REST

This lengthly article was actually broken into 3 weeks for the Weekly Diner publication. It is about an the important topic of Rest! This is nowhere close to an exhaustive study, but if it serves the purpose of getting us to search God's Word, then May God be Thanked!

May The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all.

Today I would like to share with you about REST…., the true Rest that is found only in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There many types of rest.

First there is a Rest that is Temporary, as from our work. This is a blessed type of rest for the Christian. This is a rest from our work, like we do as we rest on Sunday’s. Jesus even told his disciples to go apart and rest. They entered into a ship, and went to the other side and rested. We are very appreciative of this type of rest; however, we will not focus on this type, as there is a rest for more precious that we will focus on in this letter.

Another type of Rest is when we rest not from our work, but in our work….. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest! 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. Notice that in taking His yoke, learning of Him, these are things that we do. However, the direct promise is that we SHALL find rest for you souls! How blessed!

Then there is another type of rest as in God’s rest after He created the World in 6 days. He did not rest because he was tired; He rested because His work was complete! Our God is almighty and powerful! He completed this huge task, and when He looked He said, it is good.

It is this type of rest we will focus on, and also the cause to rest like we read in Hebrews 3 and Sabbath kind of rest like we find in Hebrews 4:9 when it says there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. A perpetual Sabbath. This is a rest that in Him is never ending, everlasting.

Let us look at a verse from the Old Testament:
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.”— Psalm 116:7

Those who are not Christians, have no rest to return for their soul. In fact they do not even know what they are missing out on. The unbeliever will attempt to quite his soul, to find temporary joy and happiness, but he must always keep looking. The only true rest is In Christ!

Hebrews 3:18 and 19 says: 18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

There is no rest to the one that does not believe. Pray that they would be able to hear, to repent, and to believe during the time of Grace.

But we who Believe in Him, do enter into rest. We have entered into His rest!
Our journey can be pictured as the children of Isreal who have crossed the river Jordan and entered into the Promised Land. We still have battles here in this life, as they did once they crossed the river, but as long as we stay in Christ, we have all the promises of God available and for us! We can have peace and rest in the storms and the battles of this life!

This does not mean we will have rest as far as this world is concerned; this world is polluted with so much grief, sin and vice! Yet, in the midst of all this, the Christian is promised rest and peace!

The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, there is no therefore no more Condemnation to those are in Christ Jesus. Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit…. How wonderful to have such a wonderful Saviour.

We HAVE the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

If there are reading this today that are believers but you seem to have lost this blessed rest… My message to you is RETURN unto thy rest.
I hope that you would be able to take the Psalmist words unto your own heart.. Return unto thy rest, for the Lord hath dealth bountifully with thee.
We must remember: The Believer has his rest!

There is a condition that a believer can be in when his heart is perfectly at rest. Perhaps Jude’s benediction describes it best when he says: May The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. We opened our letter with this today!
Let us take a moment to search the rests for the Christian heart and soul!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK DUE TO LENGTH> Please study Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 during this week and Lord willing, I will finish this letter for next week!

May God Bless your Week in The Lord!
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Dear Weekly Readers! I hope and pray that this week you have meditated the topic of His rest, and have experienced His rest personally. Shall we continue where we left off?


Let’s begin by looking first at the rest of the heart and soul that comes through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When a person is come to him, when a person has repented and believed, (and remember, Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, then we are subject unto the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. When this redemptive work is complete through Jesus Christ in our hearts, then we have peace and rest.

This is all made possible, and all Glory and Honor for this goes to our Lord Jesus and what He has done, when He willingly gave up His life on the cross! He suffered, bled, and died for you and I. He won the victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil for you and I. Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

On the third day, He rose triumphantly from the grave, having won the victory! What a mighty and wonderful Saviour we have! What grace the Lord Jesus Christ has given unto us!

When this complete work is believed by faith, when we have repented and believed, all of our sins are drowned in the sea of Grace, never to be remembered again! There is no fishing in the sea of Grace! Dear believer, the devil no longer has power over us, we are living by the grace and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ! What rest we can have in this fact and reality!
All of our necessities are provided for us. He has promised in His word that His eye is on the sparrow. He provides for the birds, He also provides for us. Matthew 10:31
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. We can rest in the fact that the Lord will supply all of our needs. Now, these supplies may not be to our liking, as we may feel we need or want much more. However, we are still alive today to read this, because He has allowed us provisions by His great grace!

There is no longer need to be stressed: 2 Corinthians 4:8
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

There is a further rest for us who believe. It is a very sweet one indeed. It is The Love of God. It comes to us with soft word like this: . Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: . ……. He will be with us forever! Everlasting love, wow, how can we contain such wonderful things?

Isaiah 43:2 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

The facts born out by these verses, truly give us cause to be at rest. They verify that rest is for the believer!

Now let us look at another reason for this Christian rest, the Communion of the Holy Ghost. Here again is true and complete rest for the soul. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Are you with me dear reader, that we cannot ask for more? He has filled us with His Holy Ghost, to lead us and guide us safely through this life! What a wondrous gift! John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The comforter is ours, the Holy Ghost! He wants to comfort us, and to give us rest! Let’s listen to, and be willing to be taught and reminded by the Holy Ghost, who is God in us!
I cannot ask for more! His banner over me is love! We are as it were, living in the Palace of the Great King!
Song of Solomon 2:4
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

I will end part two on this topic of His Rest at this point. Next week, if the Lord allows, we will look at the sad fact that many leave this rest. Even believers are tempted to forget that they are, and can be at perfect rest! Let’s pray that the Spirit would move within us, keeping us in His rest, both during this week and always!
Reminder: Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 and Psalms 116 v7
May God Bless your week! John R.
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Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace and Rest be with you!

As we continue and hopefully conclude our study on the topic of His Rest, I mentioned last week, that there is a sad fact that we must address, namely that many leave this perfect rest, which is found in Christ Jesus.
Our study verse found in Psalms 116 verse 7 says Return unto thy rest... This statement indicates that believers can lose sight of the rest that they have had. This can happen in so many ways.

Losing rest can be that the believer has become discontent. Let us always remember that the Word of God says in 1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. Let us be urged into contentment again. Have we let our earthly desires for greater riches, more fame, or more ease, begin to crowd out our contentment and our joy in His REST? If so, Return!

Sometimes the believer loses their joy in His Rest due to rumors, lies and gossip being told about them. It is so extremely sad when this takes place. The tongue, though it be such a small member of our body, can cause so much hurt. Let us never be one that would use our tongue to hurt or tell untruths about a fellow believer, or anyone else. Rest will be lost for both the teller of tales, and the one being told about. The sins of the tongue are so awful that we need to tell the devil to flee from us if we feel tempted in this area. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Sometimes a Child of God can lose their Rest because they have not believed the Word of God when it directs us in 2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? This is true in all walks of life, and most especially when it comes time to find a mate to marry. Friends and partners can lead the believer into wicked ways if one is not watchful. Let’s be sure we adhere to God’s Word even in this, so we can remain in the full Rest!

Life is full of many storms. We can get disheartened, unrestful, and saddened by many things. We experience untimely deaths of our loved ones. There are tragic accidents, death by crime, death of innocent children due to illness. It is times like these that we want to begin to quarrel with God. It is in times like these that we must remember to Return unto our Rest! Due to the fall in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve, sin and death has entered into the world. We should not quarrel with God, but rather know that God is sovereign, almighty, eternally righteous, and always correct! He is always calling us into His Rest, despite the storms that rage all around us!

Do you remember the time Jesus walked on the water. The water was the big problem the disciples in the boat had at the time, but Jesus put the rough waters under His feet. He calmed the storm and the sea! He can and will do this for us to, if we but trust in Him! Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:

There is no problem too big for our God, no problem that he cannot overcome for us, if we be willing and obedient! No battles to large, no hurt too bad. Return to thy Rest!

