1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,760 Well, we come today to the last of our three-part series on the subject of enjoying God’s gift 2 00:00:08,760 –> 00:00:10,400 of rest. 3 00:00:10,400 –> 00:00:15,040 It’s a wonderful theme in the Bible, and one that we desperately need to re-discover in 4 00:00:15,040 –> 00:00:20,500 the relentless pace of life in the northwest suburbs of this great city. 5 00:00:20,500 –> 00:00:24,580 Now I want to take a few moments to review what we have learned over these last two weeks 6 00:00:24,580 –> 00:00:27,959 before we launch into our theme today. 7 00:00:28,100 –> 00:00:34,279 Remember that when the Bible is talking about rest, it is not talking about sleeping. 8 00:00:34,279 –> 00:00:39,500 For this simple reason that the Bible tells us that God rests, and we know that God neither 9 00:00:39,500 –> 00:00:41,939 slumbers nor sleeps. 10 00:00:41,939 –> 00:00:47,939 Secondly, we’ve identified that when the Bible talks about rest, it’s not talking about leisure. 11 00:00:47,939 –> 00:00:54,680 For this simple reason, as we saw last week, the Bible says the wicked can never rest, 12 00:00:54,680 –> 00:00:58,880 and obviously the wicked do enjoy leisure in different ways. 13 00:00:58,880 –> 00:01:04,180 And so whatever the Bible is speaking about when it talks about this theme of rest, it’s 14 00:01:04,180 –> 00:01:08,480 not speaking primarily about sleeping or about leisure. 15 00:01:08,480 –> 00:01:15,480 And we’ve discovered together that this rest that God enters into that the wicked can never 16 00:01:15,480 –> 00:01:23,720 enjoy, but that he does want his people to experience is all about a purpose fulfilled 17 00:01:23,879 –> 00:01:26,139 and a project completed. 18 00:01:26,139 –> 00:01:30,440 We’ve seen that pattern right from the very first page of the Bible, that God completed 19 00:01:30,440 –> 00:01:36,699 his work of creation when he had finished all that he had planned to do on the 7th day 20 00:01:36,699 –> 00:01:40,279 he entered into his rest. 21 00:01:40,279 –> 00:01:45,800 And we saw last week that the reason of course that the wicked can never enter into God’s 22 00:01:45,800 –> 00:01:52,199 rest is that they have set themselves against God, their life purpose is one of resisting 23 00:01:52,199 –> 00:01:59,300 God and therefore by definition, their life purpose can never be fulfilled, it can never 24 00:01:59,300 –> 00:02:00,779 be completed. 25 00:02:00,779 –> 00:02:09,880 There will, praise God, never be a time either in the history of this world or in all eternity 26 00:02:09,880 –> 00:02:15,479 when the wicked will be able to say we have dethroned God. 27 00:02:15,479 –> 00:02:21,059 That purpose will never be completed, that project will never be accomplished and therefore 28 00:02:21,059 –> 00:02:29,899 the hell of hell will be that for all eternity, the wicked will pursue a purpose that can 29 00:02:29,899 –> 00:02:35,539 never be fulfilled and live a project that can never be accomplished. 30 00:02:35,539 –> 00:02:41,360 That is why the Bible says there is no peace says my God for the wicked. 31 00:02:41,360 –> 00:02:45,860 Well that’s where we got to last week. 32 00:02:45,860 –> 00:02:47,759 You do not want to end your life. 33 00:02:47,759 –> 00:02:54,279 If I do not want to end my life feeling that it is an unfulfilled purpose an incomplete 34 00:02:54,279 –> 00:03:03,259 project, I cannot imagine anybody who wants to spend eternity that way. 35 00:03:03,259 –> 00:03:08,600 And so the question we’re coming to today is very simply this. 36 00:03:08,600 –> 00:03:15,839 How can you make sure that at the end of your life it is indeed a fulfilled purpose that 37 00:03:15,839 –> 00:03:24,800 you have completed your work, and with everything accomplished, you can enter into God’s eternal 38 00:03:24,800 –> 00:03:28,919 rest? 39 00:03:28,919 –> 00:03:34,160 Picture with me a man in prison. 40 00:03:34,160 –> 00:03:42,820 He knows he’s about to face a sudden and violent death by execution. 41 00:03:42,820 –> 00:03:50,139 He takes a few moments, moved by the Spirit of God, to write a letter to a young friend. 42 00:03:50,139 –> 00:03:55,179 The prisoner’s name is Paul, and the young friend’s name is Timothy. 43 00:03:55,179 –> 00:03:59,559 When he gets to the end of this letter that’s called Second Timothy, and it’s in the New 44 00:03:59,559 –> 00:04:02,220 Testament, this is what he writes. 45 00:04:03,020 –> 00:04:07,580 The time for my departure has come. 46 00:04:07,580 –> 00:04:10,979 I have fought the good fight. 47 00:04:10,979 –> 00:04:14,679 I have finished the race. 48 00:04:14,679 –> 00:04:18,000 I have kept the faith. 49 00:04:18,000 –> 00:04:23,600 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord Jesus will award 50 00:04:23,600 –> 00:04:27,799 not only to me, but all who long for his appearing. 51 00:04:28,459 –> 00:04:33,399 See, here’s a man who’s going to die. 52 00:04:33,399 –> 00:04:36,739 But he’s got rest. 53 00:04:36,739 –> 00:04:38,339 And why has he got rest? 54 00:04:38,339 –> 00:04:44,760 Because he knows that the whole of his life is a purpose fulfilled and a project completed. 55 00:04:44,760 –> 00:04:46,579 I have finished the course. 56 00:04:46,579 –> 00:04:47,720 I have kept the faith. 57 00:04:47,720 –> 00:04:49,640 I have rest. 58 00:04:49,640 –> 00:04:57,320 Because all that got purpose to do in me is being brought to completion. 59 00:04:57,339 –> 00:05:03,760 Now when I come to the end of my life, I’d love to be able to speak like that, wouldn’t 60 00:05:03,760 –> 00:05:04,760 you? 61 00:05:04,760 –> 00:05:08,119 I fulfilled my purpose. 62 00:05:08,119 –> 00:05:11,600 I completed my work. 63 00:05:11,600 –> 00:05:17,399 I’m ready to enter into God’s rest. 64 00:05:17,399 –> 00:05:18,880 Now how is that possible? 65 00:05:18,880 –> 00:05:21,619 It’s possible for one man. 66 00:05:21,619 –> 00:05:27,480 It’s possible for any man, for any woman. 67 00:05:27,480 –> 00:05:34,040 Now the Bible gives us a clear answer as to how we may live such a life that may end in 68 00:05:34,040 –> 00:05:41,799 this way and may issue in us entering into God’s rest. 69 00:05:41,799 –> 00:05:47,140 And there is never a clearer statement offered that in the verses we read from Matthew 11 70 00:05:47,179 –> 00:05:52,720 These are the verses 28 and 29, some of the most wonderful words in the whole of the Bible, 71 00:05:52,720 –> 00:05:57,040 and I hope that you’ll have the Bible open in front of you so that we can soak these 72 00:05:57,040 –> 00:06:01,640 words into the depths of our minds. 73 00:06:01,640 –> 00:06:09,820 Notice three words that Jesus uses as he speaks about this great invitation to enter and experience 74 00:06:09,820 –> 00:06:11,399 rest. 75 00:06:11,399 –> 00:06:20,260 He says come, he says take, and he says learn. 76 00:06:20,260 –> 00:06:29,359 Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 77 00:06:29,359 –> 00:06:36,179 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will 78 00:06:36,339 –> 00:06:41,679 find rest for your souls. 79 00:06:41,679 –> 00:06:50,220 Come, come, come to me Jesus says I can give you rest. 80 00:06:50,220 –> 00:06:55,799 I can make your life a fulfilled purpose, a completed project. 81 00:06:55,799 –> 00:06:58,920 I can take you there. 82 00:06:58,920 –> 00:07:05,459 I can lead you into what your soul most desires. 83 00:07:05,859 –> 00:07:14,959 Now this is obviously a highly, personal promise from Jesus and a highly personal invitation 84 00:07:14,959 –> 00:07:16,700 to you. 85 00:07:16,700 –> 00:07:22,760 Remember therefore, and this is most important, that it is Jesus who is speaking. 86 00:07:22,760 –> 00:07:27,959 I can give you this rest. 87 00:07:27,959 –> 00:07:33,359 Now he knows what he is talking about, because no one who has ever lived in human history 88 00:07:33,420 –> 00:07:41,600 was ever given a greater purpose or a harder project to complete than Jesus Christ. 89 00:07:41,600 –> 00:07:48,859 The Bible makes clear that he came into this world to seek and to save lost people. 90 00:07:48,859 –> 00:07:55,940 His purpose was to do everything necessary to reconcile sinners to God. 91 00:07:56,540 –> 00:08:01,779 His project, think about this, was to bear the consequences of human sin 92 00:08:01,779 –> 00:08:09,739 and absorb in himself all the wrath of God that came as a curse on the world 93 00:08:09,739 –> 00:08:11,760 as a result of human sinfulness. 94 00:08:11,760 –> 00:08:16,299 Imagine if you had been given that project. 95 00:08:16,299 –> 00:08:19,040 This was the purpose of Jesus Christ’s life. 96 00:08:19,040 –> 00:08:22,940 This was his project, his God-given assignment. 97 00:08:23,600 –> 00:08:32,059 And on the night before he died, we’re told in John’s gospel that he said this, 98 00:08:32,059 –> 00:08:41,760 Father, I have brought you glory on earth by completing all the work that you gave me 99 00:08:41,760 –> 00:08:43,039 to do. 100 00:08:43,039 –> 00:08:49,559 A short time after that, he was arrested, he was tried, he was condemned, and he was 101 00:08:49,559 –> 00:08:52,619 crucified. 102 00:08:52,619 –> 00:08:58,900 While he hung on the cross for 3 hours, darkness covered the land, and in that darkness, the 103 00:08:58,900 –> 00:09:06,840 Bible explains, he bore the guilt of human sin, and he absorbed the wrath of God for 104 00:09:06,840 –> 00:09:10,039 human sin into his own body. 105 00:09:10,039 –> 00:09:17,239 It was diverted away from all who believe and on to him in that darkness where he died 106 00:09:17,239 –> 00:09:20,659 on the cross. 107 00:09:20,659 –> 00:09:31,400 Then when the 3 hours of darkness were over, the Bible tells us that Jesus cried out in 108 00:09:31,400 –> 00:09:46,039 a loud voice, it is finished, finished, finished. 109 00:09:46,719 –> 00:09:54,739 Then he said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And that’s how he 110 00:09:54,739 –> 00:10:07,700 entered eternity. In his life, Jesus was given mission impossible. In his death, he 111 00:10:07,700 –> 00:10:14,419 declared mission accomplished. His purpose was fulfilled, his 112 00:10:14,500 –> 00:10:24,440 project was utterly complete, and he entered into rest. And he says, if you’ll 113 00:10:24,440 –> 00:10:28,299 come to me, I can take you there too. 114 00:10:29,400 –> 00:10:34,859 Now, the New Testament takes up this theme of rest with a wonderful picture 115 00:10:34,859 –> 00:10:39,900 as it relates to the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember that after the death and 116 00:10:39,900 –> 00:10:45,179 the resurrection of Jesus, the Bible tells us that he ascended into the 117 00:10:45,179 –> 00:10:51,539 presence of the Father in heaven. And when he ascended into the presence of 118 00:10:51,539 –> 00:10:55,059 the Father in heaven the Bible tells us that he did something very significant– 119 00:10:55,059 –> 00:11:08,299 he sat down. He sat down. When I sit down you’ll know the sermon’s over, not just 120 00:11:08,479 –> 00:11:15,960 yet. But you see the great significance of sitting down. He sat down at rest 121 00:11:15,960 –> 00:11:21,859 because the work was done. Now, if you know a little bit about the Old 122 00:11:21,859 –> 00:11:26,159 Testament, you’ll see even more significance in this. Because the priests 123 00:11:26,159 –> 00:11:30,900 in the Old Testament, who used to offer sacrifices of animals that were a 124 00:11:30,900 –> 00:11:34,960 pointer to the way in which sin would have to be dealt with– they used to 125 00:11:34,960 –> 00:11:40,000 operate in a place called the tabernacle. It was a tent-like structure, and there 126 00:11:40,000 –> 00:11:43,640 were different furnishings in there. There was a lamp, there was a basin, there 127 00:11:43,640 –> 00:11:49,460 