Isaiah 63:9, "In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally
rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and
carried them through all the years." (NLT)
The next time the devil tries to tell you that God doesn't care and that you
are going through a valley alone, put yourself in remembrance of Isaiah
63:9.
God does not leave us in our sufferings. In fact, Isaiah 63:9 tells us that
He is right there with us. Want more confirmation of that truth? Here are
three more scriptures.
Daniel 3:24-25, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement
and asked his advisers, 'Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into
the fire?' They replied, 'Certainly, Your Majesty.'
25 He said, 'Look! I see four men walking around in
the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a Son
of the gods.'” (NIV)
Hebrews 2:18, "Since He Himself
has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we
are being tested." (NLT)
Still not convinced? How about these
scriptures?
Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with
you; He will never leave
you nor forsake
you.” (NIV)
Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord Himself goes
before you and will be with you; He will
never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(NIV)
Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be
with you wherever you go.” (NIV)
Ruth said it best in Ruth 1:16 when she reflected
the very heart of God, "...Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will
stay." (NIV)
Matthew 28:20, "...And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the
age.” (NIV)
God is not sitting on the sidelines of your life
or up in Heaven and out of touch far away from you. He is right there where you
are going through with you whatever you are going through.
Love and blessings,
Pastor Sandra
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Jesus said in Matthew 10:8,
"...Freely you have
received; freely give."
You can't give what you don't have.
Many folks misquote Matthew 10:8 to read, "Freely you have been given, freely give."
That misquote takes on a whole different meaning than what Jesus intended. It denotes a sense of a demand from the Lord to give because He gave to us even if we haven't taken that gift. Thereby, spiritually bankrupting many and placing them under a law they will not be able to keep. They feel forced.
In actuality, Jesus wants us to know that it is only what we out of our free choice and free will receive that we will then be able to freely give to others. For example, I can extend to (or give) you a million dollars, but if you don't take (or receive) it, you can't spend it and it will not be a blessing to you at all.
Beloved, God is not telling you to give what you don't have, but to give what you receive. Receive all that He has for you today and you will never be spiritually bankrupt!
Confess with me today, "I believe what Jesus said; I RECEIVE what Jesus said; I rest in what Jesus said."
You are blessed to be a blessing!
Pastor Sandra
You can't give what you don't have.
Many folks misquote Matthew 10:8 to read, "Freely you have been given, freely give."
That misquote takes on a whole different meaning than what Jesus intended. It denotes a sense of a demand from the Lord to give because He gave to us even if we haven't taken that gift. Thereby, spiritually bankrupting many and placing them under a law they will not be able to keep. They feel forced.
In actuality, Jesus wants us to know that it is only what we out of our free choice and free will receive that we will then be able to freely give to others. For example, I can extend to (or give) you a million dollars, but if you don't take (or receive) it, you can't spend it and it will not be a blessing to you at all.
Beloved, God is not telling you to give what you don't have, but to give what you receive. Receive all that He has for you today and you will never be spiritually bankrupt!
Confess with me today, "I believe what Jesus said; I RECEIVE what Jesus said; I rest in what Jesus said."
You are blessed to be a blessing!
Pastor Sandra
Monday, April 15, 2013
Exodus 3:14, "...'This is what you are to say to the Israelites:
‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (NIV)
Have you ever pondered the meaning of God's Name, I AM? That is the first Name He introduced to us through the scriptures even before Yahweh (or Jehovah). What does I AM really mean? Let us first look at it in Hebrew.
I AM is spelled הָיָה and pronounced Hayah. As you may know, Hebrew reads from right to left and each letter represents a picture. Here is the picture of God's Name I AM. The letter הָ is Hey, which is a picture of an open window. It represents God's Grace. The יָ is the letter Yod and is a picture of a hand. Put the pictures together and it shows I AM is a picture of Grace before a hand extended in Grace. Therefore, Grace surrounds God's hand! His Hand is immersed in Grace. Grace is what He puts His hands too. He is Grace!
With God there are no coincidences. Everything is carefully thought out and planned. Nothing is hap-hazardly thrown together. God purposefully sets everything in perfect alignment. That is how He knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). He carefully and wonderfully made you.
Since we are on the subject regarding the Hebrew language, here is another tidbit to know. This will really help you in understanding God's heart. The Biblical Hebrew language has been called the language of God because it is the language He spoke when He created all of creation, and the language Jesus spoke when walking on this earth.
