I want to focus in on this one scripture.3300:01:51,160 –> 00:01:52,919We’re not going to be going anywhere else3400:01:52,919 –> 00:01:54,839but I want you to see its words3500:01:54,839 –> 00:02:00,919and for the Holy Spirit to apply these words into all of our lives.3600:02:00,919 –> 00:02:02,680The Lord Jesus Christ said,3700:02:02,680 –> 00:02:07,639come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,3800:02:07,639 –> 00:02:10,720and I will give you rest.3900:02:10,720 –> 00:02:12,520There’s the promise.4000:02:12,520 –> 00:02:17,839I will give you rest.4100:02:19,880 –> 00:02:22,759Now back in the fourth century, as many of you know4200:02:22,759 –> 00:02:26,440there was a man by the name of Augustine.4300:02:26,440 –> 00:02:28,320He was raised by a godly mother.4400:02:28,320 –> 00:02:32,919Her name was Monica and she prayed for him very faithfully.4500:02:32,919 –> 00:02:35,240Augustine was a restless kind of a guy4600:02:35,240 –> 00:02:37,240and he left home early in life4700:02:37,240 –> 00:02:42,160and threw himself really into a very profligate life.4800:02:42,160 –> 00:02:44,960He says in his confessions a very interesting thing.4900:02:44,960 –> 00:02:51,600He says, I was in love with love and I hated safety.5000:02:51,639 –> 00:02:52,479Very interesting.5100:02:52,479 –> 00:02:56,960He threw himself into profligate relationships5200:02:56,960 –> 00:02:58,520and he wanted to live on the edge.5300:02:58,520 –> 00:03:01,279He was tired of his conservative upbringing.5400:03:02,279 –> 00:03:05,100I hated safety he says.5500:03:05,100 –> 00:03:06,100Wanted to get out.5600:03:06,100 –> 00:03:07,080Break out.5700:03:07,080 –> 00:03:09,399Do what my parents would never have done5800:03:11,720 –> 00:03:15,639and as he followed the passions of his own heart,5900:03:15,639 –> 00:03:19,880he found that these passions made him a slave.6000:03:19,880 –> 00:03:22,199He became a slave to his own passions.6100:03:23,559 –> 00:03:27,199His mother, Monica, who wept over him often,6200:03:27,199 –> 00:03:29,059prayed for him faithfully.6300:03:29,059 –> 00:03:31,339That’s a whole story in itself6400:03:32,240 –> 00:03:37,160and after some years, Augustine wonderfully came6500:03:37,160 –> 00:03:38,759to faith in Jesus Christ.6600:03:38,759 –> 00:03:42,380The mother’s prayers were heard and wonderfully answered6700:03:43,360 –> 00:03:45,839and Augustine wrote a line6800:03:45,839 –> 00:03:48,039that has really come down to us in history.6900:03:48,039 –> 00:03:49,679It’s really out of one of his prayers.7000:03:49,699 –> 00:03:51,419He said this,7100:03:51,419 –> 00:03:55,779”Our hearts are restless’7200:03:55,779 –> 00:03:56,880until,’ he said,7300:03:56,880 –> 00:04:01,600”they find their rest in you,’ speaking to God.’7400:04:01,600 –> 00:04:04,119Now, Augustine knew that from his own experience.7500:04:04,119 –> 00:04:05,720He found that in his own nature7600:04:05,720 –> 00:04:09,860and we know that from our experience too.7700:04:09,860 –> 00:04:13,520The human heart is full of longings.7800:04:13,520 –> 00:04:16,079We want to be loved.7900:04:16,079 –> 00:04:18,660We all want to succeed.8000:04:18,660 –> 00:04:20,459We all want to be happy,8100:04:20,459 –> 00:04:22,380to make the best of our lives.8200:04:23,320 –> 00:04:25,779The prevailing desires in our hearts8300:04:25,779 –> 00:04:27,980will differ from one person to another8400:04:27,980 –> 00:04:29,859and may change over the course8500:04:29,859 –> 00:04:31,980of the years of our life.8600:04:31,980 –> 00:04:34,839One person wants love,8700:04:34,839 –> 00:04:38,480another person wants revenge.8800:04:38,480 –> 00:04:40,459One person wants to be independent.8900:04:40,459 –> 00:04:42,339Let me alone.9000:04:42,339 –> 00:04:45,880Another person would do anything to avoid being alone.9100:04:46,679 –> 00:04:49,160One person wants to be where the action is.9200:04:49,160 –> 00:04:50,679Let me get in the thick of it.9300:04:50,679 –> 00:04:52,859Another person is tired of the rat race9400:04:52,859 –> 00:04:54,760and says let me get out of it.9500:04:54,760 –> 00:04:56,559I want some peace and some quiet.9600:04:56,559 –> 00:04:59,779One person is desperate for security.9700:04:59,779 –> 00:05:02,579Another person is tired of security,9800:05:02,579 –> 00:05:05,239which is where Augustine was