“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Jesus has a message that is valuable for today – He can show us all the way to rest. In this world we all have struggles, heartaches, disappointments, failures, betrayals, broken promises, fears, sickness, and every other malady you can name. As one disillusioned philosopher wrote: “Life is hard – then you die!” Even the Bible declares, “Man is born to trouble like sparks to smitten steel!”

Oh, there are some bright spots along the way but, we all wonder, even if just to ourselves, there must be more than this? The good news is – THERE IS! The Bible is full of stories of people being led into rest – in both Old and New Testaments. Perhaps a good one to start with is God’s deliverance of the Hebrew children from Egypt. The following message was given in July of 2000 on The Rest of God. 

There is another important way to enjoy the rest of God. It is found in Isaiah 28  –

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.“ – Isaiah 28:9-12

Isaiah seems to be speaking in riddles but, to understand you need to let Scriptures explain it. The first clue comes in Acts 2:4 which records the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church –

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” – Acts 2:4

As Isaiah prophesied, they spoke with “stammering lips and another tongue” when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Then the next clue comes from Paul –

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 14:21

Paul is quoting Isaiah 28. It is clear that being filled with the Holy Spirit is the rest and refreshing that Isaiah was speaking about. And we can be filled daily! All you have to do is ask for it. As Peter explained on Pentecost –

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” – Acts 2:38, 39

This promise didn’t end with the Apostles, it is also for today, to every generation that the Lord God shall call. You can choose to enter into REST today. Begin to worship God for His goodness and faithfulness. He is the God that called you out of Egypt (or bondage), not because you were so good but, because He is so good! He doesn’t give you the Holy Spirit because you deserve Him but, because you need Him. If you have repented of your sin and asked Jesus to be your Savior, begin to obey Psalm 81:10 and He will send the Holy Spirit into your life.

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.“ – Psalm 81:10

Remember, the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak in tongues. He gives the language but you must speak it. You use your voice and mouth and begin speaking in faith whatever the Holy Spirit gives you. You can receive in any place at any time but, it is easiest when your heart is filled with worship of God.

God bless you.