Scripture: Mark 6: 30-33

³⁰The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. ³¹Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat. ³²So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. ³³Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them.

Introduction:           

As we continue our discussion on the disciples and the command they was given by Jesus go to and put into practice the thing he taught them I am astonished at how Jesus wanted them to rest. To sum this up Jesus wanted them to remember they shouldn’t rely upon their own efforts. In this day and age a term and phrase is extremely powerful and that term is called Do it yourself. Do it yourself (DIY) is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things without the direct aid of experts or professionals. Home depot has allowed men and women feel like they can do things the so called experts can do. It’s one thing to do it yourself when it comes to home, making things, and being creative. It’s another thing when you try to do it yourself and make a miracle that can be only done by God. That’s when you go from utilizing the anointing to utilizing your gifts.

There’s a saying “Work as everything depends on you but pray as if everything depends on God.” Realizing that you need God’s strength and power to help you accomplish things.

This week we will pick up another or more timeless truth that we ought to rest.

Psalm 37:7

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

The Hebrew word "rest" means to be dumb. This does not mean stupid but a quietness that shows a confidence in the one the person rest. This rest they are talking about in Hebrew means to hold’s one peace, to be silent, to be still or tarry and wait. This Psalm shows the contrast of the righteous and unrighteous. The righteous are not so in their own merit but find their righteousness in the Lord. The unrighteous are those who have never put their faith and trust in the Lord God.

POINT 1 RESTING ALLOWS YOU TO REFLECT

³⁰The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught.

Too many people never get a chance to celebrate the wins because they only focus on the championships. In our personal lives and in our professional lives we are so big picture oriented that we don’t think the small successes we are having really matter. In sports we hear a lot of people say “Championship or Bust” meaning if they don’t win it all then their season really didn’t count. When you think about it you did have some success; you got stronger, you got more wisdom, you made new friends. We might not have the 1000 seat sanctuary but victories for us are we’ve feed over 300 people, we baptized people, we sent supplies over seas. In your personal life, you are still working, you still have a job, you have peace of mind, you still have health. Things other people don’t have. In the Genesis chapter 2 you will find God who took time to reflect over creation and was like, “I did a great job”. He hadn’t partied seas, hadn’t killed goliath, hadn’t delivered the Hebrew boys yet he was proud of what he had accomplished thus far. Here you will see the disciples hadn’t even did one of the most talked about miracles of feeding the 5,000 but they are enthused about helping the people in the city. Take time to reflect on the victories you are having no matter the size.

POINT 2 RESTING ALLOWS YOU TO REJUVENATE

³¹Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat. ³²So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves.

When you don’t rest or rejuvenate you go from being a part of the plan to becoming the plan. When you don’t rest you become God. Your body is not meant to be the energizer bunny and keep going and keep going and keep going. It’s meant to take a break. Resting allows you to set boundaries. You will notice in this particular verse it says they didn’t have time to eat. They didn’t set boundaries. Too often I hear people say I got so busy that I didn’t think or have time to eat. It’s one thing to do this from time to time but when you are routinely doing things that don’t allow you to rejuvenate then your body will at some point shutdown. What I like about this verse is you will notice in the next few verses Jesus gave them the opportunity to feed the 5,000. By them feeding the other people this allow them to also get something to eat. It wasn’t just about the other people getting feed but it’s also about them getting feed. When you take care of other people God will also take care of you.

POINT 3 RESTING ALLOWS YOU TO RESTRATEGIZE

³³Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them.

Why do I call this resting in God’s strength because of what happens in this verse and the one’s to follow. After they took time to get away they had to rely on the strength of Jesus and their heavenly father to do something they themselves couldn’t do alone. Their weaknesses are exposed but they aren’t hindrances to the plans of God. When you are weak that is when God is strong. When you get to the point of trusting in the Love and compassion of God you will see that He was always there. They didn’t have to beg people to come for healing and deliverance, word got at and the people came running. Then they had to change up the methods and strategies by which they operated. When you rest on God’s strength He will begin to bless you for trusting in Him.

Over the next few weeks learn to rest on the peace and notion that God’s strength is more than enough to handle anything and everything you are going through.