Luke 23:50-56
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
1. Sometimes the best thing you can do is rest.
The idea of rest is all through scripture. God rested on the 7th day from creation. It was a command for Moses and the Israelites and was weaved all through the history of God’s people.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Physical rest is good, mental rest is better.
When is the last time you had rest for your soul?
You didn’t worry
No anxiety
No stress
Practical rest.
1. Sideways energy is a waste of energy.
What can I control and what can’t I control?
2. Junk in equals junk out
What are you feeding your soul with?
Constant news
Social media
What you feed in your mind grows
3. Hope = rest
You cannot rest if you believe everything depends on you.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2. While you are resting the enemy is working.
Matthew 27:62-66 62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Satan can’t rest. He knows he his defeated and he knows Jesus is going to resurrect so he has to work non stop.
The enemy is swinging a dull ax. When you stop to sharpen he’s not getting ahead.
3. Death, Rest, Resurrection.
After Jesus rises from the dead it is game on.
Never be afraid to rest after something is buried in your life because what is coming after that is a victory that you have to be ready for.
Now is the time to rest your soul. You cannot change what is happening, you cannot worry this out of existence, you cannot snap your fingers and make it go away. Let your soul rest because when this is over there is a victory to be had.
There is a grace for rest.