Spiritual Rest

What is "Spiritual Rest" and how do you obtain it?

~~Watch the Video~~

 Outline:

• Traits of Wholeness
• 7 Types of Rest Review
• Resting is a Display of Faith
• What is Spiritual Rest?
• Spiritual Burnout
• How Do We Get Spiritually Recharged?
• Develop A Relationship With God
• Put Your Identity in Christ
• Let God Fight Your Battles
• Rest from Works Salvation
• Entering Into Rest

Scriptures:

• Matthew 11:28
• Mark 6:30-32
• Hebrews 4:9-11
• Matthew 11:28-29
• Luke 10:38-42
• Judges 6:14-16
• Ephesians 8:8-10
• Psalms 46:10

Introduction

Someone wrote a letter to the Rev. Michael van der Peet

“Jesus has a very special love for you,” “[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see,–Listen and do not hear–the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak … I want you to pray for me–that I let Him have free hand.”

What do you think the person who wrote that letter was going through?

The author was Mother Teresa

This was at the height of her ministry

She complained that she felt distant from God

This is one of the signs of a Spiritual Rest deficit

Matthew 11:28

Come to me are you who labor, and I will give you rest

Has anyone experienced a time when they were able to perform yet their heart wasn’t in it?

That’s called burnout

Without Spiritual Rest a believer can get spiritual burnout

Traits of Wholeness

We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness

How can we be  _______ healthy

• spiritually
• emotionally
• mentally

Dealing with life’s current stresses and also being healed from experiences/wounds of the past

We’re not just supposed to have eternal life

• We’re supposed to have: joy, peace, patience, and self control here on earth

Traits of Wholeness

• Authenticity
• Honesty
• Kindness
• Not seeking external approval / validation
• Living by values and principles
• Setting Boundaries
• Taking ownership of your responsibilities
• Living with purpose and passion
• Optimism
• Confidence
• Healthy relationships with others
• Not losing control of your emotions
• Free from addictions
• Addressing Conflict
• Vulnerability
• Not critical or Judgemental
• Not jealous
• Genuinely applaud the success of others
• Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
• Know that you’re worthy of receiving love
• Not afraid to fail
• Able to manage irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
• Selfless encounters with others
• Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
• You care about how others feel
• Patient
• Don’t give into peer/social pressure
• Can communicate directly
• Don’t take responsibility for other people's emotions
• Take responsibility for your own emotions
• Being led by the Spirit

7 Types of Rest Review

Mark 6:30-32

30The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.  31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 And they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

He doesn’t

• Dissect the results in order to improve the process
• Try to get the stats of how many were saved
• Figure out which approach has been more effective
• Make sure that they have their theology right
• Teach them how to address arguments
• Give them some speaking tips to engage the crowd
• Teach them how to draw a bigger audience
• Teach them how to get more tithes

...He simply tells them…to rest

Rest is the renewing of ones depleted physical, emotional, mental and spiritual reserves

Many of us are working from a place of depletion instead of a place of rest.

• So we are not working at our highest capacity potential.  

Rest is not inactivity

• you can work and rest.  
• Resting does not have to mean not being productive.

SIP Tired

We ask people how they’re doing and they answer… “I’m tired” or “I’m busy”

• We always thought they were related

During the pandemic people were no longer busy, but they were still tired

People were tired because they couldn’t compartmentalize anymore. They couldn’t separate from their kids

We didn’t realize that going to work gave us natural boundaries

Many people felt burnt out during the pandemic

We realized that there’s more than physical rest…

Who remembers one of the 7 types of rest?

Types of rest:

1. Physical
2. Mental
3. Emotional
4. Social
5. Sensory
6. Creative
7. Spiritual

Physical Rest

You need physical rest when your body is tired or hurt.

Signs of physical rest deficit

• Body ache and pain
• Headaches
• Swelling with no reason
• Tired
• Forgetful
• Irritability
• Moodiness

Symptoms of lack of sleep

• Problems making decisions
• Problems remembering tasks
• Problems processing information
• Overeating / Weight gain
• Higher rates of heart disease
• Inability to regulate emotions
• Inability to fight off illnesses
• Loss of inhibitions

Solutions

• Sleep 7 - 9 hours per night
• Stretching
• Massage
• Body Fluidity

Body Fluidity

Don’t let your body be still or static in the same position for an extended amount of time

• Take a break every 90 to 120 minutes
• Doing different body positions throughout the day so you don’t hurt at the end of the day

Address the pain when you feel it

• Eyestrain - focus out the window
• Neck pain - Get up and get a glass of water

How to Fall Asleep -

https://www.instagram.com/matthiasjbarker/reel/CX1K2C_hFy9/

Mental Rest

Mental rest is downtime where you can quiet your mind

Signs of mental depletion

• Low productivity
• 40s but can’t remember
• Go into a room and can’t remember why you’re there
• Ruminating thoughts
• Never have a quiet headspace
• Can’t turn off conversations in your head when you go to sleep
• You get easily distracted
• React impulsively
• Can’t see downstream implications
• Make unwise decisions

Solutions

• Study break
• Scheduling a Break every two hours at work
• Keeping a notebook to jot down the thoughts you have when you sleep
• Put in place systems / structure
• Example: pick clothes night before
• Having fair rules

Emotional rest

Emotional exhaustion is a state of feeling emotionally worn-out and drained as a result of accumulated stress

2 Types of Emotional Exhaustion

1. Expressing emotions - Emotional rollercoasters, drama
2. Suppressing emotions - Having to pretend and wear a mask in front of people

You may not be able to display or recognize your own emotions because it would not be beneficial for the other person or appropriate.

• Leader
• Counselor
• Parent

Symptoms

• feeling like you have no power or control over what happens in life
• feeling “stuck” or “trapped” in a situation
• Lack of energy
• lack of motivation
• irritability
• physical fatigue
• feelings of hopelessness
• absentmindedness
• apathy
• headaches
• change in appetite
• nervousness
• difficulty concentrating
• irrational anger
• increased cynicism or pessimism
• sense of dread
• depression

Solutions

• Silence / solitude
• Setting boundaries
• Get around people you can be authentic around
• Stop people pleasing
• Journal
• Talk to God / Quiet Time

Social Rest

Social rest looks like you’re tired of interacting with people

Caused

• When you are around more negative people than positive people
• Around people that drain you

Solutions

• Spend time with people you enjoy
• Kind
• Encouraging
• Easy to be around
• Set boundaries
• Experience Inclusion
• Being part of a tribe

Develop a culture of encouragement in your life

Sensory Rest

Sensory rest deficit happens when you have ongoing sensory input from your environment

Symptoms

• You go to a place in peace and you leave wound up
• Irritable
• Anxious
• Angry

Caused by

• Screen time
• Lights
• Phones
• Computer
• Surrounding conversations
• Work cubicles

Solutions

• Darkness
• Silence
• Closing your eyes
• Turning off the radio while driving to work
• Unplugging your electronics at the end of the day
• Do Not Disturb

Creative Rest

Creative rest reawakens the childlike wonder inside of us

• Feeling inspired
• Curiosity

When you have a creative rest deficit you have a problem coming up with new ideas or being creative

Symptoms

• Hard time thinking creativity
• Lack of love for life
• Writer’s block
• Lack of innovation
• Lack of imagination

Creative rest restores ability to see what’s possible

Solutions

• Appreciate beauty
• Put up inspiring pictures in your work environment
• Music
• Appreciate the arts
• Nature
• Brainstorming

Inspiring the hope or possibility

Goal: A Lifestyle of Rest

we need to learn to live a lifestyle of rest

• Vs vacation

Boundaries: “You can’t heal in the same environment that made you sick”

• Escaping toxicity

Resource

Restquiz.com

Resting is a Display of Faith

Being able to rest and turn it over to God is a display of faith

The Sabbath Is Based on Faith

Hebrews 4:9-11

9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.

• The example of disobedience is that of the Israelites going into the Promised Land

The Old Testament Sabbath was a display of faith

• They didn’t gather manna on the 7th day trusting that God would provide
• They didn’t grow their crops for a year trusting that God would provide
• They took a day off of work

Sabbath said

• “if I’m still… You will still feed me“
• If I stop… I won’t die
• I will trust that God will provide for me

Entering the Kingdom is Based on Faith

• There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God

The New Testament Sabbath is also based on faith

Faith that Jesus died for your sins

Faith that allows us to not worry about tomorrow

• What we will eat
• What we will wear

If we enter into the promised rest of the Kingdom ...

• All worry and anxiety goes away
• We get peace
• We get a joy that’s not based on our circumstances
• We realize that we don’t have to prove ourselves to God
• We will experience true rest

What is Spiritual Rest?