Did you know that a Swiss scientist named Hans Jenny studied the wave phenomena of languages called cymatics? What he did was to speak in different languages through a tube called a tonoscope to see if the wavelength developed any patterns. At the end of the tonoscope was sand. All modern languages produced little results, but when he spoke Hebrew through the tonoscope, the sand took the shape of the Hebrew letter he was speaking!
Most interestingly, in the Biblical Hebrew language there is no future tense, only past and present tense. This means that when one speaks it, there is no reference to what will be, but only what was and what now is. That is why God's Name, I AM is not I WILL BE, but always present tense. This validates even more the following scripture in Psalm 46.
Psalm 46:1, "...God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (NIV)
It is always today with I AM.
The Young's Literal Translation is the most accurate translation of the Hebrew words in the Bible, but it is hard to read because all verses are either written in the past or present tense. There is no future tense. Therefore, when God has given a promise (or blessing), the promise already is or was in God's eyes. Is this perplexing? Let's let scripture interpret God's "line" of thinking. Keep in mind, God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). God wants us to see good things as if they have already happened, as if we already have them.
Mark 11:22-24, "22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Jesus told us in Mark 11:22-24 that we must believe we have it NOW in order to see with our eyes what we have asked for come to pass. Here is another scripture to confirm that.
Romans 4:17, "As it is written: "I have made you a father (Abraham) of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not." (NIV)
God told Abraham He had made him a father of many nations one year before Abraham had a son from Sarah. The above NIV translation shows it as present tense, but according to the Young's Literal Translation, the original Hebrew text is written in past tense.
Genesis 17:5, "and thy name is no more called Abram, but thy name hath been Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations have I made thee." (YLT)
Beloved, God has a reason for not speaking about His callings, promises or blessings in the future tense. The reason is not only because He is the God of today, I AM, but because if He did, then we would try and earn those blessings. We would still be trying to get from here to there. You see, when someone tells me I will be blessed, then I look for ways to earn those blessings. My thoughts are focused on if I only do this, or if I only do that then I am sure to obtain and keep His blessings over me. It's Jesus and me keeping things afloat. When the reality is, it's not about me at all. It's all about Jesus!
God in His infinite wisdom knowing that it is human nature to earn His blessings, He wanted us to know that we already have His promises and His blessings. Hence, the reason why He wrote to us in His original Hebrew language only in the past or present tense. We either have had them or we have them now. It is just like the fact that Jesus died for our sins 2,000+ years before we were born. Did you know that God saw Jesus crucified in the past tense before it happened, before the foundation of the world was created? The following scripture in the Book of Revelation confirms that.
Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (KJV)
Every blessing has already been provided to us by Jesus' finished work on the Cross. He is now sitting down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) and we are seated with Him in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). The work is done, finished. We only have to receive His gift. We already have His Grace and blessings and we don't have to earn any of it.
Isn't it more freeing to know you already have God's approval, acceptance, blessings and love than to live in fear that somehow you will not measure up or make it and; therefore, miss out on His blessings? That is one more aspect of His Grace!
God has already blessed you! Be blessed and walk in it.
Pastor Sandy
Have you ever pondered the meaning of God's Name, I AM? That is the first Name He introduced to us through the scriptures even before Yahweh (or Jehovah). What does I AM really mean? Let us first look at it in Hebrew.
I AM is spelled הָיָה and pronounced Hayah. As you may know, Hebrew reads from right to left and each letter represents a picture. Here is the picture of God's Name I AM. The letter הָ is Hey, which is a picture of an open window. It represents God's Grace. The יָ is the letter Yod and is a picture of a hand. Put the pictures together and it shows I AM is a picture of Grace before a hand extended in Grace. Therefore, Grace surrounds God's hand! His Hand is immersed in Grace. Grace is what He puts His hands too. He is Grace!
With God there are no coincidences. Everything is carefully thought out and planned. Nothing is hap-hazardly thrown together. God purposefully sets everything in perfect alignment. That is how He knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). He carefully and wonderfully made you.
Since we are on the subject regarding the Hebrew language, here is another tidbit to know. This will really help you in understanding God's heart. The Biblical Hebrew language has been called the language of God because it is the language He spoke when He created all of creation, and the language Jesus spoke when walking on this earth.
Did you know that a Swiss scientist named Hans Jenny studied the wave phenomena of languages called cymatics? What he did was to speak in different languages through a tube called a tonoscope to see if the wavelength developed any patterns. At the end of the tonoscope was sand. All modern languages produced little results, but when he spoke Hebrew through the tonoscope, the sand took the shape of the Hebrew letter he was speaking!
