Matthew 11:28
28. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
NIV
Rest means to pause in work so as to get new strength. Rest means to stop work. Rest means to take a break or seize from work and relax to recuperate. Rest means freedom from stress and stress inducing experiences. Scriptural rest means peace as a result of victory over the enemy.
2 Sam 7:1
7 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
NIV
Rest is freedom from oppression of the enemy, and peace of spirit, mind and body. Rest is to dwell in safety free from fear, anxiety and oppression.
When a man repents and reconciles with God his maker, he enters into rest.
Isa 40:1-2
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
NIV
Without rest the battle continues. Where there is no rest, sorrow abounds. Without rest, progress is difficult and nearly impossible. Solomon prospered because he had rest on every side. The Jews in Esther’s day had peace and prospered after they defeated all their enemies by the king’s edict.
1 Kings 5:4
4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.
NIV
Est 9:16-17
16 Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. 17 This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.
NIV
Rest according to Isaiah’s prophecy is the result of righteousness. Peace is rest. No man can experience rest except he is righteous. And no one can be righteous except he believes in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and righteousness given to him as a gift.
Isa 32:15-20
15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. 16 Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. 17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. 19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, 20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
NIV
Where there is no rest, sorrow abounds. Rest generates joy and peace. When wars are ended, peace, joy and celebration will be the order of the day. Cessation of war brings about progress and prosperity (Read Micah 4:1-4). When there are satanic persons and forces fighting your progress, you will struggle and experience many setbacks, but when victory is won, progress and prosperity just happens. Rest is freedom from the siege of the enemy around you.
When a man is in his rest, his creativity is enhanced. As his creativity is enhanced, his productivity takes a jumbo lift. Rest makes a man creative because his mind is at peace and no longer distracted by the problems he had to contend with. As all wars end, the mind can concentrate to regain all that was lost in time and make progress.
Rest is a manifestation of victory over the devil. You can only be at rest when you have gained victory over the enemy. So, when God promises rest, what He means is that He will fight and defeat your enemy for you, destroy his works and give you victory, so you can settle down and make progress without hindrance.
Surrender to the Lord Jesus today and allow Him to give you rest in Jesus name. Submit to Him and His teachings and go about His business of soul winning and building of His kingdom here on earth and you will enjoy the rest promised in Jesus name.
Apostle Sylvester Onyemalechi
0 Comments