Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick.
I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives you perspective to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message.
Certainly a privilege for me to be able to share God's word with you, to name my name is Jonathan, out of the privilege of serving here as our Balentine campus pastor, and.
Thanks for the love.
And I say kind of feel the same way every time I get to stand up here.
On one hand, I'm.
So grateful to share God's word, but I just always say, for me, the greatest privilege is to be able to sit under the teaching of this house, under the leadership of our pastors, Pastor Stephen and Pastor Holly.
And he asked me the other day, are you going to continue in this series?
That's what I thought series, And I said that would be dangerous for me to attempt to follow that up. Is that not a masterful series that we just went through as a church. And I'm still trying to quantify and qualify what God's done in my heart through that through that series, it was so powerful and so profound, And so I'm so grateful for a pastor who gets alone with God in the secret place to bring us fresh revelation, fresh insight week after week. Can we thank
God for our pastors together? And before I read our scriptures for today, I want to give a special welcome to our uptown campus, my old stomping grounds over there.
Josh and Vic, we love you guys.
Come on, let's thank God for our brand new facility in.
Uptown and amazing. Okay, feel good to stand for a few more moments when.
We read these scriptures. I've got a few, all right. I want to read an instruction. I want to read you a promise, and then I want to look at a story in the life of the disciples that I think is going to illustraight these principles for us today that I believe God wants to do something in our hearts through.
So let's start with an instruction from.
Scripture Galatians six'. Nine galatians six,' nine this is a familiar one. For you let us not become weary in. Doing good who's he?
Talking to not?
ME weary i know what it's LIKE to i know what it's like to be Weary when i've been trying to row through the storms.
Of life but weary in. Doing good not us.
Tired of, Doing good, he says let us not grow weary in, doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not. Give up touch your, neighbors said don't. Give up, all right that's an instruction. For, us now do not. Grow weary but if you find yourself in that, place today here's the. GOOD news i want to give you a promise from the very words Of our Savior in matthew. Chapter eleven it's, So beautiful and this one one Sentence that.
Jesus says, he says.
Come, to me all you who are weary, and BURDENED and i will give.
You rest.
Come, to me all who are weary, and BURDENED and i will give. YOU rest I see jesus just coming into the room bringing rest to sons and daughters who have.
Been.
Tired today touch, your neighbor tell him rest is on. The way rest is on. The way rest is on. The way, all right wiggle your legs for. A minute here's the.
Long. One those that was just, Two verses mark.
Chapter six this really interesting moment in the life of, the disciples The, Twelve apostles mark, Chapter six, verse seven calling the twelve, to him calling the twelve, to him calling the twelve. To him he began to send, them out two, by two and he gave them authority over. Impure Spirits so jesus, calls them and he, sends them calls.
Sends them.
That's important there's a rhythm to Walking. With god he, calls us he, Sends us he, calls us he. Sends us he gave them authority over. Impure spirits and these were. His instructions take nothing for the journey except, the staff, no bread, no bag no money in. Your belts in, Other words jesus is teaching them what our pastor told us a.
Couple of, weeks ago. That obedience details.
Follow obedience, he's saying don't try to get it all figured out, Right now i'm.
Sending you and while you may not have all the details, figured out what did he. Give him he gave.
Him authority as long as the Hand of god is on, your life it's all that you need for whatever situation he sends.
You, into says.
Don't worry about, all that take nothing for. The journey he's teaching them to live. By faith and whenever you enter, a house stay there until you leave. That town and if any place will not welcome you or listen, to you leave that place and shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony.
Against them. Verse twelve look. At this it's so amazing what the.
Apostles did then they went out and preached that people. Should repent they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and.
Healed them.
Incredible ministry we're gonna skip ahead a little bit after this is the Beheading. Of john the skip ahead the Beheading of John the baptist.
Right here, it's important but let's go to.
Verse thirty so after, All this ministry says in verse thirty that the apostles Gathered around jesus and reported to him all that they had done. And, taught then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance, to eat he said, to them come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get. Some rest so they went away by themselves in a boat to a.
Solitary place but here's.
The problem but many who saw, them leaving they, recognized them and they ran on foot from all, the towns and they got there ahead.
Of Them when.