was an altar, there was a table. But very significantly, in the tabernacle, there 128 00:11:49,460 –> 00:11:59,260 was no chair–no chair. And the reason for that was very simple. The priest’s 129 00:11:59,260 –> 00:12:04,679 work in the Old Testament was never done, and because their work was never done, 130 00:12:04,679 –> 00:12:09,679 there was never any place for them to sit down. Day after day, they had to offer 131 00:12:09,679 –> 00:12:14,880 more and more and more sacrifices. They could never get to the point where they 132 00:12:14,880 –> 00:12:19,719 said everything that is needed to be done for the forgiveness of sins and the 133 00:12:19,719 –> 00:12:23,320 reconciliation of men and women has been accomplished. There were more and more 134 00:12:23,320 –> 00:12:30,559 and more sacrifices. Day after day it went on, and there was no rest because 135 00:12:30,559 –> 00:12:37,159 the work was never done. But after Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for sins, 136 00:12:37,159 –> 00:12:44,880 Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3 tells us, he sat down and both the Old Testament 137 00:12:44,880 –> 00:12:49,559 and the New Testament, speaking about Jesus, have this wonderful statement 138 00:12:49,559 –> 00:12:56,179 that the Father says to him, sit at My right hand. Imagine the Lord Jesus 139 00:12:56,179 –> 00:13:03,020 entering into heaven and the Father says to the son sit at My right hand until I 140 00:13:03,020 –> 00:13:08,260 make all your enemies a footstool for your feet. You see what the father’s 141 00:13:08,260 –> 00:13:18,419 saying? Son, your work is finished. You can rest. Everything that is ever needed 142 00:13:18,419 –> 00:13:22,880 for a man or for a woman to be reconciled to God has been accomplished. 143 00:13:23,000 –> 00:13:28,580 Nothing needs to be added to what you have done. Now sit at my right hand 144 00:13:28,580 –> 00:13:35,479 until I place all your enemies under your feet. By the way, just a little 145 00:13:35,479 –> 00:13:41,000 aside, that’s why I’ve never found little 146 00:13:41,000 –> 00:13:48,799 figures of Jesus on the cross to be very helpful, because he’s not on the cross 147 00:13:48,799 –> 00:14:00,260 now. He’s been there. He’s done that, but He’s not on the cross now. He’s on the 148 00:14:00,260 –> 00:14:09,919 throne. He’s not in agony now. He’s entered into his rest and he says, 149 00:14:09,960 –> 00:14:20,479 come to me, and I will lead you into that, too. In other words, this risen, triumphant Lord Jesus 150 00:14:20,479 –> 00:14:26,400 Christ who has done everything necessary on the cross to bring you into a right relationship with 151 00:14:26,400 –> 00:14:32,479 God and to bring you to the completion of your life purpose and ultimately into everlasting rest. 152 00:14:32,799 –> 00:14:42,640 He says, come to me. Come to me, the risen Lord. Come with your torn, frayed, broken, 153 00:14:43,200 –> 00:14:50,640 incomplete life. Come with all your loose ends. Come just as you are, but come to me, 154 00:14:54,080 –> 00:14:56,320 and I will give you rest. 155 00:14:56,719 –> 00:15:01,599 Now notice that in this great invitation, 156 00:15:04,080 –> 00:15:05,520 he invites us to come, 157 00:15:08,239 –> 00:15:09,359 but it doesn’t end there. 158 00:15:11,039 –> 00:15:16,320 See, a lot of people who have come to believe in Jesus don’t have a whole lot of rest. 159 00:15:18,239 –> 00:15:24,080 And one of the reasons for that is that some people who’ve come to believe in Jesus 160 00:15:24,159 –> 00:15:26,400 have only read half of this verse. 161 00:15:27,679 –> 00:15:32,479 And if you only read half of this verse, you’ve only understood half of the gospel. 162 00:15:34,719 –> 00:15:36,159 Look at what Jesus says, 163 00:15:36,559 –> 00:15:37,840 COME to me, 164 00:15:39,919 –> 00:15:42,239 all you who are weary and heavy laden, 165 00:15:44,799 –> 00:15:46,159 and I will give you rest. 166 00:15:48,000 –> 00:15:50,159 But we’ve no right to cut him off, 167 00:15:50,159 –> 00:15:52,880 have we, in the middle of the flow of his statement? 168 00:15:55,039 –> 00:15:56,400 Look what he says next. 169 00:15:57,840 –> 00:16:00,239 Take my yoke upon you, 170 00:16:01,760 –> 00:16:02,719 and learn of me, 171 00:16:03,919 –> 00:16:08,479 and you will find rest for your souls. 172 00:16:10,159 –> 00:16:11,039 In other words, 173 00:16:13,280 –> 00:16:16,400 if you are going to live a life that will issue 174 00:16:16,400 –> 00:16:19,679 in a fulfilled purpose, a completed project, 175 00:16:20,559 –> 00:16:25,280 you must not only come believing in Jesus, 176 00:16:26,239 –> 00:16:28,159 but you must, he says it himself, 177 00:16:28,159 –> 00:16:31,760 be ready to take his yoke upon you. 178 00:16:33,200 –> 00:16:34,880 Now when Jesus talks about the yoke, 179 00:16:34,880 –> 00:16:36,719 he’s using a very simple picture. 180 00:16:36,719 –> 00:16:38,960 When farmers were plowing a field, 181 00:16:38,960 –> 00:16:42,000 they tied two animals together to pull the plow. 182 00:16:42,000 –> 00:16:43,200 There was a kind of harness 183 00:16:43,200 –> 00:16:44,719 that tied the two animals together. 184 00:16:45,919 –> 00:16:47,200 There was a piece of wood 185 00:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,880 that would be across the necks of the animals 186 00:16:50,880 –> 00:16:52,320 that was called the yoke. 187 00:16:52,320 –> 00:16:54,400 You can still see that in many 188 00:16:54,400 –> 00:16:56,080 third world countries today. 189 00:16:56,719 –> 00:16:59,520 The point of the yoke was to make sure of course 190 00:16:59,520 –> 00:17:01,440 that the two animals were pulling 191 00:17:01,440 –> 00:17:04,160 in the same direction together 192 00:17:04,160 –> 00:17:06,400 and that they were not pulling apart. 