02/14/16 The Invitation Still Stands!
Are You That Witness Series – Matthew 11:28-30
Intro: Does the word "weary” ever describe
your life? Do you ever feel like you have reached the end of your rope and
there simply isn't enough rope left with which to tie a knot? These are the
kinds of people Jesus is addressing in these verses. This chapter deals with
the doubts of John the Baptist, the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, and the
wickedness of the cities where Jesus had been preaching. He has been surrounded
by those who are wearied either with their vain efforts at religion, or their
equally vain struggles against sin. These are people who need to know that Jesus
has presented an invitation that offers rest.
I remember in the early 90’s Ray
Boltz a gospel song writer made well known a song that was entitled: “The
Anchor Holds.” Some of those lyrics of that song still speak to me today; The
anchor holds thou the ship is battered, the anchor holds thou the sails are
torn. I have fallen down on my knees because I face the raging seas, but the anchor
holds in spite of the storm… Christ is that anchor and in spite of the storms His
relationship will never let go. "Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest.” If you are one of those who are weary: “HE
WILL GIVE YOU REST!”
‘And we know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans
8:28
Text: Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For
My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Application: His yoke is easier.
When
a yoke is first placed on the shoulders of the ox, the ox will rebel against
the yoke. It doesn't quiet feel right. However, when he surrenders to the yoke
and puts his shoulders to the task of pulling his burden, he finds that the
yoke make the job of pulling the burden much easier than it would have been
otherwise. There is a lesson here for you and me! We should all strive to yield
to the yoke Jesus has designed for us to wear. It may not feel right when we
are first exposed to it and we may want to buck and kick against it, but if we
will surrender to it, we will find that it may actually make our lives easier
than they would have been otherwise. ‘And we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose.”
Jesus was trained as a carpenter. In those days, carpenters didn't
build houses and bookshelves. Carpenters usually spent their time building farm
implements. In other words, Jesus must have carved out a lot of ox yoke as He
was growing up there in Nazareth. Now, as our Savior, He is still carving out
individualized, perfectly fitting yoke for each of His children.
1. The Invitation
to Salvation: vs. 28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.
This invitation is a plea Jesus delivers; it is the essence
of salvation! Salvation is coming to Jesus! It is not coming to a church, a
creed, a man, a denomination, an altar, a baptistery, a new way of living,
Salvation is coming to Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 (KJV)
He invites “All” — anyone
who sees their need of a Savior can come to Jesus and they will be saved, “All
that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by
no means cast out.’ John 6:37 Come to Jesus! That’s the call, the invitation.
This
invitation describes the people He invites; He is referring to those He has
been dealing with in this chapter. Some are struggling under the burden of
doubt, the yoke of religious legalism, and the bondage of sin. He wants them
all to know that they can have rest! If only they accept His invitation.
This
invitation declares a promise; a promise of rest, quietness, calmness, peace, and
even refreshment. All those who come to Jesus are given rest. “But those who
wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings
like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.’ Isaiah
40:31
2. The Command to Surrender: vs. 29a
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from
Me"
We recently started a new Bible Study using Kyle Idleman’s “Not A Fan”
material. In this study there is a reality check with a question that is asked;
are you’re a fan of Jesus or are you a completely, committed follower of Jesus?
Salvation always precedes surrender. Can't live like a married man until you
are married. After you are saved, you should live like a saved person
completely committed. A yoke is a wooden implement designed to allow two oxen
to pull a load together. It harnesses the power of both beasts to the load they
are attempting to move. The image of the yoke was also used to speak of
submitting to the instructions of a teacher.
We must surrender to a person; Jesus
wants us to surrender to His control in our lives. He desires that we bow to
His authority. He has the right to demand this: “Don’t you know that your body
is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You
are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God
in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (HCSB) Does He have the reigns to your
life?
We must surrender to a partnership; Jesus is saying, “Get in the yoke
with me.” He is not calling us to walk alone; He is calling us to walk with
Him. He knows that we cannot live this life on our own. He goes with us and
enables us to live for Him as we yield to His control in our lives, “I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” We are not in this thing alone!
True rest in the Christian life comes from surrendering to His control.
3. The Challenge
to Serve. Vs. 29b-30
“For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Our Pattern
in Service; should come from His example. Jesus tells us to look at His
example. He is gentle and humble, completely yielded to the Father's will.
Jesus was sent to this world to serve. While we are not saved by works, we are
clearly saved to work. The word “learn” is the same word that is translated “disciple”.
Jesus is looking for people who will lay everything on the line as He did and
serve Him with no reservations: “Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to
be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of
a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
Our Peace in Service; When
we trust Jesus by faith, we are given rest. When we serve Him faithfully, we
find rest. There is a rest that gives us peace with God and peace of soul.
There is a rest that comes from serving Him. There is a joy, a fulfillment, a
happiness that can be found nowhere else in life. There is something special
about being in the center of His will for your life. If you want true
commitment, come to Jesus for salvation, yield to His will for your life and serve
Him faithfully. The fullness of peace and rest are found under the burden of
His yoke. To be accepted and used of the Lord is a blessing beyond words!
Our Promise
in Service; The word “easy” means “fits well”. Jesus was a carpenter. He will
design a yoke that will fit us perfectly. His burden is “light”. As we put our
shoulder to the path He has chosen for us, there will be burdens along the way.
But, we will find that His yoke brings peace, joy, satisfaction and fulfillment
and that every difficulty in life is turned to our good by His grace: ‘And we
know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who
are the called according to His purpose.” As we walk with Him, we are aware
that our trials here will work for our glory there: “For I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Conclusion: Are you weary and tired
from the struggles of life? Are you weary from the storms you have been called
to face? Are you worn out from trying to serve Him in the power of your flesh?
Are you weary from your burden of sin? There is rest in Jesus for those who
will come to Him. Here His words again: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
In : Sermon
Tags: "are you that witness series" "book of matthew"
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