Coming to know God’s desire for us to experience all that He is, His person, His love, His mercy and grace - His presence… peace and rest, in Him.

Gathering online live at 9am on Sundays on our Facebook! Keep up to date with what's happening at Mosaic at mosaicmansfield.com/covid19.

John 6:29 - Work is to “believe”. What is it to believe, trust, entrust, be still and know, move forward in faith, allow oneself to be stopped or rerouted with wisdom

● Work: the works required and approved by God - and this for salvation, the establishment of the relationship as offered and afforded by God in faith

● Work: a work or worker who accomplishes something

● A Work: is is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose)

● In this case: believing, knowing, trusting, entrusting, following...

...THEN...

● Works: doing (obeying commands) - and this for cultivating and maintaining the relationship, making effective and productive, in and by the sanctifying power of the Spirit and Truth (with our cooperation)

That work is accomplished in us by God through faith, the works we do are those we do as we listen to our Father’s commands and obey them… because we believe!

● Believe: “I believe”, have faith in, trust in (growing to) entrust - more and more)

● Believe: being persuaded that this is true - leading to (faith), because it proceeds from, God’s in-birthing faith (2Peter 1:2)

John uses the word “believe” over 100 times in his gospel, which accounts for over half of the occurrences in the New Testament

Like any other relationship this takes...

● Time - with each other - He’s here waiting and wanting! (Rv 3:20; Mt 7:7; Lk 11:9; Jn 10:3)

● Attentiveness - engagement - mutual honor and respect (1Pe 3:12; Ne 1:1; Ps 18:6; 33:18; 34:15; 65; Job 36:7; Zech 13:9)

● Times - commitment and consistency in meeting (Is 1:18; 55:6; 65:24; Ps 23; Mt 11:28)

● Dialogue - Listening, listening, asking, and telling (Phil 4:4-8)

● Doing - engaging with one another in what you have discussed and decided upon

James 1:19-27 - instruction and encouragement

Phil 4:4-8 - doing what God’s way and wisdom demands

We cannot blame God for not guarding and guiding our hearts and minds - if we do not yield to and do what He instructs to do - in loving obedience to His love and wise and loving commands..

When we take into consideration that He has given us “everything we need for life and godliness” His instructions, His Spirit with Whom to fellowship, be instructed, encouraged, empowered by, and we do not utilize all that He is and gives, not knowing or doing what it is He, out of mercy, grace, kindness, love and wisdom says we have to do.

Jesus: the Light and Life; His Commands, the Expression of His Grace

Jesus is calling His followers to do just that, follow. As He has demonstrated His love to us, He now commands us to live in that love, by loving as He has (and still does). But, He has not left us alone to do this as we are able, but in fact, gives us everything we need to accomplish all He has created us to be and do (Eph 2:8-10) first loving us, then giving us His commands (Psalm 19; Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27; John 13:34; 14:15,23-24; 15:12,17; Matt 28:19), then empowering us with and by His Spirit (John 14:16-18,26; Eph 1:13-14; Phil 3:10; Titus 3:5; 2Peter 1:3).

It is by the Holy Spirit that we are kept and encouraged, then empowered and enabled to love Jesus and obey His commands (John 14:23), to be transformed in the attitude of our minds (Rom 12:2; Eph 4:23; Col 3:9-10) to live a life worthy (Eph 4:1), and to accomplish the good works of the kingdom (Phil 2:13; Heb 13:21) - bringing God glory and honor (Matt 5:16)

And this is knowing Jesus, not just knowing about Him, but truly, knowing Him. (2Pet 1)

Luke 6:39-49

Psalm 19

2Peter 1

Resting in the Knowledge of the Truth That We are Loved

Working to believe that God loves us, because He is love – and there we rest.

But, there is a do to be done – joining God in cultivating the “good tree, bearing the good fruit”: love as we've been loved: putting our hearts at rest: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:1-5; Luke 6:43-45; 1John

1John 3:1,16-24 - putting our heart at rest. 

The proof is in the “putting”... We put our hearts at rest in God, when we join Him, by His Spirit, in the cultivating of the “good tree”. Obedience is the expression of our love to God in growing trust of His Person and word,

…having been loved, receiving that love, learning to trust that love,

and in turn...

...having been loved by God, having His Spirit of love poured into us... (Rom 5:5)

...we now respond by loving God - in trusting and loving obedience to His commands…

...and the truth of God’s love in us is most tangibly manifest in our loving others…

3:21-24 “...when our heart condemns us…” our heart’s condemning us has to do with our consciences revealing to us where we have or have not lived out God’s commands in love, to love

1John 4:7-21 - by loving one another, we complete God’s love - this is the fruit of His love to us, in us, and through us - the resulting “good fruit” is like the completion of a circuit: as God loves us and His love dwells in us by the Spirit, as we then exercise that love, by loving (one) another, we complete the circuit. And this is Jesus in us, having loved us, (now) doing His work through us, with us, as we say “I love you” by cooperating with His Spirit in us, by obeying His commands… (overcoming our own self’s desires Gal 5)

1John 5:1-5 – putting our hearts at rest, building our confidence. What should we be looking for? 

What we will begin to see is progression – as we are works in progress, you know. That progression will be from…

1. First for salvation - victory with Jesus over sin and death - where we began with Jesus to where we are today

2. Second for continuing day-to-day of Christian living - where we were this morning to where we are by evening… that is, coming to love God, self and others as we love ourselves progressively – more and more.

“make the tree good and the fruit will be good…”

We bear “good fruit”, not because we are good on our own, but we bear good fruit, or do good, because Christ is good in us, so in Christ we are good, as God has worked to “make the tree good” (Matthew 12:33; Eph 2:8-10). So, all this good is of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Father! (Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; Rom 5:5-11; 1Peter 2:12)

And all of this builds our confidence. As we see God working on us and in us, and as we cooperate by yielding to His Spirit, submitting our will to His, placing our trusting (sometimes wobbly) faith in Him and work with Him who is in us, we begin to see God in action in us, and through us - accomplishing His purposes!

Seeing the fruit of this interaction builds our faith, assures us, and increases our hope - so the love of God pouring in and through us is further and continued evidence of the life of Christ in us. (Col 3:1-3, 12-17)

But, what happens if (and when) I blow it? Well, God will forgive us: 1John 1:8-10; 21-2

Lest we be confused – there is a difference between a believer committing a sin and one who “lives in sin”. 1John 3:7-10 “...the one who does right is righteous, just as He is righteous…” why? Because He has made us righteous. (Rom 4:24; 1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:21; 1Phil 3:9; 1Peter 2:24)

1John 3:7 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil” but… what if I sin? We will sin. We may even struggle with repeated or habitual temptation and sin, but the key here is “the struggle” with sin (as to not rejoice in our sin or the sin of others - Rom 1:32; 1Peter 2:8.) This “life of sin” John speaks of here is a matter of loving, embracing and celebrating wickedness (the opposite of “blessed are those who mourn” Matt 5:4) So, the idea of “No one born of God will continue to sin” has to do with a person’s heart’s affections being staid on sin and finding joy in their sinfulness. NOT “if you or I sin”. That is different.

For a child of God, or one who is righteous, to commit a sin, is for a believer in Jesus to fail to live out the righteousness (of Christ) that they have been made, disobeying the Spirit’s leading and guiding and “doing what I want” (Gal 5)... the mark of the believer being righteous in Jesus, but committing a sin, is the “heart condemning us” or our conscience convicting us, in light of the Spirit in us and God’s truth as expressed in His commands, telling us that we have disobeyed and sinned. (choosing to love one’s self and the desire of self over God and others)

But remember: “God is Greater than our hearts”!! Our “heart’s condemning” is the Holy Spirit in us calling to our heart to repent, or, come back to God and His way of love.

This is not in any way to condone sin or sweep it under the rug, but, in light of our humanity, to allow for sin’s presence in our lives and give us a way of restoration when our sin has grieved our God and Father, our savior, friend and brother - Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who is us. As well as those with whom we walk that we may have offended, hurt, and sinned against.

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, not is anyone who does not love their brother or sister”

1John 3:11-15 (Genesis 4; Prov 29:10; Heb 11:4)

there is a do to be done - cultivating the good tree: love as we've been loved: putting our hearts at rest

Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:1-5; Luke 6:43-45; 1John

1John 3:1,16-24 - putting our heart at rest. 