193 00:17:06,959 –> 00:17:09,439 Very painful thing to wear a yoke 194 00:17:09,439 –> 00:17:12,000 if you’re pulling in the opposite direction 195 00:17:12,000 –> 00:17:13,680 from the one you are yoked to. 196 00:17:14,079 –> 00:17:17,119 Now Jesus says take my yoke 197 00:17:18,959 –> 00:17:19,520 upon you. 198 00:17:21,199 –> 00:17:24,000 In other words, if you want to experience this rest, 199 00:17:24,000 –> 00:17:27,119 if you want your life to be a completed project, 200 00:17:27,119 –> 00:17:28,800 a fulfilled purpose, 201 00:17:28,800 –> 00:17:31,920 you have to pull in the direction that I’m pulling. 202 00:17:33,119 –> 00:17:36,119 You have to move in the direction that I’m going. 203 00:17:36,880 –> 00:17:38,479 Don’t pull against me. 204 00:17:39,439 –> 00:17:41,599 Give up doing your own thing. 205 00:17:41,599 –> 00:17:44,000 Give up going your own way. 206 00:17:44,000 –> 00:17:46,400 Take my yoke upon you. 207 00:17:48,560 –> 00:17:50,479 Now of course this is a marvelous picture isn’t it 208 00:17:50,479 –> 00:17:51,920 of a life of obedience, 209 00:17:52,560 –> 00:17:54,560 being yoked to Jesus. 210 00:17:56,239 –> 00:17:59,359 Jesus says if you take my yoke upon you, 211 00:17:59,359 –> 00:18:03,359 then you will find rest for your soul. 212 00:18:05,119 –> 00:18:06,959 Saying that you’re a believer 213 00:18:08,160 –> 00:18:10,319 and doing your own thing 214 00:18:11,119 –> 00:18:13,920 will never lead you into a life in which God’s 215 00:18:13,920 –> 00:18:17,199 purpose for you is completed or his project accomplished. 216 00:18:18,719 –> 00:18:20,079 Now if you question that, 217 00:18:20,079 –> 00:18:23,920 remember that the Bible itself gives us a very powerful 218 00:18:23,920 –> 00:18:25,760 story to illustrate the point. 219 00:18:27,439 –> 00:18:29,680 Remember back in the Old Testament that 220 00:18:29,680 –> 00:18:31,920 God’s people were slaves in Egypt. 221 00:18:32,800 –> 00:18:34,640 Now think about that word slaves. 222 00:18:34,640 –> 00:18:37,199 Slaves certainly have no rest. 223 00:18:38,160 –> 00:18:39,520 Seven days a week, 224 00:18:39,520 –> 00:18:42,880 slaves, no sabbath, no rest. 225 00:18:44,319 –> 00:18:46,239 But God brought them out of that and brought 226 00:18:46,239 –> 00:18:50,959 them to Sinai, where God’s presence came down. 227 00:18:51,920 –> 00:18:54,160 God promised to give them a land 228 00:18:54,160 –> 00:18:55,839 where they would enjoy rest. 229 00:18:55,839 –> 00:18:58,560 He said, go and take possession of this land, 230 00:18:58,560 –> 00:18:59,599 the land of Canaan. 231 00:18:59,599 –> 00:19:00,640 That was God’s purpose. 232 00:19:00,640 –> 00:19:02,000 That was God’s project, 233 00:19:02,000 –> 00:19:05,199 and they were in obedience to become those 234 00:19:05,199 –> 00:19:08,479 who brought about God’s purpose in the world, 235 00:19:10,160 –> 00:19:10,560 however, 236 00:19:10,560 –> 00:19:12,640 when they got to the borders of Canaan, 237 00:19:12,640 –> 00:19:13,839 many of you know the story. 238 00:19:13,839 –> 00:19:16,239 Well, they sent out spies and the spies came 239 00:19:16,239 –> 00:19:18,319 back with a gloomy report saying that 240 00:19:18,319 –> 00:19:20,000 what God had called them to do was going to be 241 00:19:20,000 –> 00:19:22,000 much more difficult and much more costly 242 00:19:22,000 –> 00:19:23,439 than had been previously thought. 243 00:19:24,400 –> 00:19:27,520 So instead of being obedient to God’s command, 244 00:19:27,520 –> 00:19:29,359 they turned back into the desert. 245 00:19:30,239 –> 00:19:32,560 And the Bible tells us in Hebrews 3, 246 00:19:32,560 –> 00:19:35,359 and verse 11, that God was angry with them 247 00:19:35,359 –> 00:19:38,800 because of that disobedience and said they 248 00:19:38,800 –> 00:19:41,839 will never enter my rest. 249 00:19:43,760 –> 00:19:46,880 So here we have people who come to Mount Sinai 250 00:19:48,640 –> 00:19:52,000 but they’re not ready to take the yoke of obedience 251 00:19:52,000 –> 00:19:53,760 to what God calls them to do. 252 00:19:55,520 –> 00:19:57,280 They want God’s blessing. 253 00:19:58,479 –> 00:20:00,640 But they’re not ready for the yoke 254 00:20:00,640 –> 00:20:02,319 of costly obedience. 255 00:20:04,319 –> 00:20:05,680 Now, let’s pause for a moment. 256 00:20:05,680 –> 00:20:06,319 Is that you? 257 00:20:06,479 –> 00:20:09,839 See, there are lots of people in America today 258 00:20:11,280 –> 00:20:13,920 who want God’s blessing. 259 00:20:15,680 –> 00:20:17,760 God bless America. 260 00:20:20,400 –> 00:20:23,760 But there are many people who want God’s blessing 261 00:20:25,280 –> 00:20:28,719 and are not ready to take the yoke 262 00:20:28,719 –> 00:20:30,400 of obedience to Christ. 263 00:20:32,000 –> 00:20:33,520 God bless America, 264 00:20:34,319 –> 00:20:35,680 God bless America, 265 00:20:36,479 –> 00:20:38,239 and let me do my own thing. 266 00:20:44,160 –> 00:20:46,079 Now if that’s where you are, 267 00:20:46,079 –> 00:20:47,760 you need to know what happens 268 00:20:47,760 –> 00:20:49,680 to a generation of people like that. 269 00:20:52,959 –> 00:20:56,560 These folks who came to God in that way 270 00:20:58,239 –> 00:21:00,400 spent the rest of their lives 271 00:21:00,400 –> 00:21:03,199 wandering for 40 years in the desert 272 00:21:03,199 –> 00:21:05,439 and contributed nothing to advancing 273 00:21:05,439 –> 00:21:06,880 the purpose of God for the world. 274 00:21:08,800 –> 00:21:09,920 They died in the desert, 275 00:21:11,599 –> 00:21:12,959 and their lives were 276 00:21:12,959 –> 00:21:15,839 an unfulfilled purpose, 277 00:21:17,599 –> 00:21:19,760 an incomplete project. 278 00:21:21,280 –> 00:21:22,800 They never entered God’s rest. 279 00:21:25,599 –> 00:21:27,439 So let’s establish this clearly 280 00:21:27,439 –> 00:21:28,800 from the teaching of Jesus 281 00:21:28,800 –> 00:21:30,479 and from the pattern of Scripture 282 00:21:30,479 –> 00:21:31,599 in our minds, 283 00:21:31,680 –> 00:21:33,119 a person who wants 284 00:21:33,119 –> 00:21:34,640 the blessing of God 285 00:21:34,640 –> 00:21:35,599 but will not take 286 00:21:35,599 –> 00:21:37,119 the yoke of Christ, 287 00:21:37,119 –> 00:21:39,599 will never enter God’s rest. 288 00:21:41,280 –> 00:21:43,040 Take my yoke upon you 289 00:21:43,040 –> 00:21:44,560 and learn of me, 290 00:21:44,560 –> 00:21:46,239 and you will find rest 291 00:21:46,800 –> 00:21:47,680 for your souls. 292 00:21:49,359 –> 00:21:50,239 Now, if you doubt the 293 00:21:50,239 –> 00:21:51,280 importance of this, 294 00:21:51,280 –> 00:21:52,560 read Hebrews chapter 3 295 00:21:52,560 –> 00:21:53,680 and chapter 4, 296 00:21:53,680 –> 00:21:54,719 because the writer to 297 00:21:54,719 –> 00:21:55,839 the Hebrews takes up 298 00:21:55,839 –> 00:21:57,119 this whole story 299 00:21:57,119 –> 00:21:58,000 of those who wanted 300 00:21:58,000 –> 00:21:58,800 the blessing of God 301 00:21:58,800 –> 00:21:59,439 but wouldn’t take 302 00:21:59,439 –> 00:22:00,400 the yoke of obedience 303 00:22:00,400 –> 00:22:01,040 and never entered 304 00:22:01,040 –> 00:22:01,920 into His rest, 305 00:22:01,920 –> 00:22:03,199 and applies it to 306 00:22:03,199 –> 00:22:04,800 the Christian church 307 00:22:04,800 –> 00:22:06,560 and says this is a danger 308 00:22:06,560 –> 00:22:07,520 for some who gather 309 00:22:07,520 –> 00:22:08,319 to worship God 310 00:22:08,319 –> 00:22:09,280 on Sunday mornings. 311 00:22:10,800 –> 00:22:12,000 Hebrews 3, 12. 312 00:22:13,359 –> 00:22:14,400 See to it, brothers, 313 00:22:14,400 –> 00:22:15,280 that none of you 314 00:22:16,239 –> 00:22:16,959 has a sinful, 315 00:22:16,959 –> 00:22:17,920 unbelieving heart 316 00:22:17,920 –> 00:22:18,640 that turns away 317 00:22:18,640 –> 00:22:19,520 from the Living God. 318 00:22:20,479 –> 00:22:21,920 Hebrews 3, 14. 319 00:22:21,920 –> 00:22:22,959 We’ve come to share 320 00:22:22,959 –> 00:22:24,239 in Christ if 321 00:22:25,199 –> 00:22:26,239 we hold firmly 322 00:22:26,239 –> 00:22:27,599 to the end the confidence 323 00:22:27,599 –> 00:22:28,640 that we did it first. 324 00:22:29,520 –> 00:22:31,119 See, I know people who 325 00:22:32,079 –> 00:22:33,280 at one time made 326 00:22:33,280 –> 00:22:34,880 a decision for Jesus 327 00:22:36,719 –> 00:22:37,599 and then wandered off 328 00:22:37,599 –> 00:22:38,560 the rest of their lives 329 00:22:38,560 –> 00:22:39,520 to do their own thing. 330 00:22:41,520 –> 00:22:42,880 The Bible is making it clear. 331 00:22:42,880 –> 00:22:44,239 You will not enter 332 00:22:44,239 –> 00:22:46,000 into God’s rest that way. 333 00:22:48,160 –> 00:22:50,160 God’s purpose for your life 334 00:22:51,199 –> 00:22:52,640 is to be fulfilled. 335 00:22:52,640 –> 00:22:54,880 The project is to be completed. 336 00:22:54,880 –> 00:22:55,599 And Jesus says 337 00:22:55,599 –> 00:22:56,719 if that’s to happen, 338 00:22:57,280 –> 00:22:58,800 you have to come to Me 339 00:22:59,680 –> 00:23:01,520 and you have to take the yoke. 340 00:23:03,439 –> 00:23:04,239 That’s why the writer 341 00:23:04,239 –> 00:23:05,280 to the Hebrews can say 342 00:23:05,280 –> 00:23:06,880 in chapter 4, in verse 11, 343 00:23:07,599 –> 00:23:09,599 make every effort 344 00:23:10,640 –> 00:23:12,400 to enter into that rest 345 00:23:12,400 –> 00:23:14,239 so that no one will fall 346 00:23:14,800 –> 00:23:16,079 by following their 347 00:23:16,079 –> 00:23:17,280 example of disobedience. 348 00:23:17,280 –> 00:23:17,839 He’s talking about 349 00:23:17,839 –> 00:23:19,119 the generation in the desert. 350 00:23:21,199 –> 00:23:21,680 Some of you might 351 00:23:21,680 –> 00:23:22,400 be getting nervous 352 00:23:22,400 –> 00:23:23,119 at this point and say, 353 00:23:23,119 –> 00:23:23,839 wait a minute, 354 00:23:23,839 –> 00:23:26,079 is this salvation by works 355 00:23:26,640 –> 00:23:28,640 No, of course not. 356 00:23:29,199 –> 00:23:31,439 Salvation is by grace 357 00:23:31,439 –> 00:23:32,959 through faith alone. 358 00:23:32,959 –> 00:23:33,760 But listen, 359 00:23:33,760 –> 00:23:35,119 the Bible everywhere 360 00:23:35,119 –> 00:23:36,160 makes clear 361 00:23:36,160 –> 00:23:39,359 that where true faith exists, 362 00:23:39,920 –> 00:23:44,719 it shows itself in obedience. 363 00:23:45,760 –> 00:23:46,640 And that’s what Jesus 364 00:23:46,640 –> 00:23:47,680 brings together, 365 00:23:47,680 –> 00:23:48,479 come to me. 366 00:23:50,319 –> 00:23:51,520 Take my yoke upon you. 367 00:23:53,680 –> 00:23:55,280 That’s the way to a life 368 00:23:55,280 –> 00:23:56,319 that fulfills 369 00:23:56,319 –> 00:23:57,680 the purpose of God for you, 370 00:23:57,680 –> 00:23:58,560 that ends up being 371 00:23:58,560 –> 00:23:59,760 a completed project 372 00:23:59,760 –> 00:24:00,800 and enters into 373 00:24:01,439 –> 00:24:02,479 God’s holy rest. 374 00:24:05,040 –> 00:24:06,319 And the marvelous thing, of course, 375 00:24:06,319 –> 00:24:07,439 is that when you 376 00:24:07,439 –> 00:24:09,280 yoke yourself to Christ, 377 00:24:13,040 –> 00:24:13,920 it’s not just you 378 00:24:13,920 –> 00:24:15,040 that pools with Him, 379 00:24:16,319 –> 00:24:18,239 but He pools with you. 380 00:24:18,239 –> 00:24:19,520 Think of the blessing of that. 381 00:24:20,400 –> 00:24:22,479 Christ pulling with you 382 00:24:22,479 –> 00:24:23,280 in your worry. 383 00:24:23,760 –> 00:24:27,040 Christ pulling with you 384 00:24:27,040 –> 00:24:28,160 in your job search. 385 00:24:29,680 –> 00:24:31,920 Christ pulling with you 386 00:24:31,920 –> 00:24:33,040 in that conflict 387 00:24:33,040 –> 00:24:34,959 you’re not sure how to resolve. 388 00:24:34,959 –> 00:24:36,880 Christ pulling with you 389 00:24:36,880 –> 00:24:38,400 in everything that you face. 390 00:24:40,640 –> 00:24:41,520 That’s why He says, 391 00:24:41,520 –> 00:24:42,560 my yoke is easy 392 00:24:44,079 –> 00:24:45,599 and my burden is light. 