REST! It is such a peaceful state of mind that everyone really desires about life. Whether it is the spiritual or its physical form, it is necessary for a high quality of human life. But it seems more emphasis and effort is placed on having physical rest to the detriment of our soul.
What really is spiritual rest and how do we engage ourselves in it? Hebrews 4.3,10 explains what it is.
“For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest. “
“Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after creation” Living Bible.
The REST OF GOD is a promise to take care of us in all circumstances and it is an experience that is beyond our ability. However, we can only receive it by a complete surrender and trust in God; confident about His Word so that we will walk in His guidance in a practical form. This is the real challenge before Christians in our faith walk – the LETTING GO. Often trying to second guess God and analyse His Word with our minds is really what we do. Unfortunately that is not FAITH and neither will it produce GOD’S REST.
Jesus Christ set us an example of living in the rest of God with His lifestyle while on earth. One of such incidents was the feeding of over five thousand people. His disciples were perplexed at what to do and offered various statements of unbelief but not Jesus. It was written of His state of mind
“He was testing Phillip for he already knew what to do” John 6.6. Living Bible
Knowing what to do – that is the Godly state of rest; the mind of the spirit. It is the position of faith and authority over any matter. It means understanding that God’s provision is in place and then discerning what to do from that perspective. If Jesus didn’t take that stance in the spirit, He will not have recognised the boy’s gift as the right step to take.
His disciples not having that spiritual knowledge saw the task and gift as act of impossibility. Jesus went on to receive five loaves and two fishes and feed a multitude with twelve baskets extra. Therein lies the issue – trying to process faith, a spiritual experience with our mind – a natural form. How can we comprehend such an IMPOSSIBLE TASK? For the natural mind cannot understand spiritual things.
We cannot say we have faith yet we give consideration to how possible it is. Jesus didn’t evaluate. HE FIRST BELIEVED and then accepted God’s provision for the people. He knew (state of mind) how to feed the people because God knew. Thus he was able to discern the HOW (the strategies of feeding them by the act of accepting the boy’s offer) even when it didn’t and couldn’t make any logical sense. By that action, a miracle of great proportion took place.
Daniel had a deadly challenge and ‘He also knew what to do’ He gave the king assurance of an answer and went to God to receive the guidance needed. Daniel was not calling a bluff when he spoke to the king. He was certain of his word. The result was a king bowing to His God because of Daniel's confidence. No wonder it is written” But the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits” Daniel 11.32 NKJV
The knowledge of God is a spiritual experience not a mental assent. It comes from a place of immovable confidence in God’s promise and ability that enables us to live a lifestyle of faith and influence. Stop trying to figure out faith with the natural mind. It is IMPOSSIBLE. Rather live in the rest that God provides in and by His Word – CHRIST.
For without first maintaining that standpoint of REST, we will not experience the magnitude of the blessings reserved for us in the inheritance. At best, we will only live with the crumbs not the whole bread and that is contrary to what Jesus Christ gave His life for.
“Let us do our best to go into that place of rest too being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, this failure to get in. For whatever God says to us is full of living power...” Hebrews 4.11-12. Living Bible
Cease from the works of the senses. But enter into the labour of the spirit that produces astounding RESULTS.
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