The proof is in the “putting”... We put our hearts at rest in God, when we join Him, by His Spirit, in the cultivating of the “good tree”. Obedience is the expression of love, having been loved, and in turn having been loved by God, then having His Spirit of love poured into us, we now respond by loving God in trusting and loving obedience and this is most tangibly manifest in our loving others…

1 John 3:21-24 our heart’s condemning us has to do with our consciences revealing to us where we have or have not lived out God’s commands in love, to love - expressing the love and righteousness that He has made us to be in Jesus - the nature of His life and Spirit in us.

But, what happens if (and when) I blow it? Well, God will forgive us:

1John 4:7-21 - by loving one another, we complete God’s love - this is His love to us, in us, and through us - it is like a circuit - as God loves us and Jesus and His love dwells in us by the Spirit, as we then exercise that love, by loving another, we complete the circuit. And this is Jesus in us having loved us, (now) doing His work through us, with us, as we say the “I love you” by cooperating with His Spirit in us, by obeying His commands…

And His commands are not burdensome… Why? Because He doesn’t leave us alone to do this in our strength, remember (they are not burdensome because) “...God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5

1John 5:1-5 - what we should see is progression from where we began with Jesus to where we are today; where we were this morning to where we are by evening…

We bear “good fruit”, not because we are good on our own, but we bear good fruit, or do good, because in Christ we are good, because God has made the tree good (Matthew 12:33; Eph 2:8-10) and all this good is of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Father! (Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; 1Peter 2:12)

And all of this builds our confidence. 

As we see God working on us and in us, and we cooperate as to yield to His Spirit, to submit our will to His, to place our trusting (sometimes wobbly) faith in Him and work with Him who is in us, we see God in action through us - accomplishing His purposes! And this builds our faith, it assures us, it increases our hope - as the love the pours in and through us is further and continued evidence of the life of Christ in us. (Col 3:1-3, 12-17)

“Jesus loved…” John 11:5- God loves us, you and me. It is true, and that is the Truth.

 And the truth is, to believe that truth, that God loves us, “... loves me”, is one of the most difficult truths to believe, receive and accept in all of scripture. But, He does, and, without our having done anything to deserve it. In fact, if anything, for the most part, we had (and have) acted in such a way as to NOT deserve it. And yet He does it, He loves us. So, we can see that there was, there is, nothing we could or can do to secure God’s love.

And we cry out “Give me something to do! You didn’t give me anything to execute!”

It is so hard to grasp, but that fact is, the “to do’s” of the Christian faith have nothing to do with being loved by God - God’s love works like this: He has “preferred” us - this IS the good news to the world: “that God so loved, or has preferred and chosen to love (agape), the world!” So, it is ours, through Jesus, to now receive that love, and once received, to abide, to rest, to be at peace in that love (agape) (AND being loved agapeo)!

● Agape - benevolence, good will, esteem, to prefer

● Agapeo - God’s loving expression, that action of agape - God to us, “I love”, wish well, take pleasure in, long for, (I choose to) esteem; then, us to God and others - having experienced that love and having that love in us by His Spirit, we love by…

○ Embracing God’s will - choosing His choices and obeying through His power

○ Actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him - by HIs power and direction

○ Loving as defined by God - a discriminating affair involving choice and selection - us, you and me

John 14:15, 21-24; 15:1-17

STOP! WAIT! 

What if I fail? What if I struggle? What if I doubt, or don’t follow through, do not obey, or even disobey?!

REMEMBER: Jesus is in the business of keeping. So often we get caught up in fear of losing “what if…?” That is because we read such passages through the lens of our weakness, knowing well our propensity to fail, we are defeated by passages that jump out - placing them out of context emphasizing the wrong thing- and they sneer at us and seemingly mock us, as we are sure that “it is my responsibility to hold on to my salvation or else lose it…” Or, that my sin and failure is proof that I do not belong, or that God can’t possibly love me and therefore I am lost. (that’s not so - John 13:31-38; 1Cor 3:10-23) But, it is not so, Jesus wants us, won us, and is committed to keeping us til the end!

