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Amen!...well said....which is why I wrote this below....and just like Willie said....we will be "doing" the works of Him as He works through and in us. It's a great deal!...
"Resting in the Lord is not a lazy passive existence. When we know that God has already provided everything we need in Christ and we access His wisdom, provision, strength and protection by faith, we'll be governed by the Holy Spirit in a highly strategic and active lifestyle."
"It's a Spirit-led lifestyle where we flow in the good works that God planned for us all along as He lives through us to perform His work. ( The cool thing is that He rewards us for the things He does through us....what a great loving Father we have.) "
"Resting in the Lord is not a lazy passive existence. When we know that God has already provided everything we need in Christ and we access His wisdom, provision, strength and protection by faith, we'll be governed by the Holy Spirit in a highly strategic and active lifestyle."
"It's a Spirit-led lifestyle where we flow in the good works that God planned for us all along as He lives through us to perform His work. ( The cool thing is that He rewards us for the things He does through us....what a great loving Father we have.) "
G
The Key and the tipping point in these works? If the works are rest(objective thinking), or if the works are a burden(subjective thinking)?
Eternal security or no eternal security?
Rom 6:23~~New American Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 11:29~~New American Standard Bible
for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Rom 8~~37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If we don't believe we are eternally secure in Christ..........there is NO rest. Our deeds are a burden and they WILL be burned up.
Eternal security or no eternal security?
Rom 6:23~~New American Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 11:29~~New American Standard Bible
for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Rom 8~~37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If we don't believe we are eternally secure in Christ..........there is NO rest. Our deeds are a burden and they WILL be burned up.
Good works are a description of the manifestation of Christ living in and through us......they are not a requirement for salvation.
Many will try to justify their Christian life by their own good works....there is a difference in "good works".....time for the Major to be brought out again...compliments of FreeNChrist...thank you!
This quote will drive the D.I.Y. self-righteous/holiness mindset crazy...and they will be offended...
"You may have harnessed the energy of the flesh in an otherwise quite genuine desire to honor the Lord Jesus in your life. The flesh, which has its origin in Satan, will go along with you; to survive, it is quite prepared to engage in every form of Christian activity, even though this may seem to honor Christ.
The flesh will sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, preside at a deacons’ meeting, preach from the pulpit, organize an evangelistic crusade, go to Bible college, volunteer for the mission field, and a thousand other things, all of which may in themselves be otherwise legitimate, if only it can keep its neck out of the noose. The flesh will threaten, shout, strut, domineer, sulk, plot, creep, beg, plead, or sob, whatever the situation may demand in the interests of its own survival. By any and all means it will seek to cause every Christian to live by his own strength instead of by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, and to conclude that doing so is actually a good thing!
The characteristic of the spiritually immature is that they are unable to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14), and the baby Christian, like the foolish Galatians, “having begun in the Spirit” still tries to be “made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3).
We must be particularly patient with those whose lack of understanding allows a genuine love for the Lord Jesus to be satisfied with, and sometimes to be quite enthusiastic about, Christian activities involving means and methods which are heavily contaminated by the flesh. These are more deserving of instruction than rebuke, for they are still in their spiritual babyhood.
.....The flesh will seek to produce the most plausible arguments in justification of its own illegitimate activities, even though these activities are only what the Bible calls “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14) and not the “good works” which are truly the work of God. “Good works” are those that have their origin in Jesus Christ, as Christ’s activity is released through your body because you present it to Him as a living sacrifice. You do this only by faith that expresses total dependence, as opposed to Adamic independence."
Major Ian Thomas: The Way Of The Flesh; from The Indwelling Life of Christ
Many will try to justify their Christian life by their own good works....there is a difference in "good works".....time for the Major to be brought out again...compliments of FreeNChrist...thank you!
This quote will drive the D.I.Y. self-righteous/holiness mindset crazy...and they will be offended...
"You may have harnessed the energy of the flesh in an otherwise quite genuine desire to honor the Lord Jesus in your life. The flesh, which has its origin in Satan, will go along with you; to survive, it is quite prepared to engage in every form of Christian activity, even though this may seem to honor Christ.
The flesh will sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, preside at a deacons’ meeting, preach from the pulpit, organize an evangelistic crusade, go to Bible college, volunteer for the mission field, and a thousand other things, all of which may in themselves be otherwise legitimate, if only it can keep its neck out of the noose. The flesh will threaten, shout, strut, domineer, sulk, plot, creep, beg, plead, or sob, whatever the situation may demand in the interests of its own survival. By any and all means it will seek to cause every Christian to live by his own strength instead of by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, and to conclude that doing so is actually a good thing!
The characteristic of the spiritually immature is that they are unable to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14), and the baby Christian, like the foolish Galatians, “having begun in the Spirit” still tries to be “made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3).
We must be particularly patient with those whose lack of understanding allows a genuine love for the Lord Jesus to be satisfied with, and sometimes to be quite enthusiastic about, Christian activities involving means and methods which are heavily contaminated by the flesh. These are more deserving of instruction than rebuke, for they are still in their spiritual babyhood.
.....The flesh will seek to produce the most plausible arguments in justification of its own illegitimate activities, even though these activities are only what the Bible calls “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14) and not the “good works” which are truly the work of God. “Good works” are those that have their origin in Jesus Christ, as Christ’s activity is released through your body because you present it to Him as a living sacrifice. You do this only by faith that expresses total dependence, as opposed to Adamic independence."
Major Ian Thomas: The Way Of The Flesh; from The Indwelling Life of Christ
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
God created everything in 6 days,and rested on the 7th day,although God cannot get tired being a Spirit,but it means He stopped laboring,and we labor while on earth,but when resurrected we stop laboring,and rest,and on the 7th day,we will rule with Jesus in the millennial reign of Christ.