There is so much more to talk about on this topic, but space in this article does not allow. We could talk about backsliding, lack of regularly gathering with the saints in fellowship, walking in all the various ways contrary to His word! There are so many ways to lose ones rest, his way, his joy.
No, man can never be happy unless truly resting in Jesus.

A picture and promise of this returning to God’s rest was given to us already at the time of the flood. Remember how after the rains stopped, Noah set a dove free? The Dove returned unto the arch because he found no resting place elsewhere. Let us be like the dove and stay resting in our ship of Faith, leaning on the promises of God! There is rest, safety and security.

Our Lord has delivered our souls from Death, has delivered our eyes from tears, and can keep us from falling! Such a mighty and powerful God we have. Enter and stay in His rest dear reader!
Isaiah 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Hebrews 4 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God

Jude 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

May God Bless your week! John

The Weekly Diner

Hello Weekly Readers! May God’s rest and peace be with you all!

The below letter shares with us the importance and the fact that we all will, should, and must, continue to grow in Christ Jesus our Lord!

May God grant you a wonderful week!


GROWING IN CHRIST

Growing in Christ means to grow in grace and to diminish in oneself. First of all, read in Ezekiel 47:1-6 how the man who had the line in his hand measured the water:

Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house;
and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the
house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward
the east, and the waters came down from under from the right
side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought
he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about
the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh
eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth
eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me
through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he
measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters;
the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand,
and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward
he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could
not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a
river that could not be passed over. And he said unto me, Son
of man, hast thou seen this?
T hese four times depict four periods of time in a Christian's
life. First, in childhood, he understands very little
about Jesus or Christianity; then a little more in youth, and
much more in manhood.

When the water is to the loins, he
understands the redemptive work of Jesus and lives accordingly,
but he still has his feet on the bottom, trusting a little on
his own works, though he may not realize this within himself.

When he reaches the fourth period of life, comparable to
the measure of the fourth one thousand cubits, he finds the
hidden roots of sin in himself, such as jealousy, greed, pride
and vainglory, which affect even his holiest endeavors. He must
say, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? (Romans 7:24) He finds as the apostle Paul
did, For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I
would not, that I do. (Romans 7:19)

Now he can see that he has nothing of his own to stand on; his feet must be loosened from
the bottom of his own works. He must cast himself to swim in
the sea of grace, saying, “I am what I am through the grace of
God, and that grace has not been in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

A servant of the Lord, Juuso Runtti, wondered what fault
lay in him that he could not enjoy the happy feelings of grace.
He heard a voice saying, “Juuso, you are foolish to search for
one fault in yourself; don't you know you are one big fault with
God?” His heart was warmed when he realized this; he rejoiced
to hear God's Word when he felt so sinful and unworthy.

It is an eternal truth that whenever a person grows in Christ
he diminishes in himself, and grace abounds more and more.
As we begin to see the wretchedness within ourselves and then
see how God has cast all our sins and sinfulness upon His Son,
as we read in Isaiah 53, Jesus becomes our all in all. Now is the
vessel cleansed from within so that the outward life becomes
upright and a glory to God.

When we grow in Christ all else becomes as dross and to
know more of Him becomes most important to us. Our salvation
is not based on changeable feelings, but on the knowledge
of Jesus, whom God has made to be unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). In
this knowledge there is much room in which to grow; that is, to
know the Jesus of the Bible who is the Savior of sinners.

Sometimes a child of God must believe himself righteous
even though he feels that he is filled with demons, and again his
feelings of grace are so overwhelming that the vessel of clay
nearly bursts with joy. We understand that we are saved by
grace, whether downcast with temptations or in the heights of
joy.

When we grow in grace in this way, we are growing unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians
4:13) Such a Christian is not easily swayed by winds of doctrine
and can judge all matters by the Scriptures.
Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. (John 10:27-28)

the late Janne Marttiini