Matthew 11:28-29

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

Spiritual rest is not about religion… It is about the intimacy part of the relationship with God

Signs of spiritual rest deficit

• No sense of purpose
• No sense of belonging
• No connection to God
• doubt God’s plan
• doubt God’s existence

“You have made us for yourself, oh Lord, and our soul is restless until it finds rest in you“

— Saint Augustine

The ability to Connect beyond a mental and physical

Something Missing

No matter how accomplished you are if you don’t see how things fit together you may find yourself feeling empty and alone

• It’s why celebrities do drugs
• Affluent people go thrill seeking
• Why some donate

Bill Gates: donate > foundation

Steve Ballmer: convertible red corvette > Clippers

Elon Musk: skydiving > space

A sense of unfulfillment

Results of Spiritual Rest

• Increases your faith
• Sense of something greater than yourself
• Feeling a sense of purpose
• Having faith that God will fight your battles
• Feeling connected to God
• Having a sense of legacy
• Focusing on helping others

Gives you a deep sense of

• belonging
• love
• purpose

Spiritual rest allows you to

• Trust God
• Cast your cares on him
• Be anxious for nothing
• Not seek validation from other people

Spiritual Rest is not just slowing down, it’s getting closer to God?

Video: Path to a Meaningful Life

https://youtu.be/XYFkKVJy3jM

Spiritual Burnout

Pastoral Burnout

Letter from Bryan Loritts just prior to resigning

When it comes to the personal care and shepherding of the local pastor, we need elders who will play offense and not defense.  Elders lead, and not just react.  It’s been my experience based on numerous conversations with pastors across the country that most elder boards are filled with leaders- godly leaders- who can become so focused on the needs of the congregation they neglect to proactively care for the needs of their pastor.  

<lists 5 recommendations elders can do>

I bet we would have less cases of pastoral trauma, burnout and failure if we had more offensive minded elders.  

Offensive Eldering — Dr. Bryan Loritts

The solution isn’t found in the elders…it’s spending time with God

Cause of Spiritual Leader Burnout

Many spiritual leaders and pastors and people who know the Bible well have gotten to a place where they are in the word of God all the time and they are researching it and looking for revelations to teach other people.  

The Bible can start looking like a textbook.

You are reading the word to extrapolate something to feed someone else.  

If you’re always looking for looking for the next

• Revelation
• Topic
• Idea

The Holy Spirit becomes like a business partner

Volunteering

10% of the people do all fo the work

You get asked to volunteer for more and more

They get burnt out

How Do We Get Spiritually Recharged?

Solutions

You feel spiritually recharged when you

• Go to church
• Hear a moving sermon
• Experience spirit filled worship
• To engage in something greater than yourself in your day-to-day routine
• A life giving Christian Community
• Prayer
• Quiet time
• Spending time in nature
• Speaking positively
• Inactivity

Awe

You get a sense that there is something greater than you

Example:  Awe - Kenneth talking about the cathedrals

• Gives you a sense that there’s more to life
• Evolution
• Cats/animals experience this

This is the basis of worship

Now let’s look at:

• Develop a relationship with God
• Quiet Time
• Put Your Identity in Christ
• Trust God to fight your battles
• Rest from Works Salvation

Develop A Relationship With God

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word.

40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”

41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;

42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha

• serving Jesus…but she is missing Jesus
• Her life is filled with “should“ and “have to’s“
• She’s distracted
• Her duties have become disconnected from her love for Jesus

One of the sure signs of her life being out of order, is that she even tells God what to do

Mary

Mary is sitting at Jesus’s feet

Her life has one center of gravity… Jesus

Doing for God instead of being with God

We get the impression that doing lots of work for God is a sign of spiritual growth

We need to do for God in proportion to how much time we spend being with God

Don’t Be Distracted by Chaos / Business

Stuff bothers you that is not supposed to bother you

Who spent more time with God during shelter in place?

We all said we wanted more time to be with God

God doesn’t love you any less because you have anxiety

Importance of Relationship

Who has heard the term “return to your first love”?

We tell people that quiet time is important.

• But The message of activism drowns out the importance of contemplation.

The act of life of living for God can only flow from a relationship with God.  

We have found our balance when our activity for God results in

• Peace
• joyful
• contentment

Then Christ life can flow through you to others

Appreciation of God’s Presence

• Not asking for anything

We need to get back to appreciation of the presence of God

you can’t always be looking for the next

• Blessings
• Level
• Revelation
• Healing
• Direction

Do you have set aside time simply to be with God?

Inspiration Comes From Being in God’s Presence

The inspiration has to come from somewhere

There are times after you’ve been in God’s presence where you have a great amount of productivity. And you know that you didn’t do it. You recognize what you can do in your own strength.  

We need to learn to trust that God can give us what we need in the moment.   That we don’t need to be prepared.  

The ideas I get during quiet time excellerate my goals

Quiet time can shift your priorities

Quiet Time

Quiet time is a planned dedicated time you spend with God

• Read the Bible
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Worship
• Praise dancing

It shouldn’t always be about asking for something.

Practical Steps

• Have a plan to get into the word of God

• Daily reading plan
• Get into the word of God first in the morning consist of prayer time

• Have a consistent prayer/quiet time
• Don’t go to sleep until you have read whatever you have committed to read in scripture

Reading the Bible

You have to remember that the word is a person as well. So there has to be a relationship.

Worship Therapy

Listen to a song that speaks to you

The right song can shift your energy

A worship song can help you experience a different part of God

Meditation

You can meditate on

• The word
• One characteristic of God

What type of experience have you guys had with quiet time?

Put Your Identity in Christ

A lot of people feel guilty when they rest

The quality of the work, the joy of the work, ability to feel satisfied after the work all require rest

We get to the point of feeling that the work is the only thing that has value

Being an Achiever

when your identity is rooted in performance

• it can rob us of ceasing from our own works and resting  

We want to manage things, to control things. We want to do things with our own effort.

The world tells us that we have to fight, and strive, and claw, and achieve in order to get the things that we desire.

• But the kingdom tells us to rest.

It is not my works, and my self effort

We have to fight the lie that being busy and achieving all the time is an inspiring act

Testimony: Before going to bed I’m happy when I can list of things I’ve accomplished for the day

The Planner

Testimony: I’m a planner

I became a strategist.

anticipate what could go wrong

This brings me  to a place where I can’t rest.

Source of Your Significance

We get our significance from

• Quality
• Ability to do excellent work
• Making progress
• Achieve great results that move the needle

Video: Pride vs Shame

https://youtu.be/zwNdsFFPCwc

Let God Fight Your Battles

Spiritual rest does not mean an end to conflict

Give Up Control of Your Life

• Give Up the Responsibility of Figuring it Out
• Learn to wait

When we enter into God's rest we can do more in a twinkling of an eye that we can do in a lifetime of striving.

“When I try, I fail. When I trust, He succeeds.” –Corrie ten Boom

The Story of Gideon

Judges 6:14-16

14 And the LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”

15 But he said to Him, “O Lord, how am I to save Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

16 Yet the LORD said to him, “I will certainly be with you, and you will defeat Midian as one man.”

Who wants to tell the story of Gideon?

135K midianites

30K > 10K  afraid

10K > 300 lapped water like a dog

Overheard dream

Blew horns, broke jars, torches, shouted  

Midianites killed each other and ran

-TT

Rest During a Fight

Even when you have to fight there’s going to be rest

That place of rest says… I know I’m going to win

• I know God is going to give me the victory

I’m going to stand still and see God fight for me and I’m going to have to do very little

I can see you freaking out if it’s the first time God has done something for you

• But if he does come through for you again and again and again…
• You need to just rest

Testimony:  being laid off for the third time

• God said to rest

David Couldn’t Build the Temple

If you spend your time fighting you will not be able to build. David was a great warrior but he was not allowed to build the house of God. He was not allowed to build his greatest desire.  

You’re Not Leaving Room For God to Get the Glory

The issue for some is that God wants the glory in your life. When you keep working and doing you don’t leave any room for God to show up and get the glory.   God can’t do a miracle because it is all you.  

