Rest In Jesus - Matthew 11:28-10

(Matthew 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  (KJV)

I.  GOD'S INVITATION TO COME, AND REST FROM THE LABOR OF SIN.
Here is a man who has a great load laid upon him, which he must carry to a certain place: every step he takes reduces his strength, and renders his load the more oppressive. However, it must be carried on; and he labours, uses his utmost exertions, to reach the place where it is to be laid down.  A kind person passing by, and, seeing his distress, offers to ease him of his load, that he may enjoy rest.
 Believers, sorely tempted, and oppressed by the remains of the carnal mind, may come to this blood, that cleanseth from all unrighteousness; and, purified from all sin, and powerfully succoured in every temptation, they shall find uninterrupted rest in this complete Saviour.

1. THE SERVANTS OF SIN. 'YE THAT LABOR." (This is in the active mood).
Sinners, wearied in the ways of iniquity, are also invited to come to this Christ, and find speedy relief.

(Romans 6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (KJV)
(John 8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  (KJV)

2. LADEN WITH SIN "HEAVY LADEN." (This is in the passive mood.) With fetters that bind: sin is a burden to body, soul, and conscience. It is a weight of guilt and condemnation.
Penitents, burdened with the guilt of their crimes, may come to this Sacrifice, and find instant pardon
See what Paul says:
(Romans 7:23-24) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (KJV)
All are invited to come, and all are promised rest.  If few find rest from sin and vile affections, it is because few come to Christ to receive it.

A WOULD-BE SUICIDE SAVED
"When I was unsaved, my soul was often in despair" said someone who is now a faithful minister of the gospel. "In anguish I would cry out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death” One night I said, "I’ll seek the answer to life's enigma by death. I’ll take my own life!" As I trudged my way to the place where I planned to commit the awful deed, I passed a mission. I heard singing within. Some power seemed to draw me, even against my will, into that mission. There I saw nine people. They were singing gospel hymns. How joyful they seemed to be! I knew that they had something, someone, I desperately needed. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins, and gave me a vision of the lovely Lord, waiting and willing to save even me. I cried to God for mercy and forgiveness. He gloriously answered my plea. I was instantly and gloriously transformed! Twenty-four hours thereafter I began to preach the gospel of Christ. Since that time it has been my joy to tell others of His mightiness
to save. -Rev. Harold Walker

3. GOD'S ANSWER IS, "COME UNTO ME."
(Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  (KJV)

(Isaiah 55:1) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  (KJV)

(Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  (KJV)
In Holman Hunt's famous picture of "Christ the Light of the World" there is no latch of the door outside. The Christ stands knocking, waiting to be admitted, but the ivy- adorned door must open from the inside. Our Lord never destroys the will, but sweetly inclines us, makes us willing in the day of His power. It is always "Whosoever will" (Rev. 22:17), or "Ye will not" (John 5:40) that secures or loses us salvation. To Jerusalem, with tears of bitter sorrow, He said, "I would, but ye would not" (see Matt. 23:37).

SIR, I AM THAT MAN
A young minister spoke one Sunday in Whitefield's Tabernacle. "There may be someone in my audience who is drink-ridden, lust-sodden, demon-possessed. If such is present, Christ can instantly save you.” An incident occurred at that moment which electrified the minister and the audience. A man rose and said,, "Sir, I am that man! I am drink-ridden, lust-sodden, demon-possessed! Is there any hope for me? Can your Christ save me?" The minister answered, "Yes, He can! God's promise Is sure: ‘Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth.’ That humanly hopeless and helpless man came to Christ. "Old things passed away; all things became new!"

4. THE PROMISE OF REST "I WILL GIVE YOU REST?
Rest from servitude and bondage.
Rest from condemnation and guilt.
Rest from fear of the wrath of God.

II. GOD'S INVITATION TO BE A CO-LABORER WITH HIM. "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU."
1. A YOKE SUGGESTS WORK: TEAMWORK. FELLOWSHIP IN SERVICE.

Here is yet another illustration by Spurgeon:
"When bullocks are yoked, there are generally two. I have watched them in Northern Italy, and noticed that when two are yoked together, and they are perfectly agreed, the yoke is always easy to both of them. If one were determined to lie down and the other to stand up, the yoke would be very uncomfortable; but when they are both of one mind you will see them look at each other with those large, lustrous, brown eyes of theirs so lovingly, and with a look they read each other's minds, so that when one wants to lie down, down they go, or when one wishes to go forward, forward they both go, keeping step. In this way the yoke is easy. Now I think the Savior says to us, 'I am bearing one end of the yoke on my shoulder; come, my disciple, place your neck under the other side of it, and then learn of me. Keep step with me, be as I am, do as I do. I am meek and lowly in heart; your heart must be like mine, and then we will work together in blessed fellowship, and you will find that working with me is a happy thing; for my yoke is easy to me, and will be to you. Come, then, true yoke-fellow, come and be yoked with me, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me' (Matt. 11:29, 30)."
(2 Corinthians 6:1) We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  (KJV)

2 HE SHARES WITH US LIFE'S SORROWS, BURDENS, CARES, JOYS, INTERESTS, BATTLES, AND VICTORIES.

3. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN.
Verse 30 says, “For my yoke is easy, my burden is light." He bears the heavier part of lt.