Most interestingly, in the Biblical Hebrew language there is no future tense, only past and present tense. This means that when one speaks it, there is no reference to what will be, but only what was and what now is. That is why God's Name, I AM is not I WILL BE, but always present tense. This validates even more the following scripture in Psalm 46.
Psalm 46:1, "...God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (NIV)
It is always today with I AM.
The Young's Literal Translation is the most accurate translation of the Hebrew words in the Bible, but it is hard to read because all verses are either written in the past or present tense. There is no future tense. Therefore, when God has given a promise (or blessing), the promise already is or was in God's eyes. Is this perplexing? Let's let scripture interpret God's "line" of thinking. Keep in mind, God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). God wants us to see good things as if they have already happened, as if we already have them.
Mark 11:22-24, "22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Jesus told us in Mark 11:22-24 that we must believe we have it NOW in order to see with our eyes what we have asked for come to pass. Here is another scripture to confirm that.
Romans 4:17, "As it is written: "I have made you a father (Abraham) of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not." (NIV)
God told Abraham He had made him a father of many nations one year before Abraham had a son from Sarah. The above NIV translation shows it as present tense, but according to the Young's Literal Translation, the original Hebrew text is written in past tense.
Genesis 17:5, "and thy name is no more called Abram, but thy name hath been Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations have I made thee." (YLT)
Beloved, God has a reason for not speaking about His callings, promises or blessings in the future tense. The reason is not only because He is the God of today, I AM, but because if He did, then we would try and earn those blessings. We would still be trying to get from here to there. You see, when someone tells me I will be blessed, then I look for ways to earn those blessings. My thoughts are focused on if I only do this, or if I only do that then I am sure to obtain and keep His blessings over me. It's Jesus and me keeping things afloat. When the reality is, it's not about me at all. It's all about Jesus!
God in His infinite wisdom knowing that it is human nature to earn His blessings, He wanted us to know that we already have His promises and His blessings. Hence, the reason why He wrote to us in His original Hebrew language only in the past or present tense. We either have had them or we have them now. It is just like the fact that Jesus died for our sins 2,000+ years before we were born. Did you know that God saw Jesus crucified in the past tense before it happened, before the foundation of the world was created? The following scripture in the Book of Revelation confirms that.
Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (KJV)
Every blessing has already been provided to us by Jesus' finished work on the Cross. He is now sitting down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) and we are seated with Him in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). The work is done, finished. We only have to receive His gift. We already have His Grace and blessings and we don't have to earn any of it.
Isn't it more freeing to know you already have God's approval, acceptance, blessings and love than to live in fear that somehow you will not measure up or make it and; therefore, miss out on His blessings? That is one more aspect of His Grace!
God has already blessed you! Be blessed and walk in it.
Pastor Sandy
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
John
8:12, "...He said, “I am the
Light of the world. Whoever
follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life.” (NIV)
Colossians 1:17, "He existed before anything else, and He holds
all creation together." (NLT)
I love to teach God's Word and I also enjoy science. I guess
you could say not only is it a gift from the Lord, but it is inherent as I come
from a long line of teachers both in the religious and secular arenas as well as
scientists.
In
light of my family history (no pun intended in using the word "light"), I am
thrilled each time science confirms one more reason why the Word of God is
true! What do I mean?
As
I explain, please keep in mind the two scriptures above regarding Jesus is the
Light and that He holds all creation together. Are you ready for a short
quantum physics lesson?
Science
tells us that our bodies are made of cells. Our cells are made of molecules.
Once molecules were known in science to be the smallest particle. However, as
science developed, scientists found later that molecules are made of something
smaller, atoms. Atoms in turn are made of protons, neutrons and electrons.
Are
you still following me? Let's keep going and don't forget to keep the two
scriptures above in mind as we continue on.
A
proton is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Each one
possesses a positive electrical charge.
A
neutron is also a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom with no
electrical charge. When neutrons bond with protons, it causes nuclear force.
In
addition, an electron is a subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom. Each
electron possesses one negative electrical charge. Therefore protons and
electrons attract to one another with positive and negative electrical charge. This is happening inside of each cell of your body, exactly the way God designed
it to work.
Now
don't give up, we have a little bit more to learn before we see the relevance
between the two scriptures above and what I am sharing scientifically.
All
three subatomic particles, protons, neutrons (known as baryons) and electrons
(known as leptons) are made up of quarks (ok, I'm not making these names up!). We're getting smaller. Quarks have gluons inside.
Do
you know what is inside of a gluon? Gluons have what is known as photons
inside. The word "photon" is from the Greek word phos which means
light. It is where we derive our word "photography" from (the Greek word
phot, which means "of light" and the Greek word graphy means
"drawing") which is the science of creating images by recording light or other
electromagnetic radiation.
Smaller
still, a photon has a quantum (or minimum) of light (also known as electrical
magnetic radiation) on the inside holding it together. At this point, light is
the smallest elementary particle known to science.
In
the event that I have lost you somewhere in the translation, let me explain it
this way. Every cell in your body at its smallest point within is held together by
light! In fact, every thing created on the earth, also known as matter for if
it is tangible and you can feel it, it is matter, is at its smallest point held
together by light!
The
Light of the World, JESUS (John 8:12) is in everything and He
holds ALL creation together (Colossians 1:17)! How awesome is that? Bet you
never knew how exciting quantum physics could be!
In
parting, I have listed a few more scriptures below to aid in cherishing the
thought of how mighty and awesome is our God. He is in us and we are in
Him.
Hebrews
1:3, "The Son is the radiance [shining forth, of a
light coming from a luminous body] of God's glory and the exact
representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After
He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven." (NIV) **The first words God spoke were let there be light (Genesis 1:3) and through that word He has sustained all things according Hebrews 1:3.
1 John 1:5, "This is the message we have
heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there
is no darkness at all." (NIV)
Genesis
1:3-4, "And God said, “Let
there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the
darkness." (NIV)
Ephesians 5:8, "For you
were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Live as children of light
[spiritual purity associated with it]" (NIV)
God
bless you as you walk in the Light,
Pastor Sandy
Friday, March 29, 2013
Ruth 3:18, "Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.'" (NIV)
We Believe what Jesus said; We Receive what Jesus said; We Rest in what Jesus said.
For the past few weeks, the Lord has heavily laid on my heart the topic of resting in Him and what that truly means and offers us when we do.
We can try and accomplish all the programs and steps for making life more relaxing and restful, but it doesn't last because that is only a behavioral change. For lasting rest, we need a heart transformation. Only Jesus can do that. He gives us heart-felt inner peace in the midst of life's storms. His peace is like no other!
I know that the way is very difficult sometimes in life. Everyone who is walking in the light faces trials, temptations, tribulations and persecutions. Jesus even promised us that we would in John 16:33, but when we go through these things, many Christians fall into peril and lose their peace of mind. It is because they do not trust that God will really take care of them in the storm. Therefore, they look to worldly examples such as the "five steps to peace" or participate in programs that offer inner peace. Their focus becomes skewed and turns to their own self-efforts. Some even become angry with God like the disciples did when a storm arose and their boat began to sink. They awoke Jesus angrily and in fear saying, "Don't You care if we drown?!" (Mark 4:38) Up until the point where they turned to Jesus, they had tried everything in their own strength to keep that boat afloat. Jesus was their LAST resort. At the point they turned to Him, they were in complete chaos and fear with no more reasoning abilities left.
Did you know that you can rest (or sleep) soundly like Jesus did in the midst of any (and every) storm?
Rest is wrapped up in trusting that God really will handle the negative situations and circumstances in our lives. We may try things that offer an outward rest, but our minds are still very active with trying to come up with solutions or trying to control issues. All because we don't fully trust that if we release it to God, He will take care of it. We think He needs our help.
Here is the crux of the matter, when we rest in Him, God works, and when we work God rests.
There is a lovely scripture in the third chapter of the Book of Ruth that confirms to us how much Jesus wants to work on our behalf while we are resting in Him.
The Old Testament consists of typologies, metaphors, analogies, allegories, types and shadows regarding Jesus. It points to Jesus in a concealed way. The OT is Jesus concealed, while the NT is Jesus revealed.
In the Book of Ruth, Ruth represents the Church and Boaz (Naomi's distant rich relative who comes to redeem her) represents Christ.
Well as the story goes in Ruth 3:4, Naomi told Ruth to go and lay at Boaz's feet. The word "lay" represents rest. For all you Bible scholars, the actual Hebrew word in that verse is shakab. It literally means to lie down, rest and relax.
Therefore, the typology in this scripture is that the Church (Ruth) is to rest at Jesus' (Boaz) feet. In fact, even prior to verse 4, Naomi actually states in Ruth 3:1 that she is specifically seeking rest (or a place to rest as in the original Hebrew context) for Ruth. So she sends Ruth to lay at Boaz' feet. The typology in that statement is that we, the Church, find our rest at Jesus' feet.
Mary found that rest too when she sat at Jesus' feet, while her sister Martha worked (Luke 10:38-42). Again, we see how the one (Martha) who did not rest in the Lord became angry with Jesus and at her sister, Mary. Martha in her anger lashed out with the same words of the disciples in Mark 4:38, "Lord, don't you care...?!"
Martha's focus was on her efforts and not on Christ. Jesus did not rally with her argument. He simply told her that Mary had chosen better and He would not take it from her (Luke 10:42). What was the "it?" Mary's position of rest as confirmed by her sitting at Jesus' feet (Luke 10:39).
Now Jesus does not tell us to do something without a cause. Every time Jesus gives us instruction, there is a promise from Him that will be released to us through our obedience.
Jesus has delivered His promises beforehand to share with us what He has determined in His heart to do for us.
Back to the Book of Ruth. In Ruth 3:18, Jesus tells us (which is a promise) what He will do when we rest and wait upon Him.
Ruth 3:18, "Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man (Jesus) will not rest until the matter is settled today.'"
When we rest in Jesus, He WILL NOT rest until the matter we need taken care of is settled! Now wait, the good news doesn't end there. He even tells us when the matter will be settled at the end of that verse, TODAY, meaning it won't take Jesus long to take care of the matter. Can you shout hallelujah?!
Dear loved ones, it is imperative in these last days that we must believe Jesus' promises, receive them into our hearts, and rest in them in order to stay at true inner rest and peace. Doing so is so important for us that God gave us a scripture that tells us this is the one thing we must labor in (or work hard at). We are to enter His rest in Him. It is found in Hebrews chapter 4.
Hebrews 4:11, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (KJV)
This scripture also tells us that when we are not in rest, we can fall into unbelief. Unbelief and not trusting God go hand-in-hand.
Every day I encourage you to release any cares that come your way into Jesus' very loving and capable hands, and to confess audibly, "I do not let my heart be troubled, nor do I let it be afraid. I lay this care at Jesus' feet and I release the Holy Spirit into this situation in the Mighty Name, Power and Authority of Jesus Christ." Then truly leave it there. Ask Him to help you if you are not able. Fear can be habit forming, so you may need His help to release it.
While waiting upon the Lord, if Jesus wants you to do something, He will tell you what to do. If He does tell you to do something, then you do it, but don't try any longer to figure it all out. Once you have released the problem, it's His. Everything will fall into place as if it was divinely organized, because it is. Jesus does not forget.
We confess every Sunday before our service, "We Believe what Jesus said; We Receive what Jesus said; We Rest in what Jesus said." It's more affectionately known by the acronym of BRR because it is so cool. Our part is only to focus on Christ and He will take care of the rest (in every sense and definition of the word "rest").
Let me leave you with Isaiah 26:3, "You (Jesus) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You (Jesus)." (NIV)
Many blessings as you rest in the Lord,
Pastor Sandy
We Believe what Jesus said; We Receive what Jesus said; We Rest in what Jesus said.
For the past few weeks, the Lord has heavily laid on my heart the topic of resting in Him and what that truly means and offers us when we do.
We can try and accomplish all the programs and steps for making life more relaxing and restful, but it doesn't last because that is only a behavioral change. For lasting rest, we need a heart transformation. Only Jesus can do that. He gives us heart-felt inner peace in the midst of life's storms. His peace is like no other!
I know that the way is very difficult sometimes in life. Everyone who is walking in the light faces trials, temptations, tribulations and persecutions. Jesus even promised us that we would in John 16:33, but when we go through these things, many Christians fall into peril and lose their peace of mind. It is because they do not trust that God will really take care of them in the storm. Therefore, they look to worldly examples such as the "five steps to peace" or participate in programs that offer inner peace. Their focus becomes skewed and turns to their own self-efforts. Some even become angry with God like the disciples did when a storm arose and their boat began to sink. They awoke Jesus angrily and in fear saying, "Don't You care if we drown?!" (Mark 4:38) Up until the point where they turned to Jesus, they had tried everything in their own strength to keep that boat afloat. Jesus was their LAST resort. At the point they turned to Him, they were in complete chaos and fear with no more reasoning abilities left.