when he said9900:05:05,239 –> 00:05:07,600I hated safety.10000:05:08,679 –> 00:05:10,839So, the longings that drive us differ10100:05:10,839 –> 00:05:13,220and they may change over the course of our lives,10200:05:13,239 –> 00:05:18,239but all of us are moved by the desires of our hearts.10300:05:19,019 –> 00:05:22,100And, Augustine says, and we recognize this,10400:05:22,100 –> 00:05:26,339our hearts are restless,10500:05:26,339 –> 00:05:28,440which is why we live with questions all the time.10600:05:28,440 –> 00:05:30,760For some of us here, it’s…10700:05:30,760 –> 00:05:32,140Every day, you’re asking this question.10800:05:32,140 –> 00:05:33,339It’s in the back of your mind.10900:05:33,339 –> 00:05:34,859Am I a good mother?11000:05:35,899 –> 00:05:37,820And, that just runs and runs in your mind.11100:05:37,820 –> 00:05:39,839There’s a restlessness in your heart11200:05:39,859 –> 00:05:42,859that just keeps producing that question.11300:05:43,880 –> 00:05:47,320For someone else, it’s, can I really cut the mustard?11400:05:47,320 –> 00:05:50,239Can I deliver what is expected of me?11500:05:51,359 –> 00:05:54,200Someone else says, does anybody really care about me?11600:05:55,519 –> 00:05:58,559Someone else says, what am I to do next?11700:05:59,920 –> 00:06:03,220And, that restlessness sort of churns within us.11800:06:04,239 –> 00:06:06,380It’s the nature of human experience.11900:06:06,380 –> 00:06:09,559It goes all of the way back to the Garden of Eden12000:06:09,559 –> 00:06:12,899when Satan made to false promises.12100:06:13,920 –> 00:06:15,359Remember when Satan the serpent12200:06:15,359 –> 00:06:17,299came into the Garden of Eden?12300:06:17,299 –> 00:06:20,820He said two things to Eve and to Adam,12400:06:21,920 –> 00:06:24,260he said you won’t die.12500:06:24,260 –> 00:06:25,859That was a false promise.12600:06:26,899 –> 00:06:30,839And he said you will know the difference12700:06:30,839 –> 00:06:33,640between good and evil.12800:06:33,640 –> 00:06:37,700You will know the difference between good and evil.12900:06:38,640 –> 00:06:41,559Now with these promises, the serpent enlisted13000:06:41,559 –> 00:06:45,140the man and the woman in his rebellion against God.13100:06:45,140 –> 00:06:46,519Do you remember what happened next13200:06:46,519 –> 00:06:49,720in the Bible story that God came into the garden13300:06:49,720 –> 00:06:51,600and when the man and his wife13400:06:51,600 –> 00:06:53,920who had believed the false promises of Satan,13500:06:53,920 –> 00:06:55,440you won’t die and you will know the difference13600:06:55,440 –> 00:06:59,440between good and evil, they hid in the trees.13700:06:59,440 –> 00:07:02,140Suddenly this marvelous paradise13800:07:02,140 –> 00:07:03,899in which they’d know nothing but joy13900:07:03,899 –> 00:07:06,720and harmony together and fellowship with God14000:07:06,760 –> 00:07:08,079and fulfillment in their work14100:07:08,079 –> 00:07:09,839and provision for all their needs,14200:07:09,839 –> 00:07:12,260this garden in which everything had been right14300:07:12,260 –> 00:07:15,820became a place of fear, it became a place of hiding,14400:07:15,820 –> 00:07:17,540it became a place of shame.14500:07:17,540 –> 00:07:19,299Can you imagine the man and the woman14600:07:19,299 –> 00:07:23,799hiding in the trees in order to keep a distance14700:07:23,799 –> 00:07:26,579from the God who was the source of every good in their life14800:07:26,579 –> 00:07:31,579and Adam’s heart is beating and Eve’s palms are sweating14900:07:31,600 –> 00:07:34,420and they’re thinking, we don’t want God to find us.15000:07:34,420 –> 00:07:35,899They’re scared of God.15100:07:37,160 –> 00:07:39,959And these two who had lived in such marvelous peace15200:07:39,959 –> 00:07:42,160are now experiencing turmoil.15300:07:43,220 –> 00:07:45,480Oh, the serpent says I will not die,15400:07:45,480 –> 00:07:47,380but God says I will die.15500:07:49,100 –> 00:07:50,859What happens when I do die?15600:07:52,299 –> 00:07:55,019The serpent says I’ll know what’s good and what’s evil,15700:07:55,019 –> 00:07:57,880but it seems right now as I’m hiding here in the trees,15800:07:57,880 –> 00:07:59,140this isn’t very good.15900:07:59,140 –> 00:08:02,279I’m experiencing fear, I’m experiencing shame,16000:08:02,279 –> 00:08:03,179why am I hiding?16100:08:03,179 –> 00:08:04,859Why am I so afraid?16200:08:06,980 –> 00:08:09,040And suddenly, the first man and the first woman16300:08:09,040 –> 00:08:13,559experience the draining and the exhausting16400:08:15,739 –> 00:08:19,160experience of a restless heart.16500:08:20,119 –> 00:08:21,980And that’s been our experience ever since.16600:08:21,980 –> 00:08:25,640It’s the human condition, searching after something,16700:08:26,959 –> 00:08:27,799driven.16800:08:28,899 –> 00:08:32,440And then Jesus comes and he says, come to me.16900:08:32,440 –> 00:08:36,700All you who are weary, all you who are burdened17000:08:37,619 –> 00:08:41,479and I will give you rest.17100:08:41,479 –> 00:08:42,479That’s the promise.17200:08:44,179 –> 00:08:46,679Now, I want us to see three things today.17300:08:46,679 –> 00:08:49,940The first is for us to grasp more clearly who Jesus is17400:08:49,940 –> 00:08:52,559because this is such an extraordinary promise.17500:08:52,559 –> 00:08:56,780Only the son of God could make this promise to us.17600:08:56,780 –> 00:08:59,659And in order that we may believe the promise better,17700:08:59,659 –> 00:09:01,619I want us to come to know more clearly17800:09:01,619 –> 00:09:03,859who it is that gives it to us.17900:09:03,859 –> 00:09:05,460So I want us to see who Jesus is.18000:09:05,460 –> 00:09:08,299Second, I want us to hear what it is that He says18100:09:08,299 –> 00:09:10,780because there is something for us to do here18200:09:10,780 –> 00:09:14,059in order to experience what He offers.18300:09:14,059 –> 00:09:15,539And then that will lead to the third thing,18400:09:15,539 –> 00:09:17,739I want us to receive.18500:09:17,739 –> 00:09:19,700We’re not here to talk about theory.18600:09:20,619 –> 00:09:25,619I want us to receive more of what Jesus Christ18700:09:25,619 –> 00:09:29,799says He will give to us, what He promises to give to us.18800:09:29,840 –> 00:09:32,840And to do that even here today.18900:09:33,640 –> 00:09:34,880You’re listening to Open the Bible19000:09:34,880 –> 00:09:37,840with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called19100:09:37,840 –> 00:09:39,719Jesus Will Give You Rest.19200:09:39,719 –> 00:09:42,299It’s part of our new series, Rock Solid,19300:09:42,299 –> 00:09:45,539Seven Promises Christ Makes to You.19400:09:45,539 –> 00:09:49,039And don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the series,19500:09:49,039 –> 00:09:49,840you can easily catch up or go back19600:09:49,840 –> 00:09:52,840and listen again by coming online to our website,19700:09:52,840 –> 00:09:57,719openthebible.org.uk, or find us as a podcast19800:09:57,719 –> 00:09:59,440on all the main podcast sites.19900:09:59,440 –> 00:10:01,599Search for Open the Bible UK20000:10:01,599 –> 00:10:04,520or follow the link from our website.20100:10:04,520 –> 00:10:05,719Back to the message.20200:10:05,719 –> 00:10:07,239Here again is Colin.20300:10:07,239 –> 00:10:10,280So let’s begin then by looking at three qualifications,20400:10:10,280 –> 00:10:12,919learning better who Jesus is,20500:10:12,919 –> 00:10:16,059let us see what it is that puts Jesus in the position20600:10:16,059 –> 00:10:19,039where He is able to make this promise to us.20700:10:19,039 –> 00:10:21,280Obviously, any promise is only as good20800:10:21,280 –> 00:10:23,760as the trustworthiness of the person making it.20900:10:23,760 –> 00:10:26,200And the credibility of this vast promise21000:10:26,619 –> 00:10:30,099that Jesus makes rests on His capacity21100:10:30,099 –> 00:10:32,659to fulfill what he says.21200:10:32,659 –> 00:10:35,460Now in verse 27, we learn in three ways21300:10:35,460 –> 00:10:40,140why Jesus is able to deliver this remarkable promise.21400:10:40,140 –> 00:10:42,400The first thing we learn here in verse 2721500:10:42,400 –> 00:10:45,460is that God always works through his Son.21600:10:45,460 –> 00:10:46,859Notice Jesus says,21700:10:46,859 –> 00:10:51,299all things have been committed to me21800:10:51,299 –> 00:10:54,099by my Father.21900:10:54,119 –> 00:10:56,500All things have been committed to me22000:10:56,500 –> 00:10:58,900by my Father.22100:10:58,900 –> 00:11:01,400Now, it is a fundamental principle of leadership22200:11:02,580 –> 00:11:07,039that if you commit something to someone on your team,22300:11:07,039 –> 00:11:08,580you delegate that responsibility,22400:11:08,580 –> 00:11:10,380you say, now, you’re in charge of this.22500:11:10,380 –> 00:11:13,020You committed into their hands.22600:11:13,020 –> 00:11:16,520You may then work with them in it.22700:11:16,520 –> 00:11:18,859But what you don’t do is that you don’t then go off22800:11:18,859 –> 00:11:20,419and independently do the very thing22900:11:20,419 –> 00:11:22,020that you’ve trusted into their hands23000:11:22,020 –> 00:11:23,580on your own without them.23100:11:24,880 –> 00:11:27,739If, for example, we’re involved in a project,23200:11:27,739 –> 00:11:30,599we’re remodeling a room together.23300:11:30,599 –> 00:11:32,659And one of the guys on the team,23400:11:32,659 –> 00:11:34,700let’s call him David, we say to David,23500:11:34,700 –> 00:11:35,700now, David, you’re in charge23600:11:35,700 –> 00:11:37,979of everything to do with the painting.23700:11:37,979 –> 00:11:39,599All the decisions about the colors,23800:11:39,599 –> 00:11:40,599everything to do with painting,23900:11:40,599 –> 00:11:42,179you’re in charge of that.24000:11:42,179 –> 00:11:44,299We committed to David.24100:11:44,299 –> 00:11:45,400Now, if we’re on the team,24200:11:45,400 –> 00:11:46,840you’re the team leader,24300:11:46,840 –> 00:11:48,799you may work with David in the painting.24400:11:48,799 –> 00:11:51,500We may all pitch in in this area24500:11:51,500 –> 00:11:53,419that has been assigned to him in one way or another.24600:11:53,440 –> 00:11:54,859But one thing we will not do24700:11:54,859 –> 00:11:58,039is go and engage in the painting independently of David,24800:11:58,039 –> 00:11:59,539because it’s committed to him.24900:12:01,179 –> 00:12:02,679Now, what is it?25000:12:02,679 –> 00:12:05,140I’m asking you to respond to you from this text.25100:12:05,140 –> 00:12:08,359What is it in this text that we are told25200:12:08,359 –> 00:12:10,859the Father has committed to the Son?25300:12:10,859 –> 00:12:11,900To Jesus Christ?25400:12:11,900 –> 00:12:14,239What has been committed to him?25500:12:14,239 –> 00:12:15,799All things.25600:12:16,859 –> 00:12:18,599Not some things.25700:12:19,820 –> 00:12:21,419All things.25800:12:22,219 –> 00:12:24,780What that means is that the Father25900:12:24,780 –> 00:12:29,280always works through and with the Son,26000:12:29,280 –> 00:12:32,099and never without.26100:12:32,099 –> 00:12:35,380The second person of the Trinity, the Son of God,26200:12:35,380 –> 00:12:39,140our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.26300:12:40,260 –> 00:12:41,700Now, say, wait, wait a minute,26400:12:41,700 –> 00:12:42,940the Son of God, Jesus Christ,26500:12:42,940 –> 00:12:44,359and born into the world at Christmas.26600:12:44,359 –> 00:12:46,299You’re talking about the New Testament,26700:12:46,299 –> 00:12:47,960that just starts after Christmas, right?26800:12:47,960 –> 00:12:49,539No.26900:12:49,539 –> 00:12:50,900God has always been27000:12:51,539 –> 00:12:54,380through the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.27100:12:54,380 –> 00:12:56,840And what our Lord Jesus tells us here27200:12:56,840 –> 00:12:57,679when he says,27300:12:57,679 –> 00:13:00,140all things have been committed to me by the Father,27400:13:00,140 –> 00:13:01,919the Father always works through the Son.27500:13:01,919 –> 00:13:03,039That has always been true,27600:13:03,039 –> 00:13:04,340and always will be true.27700:13:05,979 –> 00:13:08,659That is why even if you think of the creation of the world,27800:13:08,659 –> 00:13:09,479you remember what it says27900:13:09,479 –> 00:13:11,039at the beginning of John’s Gospel.28000:13:11,039 –> 00:13:13,239In the beginning was the Word,28100:13:13,239 –> 00:13:15,780that’s the second person of the Trinity.28200:13:15,780 –> 00:13:17,140The Word was with God,28300:13:17,140 –> 00:13:18,320and the Word was God.28400:13:18,479 –> 00:13:22,340And all things were made by Him,28500:13:22,340 –> 00:13:23,880the second person of the Trinity,28600:13:23,880 –> 00:13:25,400and without Him,28700:13:25,400 –> 00:13:27,580nothing was made that has been made.28800:13:27,580 –> 00:13:29,820That’s John 1 and verse 2.28900:13:30,760 –> 00:13:33,400See, the Father has committed to Him all things.29000:13:33,400 –> 00:13:35,599And so even the creation29100:13:35,599 –> 00:13:37,599is the work of the Father through the Son.29200:13:37,599 –> 00:13:39,080And never without the son.29300:13:39,919 –> 00:13:41,979You say, well, what about all the old Testament Scriptures29400:13:41,979 –> 00:13:44,960where there were prophets speaking the Word of God?29500:13:46,119 –> 00:13:46,960Have you ever noticed29600:13:46,960 –> 00:13:49,4191 Peter, chapter one, and verse 11.29700:13:49,419 –> 00:13:51,440When Peter is describing what it was29800:13:51,440 –> 00:13:55,400that the prophets said in the Old Testament period,29900:13:55,400 –> 00:13:56,239he says this,30000:13:56,239 –> 00:13:58,239that the Old Testament prophets were30100:13:58,239 –> 00:14:00,380searching diligently to try and find out30200:14:00,380 –> 00:14:04,039the circumstances to which they were being pointed by30300:14:04,960 –> 00:14:09,239the Spirit of Christ in them.30400:14:10,320 –> 00:14:11,760That’s 1 Peter 1, 11,30500:14:11,760 –> 00:14:14,320the Spirit of Christ30600:14:14,359 –> 00:14:17,640was in the Old Testament prophets30700:14:17,640 –> 00:14:21,080pointing them towards that which would be fulfilled30800:14:21,080 –> 00:14:24,400in the birth, life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ.30900:14:25,960 –> 00:14:26,799In other words,31000:14:26,799 –> 00:14:28,580when you read the Old Testament scriptures,31100:14:28,580 –> 00:14:29,919you are reading the Word31200:14:29,919 –> 00:14:31,960of the second person of the Trinity, why?31300:14:31,960 –> 00:14:34,919Because the Father always works through the Son,31400:14:34,919 –> 00:14:35,919never without him.31500:14:37,119 –> 00:14:40,119That’s why when you come to salvation,31600:14:40,119 –> 00:14:41,700what do we read in the scriptures?31700:14:41,700 –> 00:14:43,840God so loved the world that he did what?31800:14:43,840 –> 00:14:46,059He gave us his one and only son31900:14:46,059 –> 00:14:48,539that whosoever believes in him shall not perish32000:14:48,539 –> 00:14:49,940but have everlasting life.32100:14:49,940 –> 00:14:52,320And even when you come to the final judgment,32200:14:53,400 –> 00:14:56,700Jesus says this, John chapter five and verse 22,32300:14:56,700 –> 00:14:59,900the father judges no one,32400:15:00,820 –> 00:15:05,820he has entrusted all judgment to the Son.32500:15:07,299 –> 00:15:08,380So here’s the principle,32600:15:08,380 –> 00:15:10,739God always works through his son,32700:15:10,820 –> 00:15:13,099always has, why always will,32800:15:13,099 –> 00:15:18,099all things have been committed to the Son by the Father.32900:15:20,640 –> 00:15:23,780Then Jesus says something even more remarkable.33000:15:23,780 –> 00:15:25,059He tells us that the Son33100:15:25,059 –> 00:15:27,179has exclusive knowledge of the Father.33200:15:27,179 –> 00:15:30,520No one knows the Father except the Son33300:15:30,520 –> 00:15:34,580and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.33400:15:34,580 –> 00:15:36,640No one knows the Father except the Son.33500:15:37,739 –> 00:15:39,179This is amazing.33600:15:39,179 –> 00:15:42,940Many people know the President of the United States.33700:15:44,239 –> 00:15:46,280So many people can tell you33800:15:46,280 –> 00:15:49,820about the President of the United States.33900:15:49,820 –> 00:15:51,840Many people could, if they wanted to,34000:15:51,840 –> 00:15:55,719introduce you to the President of the United States.34100:15:57,140 –> 00:15:58,900But what Jesus is saying here34200:15:58,900 –> 00:16:01,179is that with God, it’s different.34300:16:02,479 –> 00:16:06,840No one knows the Father except the Son.34400:16:07,400 –> 00:16:10,799Now, this is so important34500:16:10,799 –> 00:16:13,239because when we get to this promise today,34600:16:13,239 –> 00:16:14,880Jesus says, come to me,34700:16:14,880 –> 00:16:16,260all you who are weary and burdened,34800:16:16,260 –> 00:16:18,359and I will give you rest.34900:16:18,359 –> 00:16:20,880It would be very easy for us post-modern people35000:16:20,880 –> 00:16:23,559to hear that promise like this.35100:16:23,559 –> 00:16:25,280We might here…35200:16:25,280 –> 00:16:28,400Well you know, some of you here are tired and weary35300:16:28,400 –> 00:16:30,960and if you feel a deep need within your heart,35400:16:30,960 –> 00:16:32,940it’s a wonderful thing that you can come to Jesus35500:16:32,940 –> 00:16:35,080and Jesus is going to help you.35600:16:35,099 –> 00:16:36,380And35700:16:36,380 –> 00:16:38,099that, of course, is true.35800:16:39,919 –> 00:16:41,380And35900:16:41,380 –> 00:16:43,400our post-modern world would like36000:16:43,400 –> 00:16:45,299that to be the only thing that’s true.36100:16:46,559 –> 00:16:48,000Because what that leaves you with36200:16:48,000 –> 00:16:49,760is a sort of take it or leave it, Jesus.36300:16:49,760 –> 00:16:51,359If you feel your need for Jesus,36400:16:51,359 –> 00:16:52,179you can come to him.36500:16:52,179 –> 00:16:53,500If you don’t feel your need of Jesus,36600:16:53,500 –> 00:16:55,859hey, you know, get on with life your own way.36700:16:57,320 –> 00:16:59,479I want you to understand from the scriptures today36800:16:59,479 –> 00:17:01,359that the great new testament reason36900:17:01,359 –> 00:17:02,859for coming to Jesus Christ37000:17:02,859 –> 00:17:05,540is not if you happen to feel37100:17:05,540 –> 00:17:07,439some great need in your heart.37200:17:08,599 –> 00:17:10,300The great reason, the great argument37300:17:10,300 –> 00:17:12,900for coming to Jesus Christ in the new testament37400:17:12,900 –> 00:17:14,739right here is this.37500:17:15,699 –> 00:17:19,859That without Jesus, you don’t know God,37600:17:19,859 –> 00:17:23,219you can’t find God, you don’t have God,37700:17:23,219 –> 00:17:24,180and on the last day,37800:17:24,180 –> 00:17:27,719you will not have a hope in hell before God.37900:17:28,619 –> 00:17:31,420That’s the reason for coming to Jesus Christ,38000:17:32,560 –> 00:17:35,540because no one knows the father except the Son,38100:17:37,000 –> 00:17:40,880and there is no other way into knowledge of the Father,38200:17:40,880 –> 00:17:44,239into relationship with the God of heaven and earth,38300:17:44,239 –> 00:17:45,880expect through the Son38400:17:45,880 –> 00:17:48,099because the Father’s committed all things to the Son38500:17:48,099 –> 00:17:51,619and no one knows the Father except the Son.38600:17:51,619 –> 00:17:53,920Then Jesus says this,38700:17:53,920 –> 00:17:57,760that he can reveal the Father to us if he chooses to.38800:17:57,760 –> 00:17:59,420Notice what he says in verse 27,38900:17:59,420 –> 00:18:01,140no one knows the father except the Son39000:18:01,140 –> 00:18:05,199and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.39100:18:05,199 –> 00:18:06,319So what he’s saying is this,39200:18:06,319 –> 00:18:08,660I have exclusive knowledge of the Father39300:18:08,660 –> 00:18:11,119and all things have been trusted by the Father39400:18:11,119 –> 00:18:14,920into my hands but if you will come to me, I invite you.39500:18:15,900 –> 00:18:17,619If you will come to me,39600:18:17,619 –> 00:18:20,160he’s saying I can bring you into this knowledge of God,39700:18:20,160 –> 00:18:22,479I can bring you into a relationship with God.39800:18:22,520 –> 00:18:24,739He is saying to you what no one else39900:18:24,739 –> 00:18:26,699in all of the world can say.40000:18:28,199 –> 00:18:29,680Now that’s who Jesus is.40100:18:31,439 –> 00:18:33,199Let’s look secondly at what it is40200:18:33,199 –> 00:18:36,640that the Son of God says to us.40300:18:37,660 –> 00:18:40,520There are two things that he invites us to do here,40400:18:40,520 –> 00:18:43,359there are different ways of saying the same thing40500:18:43,359 –> 00:18:45,359but there’s clearly something for us to do40600:18:45,359 –> 00:18:48,839and it’s important for us here to hear what Jesus says.40700:18:49,599 –> 00:18:51,160Come to me,40800:18:52,079 –> 00:18:53,660and I will give you rest.40900:18:55,160 –> 00:19:00,160Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest41000:19:00,819 –> 00:19:02,599for your souls.41100:19:03,459 –> 00:19:06,079I want you to notice that if we are to receive41200:19:06,079 –> 00:19:11,079what Jesus offers, there clearly is something for us to do.41300:19:12,420 –> 00:19:14,420And we need to hear this clearly41400:19:15,339 –> 00:19:18,680because what we experience or what we do not experience41500:19:18,680 –> 00:19:22,000from the Lord, Jesus Christ, clearly relates41600:19:22,000 –> 00:19:23,939to whether we are doing these things41700:19:23,939 –> 00:19:26,640that he tells us to do, invites us to do41800:19:26,640 –> 00:19:27,719or whether we are not doing them.41900:19:27,719 –> 00:19:29,920There are things that you can do