The Importance of Rest & Jesus teaches about inner purity
5/28/20262 min read
Hi fam, welcome back, today we have two topics we would be discussing and I pray we get to see the connection between the two.
It's a double loaded breakfast.
Father thank you for this lovely meal you have set before us and let it answer the thoughts in our hearts, Amen. Love you!
Let's eat:
(**NLT**)
1. The Importance of Rest:
Mark 6:30-31
30 The Apostles returned to Jesus and told him all they had done and taught.
31 Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat.
Mark 6:46
After saying goodbye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
Notes:
Reasons for rest:
•To be fed and nourished
•To relax without fixing the demands of others.
•An opportunity to pray and spend one-on-one time with God.
•To actually lay down and rest. A form of stillness to allow your body to heal and release stress.
Types of rest:
• With your team as seen in (Mark 6:30-31)
• By yourself as seen in (Mark 6:46).
You need both. There are times it really has to be only you.
2. Jesus teaches about Inner Purity:
Mark 7:1-2
1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.
2 They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.
Mach 7:5
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, "Why don't your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony."
Notes:
Before we continue I want you to pay attention to traditions.
If you read the whole chapter, you realise it's not just about food but they were talking about religious man-made traditions which the people followed and yet their hearts were far from God.
Jesus responds:
Mark 7:19-23
19 Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach then comes out again." (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes).
20 And then he added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you.
21 For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.
Notes:
Having a rested spirit allows you to walk in clarity and be able to discern the Lord's voice and heed his guidance.
Example when you are tired you become less patient, pressured, prone to anger and may not make wise decisions.
But the good news is if you've received Jesus into your heart, the Holy Spirit leads your steps and produces good fruits in your heart.
Love, kindness, forgiveness, strength, creativity, new ideas, wisdom and solutions.
If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus say with me:
Dear Jesus, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Saviour, I repent of my sins, I believe you died on the cross to reconcile me back to God, I receive your love and new life, Amen.
Father thank you for speaking to us this morning. Let your fresh wind blow in our hearts and rain peace, clarity, strength and love. We receive your love, Amen.
You will be all right, He is here for you.