Taking Time to Rest
The importance of rest and self-care for maintaining spiritual vitality and avoiding staleness.
The preacher discusses the concept of enduring (hupomeno) in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of remaining steadfast under trials with vibrant hope, glorifying God through the lessons learned. Examples like Gladys Aylward and William Wilberforce showcase true Christian perseverance empowered by the Holy Spirit. Various quotes and illustrations highlight the virtue of endurance, with biblical references showing how enduring leads to salvation, growth, and God's favor. The sermon underscores that endurance is a critical aspect of Christian maturity, leading to a deeper understanding of God's truths and a more fruitful ministry.
Text
Sometimes our trouble is not moral but physical. As long as we are in these mortal bodies our spiritual lives will be to some degree affected by our bodies. Here we should notice that there is a difference between our mortal bodies and the ?flesh? of Pauline theology. When Paul speaks of the flesh he refers to our fallen human nature, not to our physical bodies, which are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Spirit there is deliverance from the propensities of the flesh, but while we live there is no relief from the weaknesses and imperfections of the body.
One often-unsuspected cause of staleness is fatigue.
Shakespeare said something to the effect that no man could be a philosopher when he had a toothache, and while it is possible to be a weary saint, it is scarcely possible to be weary and feel saintly; and it is our want of feeling that we are considering here. The Christian who gets tired in the work of the Lord and stays tired without relief beyond a reasonable time will go stale. The fact that he grew weary by toiling in the Lord?s vineyard will not make his weariness any less real. Our Lord knew this and occasionally took His disciples aside for a rest.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Our Trouble
- The Difference Between Body and Flesh
- The Cause of Staleness
- The Importance of Rest
- Our Lord took time to rest with His disciples
- Rest is essential for spiritual vitality
Key Quotes
“While it is possible to be a weary saint, it is scarcely possible to be weary and feel saintly;” — A.W. Tozer
“Our Lord knew this and occasionally took His disciples aside for a rest.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that fatigue can be a cause of staleness and take steps to rest and recharge.
- Prioritize self-care and rest to maintain your spiritual vitality.
- Remember that our Lord took time to rest with His disciples, and we should do the same.