”The spiritual life is to be pursued as though NO spiritual life exists because it is not really a separate life — Only ONE Life exists, and that is from God which is given to us moment to moment.”
Christianity — Deconstruction and Reconstruction surrounding CHAOS
Chaos — a cause of instability and PAIN: Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual
General Pain — 3 Types :
Burns, cuts, lacerations — damage to organs, muscles, bones, etc.
Inflammation — swelling, throbbing, etc.
Neuropathy — excessive and abnormal sensitivity: magnifies ordinary sensory outputs and converts them into pain
External Energy used for relief; Massage therapy, Sonic Heat, Hydro-thermal
Emotional and Spiritual Neuropathy – constant emotional pain, lacking peace in their minds and hearts
John 14: 27 Jesus’ peace
Restores to ONENES
Single-minded focus
Clears confusion
Stability
“World’s” peace — lack of conflict
James 1:8 — “A double-minded man is UNSTABLE in all of his ways.”
“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting yourself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and LISTENING to His voice in the depths of your hearts. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.” –Mother Teresa
Being ALONE – can allow us to enter into peaceful solitude and find salvation and rest
LONELINESS – carries with it a vague sense of not mattering or not belonging
LONELINESS – is melancholic and nostalgic – a longing for “home” and the peace that comes from solitude.
“Home is the place where when you get there, they have to let you in.” –Robert Frost
“Home” – not as much as being a building buta web of relationships.
We’re at HOME when we are with people who know us and still care for us regardless of our behavior
Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to ME…”
A FRIEND – is someone you know, like, and trust; one who will stand with you in a struggle.
All of Jesus’ early disciples either knew each other or were related to one another. They weren’t randomly picked.
Point: He knew them BEFORE He called them – warts and all!
Jesus’ chosen friends:
Peter– proud, tempestuous, impetuous, denied the Lord Luke 22:50-51 – Cuts a guy’s ear off Galatians 2:11 – “A man-pleaser.” Matthew 17:4 – Rude and spoke out of turn
Thomas – John 20:19-25 – Unbelief
John – The “Apostle of Love” – wanted to incinerate people -Spirit of MURDER
James and John – “Sons of Thunder” – All Noise – No Power!
Mark9:38 – “Hey, you’re not from MY CHURCH-put that demon back in that guy.”
Women with them; Luke 8:1-3 – “…healed of evil spirits….”
Mark 3:13-15 – “And He called unto Himself those He WANTED.”
Ephesians 3:17-18 – That we might “KNOW the love of Christ….”
We need to be filled with His goodness consistently. When we rest, He removes anything that is detrimental to HIS character. HIS Rest causes is to feel satisfied, nourished, and restored from the inside out. REFRESHED, REFILLED, REVIVED, RENEWED, REJUVENATED, REPLENISHED IN HIS PRESENCE: RESTING. Resting in His Grace changes our viewing platform and our perspective. REST IS A GIFT FROM GOD that we need to take care of our spirits, souls and bodies. -Saundra Deltona Smith MD. SACRED REST
Some ways to come into rest:
BODY – MIND – EMOTIONS – WILL – SPIRIT Rest in Your Identity as ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.
“A wounded spirit who can bear?” PROVERBS 18:14b(KJV)
GOD CAN HEAL THIS. GOD CAN HEAL ANYTHING.
“SPIRIT-MAN, ALIGNED WITH GOD, WALKING IN RHYTHM WITH HIM IN AUTHENTIC TRUTH, WILL RESULT IN HEALING AND ACCEPTANCE IN EVERY PART OF OUR BEING.” -Pastor Marie
Social – Sensory – Creative
COME TO GOD. GET RESTED IN HIS PRESENCE.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS, for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “COME WITH ME BY YOURSELVES TO A QUIET PLACE AND GET SOME REST.”
When we rest, we synchronize with God. Our natural circadian rhythm will reset in harmony with Him.
Exodus 33:14- My Presence shall go with you, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Nu’ach: to rest, settle down, be soothed or quieted; to be secure; to be still; to dwell peacefully.
Ephesians 3:14-17(TPT) “So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he will unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and THE RESTING PLACE OF HIS LOVE will become the very source and root of your life.”