TT - fighting disqualified David from his heart's desire

Positioning is Important

Rest is a

• Posture
• Position

It is not that you don’t fight it’s the posture and the position that you fight from

It’s a confidence an assurance that God has got this

I don’t have to

• Fight for
• Cuss anybody out for it
• Promote myself

Your life is not an if or a maybe… It is a “is“

Ax Throwing

https://youtu.be/u55JC6FsIk4

Example: ax throwing

• Like golf it’s not how hard you throw
• How you hold your arms is important
• Your position is more important than your strength
• Your follow through impacts whether or not you hit the target

Rest from Works Salvation

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

When we are living under the law

• we are living under a religious perfectionism mindset
• You think “ultimately I don’t measure up and therefore God is mad at me“

when you get yoked to Christ through grace, you take on the identity of righteousness

• Not Perfectionism

You are not at rest because you feel that you are not perfect

Old Testament vs New Testament Sabbath

The Old Testament Sabbath gave rest from physical work

The New Testament Sabbath gives rest for spiritual work

In spiritual terms rest means primarily to cease from one's works with the idea of release from anxiety, worry and insecurity. This rest is offered to all and is freely available by grace through personal faith in Jesus Christ (Mt 11:28, 29, 30). Only in Christ is our soul fully and truly at rest. In this context rest means to be done with self-effort as far as salvation is concerned. It means the end of trying to please God by our feeble, fleshly works. In short, God’s unmerited perfect rest is a rest in free grace which can only be entered into or appropriated by faith.

Jesus gives us the ability to rest from depending on our own effort

We don’t have to do works to achieve salvation

We don’t have to do works to be loved by God

Signs that you haven’t rested from works salvation

• You try to live holy and do the right thing in exchange for an answered prayer
• Saving your love one
• healing your body
• material gain
• You think that if you do good things, God in return will answer your prayers
• When bad things happen you think God is punishing you
• You think you deserve something for your good works
• You are jealous when unbelievers get blessed

Do you believe you have to do this and that to get God to do something?

Just like the Israelites didn’t have to work the escape Egypt, you don’t have to work to achieve eternal life

Entering Into Rest

Psalms 46:10

“Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”

Jesus said you will find rest for your souls

It’s great that you

• Sing
• Preach
• Teach
• Prophecy
• Know the word
• Go to Bible study
• Speak in tongues

…but can you rest?

Can you live in the spiritual disposition that you are so convinced in all the God promised you that you were not moved

When you are at rest you're not tossed to and fro with any type of news

Rest isn’t the absence of war… It is the presence of peace

The problem isn’t when the ship is in the water… The problem is when the water gets inside of the ship.  

It is not what surrounds you that is most important… It is what is within you.  

You can have peace…

• Not just in your quiet time, but how you live

Rest is the  secret to Jesus’ promised peace

What are you wrestling with that you should be resting about?

Resting says I’m not dependent on myself for my …

• provision
• promotion
• salvation

The more we realize that what we do is not dependent on our works, the more we are able to enter into his rest.

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

Sabbath Rest

https://unchaineddisciples.blogspot.com/2021/11/sabbath-rest.html

Why You Need to Sleep

Unchained Disciples : Why You Need to Sleep

7 Types of Rest

Unchained Disciples : 7 Types of Rest

Sacred Rest (book)

Sandra Dalton Smith

Spiritual Rest

Pastor Randy Needham - Dwelling place church

The power of rest

Toure Roberts

Emotionally healthy spirituality

Peter Scazzero

The spiritual weapon of rest

Father heart

Spiritual Rest

Pastor Randy Needham

Dwelling place church

Sacred Rest with Sandra Dalton Smith

Beloved women

How to rest your mind with Dr. Sandra Dr. Smith

Transformation church

It’s your season of rest - Rev. Sam Oye

The transforming church

Spiritual rest

Island Christian church

Extra

Matthew 10

11And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. 12As you enter the [m]house, give it your greeting [I.e., the familiar Heb blessing, “Peace be to this house!”]

13If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.

You’re Operating Off of Old Plans

Some of you are going to have to take a little rest

You are building with old plans

Do you feel like you are operating to the current plans, but you are not

When you get tired the enemy will try to lie to you and tell you that your time is it up

Sometimes we call what ain’t God… God

Video: Momentum vs Instruction

https://youtu.be/1y4JOOGM6GA

—-

—-

When the promised first comes, it is a rope that you hold onto

Once he gets into you it is faith that you wrap around you

Dry Feet Faith

Exodus 14:10-15 (NASB20) 10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 “The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent.” 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.

Revenge is the gateway to witchcraft

Many people want to invoke the supernatural

• To get love
• To get revenge

When we attempt to manipulate the natural by means of the supernatural we are at risk to falling into witchcraft

Exodus 22:18

(NASB20) “You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

kashaph: to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft

God takes this serious