- araratchurch
- Sep 19, 2023
- 3 min read
““If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.” John 14:15-18 AMP
Many years ago I had gotten a new computer and had a problem with it launching the screensaver. I tried everything I knew, went through every menu, until I began to feel hopeless in my efforts.
Out of total frustration with the situation, I called a helpline to see if they could determine what I was doing wrong. In the course of talking, the representative asked permission to take over control of my computer. I gave my permission (I knew this was an official help site) and watched in amazement as the cursor on my computer began to move to different drop-down menus and select, go to another place and select, to yet another place and select, until finally the representative said, “That should do it,” and it had.
What I could not do on my own was done for me by an expert…after I gave my permission for them to do so.
Yesterday we discussed the fact that there is rest in the presence of the Lord. Today we must also add that His Presence IS the Rest!
“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them]. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” John 16:5-7 AMP
The Holy Spirit working in us is God Himself. As such, we can be guided into all that the Lord has for us. His presence in us gives us access to the presence of God because He is the Presence of God! Think of it, the Holy Spirit in us gives us access to all God is.
Indeed, His Spirit in us is the rest He has offered to us.
“For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:14-17 AMP
The Holy Spirit of God within us brings us assurance of sonship and the ability to walk as God’s child, God’s heir.
In following the leading of the Holy Spirt, constantly submitting our will to Him, we will continue to walk in the Rest He provides.
In our opening scripture we see Jesus assuring the disciples (and us!) that they are not being abandoned.
Indeed, as we saw above, it was only through His returning to the Father that the gift of His presence could be sent back to us. As well, we see that He will live with us forever!
Now, just as I would have received no help for accessing my screensaver had I not submitted to the control of the help representative, those who resist the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, will never experience His rest.
Let’s talk more about that tomorrow.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord
- araratchurch
- Sep 19, 2023
- 3 min read
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”” Exodus 33:14-16 NKJV
Jesus had been speaking about the judgment awaiting those who had not repented even in the presence of the mighty works He had done.
He then prays to the Father, thanking Him that there are those who were trying to understand: babes who were not counted as being wise.
Jesus then tells the people that He has the authority (and ability) to reveal the Father to them. It is within this context that He makes this wonderful invitation:
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Basically, Jesus is offering those who will come under His yoke, His teaching, His authority, access to knowing the Father Himself. As well, this knowledge of the Father brings rest for the soul!
Now, one might ask whether it is our direct involvement with Christ, His presence, or is it the knowledge of the Lord, that brings soul-rest. The answer: It is both His presence and the knowledge of Him that brings true rest!
When I was very young, I knew my father was capable of protecting me from harm and danger. Therefore, I had no fear of harm when in his presence. With that, I knew him. I knew his nature. I knew his character. And, when I was in his presence, knowing what I knew about him, I was at rest.
As my father got older, although his physical strength and prowess declined, his spiritual strength continued to be a source of rest for my soul. However, when he went to be with the Lord, I learned that the Lord was still with me, bringing rest to my soul. And, His rest could never be taken away from me!
The children of Israel had failed miserably while waiting for Moses to return from being in the Lord‘s presence on Mount Sinai. As a result of their terrible deeds, the Lord—when directing Moses to leave Mount Sinai to continue on their journey—said that He would not go with them. He said that because they were stiff-necked, they might be consumed by His presence.
Moses made an urgent appeal to God, declaring that he could not go on unless he was assured that the Lord would be with him. The Lord then promises that He will be with them and that He would give them rest.
There is rest in the presence of the Lord. And, there is rest in the knowledge we obtain about Him in His presence.
However, as we commented yesterday, even many Christians have not entered into true rest. The reason for that is, if we are not totally submitted to His yoke, to His leadership, in ALL areas of our lives, we will not have the true rest He offers.
We will talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord
- araratchurch
- Sep 19, 2023
- 3 min read
“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.” Psalms 116:7-9 NKJV I believe we can all identify with David’s desire to be able to escape trouble so that he could be at rest. “My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest.”” Psalms 55:4-8 NKJV But, as you probably have discovered all too well, even if the opportunity is afforded to escape from one set of troubling circumstances, trouble will find you. So, it’s not a stretch to say that people do ridiculous things in an effort to find rest. To begin our examination of how true rest looks, let’s first go further into what true rest is not. First, true rest is not an absence of activity. Now, whereas we all need periods of inactivity (such as sleep), inactivity does not bring true rest. Have you ever been totally exhausted and even after getting several hours of sleep woke up feeling the same way? Given, there can be some physical deficiencies contributing to this phenomenon. But generally, the result of being unable to have a mind that is at rest is the culprit. It’s like going on vacation to get away from your work and spending that time worrying about what is happening in your absence. You will returned as unrested as when you left! I remember my mother describing something I believe is a common phenomenon for many people. You see, she tended to suffer anxiety, often “fearing the worst.” Now, whereas during the day she would be less bothered by her fears, when she would lie down to go to sleep, she would feel all of the anxiety “closing in” on her. Finding no rest from sleep, or other so-called “restful” states (e.g., the aforementioned vacation), is so common, that it supports a multibillion dollar industry of products promising to bring rest to the individual. Indeed, millions of people are on anti-anxiety medications. Still others seek rest from sleep aids, or even illegal drugs, to no avail. Yes, inactivity does not equate to rest. As well, contrary to what we might suppose, rest isn’t found in the absence of turmoil. Again, we all know people who tend to be miserable no matter their circumstances. You see, wherever they go, there they are. That is, the source of their trouble is internal. In our opening scripture we see David expressing thanks that God has again delivered him from death. His trouble had drawn him out of his place of rest; now he instructs his soul to “return to your rest.” Do you need to return to your rest? Spoiler alert: the rest we are discussing—true rest—can only be found in Jesus. Yet, we do see many Christians who still don’t seem to have found true rest. We will discuss this more tomorrow. Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord