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  REST AND REJOICE!
  by Miles J. Stanford
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Summary: 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.

Topics: "Spiritual Rest", "Dependence On God"
Scripture References: Psalm 37:7, Romans 7:24, Philippians 4:4, Hebrews 4:5, Hebrews 4:9

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DESCRIPTION
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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.

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CONTENT
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"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).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/miles-j-stanford/rest-and-rejoice/
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