● Phil 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

● Heb 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

● 2Peter 2:9 “...if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials…”

● 1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

The power of God’s love, expressed in His mercy and grace, is not only in the saving, but in the keeping! His patient waiting for and walking with us in our being slowly, step-by-step, transformation - or - being conformed into the image of Jesus. (Rom 2:4; 6:5; 8:28-30; Eph 2:8-10; 1John 3:1-2)

As obeying His commands doesn’t get us into God’s love, neither does disobeying get us out of God’s love, BUT!!...

!!...But maximizing our experiencing that love and the accompanying assurance - marked by peace and rest - in a deeper and deeper way, does take work, or, things we do, bearing the fruit of Jesus’ life in us, lived out by us

● With assurance comes

○ Peace and rest

○ Confidence

○ Desire to please the one who has loves us

○ Acting in loving obedience enabling us to

■ Grow in trust

■ Increase in faith

■ Grow in character - righteousness, or, Jesus in us, out through us, Him with us, by us

The work is then…

● To believe, and in believing… (John 6:29; 1John 3:23)

● To obey His commands - to submit, and in obeying…

○ John 14:15

■ Passively - we have been made good, therefore the goodness of Jesus’ life in us cannot help but leak out (Matt 25) because it is not

■ Actively - choosing to obey (Matt 25; Gal 5; 6)

● To persevere (Rom 5; Jam 1; 1Pet 1)

We will then bear fruit -

● the fruit of righteousness

● the character of Jesus

● Confident assurance or increased

○ faith and

○ hope and

○ love and knowledge of Him and His love

All of this is in Ephesians 3:21

2Peter 1:1-2 “Grace and peace in abundance” that’s what God wants for us, and, oddly enough, that’s what we crave!

● Knowing that God IS love

● God loves His creation

● God loves you/me

These things are true (gnosis). Period. And we can be assured of its being true.

It is another thing to experience that love, to know (epignosis) that love. And we can experience the love of God relationally - Spirit and Truth through the Spirit of Truth.

Both are important, necessary, impacting - each impacts and enhances the other (epignosis is the wooing and convincing of the heart; gnosis is the convincing and assuring of the mind)

The work of the kingdom is to believe…

● It does not take work to be loved by God.

● It does not take work to receive God’s love.

● It does not take work to be acceptable to God.

But…

● It does take work to believe (with confident assurance) in the Son of God.

● It does take work to know and experience the fullness of the love of God.

● It does take work to remain and sustain our consistently of that experiencing the fullness of the love of God.

So, we are loved by God, period. And our I love you back? Obey, to do the work, or by making every effort… to love.

Mary and Martha - with whom is it easier to identify with? Martha… why?

Mary’s is the harder work. to...

● Believe

● Linger, engage, and listen

● Rest, and this…

○ Eternally in believing and trusting faith in Jesus/ provision of life

○ Daily in believing and trusting faith in Jesus’ provision for life - effective and productive

Making every effort… Luke 13:24; Hebrews 4:11 - we say we “believe in Jesus”, but do we have faith enough to rest in Jesus? That is to truly trust that He finished the work the Father sent Him to do?

To work to believe - John - we daily enter His rest - in many regards to keep ourselves from thinking the “work” is ours - the work is in the believing and the resting. And by the way, this is not a new prayer: “I believe, but help me with my unbelief” Mark 9

To grow in faith – Colossians 2:6-10; Romans 5:1-11 - persevere

To pursue as hunting prey - 1Peter 3:11 - seek and pursue

Peace in abundance… 2Peter 1:5 - making every effort, every day, to experience the “rest” of Jesus –

God’s rest is where we

● Charge and recharge

● Recount and celebrate

● Look back and look forward

● Contemplate and dream

● Hear and are heard

● Breathe deep sighs of satisfaction and enjoyment, of wonder and amazement

● Rest, be at peace, in the knowledge and experience of being His, here now, with Him

None of this happens without - rest. And, without entering into God’s rest, there is not peace

“...and peace to those on whom His favor rests…” Luke 2:14

This, this rest, this peace, begins with God Himself - the person and nature of God. Why? If we were made in God’s image and likeness - we can trust that what is good for Him, is good for us.

God loves Himself (God; Us, and Ours) and He loves us, His neighbor, or others, as He loves Himself. We can trust that His commandments, His ways, His way of life is best and that we, having been intentionally and purposely made in His image and likeness, are designed to live that way - His way - work and rest. And resting takes faith - a growing faith. And, faith takes work and this is the work to rest in peace.