III. GODS INVITATION TO SIT AT HIS FEET. 'AND LEARN OF ME."
When Jesus makes our souls alive, then the one thing we have to do is to try to be like Jesus. A little girl went to a writing school. When she saw the copy set before her, she said: "I can never write like that." But she took up her pen and put it timidly on the paper. "I can but try," she said. "I'll do the best I can." She wrote half a page. The letters were crooked. She feared to have the teacher look at her book. But when the teacher came, he looked and smiled. "I see you are trying, my little girl," he said kindly, "and that is all I expect." She took courage. Again and again she studied the beautiful copy. She wrote very carefully, but the letters straggled here, were crowded there, and some of them seemed to look every way. She trembled when she heard the step of the teacher. "I'm afraid you'll find fault with me," she said. "I do not find fault with you," said the teacher, "because you are only a beginner. Keep on trying. In this way, you will do better every day, and soon get to be a very good writer." And this is the way we are to try to be like Jesus. But when we read about Jesus, and learn how holy, and good, and perfect He was, we must not be discouraged if we do not become like Him at once. But, if we keep on trying, and ask God to help us we shall "learn of Him to be meek and lowly in heart" (see Matt. 11:29); and we shall become daily more and more like Him.
Learn of Him, while serving: amid the cares and battles of life. Often times He will call you away from active duties to sit at His feet, to wait on Him.

1. LEARN OF HIM, BY THE STUDY OF HIS WORD.
(Psalms 119:72) The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.  (KJV)
(Quote from Treasury of David) The law is better than gold and silver, for these may be stolen from us, but not the word; these take to themselves wings, but the word of God remains; these are useless in the hour of death, but then it is that the promise is most dear. Instructed Christians recognize the value of the Lord's word, and warmly express it, not only in their testimony to their fellow men, but in their devotions to God. It is a sure sign of a heart which has learned God's statutes when it prizes them above all earthly possessions; and it is an equally certain mark of grace when the precepts of Scripture are as precious as its promises.

(Psalms 119:97) O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  (KJV)
(Quote from Treasury of David) It is a note of exclamation. He loves so much that he must express his love, and in making the attempt he perceives that it is inexpressible -- and therefore cries, "O how I love!" We not only reverence but love the law, we obey it out of love, and even when it chides us for disobedience we love it none the less. The law is God's law, and therefore it is our love. We love it for its holiness, and pine to be holy; we love it for its wisdom, and study to be wise; we love it for its perfection, and long to be perfect. Those who know the power of the gospel perceive an infinite loveliness in the law as they see it fulfilled and embodied in Christ Jesus.

2. LEARN OF HIM BY EXPERIENCE.
Paul said of himself :
(Philippians 4:11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (KJV)
Here we learn submission, patience, trust, etc.

3. HE IS QUALIFIED TO TEACH AND TRAIN US.
“For I am meek and lowly in heart." He understands; He is patient.

IV. GOD'S PROMISE OF SOUL REST. "And ye shall find rest for your souls.,"
1.  SOMETHING TO BE FOUND, DISCOVERED, AND EXPERIENCED. In the unfolding of God's great plan of salvation In the provisions made in the atonement.

2. REST FROM INNER STRIFE.  A Canaan experience of soul rest.
(Hebrews 4:9-11) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  (KJV)

What beautiful passages, promises and instruction. Are they all quotes from others or did you write them yourself, Rohn? I have Spurgeon's Morning and Evening app on my phone and I often read it early in the morning or late at night. And so often it speaks to the very trouble or trial or question that I am struggling with. I realize how immature I really am, I still have so much to learn - and probably always will. All of these words and passages are very familiar to me and have so much power. Thank you for them.

Thank you Gramaki, for the kind words. I am glad that you found something in this that can be of help.
As far as the quotes are concerned I gave credit to the ones that came from someone else as far as I know. The rest of the message is from me or from notes from my father who was also a minister for many years. Dad passed away in 1998 and I have all of his sermon notes. So I glean some from those notes as I decipher them since he wrote his notes out in longhand. Many times the outlines or quotes come from him and make their way into my sermons as I prepare. What you read here each week are actual sermons that I am going to preach or have preached in the past.

Once again that has provided the assurance that I needed. Thanks for another lovely sermon Rohn.

Thanks for the nice comment FF.