Did you know that you can rest (or sleep) soundly like Jesus did in the midst of any (and every) storm?
Rest is wrapped up in trusting that God really will handle the negative situations and circumstances in our lives. We may try things that offer an outward rest, but our minds are still very active with trying to come up with solutions or trying to control issues. All because we don't fully trust that if we release it to God, He will take care of it. We think He needs our help.
Here is the crux of the matter, when we rest in Him, God works, and when we work God rests.
There is a lovely scripture in the third chapter of the Book of Ruth that confirms to us how much Jesus wants to work on our behalf while we are resting in Him.
The Old Testament consists of typologies, metaphors, analogies, allegories, types and shadows regarding Jesus. It points to Jesus in a concealed way. The OT is Jesus concealed, while the NT is Jesus revealed.
In the Book of Ruth, Ruth represents the Church and Boaz (Naomi's distant rich relative who comes to redeem her) represents Christ.
Well as the story goes in Ruth 3:4, Naomi told Ruth to go and lay at Boaz's feet. The word "lay" represents rest. For all you Bible scholars, the actual Hebrew word in that verse is shakab. It literally means to lie down, rest and relax.
Therefore, the typology in this scripture is that the Church (Ruth) is to rest at Jesus' (Boaz) feet. In fact, even prior to verse 4, Naomi actually states in Ruth 3:1 that she is specifically seeking rest (or a place to rest as in the original Hebrew context) for Ruth. So she sends Ruth to lay at Boaz' feet. The typology in that statement is that we, the Church, find our rest at Jesus' feet.
Mary found that rest too when she sat at Jesus' feet, while her sister Martha worked (Luke 10:38-42). Again, we see how the one (Martha) who did not rest in the Lord became angry with Jesus and at her sister, Mary. Martha in her anger lashed out with the same words of the disciples in Mark 4:38, "Lord, don't you care...?!"
Martha's focus was on her efforts and not on Christ. Jesus did not rally with her argument. He simply told her that Mary had chosen better and He would not take it from her (Luke 10:42). What was the "it?" Mary's position of rest as confirmed by her sitting at Jesus' feet (Luke 10:39).
Now Jesus does not tell us to do something without a cause. Every time Jesus gives us instruction, there is a promise from Him that will be released to us through our obedience.
Jesus has delivered His promises beforehand to share with us what He has determined in His heart to do for us.
Back to the Book of Ruth. In Ruth 3:18, Jesus tells us (which is a promise) what He will do when we rest and wait upon Him.
Ruth 3:18, "Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man (Jesus) will not rest until the matter is settled today.'"
When we rest in Jesus, He WILL NOT rest until the matter we need taken care of is settled! Now wait, the good news doesn't end there. He even tells us when the matter will be settled at the end of that verse, TODAY, meaning it won't take Jesus long to take care of the matter. Can you shout hallelujah?!
Dear loved ones, it is imperative in these last days that we must believe Jesus' promises, receive them into our hearts, and rest in them in order to stay at true inner rest and peace. Doing so is so important for us that God gave us a scripture that tells us this is the one thing we must labor in (or work hard at). We are to enter His rest in Him. It is found in Hebrews chapter 4.
Hebrews 4:11, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (KJV)
This scripture also tells us that when we are not in rest, we can fall into unbelief. Unbelief and not trusting God go hand-in-hand.
Every day I encourage you to release any cares that come your way into Jesus' very loving and capable hands, and to confess audibly, "I do not let my heart be troubled, nor do I let it be afraid. I lay this care at Jesus' feet and I release the Holy Spirit into this situation in the Mighty Name, Power and Authority of Jesus Christ." Then truly leave it there. Ask Him to help you if you are not able. Fear can be habit forming, so you may need His help to release it.
While waiting upon the Lord, if Jesus wants you to do something, He will tell you what to do. If He does tell you to do something, then you do it, but don't try any longer to figure it all out. Once you have released the problem, it's His. Everything will fall into place as if it was divinely organized, because it is. Jesus does not forget.
We confess every Sunday before our service, "We Believe what Jesus said; We Receive what Jesus said; We Rest in what Jesus said." It's more affectionately known by the acronym of BRR because it is so cool. Our part is only to focus on Christ and He will take care of the rest (in every sense and definition of the word "rest").
Let me leave you with Isaiah 26:3, "You (Jesus) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You (Jesus)." (NIV)
Many blessings as you rest in the Lord,
Pastor Sandy
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