393 00:24:47,920 –> 00:24:49,199 All you may find the challenge 394 00:24:49,199 –> 00:24:50,719 of giving up your own agenda 395 00:24:50,719 –> 00:24:52,319 and joking yourself to Christ, 396 00:24:52,319 –> 00:24:54,479 becoming as it were a slave of Christ, 397 00:24:54,479 –> 00:24:56,719 to be something that you shrink from at first, 398 00:24:56,719 –> 00:24:58,479 but when you see who it is 399 00:24:58,479 –> 00:24:59,599 you’re yoked to, 400 00:24:59,599 –> 00:25:02,000 it becomes the greatest privilege of life. 401 00:25:04,640 –> 00:25:05,760 Your life will be lived 402 00:25:05,760 –> 00:25:07,359 in partnership with me, 403 00:25:07,359 –> 00:25:09,839 the one who has entered into my rest 404 00:25:09,839 –> 00:25:11,439 and that is precisely where 405 00:25:11,439 –> 00:25:12,560 I will take you. 406 00:25:15,119 –> 00:25:16,079 And so I ask, 407 00:25:16,079 –> 00:25:17,119 not simply have you come 408 00:25:17,119 –> 00:25:18,319 to believe in Jesus, 409 00:25:20,239 –> 00:25:21,280 but I ask this morning, 410 00:25:21,280 –> 00:25:22,719 have you come to the place 411 00:25:22,719 –> 00:25:26,160 of pledging your unconditional 412 00:25:26,160 –> 00:25:27,680 allegiance to Christ? 413 00:25:29,280 –> 00:25:30,800 Rather like a vow of marriage, 414 00:25:32,079 –> 00:25:33,920 an exclusive commitment 415 00:25:33,920 –> 00:25:36,560 that begins a new way of life 416 00:25:36,560 –> 00:25:39,359 that revolves around another person. 417 00:25:41,119 –> 00:25:41,680 Come. 418 00:25:43,680 –> 00:25:44,160 Take. 419 00:25:47,040 –> 00:25:47,760 And then you’ll notice 420 00:25:47,760 –> 00:25:48,640 that there’s one more thing 421 00:25:48,640 –> 00:25:50,079 that Jesus says to us here. 422 00:25:51,599 –> 00:25:53,520 Take my yoke upon you 423 00:25:54,719 –> 00:25:57,199 and learn of me. 424 00:25:58,479 –> 00:25:59,439 Take my yoke 425 00:26:00,479 –> 00:26:02,079 and learn of me 426 00:26:03,359 –> 00:26:05,359 and you will find rest 427 00:26:06,560 –> 00:26:07,439 for your souls. 428 00:26:08,959 –> 00:26:10,959 You see, Jesus is making it very clear 429 00:26:10,959 –> 00:26:12,880 that to become a Christian, 430 00:26:14,160 –> 00:26:15,680 to live a life that will enter 431 00:26:15,680 –> 00:26:17,439 into this completion of purpose 432 00:26:17,439 –> 00:26:19,359 and will issue in God’s rest, 433 00:26:19,359 –> 00:26:20,560 it involves learning 434 00:26:20,560 –> 00:26:22,319 a whole new way of life. 435 00:26:22,319 –> 00:26:25,439 It involves a whole new set of values. 436 00:26:27,280 –> 00:26:28,400 Now, there’s a great emphasis, 437 00:26:28,400 –> 00:26:29,920 isn’t there, in our culture today 438 00:26:29,920 –> 00:26:33,680 on defining your own values. 439 00:26:33,680 –> 00:26:34,880 What are your values? 440 00:26:37,680 –> 00:26:40,079 Determining your own lifestyle. 441 00:26:40,079 –> 00:26:41,839 What is your lifestyle? 442 00:26:44,079 –> 00:26:45,119 And Jesus is saying, 443 00:26:45,119 –> 00:26:46,800 if you really want your life 444 00:26:46,800 –> 00:26:48,160 to be a fulfilled purpose, 445 00:26:48,160 –> 00:26:49,280 a completed project, 446 00:26:49,280 –> 00:26:51,520 you need to learn my values 447 00:26:52,719 –> 00:26:53,439 and you’re going to need 448 00:26:53,439 –> 00:26:55,680 to follow my lifestyle. 449 00:26:57,439 –> 00:26:58,400 If you’re going to enter 450 00:26:58,400 –> 00:26:59,599 into my rest, 451 00:27:01,119 –> 00:27:02,560 you need to become 452 00:27:02,560 –> 00:27:03,920 my student. 453 00:27:04,640 –> 00:27:05,520 Learn of me. 454 00:27:06,880 –> 00:27:08,560 You need to have me 455 00:27:08,560 –> 00:27:09,920 as your teacher 456 00:27:11,040 –> 00:27:12,479 and place yourself 457 00:27:12,479 –> 00:27:14,800 in the position of a learner 458 00:27:15,680 –> 00:27:17,680 who will live life patterned 459 00:27:18,640 –> 00:27:19,680 after my teaching. 460 00:27:24,560 –> 00:27:25,520 Over the summer 461 00:27:26,959 –> 00:27:28,479 I have been struggling 462 00:27:29,599 –> 00:27:34,160 with a major psychological trauma 463 00:27:34,160 –> 00:27:35,199 on the tennis court. 464 00:27:37,680 –> 00:27:38,800 For the first time 465 00:27:38,800 –> 00:27:40,000 I have been beaten 466 00:27:40,000 –> 00:27:42,719 consistently and comprehensively 467 00:27:43,599 –> 00:27:45,920 by my 15 year old son. 468 00:27:47,760 –> 00:27:49,040 I’ve always loved tennis. 469 00:27:49,680 –> 00:27:52,160 I’ve never had any lessons. 470 00:27:53,199 –> 00:27:56,000 I can hit the ball hard and straight 471 00:27:56,000 –> 00:27:56,959 but that’s about it. 472 00:27:58,800 –> 00:28:00,400 David has been in tennis lessons 473 00:28:00,400 –> 00:28:01,599 for the last five years. 474 00:28:02,880 –> 00:28:05,680 Now he has a spin serve, 475 00:28:06,239 –> 00:28:07,040 a drop volley, 476 00:28:07,680 –> 00:28:09,199 a top spin lob, 477 00:28:09,199 –> 00:28:10,560 a cross court drive 478 00:28:11,359 –> 00:28:12,880 and I’m still hitting the ball 479 00:28:12,880 –> 00:28:14,000 hard and straight. 480 00:28:14,640 –> 00:28:16,239 Nobody, I promise you, 481 00:28:16,239 –> 00:28:17,839 could ever question 482 00:28:17,839 –> 00:28:19,680 my passion or commitment. 483 00:28:20,800 –> 00:28:23,119 Thundering up and down the court 484 00:28:23,119 –> 00:28:24,239 with loud grunts 485 00:28:24,239 –> 00:28:25,439 and a face that turns 486 00:28:25,439 –> 00:28:27,119 a strange shade of purple. 487 00:28:28,239 –> 00:28:29,920 Every time I go out to play 488 00:28:29,920 –> 00:28:30,640 my wife says, 489 00:28:30,640 –> 00:28:32,719 now don’t kill yourself, dear. 490 00:28:35,439 –> 00:28:37,599 I think the sight of this middle-aged guy 491 00:28:37,599 –> 00:28:38,959 thundering around a tennis court 492 00:28:38,959 –> 00:28:40,479 being beaten into the ground 493 00:28:40,479 –> 00:28:41,439 by a 15-year-old 494 00:28:41,439 –> 00:28:42,880 who has hardly broken some bones 495 00:28:42,880 –> 00:28:44,319 by a 17-year-old who has hardly broken sweat 496 00:28:44,319 –> 00:28:45,680 must look faintly ridiculous. 497 00:28:48,560 –> 00:28:51,280 See, passion and commitment 498 00:28:51,280 –> 00:28:53,599 can take you to a certain point, 499 00:28:55,520 –> 00:28:58,479 but winning takes more than commitment. 500 00:28:58,479 –> 00:29:00,880 It also takes skill. 501 00:29:05,839 –> 00:29:07,680 My problem on the tennis court 502 00:29:07,680 –> 00:29:09,280 certainly does not lie 503 00:29:09,280 –> 00:29:10,640 in the area of commitment. 504 00:29:10,640 –> 00:29:12,160 The issue is skill, 505 00:29:12,160 –> 00:29:14,400 I never had a teacher. 506 00:29:17,040 –> 00:29:19,439 I never learned properly 507 00:29:20,319 –> 00:29:22,079 from someone other than myself. 508 00:29:25,199 –> 00:29:27,359 Now Jesus is saying to us, 509 00:29:27,359 –> 00:29:29,760 I can give you rest, 510 00:29:31,439 –> 00:29:33,119 but here’s how it’s going to happen, 511 00:29:33,119 –> 00:29:35,040 you need not only to come to me 512 00:29:35,040 –> 00:29:35,760 believing, 513 00:29:35,760 –> 00:29:38,079 you need not only to take my yoke upon you 514 00:29:38,079 –> 00:29:41,439 in a commitment of sold-out obedience, 515 00:29:41,439 –> 00:29:43,680 but you also need something else. 516 00:29:43,680 –> 00:29:47,040 You need to learn from me. 517 00:29:47,040 –> 00:29:48,160 You need the lessons, 518 00:29:49,199 –> 00:29:50,319 you need the teacher. 519 00:29:51,760 –> 00:29:54,479 You need to discover the life skills, 520 00:29:54,479 –> 00:29:56,000 that’s actually a good translation 521 00:29:56,000 –> 00:29:57,839 of the bible’s word, Wisdom, 522 00:29:59,599 –> 00:30:01,760 for knowing how to be a disciple of Jesus 523 00:30:01,760 –> 00:30:02,479 in this world. 524 00:30:03,599 –> 00:30:05,199 And notice what Jesus is saying, 525 00:30:05,199 –> 00:30:06,719 I will be your teacher 526 00:30:06,719 –> 00:30:08,319 you can learn of me. 527 00:30:08,800 –> 00:30:10,640 But you do have to humble yourself 528 00:30:10,640 –> 00:30:12,640 and get away from the cultural norm 529 00:30:12,640 –> 00:30:15,439 of my values, my lifestyle and say, 530 00:30:15,439 –> 00:30:18,880 no, my position is that I’m a student of Jesus 531 00:30:18,880 –> 00:30:20,560 and he’s my teacher. 532 00:30:22,479 –> 00:30:25,359 It’s probably one of the most neglected aspects 533 00:30:25,359 –> 00:30:28,000 of the gospel in evangelical churches. 534 00:30:28,000 –> 00:30:31,280 A total response to Jesus Christ 535 00:30:32,479 –> 00:30:35,280 means that you come to him as your savior, 536 00:30:35,839 –> 00:30:39,760 that you yoke yourself to him as your master 537 00:30:40,560 –> 00:30:44,640 and that you learn from him as your teacher, 538 00:30:46,400 –> 00:30:48,479 that you quit the arrogance that says, 539 00:30:48,479 –> 00:30:49,839 I know how to live life 540 00:30:51,599 –> 00:30:53,119 and you come to him as a student 541 00:30:54,800 –> 00:30:56,160 and you say, Lord Jesus, 542 00:30:57,119 –> 00:31:03,680 I need to sit in your class of lifelong learning, 543 00:31:03,760 –> 00:31:05,760 lifelong learning. 544 00:31:07,199 –> 00:31:09,040 That’s why we have the scriptures. 545 00:31:10,719 –> 00:31:12,239 That’s why we build all that we do 546 00:31:12,239 –> 00:31:13,839 in this church around the Bible. 547 00:31:15,760 –> 00:31:17,280 That’s why God gives us the gift 548 00:31:17,280 –> 00:31:18,640 of the holy spiit 549 00:31:18,640 –> 00:31:22,000 so that we can learn to do life 550 00:31:22,000 –> 00:31:23,439 as Jesus did it. 551 00:31:26,079 –> 00:31:27,040 And if you do that, 552 00:31:27,040 –> 00:31:29,199 Jesus says your life will be a completed purpose 553 00:31:29,199 –> 00:31:30,560 and it will be a finished project 554 00:31:30,560 –> 00:31:31,680 and I will give you rest. 555 00:31:33,680 –> 00:31:38,400 And you know, 556 00:31:38,400 –> 00:31:40,239 some of us have come to believe in Jesus 557 00:31:40,239 –> 00:31:42,319 and some of us have made a strong commitment, 558 00:31:42,319 –> 00:31:44,479 but some of us have not learned much. 559 00:31:47,280 –> 00:31:51,599 And that’s why you never grow. 560 00:31:51,760 –> 00:31:53,520 Like my rather clumsy efforts 561 00:31:53,520 –> 00:31:54,479 on the tennis court. 562 00:31:54,479 –> 00:31:56,239 You’ve got bags of commitment 563 00:31:57,760 –> 00:31:58,800 but not much skill. 564 00:32:00,239 –> 00:32:01,680 Jesus comes to you and he says 565 00:32:01,680 –> 00:32:03,119 you got to learn from me. 566 00:32:04,599 –> 00:32:07,359 You’ve got to learn what I can teach you 567 00:32:07,359 –> 00:32:08,479 about living in this world 568 00:32:08,479 –> 00:32:10,160 where you have anxieties and troubles, 569 00:32:11,280 –> 00:32:12,160 where you have fears. 570 00:32:13,520 –> 00:32:16,239 Let me be your teacher 571 00:32:16,239 –> 00:32:17,439 to take you through this, 572 00:32:17,439 –> 00:32:19,839 this is the life-long learning 573 00:32:19,839 –> 00:32:21,199 of a Christian disciple. 574 00:32:24,400 –> 00:32:26,719 Josh McDowell has written a very important book 575 00:32:27,520 –> 00:32:29,839 entitled Beyond Beliefs. 576 00:32:30,479 –> 00:32:32,239 He says that one of the major crises 577 00:32:32,239 –> 00:32:33,439 of the church in our time 578 00:32:33,439 –> 00:32:35,680 is that many people hold beliefs 579 00:32:35,680 –> 00:32:37,680 that do not make any practical difference 580 00:32:37,680 –> 00:32:38,560 to their lives. 581 00:32:40,319 –> 00:32:42,719 He points out that when churches have interviews 582 00:32:42,719 –> 00:32:44,560 as we and most other churches would do 583 00:32:44,560 –> 00:32:46,079 for people coming into membership, 584 00:32:46,079 –> 00:32:47,119 for example, 585 00:32:47,119 –> 00:32:49,359 we often ask questions like this, 586 00:32:49,359 –> 00:32:51,280 do you believe in Jesus Christ? 