Rest and Rejoice!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual rest and dependence on God, highlighting the dangers of worldliness and the need for daily dependence on the Lord.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of finding rest in the Lord amidst life's struggles and challenges. He highlights the need for believers to exhaust their own efforts in trying to overcome sin and the old self before truly entering into spiritual rest. Stanford points out that true rest can only be found in God, not in worldly comforts or circumstances, and encourages daily dependence on God similar to Israel's daily gathering of manna. He reminds believers that while the flesh seeks rest in this world, true rest is found in God alone, as written in Hebrews 4:9.
Text
"Rejoice in the Lord always!" (Philippians 4:4).
Exhaustive effort brings home the necessity of strengthening rest. The believer will not be ready to enter into his spiritual rest until he is utterly worn out by his unsuccessful efforts to conquer sin and the old man. There is no rest for the "wretched man" of Romans 7-that struggle must lead to the rest of Romans 8.
"Grace is sufficient for favorable circumstances, but they are by far the most trying (spiritually) to the believer. There is an easy way of going on in worldliness, and there is nothing more sad than the quiet comfortable Christian going on day by day, apart from dependence upon the Lord.
"It must be as with Israel and the manna; there must be the daily gathering and daily dependence upon God. If circumstances come between our hearts and God, we are powerless. If the Lord Jesus is nearer, circumstances will not hinder our joy in God ."
"The heart of man naturally seeks rest, and seeks it here. Now, there is no rest to be found here for the believer; but it is written, 'There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God' (Hebrews 4:9).
"To know this is both full of blessing and full of sorrow: sorrow to the flesh; because it is always seeking its rest here, it has always to be disappointed; blessing to the spirit, because the spirit, being born of God, can only rest in God's rest, as it is said, 'If they shall enter into My rest' (Hebrews 4:5). What God desires for us is to bring us into the enjoyment of all that which He Himself enjoys." -J.N.D.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently' for Him" (Psalm 37: 7).
Sermon Outline
- The Necessity of Strengthening Rest
- The Danger of Worldliness
- The Heart's Natural Desire for Rest
- Exhaustive effort leads to spiritual exhaustion
- The struggle with sin must lead to rest
- Easy way of going on in worldliness
- Dependence on the Lord is essential
- The heart seeks rest in worldly things
- The believer's rest is in God's rest
Key Quotes
“Rejoice in the Lord always!” — Miles J. Stanford
“It must be as with Israel and the manna; there must be the daily gathering and daily dependence upon God.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently' for Him” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- Believers must recognize their need for spiritual rest and dependence on God.
- Daily dependence on the Lord is essential for experiencing true rest.
- The heart's natural desire for rest must be redirected to seeking rest in God.