That rest is to come,laboring from our works on earth.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Also it means we enter a spiritual rest being with God,for it moves from a physical sabbath to a spiritual sabbath,by the Spirit,and that is why the Bible says Jesus took the sabbath days and nailed them to His cross,taking them out of the way.
And a lot of people do not hear saying,keep the physical sabbath day,but it is a spiritual rest now,by the Spirit.You are keeping the sabbath when you allow the Spirit to lead you.
That rest is here,having the Spirit.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
God created everything in 6 days,and rested on the 7th day,although God cannot get tired being a Spirit,but it means He stopped laboring,and we labor while on earth,but when resurrected we stop laboring,and rest,and on the 7th day,we will rule with Jesus in the millennial reign of Christ.
That rest is to come,laboring from our works on earth.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Also it means we enter a spiritual rest being with God,for it moves from a physical sabbath to a spiritual sabbath,by the Spirit,and that is why the Bible says Jesus took the sabbath days and nailed them to His cross,taking them out of the way.
And a lot of people do not hear saying,keep the physical sabbath day,but it is a spiritual rest now,by the Spirit.You are keeping the sabbath when you allow the Spirit to lead you.
That rest is here,having the Spirit.
E
(To an extent, "Yes" I do. Even the 12 year-old Jesus queried His parents that they should know He had to be about His Father's business. And our whole church is always quite busy doing*something*for*someone.)
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What do you think it means to rest in God then? Cause that is definitely in the Bible
I would sure hope no one is thinking I mean we just graze and drink from refreshing streams and are no more earthly good!
Rest in God ...?
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What do you think it means to rest in God then? Cause that is definitely in the Bible
I would sure hope no one is thinking I mean we just graze and drink from refreshing streams and are no more earthly good!
Rest in God ...?
E
I really agree with many posts here..but I would summarize that resting in GOD means ceasing from our OWN works
I would really like to highlight and quote a bunch of posts but again...I'm on my phone and the quote option is giving me grief
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yes, this - to rest in Him is to cease from our own works. Christ*is*the Sabbath of His people.
as the Jew that sought to establish his own righteousness did not know the righteousness of God, whoever instead submits to His righteousness has found it, and found rest.*
this doesn't mean we sit on our hands. it means our hands are not our own, and the works we do are not our own, and it is not we that do them - "for it is God who works in you" (Philippians 2:13)*
the work of God is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29).*
whoever finds rest in Him, finds peace - not striving to be approved, but having been approved by grace through faith, striving to please the One we love, for love of Him. under the law, we worked for fear of Him - but perfect love casts out fear, and whoever loves the Lord, also does what He asks.
I would really like to highlight and quote a bunch of posts but again...I'm on my phone and the quote option is giving me grief
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yes, this - to rest in Him is to cease from our own works. Christ*is*the Sabbath of His people.
as the Jew that sought to establish his own righteousness did not know the righteousness of God, whoever instead submits to His righteousness has found it, and found rest.*
this doesn't mean we sit on our hands. it means our hands are not our own, and the works we do are not our own, and it is not we that do them - "for it is God who works in you" (Philippians 2:13)*
the work of God is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29).*
whoever finds rest in Him, finds peace - not striving to be approved, but having been approved by grace through faith, striving to please the One we love, for love of Him. under the law, we worked for fear of Him - but perfect love casts out fear, and whoever loves the Lord, also does what He asks.
let's start with "God is pleased with such sacrifices."
[and this will give me a chance to talk about my kids {pulls out numerous photos from wallet} ]
I have a son who was valedictorian for his college (those genes must have come from his mother). when he was up there giving his speech, I was beaming.
did I love him more then? no.
did it change our relationship? no.
Hebrews says that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers (sisters?). is there a time when that's not true? I can't think of one.
does God feel sadness when we don't do good works? probably.
does God discipline us when we do evil? yes!
does it change our relationship? no.
[and this will give me a chance to talk about my kids {pulls out numerous photos from wallet} ]
I have a son who was valedictorian for his college (those genes must have come from his mother). when he was up there giving his speech, I was beaming.
did I love him more then? no.
did it change our relationship? no.
Hebrews says that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers (sisters?). is there a time when that's not true? I can't think of one.
does God feel sadness when we don't do good works? probably.
does God discipline us when we do evil? yes!
does it change our relationship? no.
excellent story! a thing that stands out to me is that Martha is doing a good work, making dinner for Jesus & the gang.
Martha's "challenge for growth" is in wanting Jesus to tell her sister to do the same good works she is doing.
this causes Martha worry and bother... the opposite of resting.
that Martha is also a woman of great faith is shown when she goes to meet Jesus after the death of her brother (Mary is at home)
“Lord, I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask for.”
and
“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. I believe that you are the one who is supposed to come into the world.”
then Martha goes home and tells Mary to go see Jesus.
Martha's "challenge for growth" is in wanting Jesus to tell her sister to do the same good works she is doing.
this causes Martha worry and bother... the opposite of resting.
that Martha is also a woman of great faith is shown when she goes to meet Jesus after the death of her brother (Mary is at home)
“Lord, I wish you had been here! Then my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask for.”
and
“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. I believe that you are the one who is supposed to come into the world.”
then Martha goes home and tells Mary to go see Jesus.
Two things come to my mind:
First, the Lord will take care of us. We need to develop our faith in him so we'll stop worrying and running ourselves ragged trying to solve problems that he will solve for us.
Second, I do believe the day will come when we have very few problems. Maybe this will help explain that:
First, the Lord will take care of us. We need to develop our faith in him so we'll stop worrying and running ourselves ragged trying to solve problems that he will solve for us.
Second, I do believe the day will come when we have very few problems. Maybe this will help explain that: