Rest in HIm

This world is so chaotic isn’t it? There is so much that we go through that takes away our attention from the most important things. It is no different in the Christmas season. With all the hype of the holiday, on top of financial hardship, a divided government and country, sickness, the list goes on, there is more need for peace and rest than ever. Today, we wrap up our Christmas series, Simple Christmas, with a message titled, “Rest in Him.” My prayer is that today you would maybe find the rest that your soul has been longing for.

Pray

Read: Luke 2:1-7 and Matthew 11:28

Explanation:

The birth of Jesus brought about so much. The birth of Jesus drew Mary and Joesph to Bethlehem. This was a fulfillment of Genesis 49:10, Micah 5:2, Numbers 24:17, 2 Samuel 7:1-17, and Isaiah 7:14. All of this is because of the heart of our loving God who said through Jeremiah 1:12

Jeremiah 1:12 ESV

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

Bethlehem means, “house of bread.” This was the best birthplace for the bread of life. God truly knew what He was doing. He and He alone is Sovereign.

With Jesus’ words in Matthew we find that one of the most important things that Jesus draws us to is the truth that...

Application:

His Birth Draws Us to Rest in Him

This is the most beautiful truth of Christmas. Rest, it’s what our lives long for, it’s what our souls long for. With the hectic nature that Christmas can bring, it’s nice to know that we can have rest. However, this rest is not the absence of hardships. It is the refueling that we need to keep going. It is part of God’s promise to never leave nor forsake His children.

The prophet Isaiah tells us who this rest is to come through. Isaiah 9:6 says,

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is a passage stating who Jesus is. There are many titles given of Jesus in this verse. One of those titles is, “Prince of Peace.” Jesus is the one with whom Peace is found. Another title we find is found in Matthew 11:28

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

So what Jesus is saying is that He is rest. He is our peace and rest. In the Hebrew, it means that Jesus is the Shabbat Shalom. In Him is where we will find rest.

This rest is more than the physical rest your body needs. It is the rest our soul needs. Christmas can sometimes bring a reminder to what it is our souls need. One of the gifts that the presence of Jesus brings is an awareness of our need for Him.

It was Augustine that said, “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” - Augustine. Some of you may be here this morning with a weary soul. Some of you, including myself and my family, are missing loved ones that are no longer with us. Still others may be here with no idea what they need, but they know that their soul is tired.

Much of our exhaustion comes because of what we labor after. Some labor after happiness. Some labor after fame and attention. Some labor after knowledge. Some even find themselves laboring after acceptance. The truth is, when we labor after these things we will find ourselves depleted of life. We will find ourselves short on rest. This is when we find our souls tired.

Are you tired? Are you worn down? Part of the simplicity of Christmas is finding rest in Jesus. He offers rest to anyone who would come and lay their lives at His feet.

Conclusion: This whole series has been about simplifying Christmas. We have looked at Worshipping more, Spending less, Giving more, and now Resting in Jesus. Church, I challenge you to take on the Simplicity of Christmas. Let you burdens go and bring yourself to the feet of the single greatest gift that has ever been given. Bring yourself to Jesus. Cry out to Him and allow Him to bring you peace and rest.