Therefore, there is work and there is rest, and in that rest, we find our peace. And that work, is the work of God, and work of God, His kingdom, and that work is to believe… as our belief is validated or affirmed our faith grows, our assurance deepens, and our peace increases - because we become more and more confident. And it is in that belief, our believing, more and more, that we rest and find our peace.

John 6:29 “Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."”

Hebrews 4:11

It is Jesus who establishes for us, peace with God through grace, by faith...

Hebrews 3:1 “ therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess… Christ (Jesus) is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to the courage and the hope of which we boast. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. but encourage one another daily, as long as it is today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first (Rev 2)

Having had this peace established, let us enter, daily in this rest, that our assurance would grow…

Hebrews 4:1-3a “..since the promise of entering God’s rest (still) stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we have also had the gospel preached to us (just as the Isrealites in the desert had - but the message they heard was of no value to them because those who heard did not combine it with faith)… Now we who believe enter that rest,..”

...making every effort to enter that rest now established…

Hebrews 4:9-11 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following (the disobedient Isrealite’s) example

Heb 4 Great high priest

2Peter 1:1-11a

Finding Peace: Working to Enter Into God’s Rest

Genesis 1:26-31; 2:1-3 God’s image and likeness - God is a God of work and a God of rest, therefore, we are a people of work and we are a people of rest.

Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha - a heart distracted, a heart that has entered God’s place of rest, peace…

• Mary entered God’s rest

• Martha did not

We might ask ourselves “But, if entering into God's rest means to just sit and ‘do nothing’ how do we get anything get done?”.

I don’t think that’s the point - we need to understand that the key term here is not “work” but, “distracted”

Distracted from what?

Entering into God’s rest

• God is a God of rest. That time and place of rest was and is the place we attentively commune with Him - attentive, engaging, abiding.

God’s rest is where we

• Charge and recharge

• Recount and celebrate

• Look back and look forward

• Contemplate and dream

• Hear and are heard

• Breathe deep sighs of satisfaction and enjoyment, of wonder and amazement

• Rest, be at peace, in the knowledge and experience of being His, here now, with Him

None of this happens without - rest. And, without entering into God’s rest, there is no peace

“...and peace to those on whom His favor rests…” Luke 2:14

This, this rest, this peace, begins with God Himself - the person and nature of God. Why? If we were made in God’s image and likeness - we can trust that what is good for Him, is good for us.

God loves Himself (God; Us, and Ours) and He loves us, His neighbor, or others, as He loves Himself

• Matthew 22:34-40

• Eph 5

We can trust that His commandments, His ways, His way of life is best and that we, having been intentionally and purposely made in His image and likeness, are designed to live that way - His way - work and rest.

And resting takes faith - a growing faith. And, faith takes work and this is the work to rest in peace

Therefore, there is work and there is rest, and in that rest, we find our peace. And that work, is the work of God, and work of God, His kingdom, and that work is to believe… as our belief is validated or affirmed our faith grows, our assurance deepens, and our peace increases - because we become more and more confident. And it is in that belief, our believing, more and more, that we rest and find our peace.

John 6:29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Hebrews 4:11

It is Jesus who establishes for us, peace with God through grace, by faith...

Hebrews 3:1 “ therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess… Christ (Jesus) is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to the courage and the hope of which we boast. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. but encourage one another daily, as long as it is today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first (Rev 2)

Having had this peace established, let us enter, daily in this rest, that our assurance would grow…

Hebrews 4:1-3a “..since the promise of entering God’s rest (still) stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we have also had the gospel preached to us (just as the Israelites in the desert had - but the message they heard was of no value to them because those who heard did not combine it with faith)… Now we who believe enter that rest,..”

...making every effort to enter that rest now established…

Hebrews 4:9-11 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following (the disobedient Isrealite’s) example

2Peter 1:1-11a

Taken Violently, Though Given Graciously (Matt 11; Isa 40; Heb 1)

Let this not be misunderstood, the violence with which the kingdom is assailed is that of the “hungry” being “satisfied” (Matt 5:6).

Those starving for something more, thirsting for life and purpose, to be accepted by God, the Father, their Maker… These Galileans were not ignorant of the promises of God and the coming kingdom (though many of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law alluded to such). These folks had heard the prophecies, been taught the lessons, and looked and prayed for the Messiah to come just like any good Jew of the time.

They had been told though, whether explicitly or implicitly, by others or, having been treated as such, and perhaps even repeated these abuses in their own hearts and minds telling themselves that “God can’t possibly love ‘me’”, that the kingdom could not be inherited by the likes of them. They wanted to know God, to be recipients of the promise, they were hungering for the kingdom, they were thirsting for righteousness. There was a reason they went to John to hear him and be baptized (as cited by Jesus - Matt 11:7-8) and longed to know and be known by God.

Nathaniel is proof (John 1:43-50)… They had gotten glimpses, small tastes of God’s glorious intentions and had heard that AS paupers, they could never attain the kingdom and God’s love. (ironically - Matt 5:3)

Now hearing about, seeing and hearing, experiencing God’s love through Jesus these people… 

as Jews, as people (even gentiles), God’s promises were theirs, too. As Jesus spoke, to them, in their towns (not (yet) in Judea, Jerusalem, in the Temple, but in their towns and villages, their home) He was speaking to them, not at them; He was touching them, not shooing them; He, this Jesus, the Messiah(?!), was one of them, not lording over them… but, among them, being with them. This was outrageous, unimaginable, this could not be true…

“...from the John the Baptist until now…” The violent shaking of the hearts of these towns’ folks must have been incredible, astonishing, bewildering, undoing... So, this violent “taking” of the Kingdom is not an assault or a selfish grab, but an explosive release of everything penned up in the heart of the desperate and dying at their release from the bondage of fear and hopelessness of being lost, discarded, and now received, accepted, into the sure hope of the Kingdom’s King’s love and kindly welcome – by the very One that would release them.

In this Man, in this moment, in this place, among these people, the many heavenly metaphors are realized – in this coming of the Messiah:

 the kingdom initiated and inaugurated, the redeemed purchased, the adoption completed, the living temple built, the bride is born, the relationship is established (Groom and bride), the bride adorned… looking forward then to the Groom’s passionate embrace and the ushering in of the new earth, the new City, and the feast of celebration

All of this would be so in the hearts of those who heard and believed this, him, as trueand real, even if told it could not be theirs - but now, in this Jesus, IT IS! It is, by faith, their’s, and yes, ours!

Swinging wide open the doors of the kingdom…

This is not a ransacking of the Kingdom, but the long-awaited consummation of the invitation… and invitation accepted and received! (Matt 22:1-14)

The invitation is to all who would receive what God, in Christ Jesus, offers - Peace with God;

Forgiveness of sin; Eternal life - Jesus’ life now in them/us; Acceptance by their/our Father; Adoption as children; Co-heirs with Jesus, our savior, brother, King

OR - REST! Rest from our work, the work of trying… to prove, to earn, to be… acceptable

Isaiah 40 - and who is this God in whom we rest and are refreshed?

· 40:1-5 God’s loving compassion, comfort and care

· 40:6-26 God’s being able and, despite His utter grandeur, desire to love and bless mankind

· 40:27-31 God is able, willing and He is for us! “Wait in the Lord” - trust, stretch, then the tension of enduring, waiting, to be strong - endure, remain - to look eagerly - to collect and be collected, bound together, patiently tarry

Job 7:17 “What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him…”

Psalm 8:4 “...what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?”

Psalm 144:3 “O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?”

Jesus… the Father’s love, mercy, grace, and wonderful purpose – expressed by His Word, the Son - John 1; Hebrews 1

Peace established, in rhythms and seasons (Gen 1&2; Ecc 3)

Finding rest, for the soul… resting in the One in Whom we rest and from Whom we gain our strength - Matthew 11; Hebrews 4; Isaiah 40

Matthew 11 -

• Questioning in the waiting (John the Baptist in prison - Matt 4:12; 14:1-12; Mk 1:14; Luke 3:1-20)

• Violence in the taking - “We have heard it, we have seen it, this is what we want!”

• Turmoil and work, conflict and contempt in the living and learning (Isaiah 23) - “Oh, if you would only…”

• Rest for the soul - the encouragement of God’s gracious and kind, His loving, care

Isaiah 40 - and who is this God in whom we rest and are refreshed?

• God’s loving compassion, comfort, and care

• God’s being able and, despite His utter grandeur, desire to love and bless mankind

• “Wait in the Lord”

Job 7:17 “What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him…”

Psalm 8:4 “...what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?”

Psalm 144:3 “O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?”

Hebrews 4:12-16

Jesus calls us to rest in Him, ushered in by our Priest and King… (Heb 2:14-18)

Hebrews 4:8-13 - And what is its beginning, this entering God’s rest? Is it not Who (Jesus - the Word) and what He has spoken (scriptures - the words of the Word) to us as truth and that truth’s ability to give the heart assurance of its, now in Jesus, right place in and with Him - resting?

• Accomplishing God’s will (Isaiah 55:10-11; Matt 4:4; 24:35; Luke 4:4; Deut 8:3; 29:29; 2Peter 1:21)

• Establishing - salvation (Matt 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; John 5:36-39; Eph 1:13; 2Tim 15)

• Instructing, reminding (admonishing), correcting (Psalm 119; 2Tim 3:16; James 1:22-25)

• Encouraging - strengthening (Rom 15:4; 2Tim 3:16)

• Affirming - peace and confidence (2Peter 1:5-11)

• Growing in wisdom - maturity, character, stature and equipping (Prov 1-4; 8; 2Tim 316-17)

2Tim 3:14-17 

“14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

He made us, He loves us, we are His children

God’s commitment to real relationships is so profound and I think sometimes is beyond our imagination. God’s words states that God has always been, is now, and will always be, and yet, in a moment in time, He, they, chose, to make a creature in His own image, in their own likeness. That creature, made to be like Him, was and is, the crown jewel God's glorious creation. That creature is man and woman - and was made to be the children of God, friend of His Son the King… and so He, the Son, would also, come as a child and dwell among us, and now, in us...

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love Ephesians 1:4

And knew what it would take to ensure that relationship…

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26

And God invited man into relationship, not just creator/creation, but, governor and steward. To partner with God in the caring for all that was made, all that had life and breath - all there was…

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

15The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 3:15-17

The trees in the garden were there to test our love, to see, did we love… and they chose, and we choose, there, who it is that they would love…

...and what is most astonishing is God's response to this, but he would how do I make a way, but that he is already planned the way...

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me… Hebrews 10:5

Before the beginning of time…

20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1Peter 1:20

..and He left His glory behind…

6Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! … and came as a child, born of a virgin…

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isa 7:14

... and the creator, now, would become like the creation and make His dwelling, is Home, among them, with them, and, love them… and out of love, longing for real relationship, gave mankind, gave us the right to become - children of His Father, brothers and sisters of the King - co-heirs, with Him… (Heb 2:13; 1John 3:1,10; 5:2)

9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:9-14

And there was nothing about Him that would attract us to Him… except His goodness, His mercy, His grace and His love… He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2...and the relationship grows, and deepens, and furthers the reality of God’s desire to know and be known… I will be their God, and they will be my people and I will dwell with them giving them a Spirit light and life… and God would now, not merely dwell with mankind, but in mankind, making His home, not with them, but, in them…

14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. f And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Rom 8:14-17

And to call us His friend… I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

And in all of this, we see the goodness of God, encapsulated in this body prepared before, that has nothing in its appearance to attract us to Him, but that of the twinkle in his eye that is His invitation to us, to His Grace, to love, to fellowship, invitation to us, to Him.

And it is ours to do the same. In 1Peter 3, Peter implores us to not allow our beauty to merely consist of our outward adornment, but that our beauty should be that of a quiet inner spirit, a twinkle in our eye that reflects the mercy and grace and love that we have experienced, that we know, and that we practice with one another, that now the world sees...

...that the world would not be attracted to us because of our outward adornment but that they’d be attracted to Him, through us, because they see His love expressed in His mercy and grace, and the transformation of our lives over time, as we learn to love as we have been loved, and no, bring that love in these broken attractive vessels oh, that beautifully accentuates the goodness and the beauty of our Lord and His life in us, that they made too, be attracted to him, who dwells not only among us, but in us.