The Rest of Faith 4

21 July 2013

1. Introduction

Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you and it will give you rest”

· So many people live in constant turmoil, anxiety, fear, striving – no rest in their soul. God promises to give us rest: Rest is a gift of God received by faith – trusting Him. Rest is connected to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our relationships.

Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of heaven….. is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost”

· Whatever disturbs our peace or joy should get our attention.

· Activating sensitivity to the Holy Ghost and response to His presence is key to rest.

Key Passage: Luke 2:41-50

2. Why God Sometimes is Silent

Luke 2:41-43 “Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and Mary his mother did not know it”

· Jesus was silent about His plans. He did not tell them what He was doing!

· Jesus was entering a new season in His life – He did not speak or explain it.

(a) Familiarity Can Lead To Presumption

E.g. Marriage: The most common problem is communication.

“You didn’t tell me”; “I assumed”; “Well I thought”

· Luke 2:43-44 “Joseph and His mother did not know it, but supposing Him to be in the company went a days journey…”

· Note: Jesus was silent – they supposed He was still with them.

· It was an annual event to go to Jerusalem; it was a custom or habit.

· Presume – to take for granted, to assume to be true, to assume without proof.

(b) Why God Sometimes Is Silent

2 Chronicles 32:3 “God withdrew from him (Hezekiah) in order to test him to know all that was in his heart”

· Sometimes God is silent about the things most important to us. Why?

(i) To Reveal What Is In Our Heart Deuteronomy 8:2

· God’s silence exposes and brings to our awareness or condition, priorities, values.

(ii) To Humble Us Deuteronomy 8:2

· We have a tendency to go our own way, to operate independently, to live in our comfort zone.

· Habits and routines are good but can lead us to familiarity and presumption.

· We constantly need fresh challenges to keep us dependent upon Jesus.

(iii) To See If We Will Apply What We Have Learned Deuteronomy 8:2

· God is constantly teaching us, changing us – His plan means ongoing change.

· He wants us to learn to walk by revelation and wisdom (applying the Word of God).

· If you collapse under pressure and challenge your personal foundations are not strong.

· In seasons you do not hear from God – do what He last told you and walk in the principles of God – prayer, thanksgiving, praise, fellowship.

· Mary and Joseph went 1 day without Jesus then experienced and acute sense of loss and anxiety.

3. How to Recognise the Presence of the Holy Spirit has Lifted

Luke 2:48 “So when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said to Him: “Son why have you done this to us? Look your father and I have sought you anxiously”

(i) Anxiety – Loss of Peace

· The presence of God brings with it a peace and loss of His presence brings anxiety.

· Mary revealed she was anxious but sorrowing from on road: to go down.

· She was tormented in her mind and emotions.

· Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing – peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

(ii) Irritability –Loss of Love

· Mary was irritated at Jesus – why have you done this to us?

· She was angry at Jesus and resentful at how He had treated them.

· 1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love – is not provoked (irritated, stirred, sharpened)”

(iii) Lack Clear Thinking - Confusion

· Mary did not understand what Jesus was doing.

· They were amazed…. Why have you done this to us? They did not understand.

· She accused Jesus of treating her unfairly – she took it personally.

· Stresses in life can cause us to turn inward, focus on self, blame others.

· 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, and love and a sound mind”

· When the Holy Spirit rests upon us our thinking is clear and we react in clarity.

4. Returning to the Rest of Faith

Luke 2:44-45 “They sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances, so when they did not find Him they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him. Now it was after 3 days they found Him.”

· They were so preoccupied with familiar – they did not realize Jesus was not there.

· They had to go back to where they lost Him (if lost axe head 2Kings 6:6 Where did it fall?)

(i) Repentance (“They Returned”)

· Repentance – Melanoia = change of mind

· Repentance – recognise have made a mistake, failed and admit “it was wrong”.

· People tend to be defensive rather than admit “it was wrong” and change.

· Repentance is foundational to walking with God – admitting wrong thinking and actions.

· 1 John 1:9 If we confess (say the same as God does) will forgive!

(ii) Pursuit of God –(“They Sought Him”)

· Their focus was not on pursuit of peace but on pursuit of Jesus.

· They wanted to reconnect with Jesus Psalm 27:4

· It took 3 days to find Him – they persevered determined to find Him again.

· We can pursue Jesus by re-establishing times of prayer, fasting, worship.

(iii) Openness to Fresh Revelation

· Their familiarity with Jesus caused them to miss the change in their life.

· He now was at an age where He would come under tutors for His destiny.

· They were astonished, they did not understand, they did not ask questions.

· We must move towards what God is doing, not react and move away to familiar.