today42000:19:29,920 –> 00:19:31,599that some people will do today42100:19:31,599 –> 00:19:33,699and some people will not do today42200:19:33,699 –> 00:19:35,979and our experience will differ.42300:19:38,160 –> 00:19:39,920This is a part for you to play here.42400:19:40,520 –> 00:19:45,000Satan sows unbelief in the hearts of many42500:19:45,000 –> 00:19:47,079whenever the word of God is preached.42600:19:48,239 –> 00:19:50,800Here’s how he might do it with this verse with you.42700:19:50,800 –> 00:19:52,579He might already be saying to you,42800:19:52,579 –> 00:19:55,719Jesus says you can have rest, you don’t have rest,42900:19:55,719 –> 00:19:58,280therefore, this is all talk, this is all,43000:19:58,280 –> 00:20:01,619yeah, nothing to it, heard it all before.43100:20:03,140 –> 00:20:05,719But actually, you’re not hearing what Jesus says.43200:20:06,560 –> 00:20:11,180Jesus says come to me, take my yoke upon you.43300:20:11,180 –> 00:20:13,420There’s something I want you to do43400:20:13,420 –> 00:20:16,560in order for you, weary as you are,43500:20:16,560 –> 00:20:21,560to experience what I am promising to give you.43600:20:22,939 –> 00:20:24,959We really need to hear this clearly then.43700:20:26,239 –> 00:20:27,780What is it that Jesus says we’re to do?43800:20:27,780 –> 00:20:29,040He says come to me.43900:20:30,880 –> 00:20:33,079Now, I find just sometimes that it helps44000:20:33,099 –> 00:20:36,420to sharpen my understanding of what our Lord is saying44100:20:36,420 –> 00:20:39,380when I put it alongside what he didn’t say.44200:20:39,380 –> 00:20:41,180It just clears it up a little bit for me.44300:20:41,180 –> 00:20:43,900So let me just do that in two ways very briefly here.44400:20:43,900 –> 00:20:47,579I am so glad that Jesus said come to me44500:20:47,579 –> 00:20:51,859and that he did not say practice spiritual disciplines.44600:20:51,859 –> 00:20:53,680You glad about that?44700:20:53,680 –> 00:20:56,560When I get really weary,44800:20:56,560 –> 00:20:59,140when I’m feeling that I’m at the end of my rope,44900:21:00,060 –> 00:21:01,260I don’t want to hear a message45000:21:01,579 –> 00:21:03,079that basically is saying to me,45100:21:03,079 –> 00:21:07,819try harder, do more, up your effort.45200:21:08,680 –> 00:21:11,079When I’m exhausted, that’s not going to help me.45300:21:12,880 –> 00:21:14,739Thank God, Jesus says come to me,45400:21:14,739 –> 00:21:18,140he does not say practice more spiritual disciplines.45500:21:18,140 –> 00:21:21,380And I say this because Jesus was speaking to people45600:21:21,380 –> 00:21:24,880whose faith in itself had become a burden to them.45700:21:25,819 –> 00:21:27,060Jesus was speaking to perhaps45800:21:27,060 –> 00:21:29,819the most religious, faithful people who’d ever lived.45900:21:30,459 –> 00:21:32,540People who were pouring everything46000:21:32,540 –> 00:21:34,880into living a model life.46100:21:34,880 –> 00:21:36,680And who were praying regularly46200:21:36,680 –> 00:21:40,020and reading and studying the Torah and so forth46300:21:40,020 –> 00:21:42,459they were doing their best to live godly lives46400:21:42,459 –> 00:21:45,900as many of us are, but they felt crushed.46500:21:45,900 –> 00:21:49,780Crushed by their own attempts to please God.46600:21:49,780 –> 00:21:51,119Defeated.46700:21:52,739 –> 00:21:55,339In an attempt to do what is good.46800:21:56,260 –> 00:21:59,339And Jesus is speaking to these model46900:21:59,339 –> 00:22:03,420disciplined folks,47000:22:03,420 –> 00:22:06,199who are pouring themselves into trying47100:22:06,199 –> 00:22:08,560to live a good right life.47200:22:08,560 –> 00:22:10,900And he does not just add in another set47300:22:10,900 –> 00:22:14,500of spiritual disciplines.47400:22:14,500 –> 00:22:19,079He says come to me, and I’ll give you something.47500:22:19,079 –> 00:22:22,060It’s great to hear those words of Jesus,47600:22:22,060 –> 00:22:24,400come to me and I will give you rest47700:22:24,900 –> 00:22:27,040in Matthew chapter 11.47800:22:27,040 –> 00:22:28,599You’ve been listening to Open the Bible47900:22:28,599 –> 00:22:30,439with Pastor Colin Smith and a message48000:22:30,439 –> 00:22:32,859called Jesus will give you rest.48100:22:32,859 –> 00:22:35,160It’s the first part of our series,48200:22:35,160 –> 00:22:38,900rock solid seven promises Christ makes