Title: Rest Unto Your Souls
Text: Matthew 11: 25-30
Date: January 9, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
The Lord Jesus Christ promises, Matthew 11:28: Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
At that time…the Lord Jesus had just been speaking to the multitude about John, and the excellency of his ministry, saying, how he himself, as well as John, was rejected and spoken against by the Pharisees and scribes, yet received by publicans and sinners.
Matthew 11: 16: But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17: And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
John and the Lord Jesus had one and the same message: "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." But the wise and prudent rejected John and the Lord Jesus--they could not be taught anything because they knew everything. Though the gospel call came to them, they excused themselves from bowing to the truth by finding fault with the messengers.
Matthew 11: 18: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19: The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.
B. But wisdom is justified of her children.
1. It pleased Wisdom--God All Wise--to confound the wise and prudent by choosing base things and things despised--that no flesh should glory in his presence.
· 1 Corinthians 1:21-31
2. Wisdom is justified of her children--the Lord said of John the Baptist--
Luke 7: 28: For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
3. At that time--The disciples came back and they justified Wisdom--rejoicing in the power of Christ's name.
4. At that time…Wisdom justified Wisdom--after upbraiding the cities for their hard hearts of unbelief…
Matthew 11: 25: At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Christ our Wisdom--justifying, rejoicing in his All-Wise Father
1. For choosing whom he would and giving them to Christ
2. For having mercy on whom he will by revealing Christ in them through the gospel
3. And for hiding the revelation of Christ from those wise and prudent in their own eyes
4. And he says--even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. This is the spirit of every child born of the Spirit of God--even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight
Application: It is our sinful nature to be impressed with the jewels of Babylon the harlot. Let us never be discouraged but rejoice with Christ--even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight
Matthew 11: 27: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: In his deity, the Son of God had nothing delivered unto him. But as Christ the Mediator all things are delivered unto him of the Father--ALL THINGS. 27: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
The Lord Jesus just thanked the Father, saying,--THOU hast revealed these things unto babes. When through the Holy Spirit, the Father reveals the Son in you, the Son reveals the Father.
· The fullness of the Godhead bodily--
· The express image of the Father--
· The glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
· The Son declares God just and the justifier of all who believe
·
Colossians 1: 14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
NOW WE COME TO THE PROMISE OF REST FOR YOUR SOULS
Matthew 11: 28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
WHAT IS IT TO COME TO CHRIST
It is to believe on Christ.
It is to come to Christ by faith in the heart
To never stop coming to Christ for everything
ALL THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN
Are you laboring to seek salvation by the righteousness of your works. That is a heavy load that will crush you forever.
Galatians 3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: 14: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Come to Christ--he promises, "I will give you rest".
Are you a believer, who is tempted of the devil, struggling against sin, or unbelief? Are the cares of this world weighing heavy on you? Come to Christ--he promises to give you "rest".
Hebrews 2: 18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted
Application: The way this message came about: I found myself laboring with a very heavy load--seeking the message for you. This verse came to mind--I came to Christ--asked him to refresh my soul. I really felt the burden lifted from off me. My soul began to be revived--to find rest.
John 6: 37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Matthew 11: 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Pharisee's put a heavy yoke and burden upon men--guilt, all sorts of tasks, rebuking and oppressing and never restoring, never refreshing the soul with rest--stiffened necks creating stiffened necks. The Lord's yoke is the opposite: "To come unto the Lord is to be taught of him--about him--submitting and obeying his precepts--and following his example."
For I am meek and lowly in heart--
1 Peter 2: 21: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Commit all to him. Hebrews 4: 15: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Illustration: College football.
When your soul is refreshed and full of joy whatever it is you are doing is easy and light-a joy.
Matthew 11: 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
I John 3: 23: And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
John 15: 11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
· Trusting his obedience unto death as our only righteousness and redemption, we obtain the rest of a good conscience.
· Following his example and revealed will, we obtain the rest of a faithful servant.
· Trusting his providence, we obtain the rest of a believing heart.
Come to Christ now!
Ye shall find rest unto your souls!
Amen!