WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.160 So we are wrapping up a series today called Lessons from the Garden. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:09.199 We've spent the last several weeks exploring the earliest stories that we have in the Bible. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:23.760 And these are some of the earliest stories we have in human history, and it has blown me away, week in and week out, how this story, this story that we're all familiar with, even if you haven't grown up in church, you're familiar with Adam and Eve, Forbidden Fruit, you know the gist of it at least. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:32.240 This story that is so ancient, so old, from a different time, a different people, it shouldn't be super practical to our lives today. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:38.079 It should not be something that is just this like wellspring of wisdom for our day-to-day lives. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:45.439 And yet every single week we open up the story, we look at it, and there is something so insanely practical that helps us right now. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:48.880 And it just speaks to the power of God's word. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:55.039 You know, scripture, Bible, God's word, whatever phrase you like to use, it is powerful. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.039 It's truth you can build your life on. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:00.240 We don't worship a book, we worship God. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.719 And there's so many things that we can observe about God apart from Scripture. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:08.959 But Scripture is more than just observations, it's revelation. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:15.439 It's God showing us things, revealing things to us about Him, about ourselves, that we can never observe on our own. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:21.359 And so I'm just every week blown away by the fact that when we open up His Word, there's something there for all of us. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.000 And that's definitely the case today. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:29.760 Today we're gonna talk about something that happens right before the whole garden story gets started. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:32.239 And it's all centered around this word, rest. 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:34.159 Rest. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:43.439 Today we're talking about the impossible to overstate necessity, need in our lives for real rest. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:45.519 Now, quick show of hands. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:47.920 Let's come clean, a little confession time. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:51.359 How many of you are terrible at rest? 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:52.879 Raise your hands. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:53.680 Alright. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.760 How many of you are sitting next to someone who should have raised their hands that they are terrible at rest but did not? 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:00.959 Alright? 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:02.560 A lot of us. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:05.599 Rest is not, it's not easy. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:07.920 Rest is really, really difficult. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:11.520 I mean, let's just face it, it's it's just been Memorial Day weekend, right? 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.879 How many of us, real quick show of hands again, how many of us were out of town? 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.319 You took some time off, you did something. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:17.199 Anyone go anywhere? 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:18.159 Do anything for no? 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.879 These five people are the only people. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:24.080 Well, good for you guys. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:24.719 Way to go. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:26.000 We all need to learn from you. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:30.639 Um how many of you have ever come back from a vacation more exhausted than when you left? 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:31.680 Let's see that. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:32.639 Yeah. 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:34.960 Like that's all of us. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.800 And so there's something about life, there's something about us as people. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.319 This does not come as naturally as we would like it to. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.400 And today we're going to explore what real rest with God can be like. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:47.680 How important it is. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.439 Genesis chapter 2. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:59.680 Right before the whole story of the garden begins, it says, So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:09.199 On the seventh day, God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work, and God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:14.240 Because it was the day when he rested from all the work of his creation. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.599 God makes everything. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.759 And when it's all done, he stops. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.360 Because it's complete, he rests. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:33.599 And he sets this tone, this tradition, that here we are, thousands upon thousands of years later. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:49.039 And we're trying to keep that going, to keep that alive, this idea of resting, at the very least, of having like a day every week that we stop and we reflect and we we we relax a little bit. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:51.599 But we struggle with that. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.039 And I'm the worst of anyone. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:00.159 I felt really guilty making this message because this is what my last two weeks have been. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.800 And I'm not looking for sympathy, by the way, or judgment. 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:03.360 I'll say that. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:04.319 Neither of those. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:07.520 So, you know, four kids, three of which are in school. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:08.879 Fourth is about to be in school. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:14.000 So the last two weeks was what we had two weeks ago was the last week of school, and we had two field days. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:15.919 Parents are required to be there. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.680 Or at least, you're not required, but like you do feel like a jerk if you don't go. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:21.680 There's just that tone in those emails. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.480 You know what I'm talking about? 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:28.079 Where it's like if you really love your child, you'll come and watch them like hula hoop and get wet, and then all right. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:30.639 Two class parties, that was a blast. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:36.480 Um, two dress rehearsals for my my daughter does conservatory ballet, and she loves it. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:37.199 It's a lot, though. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:45.600 She had two dress rehearsals because her one recital was the very last week of school, and following that was one banquet that you know we we had to be at as well, which was great. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:46.240 I enjoyed that. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:52.079 We've had nine basketball games in the last two weeks, the last two of which are this afternoon, um, and just one out-of-state wedding. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:53.040 That was great. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:59.360 Uh Megan's brother got married, and so basically we had the two field days, two class parties, two dress rehearsals, one recital. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.319 My brother and his wife came in from out of town, hadn't seen them in three years. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.879 They were there for the recital for three basketball games. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:10.079 We had a banquet the next night, had a few days to catch our breath, and then we drove four hours to Nashville on Wednesday. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:17.439 Then we drove four hours, two hours north, and then two hours back on Thursday to the wedding, and then four hours back on Friday. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.519 Good news is gas is at an all-time high. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:20.240 So that was great. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.040 Perfect. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.800 Just felt that. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:29.040 Uh Megan was so tired of every time I pumped gas being like, Can you believe how she said, just stop, just stop. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.879 I'm at that phase of life where I'm just mad at how much things cost. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:34.160 I think that means I'm old. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:35.040 So that's great. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:35.600 Okay? 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:36.959 I remember my dad being like that. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:37.439 Now it's me. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:38.079 It's awesome. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:38.959 Alright. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:48.959 And as we're driving back, after this crazy two weeks, I told Megan, and this is on Friday morning, I was like, I have to give a message on Sunday about rest. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.959 And I'm I'm exhausted. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.040 Like, I don't, I got like nothing. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:57.680 So the last two days has also been, oh yeah, message. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:58.639 Here we go. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.240 Does anyone relate to this? 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.480 Does anyone like life feels like this sometimes? 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:03.360 Like you can raise your hand. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:04.480 Yeah, it's not. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:12.800 I mean, not to pick on a few people, but Greta Zeppo, I saw online that Micah, who's awesome, he's been part of our church for a long time, just graduated high school. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:17.279 Go Micah, just left for the the Marines, and you had another daughter with a birthday, right? 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:19.279 So yeah, let's hear it from Micah going to the Marines. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:19.839 Heck yeah. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:23.680 And so I'm all like, I'm all like, this has been crazy. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.959 And then I was thinking about you, and oh, is that Micah right there? 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.240 Oh, never mind. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:29.120 Sorry. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:30.319 Oh, he leaves today. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.879 Micah, oh dude, Micah, stand up for a second if you don't mind. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:33.680 There we go. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.839 Micah leaves today for the Marines. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:37.439 Awesome, dude. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.560 Super proud, man. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:42.079 Super proud. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:43.519 I've known you your whole life. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:44.399 That's cool. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.000 Um, man, wow. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.439 And so I was thinking about you guys because I'm sitting here like, man, my last few weeks have been crazy. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.000 I can't even imagine all the this is not weird, this is not rare. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:56.240 This is life for so many of us. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:57.920 It's just crazy. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:01.199 And this is the antithesis of rest. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:02.720 Right? 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.680 Like, how do you rest in this? 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:07.519 You don't. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:13.839 The truth is, all of us, most of us at the very least, are constantly either busy or burdened. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:16.879 Now, now, maybe you're not at the stage of life that I'm at right now. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:24.560 Some of us are at a different stage where it's like the kids are maybe grown older or don't have kids yet, even, and so you don't have the class parties and driving here and there and whatnot. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.720 But but how many of us are carrying burdens? 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:32.399 Sometimes it's not the amount of things going on, sometimes it's the weight of what we're carrying. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:39.439 It's people that we love that are going through really, really hard situations, and it just weighs on us and it kills our ability to rest. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:48.319 I didn't put this on the list, but in that same span of two weeks, I've had two people that I really care about pass away. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.199 Uh, one was was a former student of mine. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.399 I was the youth pastor here for a really long time, and we were really tight-knit. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:08:04.000 Our fact, so many of our students from back in those days are either on staff or in leadership or serving in all kinds of areas of the church, and you guys know who you are, and I love you guys so much. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:05.920 I'm so proud of every single one of you. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:15.199 And one of our students from that time uh passed away really tragically, just an accident, and you know, all of us have been hurting for that because we were all so close. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:18.399 It's like I lost it's like I lost a little sister, that's how it feels. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:24.319 And then a really good friend of mine who's been a pastor in this community for a very long time, just down the street at Victory Church. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:27.040 He's been battling cancer and he passed away this past week. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.040 And so if you're thinking about them today, please pray for Victory Church. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:36.080 Um, they've they've known that this was a strong possibility, so they're prepared for it, but it's still really hard. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:43.759 And those things are just, you know, they're they're heavy, they don't add much to my to-do list, but they weigh heavy on my heart. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.960 And how many of us are carrying burdens right now? 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:56.240 Either ourselves, heavy things in our lives, or there's just someone we love so much, and seeing their struggle and seeing what they're going through, it weighs us down. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:08.320 And no matter if you're busy or if you're burdened, both of these things, they kill, they kill our ability to rest, unless we know how to combat them. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:19.840 But God, God desires for us, deeply desires for us to be people who are at rest. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:27.440 So I want us to spend a few minutes this morning exploring what that really means, what that really looks like. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:30.320 Because I'll tell you this, it's a lot more than just unplugging for a few minutes. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.039 It's a lot more than binge watching a show, right? 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:41.120 It's a lot more than just tuning out, it's a lot more than just scrolling on social media so that you can stop thinking about everything going on. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:43.519 It's not a screen in your face. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.159 That's not what it is. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:51.279 It's not, it's not distracting yourself with tasks to do so you don't have to think about those things. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:52.240 That's not real rest. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:10:01.120 Real rest comes from one source only: a deep, real connection with God. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:04.399 So I'll start with a few words. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:10.399 Real rest is promised and provided by God Himself. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:16.960 One of my absolute favorite scriptures, Matthew chapter 11, verses 28 through 30. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:22.559 Then Jesus said, and I want you to hear this being spoken to you this morning, because he's talking to you. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:28.159 Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:34.879 He might as well say, Come to me all of you who are busy and all of you who are burdened, and I will give you rest. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.639 That is a promise. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:40.399 That is a promise from Jesus. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.399 Jesus does not lie. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.840 He proved that when he said, I will rise again. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.320 Everyone thought that was just like a metaphor, and then he did it. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.639 You're like, oh, this guy does what he says. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:58.480 How amazing is it, by the way, that we have a king, we have a leader that we follow as Jesus followers, and he actually does what he says. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:10:59.919 That's powerful. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.039 Because that's rare. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.559 Jesus does that. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.960 But he says, I will give you rest. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.840 Come to me, and I will give you rest. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:13.919 And there is no condition, there's no like as long as, so much as, if you, it's just it's just do it. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.960 Come to me. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.720 It is promised. 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.000 And it's provided by God. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.000 I will give you rest. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:29.360 He goes on to say, Take my yoke upon you, let me teach you, because I'm humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.240 And that's awesome. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:35.759 Because that means the rest that God gives us is more than just physical rest, it's emotional. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.120 Right? 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.639 It's rest for your mind. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:44.559 If your thoughts are always racing and you're anxious and you're worried, that's not rest. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:50.080 But he gives us a rest for our minds, he gives us a rest for our souls. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.600 It's spiritual. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.559 It's a complete, real rest. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.799 He says, My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:02.960 This is scripture that I have spent so much time reflecting on because I'm not good at rest. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:06.399 Like I'm bad at it, legitimately. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:11.759 And that's and that's not like a it's it's easy to say that like I'm bad at rest, like oh ha ha ha, that's not a big deal. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.799 It actually is. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.159 Because rest is spiritual. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:24.720 A soul that is not at rest is not a soul that is prepared to experience all that God has. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.440 Rest is crucial, it is vital. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.519 And the scripture tells me a few things. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:35.360 It tells me, number one, that Jesus isn't one who hands out heavy burdens. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:39.360 He says, I will not give you a heavy burden. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:46.159 And actually, the the language used in the original language in the Greek translates perfectly with the idea of ill-fitting. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.960 Like it's it's not going to be heavy for you. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:55.679 You know, certain things might be heavy for someone, but really light for someone else, depending on what it is. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.240 Like, how many of you are terrified of public speaking? 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:58.799 Anybody? 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:05.679 Just like, if you were in my position right now, you would be like, I would rather, I would rather be anywhere else than on a stage in front of people with a microphone. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:09.679 I've been waiting my whole life for someone to hand me a microphone and ask me to talk. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:16.399 This was like first grade Justin, if you would have said, hey, I know that you're in time out right now, again. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.679 I know that Mrs. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.320 Greshevsky, my first grade teacher, shout out to Mrs. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.679 Groshevsky, wherever she is. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.759 I know that she puts your desk right next to her and won't let you sit with the other children. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.120 That's a real thing. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.879 I lived on the island. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:37.600 But don't worry, one day you will be handed a microphone, and everyone will have to listen to you until you're done. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.639 I would have been like, wow, really, right? 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:48.559 So, so honestly, like, you could this type of situation for me, never, I don't ever feel nervous about this. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.120 I don't. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:54.639 Even if it has to be a really awkward, weird conversation that I have to have, and I've had some of those. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:14:04.080 But other situations, like, I don't know, talking to my neighbors, like, like that whole thing where I can't like leave. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.960 You know what I mean? 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:11.759 Like a situation where there's, if Megan's like, hey, let's go uh let's go talk to our neighbors and you know maybe invite them over for dinner, I'm like, mmm. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.799 What if we never ever did that? 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:19.600 Unfortunately, Megan's an introvert, so she never asks to do that. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.480 And so it works out. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.759 But but honestly, there's other situations that you might be like, that's I love that. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.440 Let's like that's awesome, and I'm going new. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.200 That is ill-fitting for me. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:36.559 If you're carrying something in your life that is weighing you down, Jesus probably didn't give it to you. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:42.720 We have a tendency sometimes to pick things up in life, even good things, that they're not bad. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:48.879 It's not like you're doing anything wrong, but but if you're weighed down and tired, Jesus would look and be like, hey, it's cool that you're doing that. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.840 Just no, I didn't do that. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:50.559 I didn't give you that. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.759 You did you pick that. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.080 And maybe you need to put it down. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:15:01.440 I know for me, I was actually walking this morning thinking about the message and and just kind of saying it out loud, looking like a crazy person in my neighborhood. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:06.000 I'm just this guy on Sunday mornings who goes on long walks and talks to himself, and everyone goes, that guy's he's odd. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:09.279 Um I'm practicing, I'm just thinking things through a little bit. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:13.759 And I realized like one in my life, and it actually caused me to change course in something. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:20.879 I was planning on coaching my my third child, Judah's about to play basketball for the first time, and I don't know if you guys know that, it's a big deal. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:30.879 In my life, love that sport, and uh I planned on coaching him in his first year because like I don't want somebody who doesn't know what they're doing messing him up. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:32.559 I'm being honest. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.200 And then I remembered the last time that I coached. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.360 Rocky, you're you were my assistant. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.480 Remember that? 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.799 Yeah, so we were we had a good season. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.919 We made it to the final four. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:44.960 I don't know if you remember, it was great, but you sat next to me. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.600 Thumbs up if you would recommend me doing that on a regular basis. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.480 Thumbs down. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.879 Oh, his wife gave the thumbs down for me. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.759 Thanks, Renee. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:57.519 No, I'm just like, I'm not well suited for it. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:00.480 Like, I know the game, but I don't have the right temperament. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:03.360 Rocky was constantly sitting next to me, like, just calm down, dude. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:06.000 Just like, no, don't, don't say that to the ref. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.519 Like, don't, you know, there was a lot of that. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.720 I appreciated that by the way. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.759 And I had a lot of games where afterwards I'm like, hey man, I'm real, I'm sorry. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:15.919 I just like there was this one ref, I don't even remember the one ref that wore sweatpants that game. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.639 That kid, like, he was 18 or 19, he's wearing sweatpants. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.519 That really bothered me. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.039 He was wearing sweatpants. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.639 And so I'm like, he made a bad call, and I was like, hey, sweatpants. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.600 I called him that. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.480 It was weird. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.919 I shouldn't have done that. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:42.879 And so I'm thinking about like the last time I coached and how bad that was for my soul and my testimony, and probably our community, the reputation of our church, like all these things. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:49.919 And I sat and I was like, oh, as I'm literally going through the message this morning, I should definitely not coach Judah's team. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:55.039 And so I got home and I was like, hey, I'm not, I'm not gonna, Megan, I'm not gonna coach Judah. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.720 And she was like, thank God. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.039 You know, like, thank you. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:07.200 Because it's it may be something that I like the idea of, but it's not well suited for me. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.119 At least in my current state. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.720 We'll see when Eli's old enough. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.920 We'll see, maybe. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:18.480 And so if I choose to pick that up, I just know the burden that it will be on myself and on my family. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:23.359 Maybe right now you're you're feeling burdened by something that you just don't need to be carrying anymore. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.559 Because if it's truly weighing you down, just know that Jesus probably isn't the one who gave it to you. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:32.480 Or maybe, maybe he did give it to you, but you're not supposed to carry it alone. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:36.319 You know, much of life is like a team lift situation. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.759 Marriage is like that for sure. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.680 It's us and another person and God. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.519 Parenting is definitely like that. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:49.200 Most of life is not meant to be lived in this sort of singular, I will do it, alone by myself. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.119 Some of us really like to be the lone wolf. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.160 But in nature, there's no such thing as a lone wolf. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.759 A lone wolf is a dead wolf. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.000 That's just how it works. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.400 Wolves are part of a pack. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.920 And we're supposed to be a family, we're supposed to do things together. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:20.559 Even as the church, I'll tell you one of the biggest, this is a little bit of an aside, but one of the biggest pitfalls I see in people who, especially when they're getting really excited about God, maybe for the first time, is they want to be this like all-in-one complete package of spirituality. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:28.319 They want to be the person that can read scripture and just see things that no one else sees, and be the person that can communicate that like nobody else can communicate it. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:34.640 They want to be the person that can have like a dream and hear something from God, and the person who can interpret that and tell everyone what it means. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:43.039 They want to be this sort of like one-stop shop for all things God-related, and that's just not how we're intended to work. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.319 We're a body. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:47.119 That's the analogy that Scripture gives us. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.720 We're a body of believers. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:53.359 And you know what's amazing is there's not one of us in this room right now who can do it all. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:07.279 But collectively, I know that collectively in this room right now, any issue that we could think of, God has provided what is needed collectively as a body. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:11.519 We're not meant to be these independent, I got this, no help needed. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.759 We're meant to live connected to one another. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.759 And when we try not to, we're burdened. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.920 This tells us that Jesus doesn't put heavy burdens on us. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:25.839 And it tells us that he will give us rest provided that we come to him. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:30.319 Now, for some of us today, we need to come to Jesus for the very first time. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:43.519 Some of us maybe, maybe we've been here for a while, maybe we're watching from home, and maybe we've been fighting it and we know that we need to, but we've just held back for whatever reason on fully giving everything to Jesus, every single aspect of our lives. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:48.079 Just saying, I give it to you, I'm done fighting it, I surrender it, I'm yours. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:53.680 And because we haven't given it to Jesus, haven't fully come to him, we're being denied the rest that we're due. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:03.359 We're more anxious than we should be, we're more exhausted than we ought to be, than we need to be because we're trying to do it apart from him, and rest, real rest, comes from him. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.920 He promises it, he provides it. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:09.279 And so if you haven't come to Jesus yet, if you haven't done that, do that. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:17.680 For your own sake, just do it because he's so good, he's humble, he's gentle, he won't lay anything ill-fitting on you, and he will give you what you need. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:26.799 I've never, I've never left a genuine encounter with God, exhausted and burdened. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:35.759 Every time in prayer or in worship or in some setting, I have what I would say, I truly encountered the presence of God. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.599 It is like I weigh less leaving that situation. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000 It doesn't mean that it's easy, it doesn't mean whatever I have in my life is just all the problems are gone. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:46.799 It just means I'm like, it's different. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.680 I'm energized, not weighed down. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:54.079 Real rest is promised and provided. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.960 And so go to him. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.400 Go to the one who gives you rest. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.599 When you're stressed out, go directly to Jesus. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:18.480 Before you vent, before you call somebody, before you post something, before you shut down, before you binge, whatever it is that you do to kind of cope, that none of that's necessarily wrong, but before you do any of that, get on your knees and go to Jesus and say, I'm coming to you, my king, my Lord, right? 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.880 Because it doesn't just say, come to him, like, hey, what's up, bro? 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.599 Can you help me out? 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:27.680 It says, Come to me, let me teach you, let me guide you, come to me, submit to me, and I will give you rest. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:32.559 If we do that, friends, if we do that, he will give us rest for our souls. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:37.599 Real rest is promised and provided by Jesus Himself. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.680 Well, let's continue. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.559 Real rest is something that we have to prioritize and protect. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:49.200 Now, I mentioned I was driving in the car with Megan, and I will say this. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.720 Usually, when someone else is driving you somewhere, you should be at rest. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.920 My wife is not. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:22:01.039 Uh, when I drive, she is more active and engaged, and I think she Is when she drives. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.079 I don't know if anyone else has that experience at all. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:06.799 Or it's like, uh, maybe it's my driving. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.359 Who knows? 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.319 Could be. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.640 But but I'm talking to Megan on the drive. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.519 I was just being playful. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.920 But we're talking to Megan on the drive back from Nashville, and I'm like, I gotta give this message on rest. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.599 I gotta wrap up this series. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:20.960 We've been so busy, I'm just like, I got nothing. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.119 And I'm so glad. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.119 I'm so glad that like I married my wife. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.000 And we just say this real quick, again, a quick aside. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.000 I'll stand over here because it's an aside. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.640 This kind of goes back to earlier. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.559 I talked about burdens that you might be carrying. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:39.359 Relationships can be burdens. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:53.359 If you're not married to someone, but you're dating them, even if it's like serious, and it's just a ton of drama, and it sucks you like empty and it's stressful and all that, just maybe don't get married. 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:56.240 Like, because that's not gonna get easier in marriage. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.759 That's not gonna get better because you you you take a vow. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:04.640 Like maybe just say this might be uh something that's ill-fitting and I need to move on. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:10.240 Because I will say, a side over, that I'm so glad I married my wife. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.480 Mainly because she knows the Lord. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:21.039 And she, I just glean so much being married to her. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:25.680 And so I'm sitting here and I'm driving, and I'm mad about gas prices. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:27.519 I really was angry. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:30.720 $4.36 a gallon. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:36.240 And we went to Bucky's, and then we said to our kids, you can get snacks, and it cost$89. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.839 Not including the gas. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:43.599 And I had like, like I was fine. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:48.960 Like I was like, it was one of those situations where with a dad, they're like, just don't talk to him, just like for two hours. 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:51.839 Just let him drive, let him pick the playlist on Spotify. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.240 I did that. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.519 My kids, they were great. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.799 So I'm in that place, right? 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:56.319 And I'm I gotta give this message on rest. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:59.680 And I told Megan, I don't, I don't have anything, like I'm spent. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:05.759 And just like that, she says, you know what's so cool about the garden and that whole story? 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.119 This is literally what comes out of her mouth, and I'm just like, You want to give the message? 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.160 And she said, No. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:18.240 Um she said, God made rest a priority, even though it wasn't a necessity for him. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:21.279 Because rest completes the work. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:29.839 But for us, rest is a necessity and has to be a priority because rest prepares us for the work. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:32.799 And I'm just driving, like, yeah, that. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.039 And I told her, I'm gonna use that. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.000 Like, that's what she said. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:39.680 So, I mean, like, honestly, think about it this way: God doesn't need to rest. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:43.519 He did once that we know of, but he doesn't need to. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:50.000 In fact, one of the biggest accusations leveled at Jesus was that he did miracles on the Sabbath, on the day that they were supposed to take off. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:55.920 He healed people on the Sabbath, he did it a bunch of times, and it made the religious people really, really mad. 00:24:56.319 --> 00:25:00.240 And so, Matthew chapter, uh, where are we at? 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.759 No, actually, John chapter 5. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:05.279 It says the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:09.279 Jesus replied, My father is always working, and so am I. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:17.920 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him, for not only had he broken the Sabbath, he called God his father, thereby making himself equal with God. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.839 And he is equal with God. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:29.839 But but Jesus, he would heal on the Sabbath, and that angered them because that broke their perception of what the Sabbath should be. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.839 And they had all kinds of messed up ideas about they'd they'd found a way, religion will do this. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:38.079 They'd found a way to turn what was meant to be a beautiful gift from God, like a weekend. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.759 God invented weekends, hello? 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.920 Can we give him some credit for inventing the weekend? 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.559 Like, come on. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:46.400 If you can't be exc, God, I'm sorry. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:49.200