to you.48300:22:38,900 –> 00:22:40,920And if you ever missed one of the messages48400:22:40,920 –> 00:22:43,520in the series or indeed from our previous48500:22:43,520 –> 00:22:45,160series, you can easily catch up48600:22:45,160 –> 00:22:46,760or go back and listen again48700:22:46,760 –> 00:22:48,280they’re all available online48800:22:48,280 –> 00:22:52,560at our website openthebible.org.uk,48900:22:52,560 –> 00:22:54,280also as a podcast,49000:22:55,160 –> 00:22:56,500all the main podcasts sites carry them49100:22:56,500 –> 00:22:58,239and you can find them by searching49200:22:58,239 –> 00:23:00,880for open the Bible UK or by following49300:23:00,880 –> 00:23:02,839the link from our website.49400:23:02,839 –> 00:23:05,040Open the Bible is supported financially49500:23:05,040 –> 00:23:07,239by our listeners and we’re very grateful49600:23:07,239 –> 00:23:09,180for the support we receive49700:23:09,180 –> 00:23:11,880if that’s something you’d like to begin to do49800:23:11,880 –> 00:23:13,579this month if you’re able to begin49900:23:13,579 –> 00:23:16,640a new direct debit of five pounds per month50000:23:16,640 –> 00:23:20,300or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more50100:23:20,300 –> 00:23:21,640we’d love to say thank you50200:23:21,640 –> 00:23:24,640we will do this by sending you two copies50300:23:24,640 –> 00:23:27,099of pastor Colin’s book Christmas Stories50400:23:27,099 –> 00:23:29,880and also five beautiful christmas cards50500:23:29,880 –> 00:23:32,260based on the illustrations from the book50600:23:32,260 –> 00:23:35,140Colin what are some of the ways we can use50700:23:35,140 –> 00:23:36,439this book?50800:23:36,439 –> 00:23:38,680It’s designed really to be read with family50900:23:38,680 –> 00:23:41,219or friends at Christmas if you you picture51000:23:41,219 –> 00:23:45,180being with friends or family and someone51100:23:45,180 –> 00:23:48,140says why don’t we read one of the Christmas51200:23:48,140 –> 00:23:50,859stories and here’s a short version51300:23:50,859 –> 00:23:53,479of a Christmas Story seen through the eyes51400:23:53,479 –> 00:23:55,900of the Angel Gabriel or Mary or Joseph51500:23:55,900 –> 00:23:57,359or Simeon or Herod51600:23:57,359 –> 00:24:00,479you could read one of these easily in 10 minutes51700:24:00,479 –> 00:24:03,939and all of them get to the heart of the gospel51800:24:03,939 –> 00:24:05,160that’s what we wanted to do51900:24:05,160 –> 00:24:08,400to give people a resource that you could use52000:24:08,400 –> 00:24:10,739with your family or your friends52100:24:10,739 –> 00:24:13,599to read part of the Christmas Story52200:24:13,599 –> 00:24:15,439so that the gospel of the grace52300:24:15,439 –> 00:24:17,699of the Lord Jesus Christ will be clear52400:24:17,699 –> 00:24:19,199to your family and your friends52500:24:19,199 –> 00:24:21,699it’s very simple and it’s beautifully presented52600:24:21,699 –> 00:24:23,459the team has done a marvelous job52700:24:23,459 –> 00:24:25,859in putting these Christmas Stories together52800:24:25,859 –> 00:24:28,280We’d love to send you two copies of this book52900:24:28,280 –> 00:24:30,579along with the 5 beautiful Christmas Cards53000:24:30,579 –> 00:24:34,500if you are able to set up a new direct debit53100:24:34,500 –> 00:24:36,040to the work of Open The Bible53200:24:36,040 –> 00:24:38,540for £5 per month or more53300:24:38,540 –> 00:24:41,160or a one-off gift of £50 or more53400:24:41,160 –> 00:24:44,160Full terms and conditions are on our website53500:24:44,160 –> 00:24:46,699openthebible.org.uk53600:24:46,699 –> 00:24:48,619and you can give online53700:24:49,000 –> 00:24:51,000If you want to receive this gift53800:24:51,000 –> 00:24:53,079please don’t give anonymously53900:24:53,079 –> 00:24:57,000and do remember to leave your full name and address54000:24:57,000 –> 00:25:00,040For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith54100:25:00,040 –> 00:25:01,239I’m David Pick54200:25:01,239 –> 00:25:03,660I hope you’ll join us again next time54300:25:03,660 –> 00:25:05,199On Open The Bible54400:25:12,119 –> 00:25:15,239Are you looking for the rest that Jesus promises?54500:25:15,239 –> 00:25:17,819Find out why spiritual disciplines54600:25:17,819 –> 00:25:18,900are not the answer54700:25:18,900 –> 00:25:21,540That’s next time on Open The Bible