587 00:32:51,280 –> 00:32:52,800 Do you believe in the resurrection? 588 00:32:55,040 –> 00:32:57,199 He says a much better question to ask 589 00:32:57,199 –> 00:32:57,920 would be this, 590 00:32:57,920 –> 00:33:05,520 what difference has your belief in Jesus 591 00:33:05,520 –> 00:33:06,959 made to your working life? 592 00:33:09,599 –> 00:33:13,040 What difference has the conviction 593 00:33:13,040 –> 00:33:14,079 that God loves you 594 00:33:15,280 –> 00:33:16,719 made to your attitudes 595 00:33:16,719 –> 00:33:18,319 to other students at school? 596 00:33:21,119 –> 00:33:22,560 What difference has your belief 597 00:33:22,560 –> 00:33:23,920 that God is sovereign 598 00:33:25,760 –> 00:33:26,880 made to your approach 599 00:33:26,880 –> 00:33:27,839 to the things that worry? 600 00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:31,439 You see, 601 00:33:31,439 –> 00:33:33,199 there’s so much to learn! 602 00:33:35,680 –> 00:33:36,479 And Jesus says, 603 00:33:37,439 –> 00:33:40,079 will you let me be your teacher? 604 00:33:44,959 –> 00:33:46,959 God wants you 605 00:33:48,800 –> 00:33:49,920 to enter his rest. 606 00:33:52,719 –> 00:33:53,760 God wants you, 607 00:33:53,760 –> 00:33:55,439 at the end of your life, 608 00:33:55,439 –> 00:33:56,719 to know that it is 609 00:33:56,719 –> 00:33:59,040 a completed project, 610 00:33:59,040 –> 00:34:00,400 a fulfilled purpose. 611 00:34:02,560 –> 00:34:04,959 And He’s set that in your heart, too. 612 00:34:07,520 –> 00:34:08,159 And Jesus says, 613 00:34:08,159 –> 00:34:09,280 I can take you there. 614 00:34:11,040 –> 00:34:12,560 And this is what it will look like. 615 00:34:14,320 –> 00:34:16,000 It’s uniquely my gift, 616 00:34:16,000 –> 00:34:17,840 so you must come to me. 617 00:34:19,040 –> 00:34:20,719 You’re not going to get this anywhere else. 618 00:34:22,879 –> 00:34:24,560 And as you come to me believing, 619 00:34:24,560 –> 00:34:26,239 you have to take the yoke 620 00:34:26,239 –> 00:34:29,679 of unconditional commitment to obedience upon you. 621 00:34:30,719 –> 00:34:31,840 That’s what it looks like. 622 00:34:34,719 –> 00:34:36,800 You have to get off the self-confidence 623 00:34:36,800 –> 00:34:39,040 that says I know how to do life my way 624 00:34:40,159 –> 00:34:41,760 and enroll as a student 625 00:34:42,959 –> 00:34:46,639 in my lifelong school of learning. 626 00:34:47,919 –> 00:34:51,040 But if you will come take and learn, 627 00:34:52,959 –> 00:34:55,280 I will give you rest, 628 00:34:57,120 –> 00:35:02,320 you will find rest for your soul. 629 00:35:04,000 –> 00:35:05,199 Let’s pray together, shall we. 630 00:35:09,199 –> 00:35:11,840 And in this moment, before we sing a final song, 631 00:35:14,399 –> 00:35:17,439 will you make that total response to Jesus Christ 632 00:35:17,439 –> 00:35:23,919 of one who comes, takes, and learns? 633 00:35:24,239 –> 00:35:30,560 We come to you today, Lord Jesus, with the frayed and tattered edges of our lives, 634 00:35:32,000 –> 00:35:37,439 with our unfinished business, with our loose ends, 635 00:35:38,959 –> 00:35:43,760 our disappointed hopes, and our shattered dreams, 636 00:35:43,760 –> 00:35:46,159 with all that which is ours. 637 00:35:46,320 –> 00:35:53,959 that which is ours, and just as we are we come to you. 638 00:36:00,959 –> 00:36:02,479 We take your yoke. 639 00:36:04,479 –> 00:36:10,479 We cannot imagine that our way of doing things in any circumstance could be better than yours. 640 00:36:12,639 –> 00:36:14,639 And so we give up our own agenda. 641 00:36:17,120 –> 00:36:23,919 And we say, Lord, from this day, we look to you not only as Savior but bow before you as Master. 642 00:36:28,320 –> 00:36:31,840 Our commitment is to unconditional obedience to you, 643 00:36:34,560 –> 00:36:38,320 that whatever you say we will do it. 644 00:36:43,840 –> 00:36:45,919 Lord, we humble ourselves before you today 645 00:36:46,399 –> 00:36:49,439 humble and gentle of heart. We are naturally arrogant 646 00:36:49,439 –> 00:36:55,120 and hard of heart. So we humble ourselves. 647 00:36:57,840 –> 00:37:03,760 We would, as it were, enroll ourselves today in your lifelong School of Learning 648 00:37:04,719 –> 00:37:11,199 to become your students, to admit that we need you as our teacher for every 649 00:37:11,199 –> 00:37:14,239 circumstance of life that we face in this coming week. 650 00:37:16,159 –> 00:37:20,399 We thank you that you’re patient, that you’re gentle, that you lead us, that we grow, 651 00:37:20,399 –> 00:37:27,120 that we develop in the skills of living life that honor God. But to this path, 652 00:37:27,840 –> 00:37:32,080 to this curriculum, we commit ourselves from this day. 653 00:37:34,080 –> 00:37:40,399 Bless the times that we will set aside in this place from week to week. 654 00:37:41,520 –> 00:37:42,479 To learn of you. 655 00:37:44,959 –> 00:37:49,760 Meet with us in the times day by day in our own homes where we open the Bible, 656 00:37:50,639 –> 00:37:56,800 not to come and criticize your word, but to let it be our judge and to let you be our teacher 657 00:37:56,800 –> 00:38:06,399 through it. Let it be that in this season that lies ahead of us there may be spiritual growth 658 00:38:06,399 –> 00:38:15,919 among us in unprecedented ways and that we may grow in that life that will lead to the fulfillment 659 00:38:15,919 –> 00:38:26,560 of purpose, that will usher us into your rest through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus 660 00:38:27,360 –> 00:38:35,199 Christ. Thank you that in this broken world your invitation is extended to every person 661 00:38:36,560 –> 00:38:46,080 in every age group and every circumstance of life and today we grasp that invitation 662 00:38:46,080 –> 00:39:02,719 responding with faith, commitment and humility through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.