Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson
Who Is This Christ of Christmas?
He Is Our Rest
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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.
30.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Christ2.mp3 (14.8 MB )
In Chinese pictographs to convey the sense of being 'busy' you need two characters -- one is
the heart and the other is the symbol for killing. When the soul is busy, there is a spiritual death
that occurs. The soul must find rest, or the soul will die in search of it.
Rest is the craving of every heart. It is for the belief that the soul will rest that a
person commits suicide. It is for the absence of the soul's rest that a person weeps. It is for the
soul's rest that person will defend his honor, seek after riches, or engage in addictive behaviors.
The soul at rest has found peace, or joy, and contentment. The Christ we celebrate at Christmas is
the One who gives the soul rest. He is the Christ we worship.
- Notice the invitation Christ gives . . . "come unto me all ye who labor"
(v.28).
Christ does not say "Wait." He does not say "I'll come." He tells you to
"Come."
- Don't wait until it is too late . . . Those who ignore the invitation to find the
soul's rest in Christ will soon feel the cold of winter freeze the heart rock solid.
- Don't say "If He desires, He will come" . . . "Let it not be supposed
that election excludes any of you from the invitation of mercy; all of you who labor, are bidden to
come. Whatever the great doctrine of predestination may involve, rest assured that it by no means
narrows or diminishes the extent of gospel invitations" C.H. Spurgeon.
- Come unto Christ . . . not the church, not a religion, not a ritual -- to a
person.
The storms of life are like hurricanes, but He who gives rest is the eye of the storm.
- Notice the indicators Christ reveals . . . "all ye that labor and are heavy
laden" (v.28).
You do not come to the Physician without knowing you are sick. We have scores who know of
the Physician of the soul but have never personally called out to Him. There are two indicators in
this text of the kind of people who will find rest in Christ.
- Those who labor - this is an active work. The soul labors for peace with God.
It's as if Christ is saying, "This is not the way to rest, your self-imposed labors will end in
disappointment; cease your wearisome exertions, and believe in me, for I will at once give you
rest -- the rest which my labors have earned for every believer."
- Those who are heavy laden -- this is a passive thing. These are people who
have stopped laboring because their sin has led them to hopelessness. Those who labor may
be heavy laden, but it is possible for the heavy laden to not labor. Christ Jesus is made unto
us "sanctification" (I Corinthians 1:30). Do not despair.
- Notice the involvement Christ brings . . . "and I will give you rest"
(v.28).
This is a very personal promise. When you are full of unrest, despair and pain . . .
- Jesus says, "I" . . . will give you rest. Take a close look at this word "I." He
does not send an underling. He does not delegate the responsibility.
- Jesus says "you" . . . I will give you rest. Not the pastor, not your mother or
your father, but you! The indication that Christ is involved with you is your est.
- Jesus says "rest" . . . I will give you rest! "You shall find rest unto
your souls."
This rest is seen in a divorce. This rest is seen in difficulty. This rest is seen at death.
Christ2.mp3
Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade
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