Jesus landed and he saw the large crowd he had compounded, on them he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without. A shepherd so he began teaching them. Many things he starts feeding them. Right there but, the apostles they have a little bit of a. Different response jesus, Had Compassion but verse thirty, five says by this time it was late in. The day so his disciples came to him, and said this is a, remote place and
it's already. Very late send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something. To eat but he, answered them you give them something? To eat, they said.
That would take more than happy.
Year's wages are we to go and spend that much on bread and give.
It to them? To eat these, same apostles.
Who just a few verses earlier were reporting all that they had Done, for jesus all they had done, And taught, now say are we to go and? Feed them interesting a right back to our key verse in verse, thirty one this Key phrase jesus said, to them come, with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get. SOME rest i want to talk to you today about, rethinking rest.
Rethinking rest go ahead and. Be seated, you know.
When you're One Thing pastor stevens taught is he's like when, you're preaching it's always important to think of a. Felt need, you know just what are the things that people are going through in real life that we experience on a human Level that god's word can connect to and.
Speak to AND so i figure in a room, this.
SIZE if i had a message, on hope there'd be a number of people who needed to hear a message. On hope or a message, on peace there'd be a number of people who would need to.
Hear a message.
On PEACE but i love that this Passage of scripture talks to those of us who find, ourselves TIRED because i think that hits ninety nine point nine percent of.
The room HOW do i, know that because when you ask somebody how, they're doing what do they normally say?
To you they just say they don't answer with a feeling, to say we've just, been. Busy busy anybody busy in the room, right now and we all got different levels, of busy and yet we all give this say what you've been? Up tough howthing has? Been, Going oh we've, been, busy, busy, busy. BUSY busy I was i've, mentioned Before but i've got, three, kids ten eight. And three and one of the things Me and anna we like to do is just go
through our photo photo app and just look at. Old pictures, you know you like you see, These things, you're, like wow we thought they were, cute then and they kind of look a little funny at that stage. Of development but we love going through all these photos and old memories and, so LIKE once i, start going It's like i'm just going all the. Way BACK but i love seeing pictures of. MY family i love seeing other moments.
IN life i came across this photo just the other day that kind of, reminded me as us preparing, this sermon look at this picture of a that's that's me and my pastor. RIGHT there, i know, it's crazy TWELVE years i haven't changed, a, bit unbelievable and that.
That popped UP and, i go oh.
My goodness and that was twenty thirteen and it's to bring him back all the memories of. THAT season i just showed Up At. Elevation church I'd Finished bible school And felt god out of calling on my life to build his church and to serve people and help them grow Closer. To CHRIST and i could not BELIEVE that
i was getting to do ministry at A Churchlight. ELEVATION church i grew up in a real small Town, in Canada and i'd never seen anything, Like this so the fact that they would let me on the team was like unbelievable. To me AND so i remember us coming here with so much enthusiasm and so.
Much excitement you can take. THAT down i don't have to leave that up the.
Whole time i'm already feeling weird, about, It OKAY and i remember. That seat you remember that season. So vividly we Get To. Elevation Church it's january, Twenty Thirteen pastor stevens preaching a Series Called The new Rules. Of Resolution and january is always such a busy time in the life of. The church y'all are getting your, act together trying to get back in the rhythm of. Being here,
every week people are coming to. The church it's always CRAZY and i remember in that first month turning to someone, and saying, it's, LIKE oh i.
Was exhausted we were working.
SO hard i know some of y'all think we Only, work sundays but there's more that goes on the making. Church HAPPEN and i remember, going like oh, my goodness this is, a lot and, they said, don't worry it's it's just a. BUSY season, i, said, okay cool it's just a. Busy season and then we get Through That
january february season and we're gearing Up for Easter. At, elevation now, back then we didn't have all these permanent, facilities everywhere so we would run like, one thousand six hundred and fifty two worship experiences just to have space for everyone to bring, their friends bring their family to come here.
The Gospel.
Over easter we are running, like hard we are. Running CRAZY and i remember getting to the end of that turn into someone being that was, a lot and, they said, don't worry it's just a. Busy season you See where i'm Going with it didn't take me long to realize that in ministry it's always a. Busy season not only, in ministry, in life it's always a. Busy season whatever, we're facing whether it's getting the kids back in the river,
of school whatever situation we're. Going through, we THINK when i can just get through, this season what then it's going to be all calm. And collected then everything's gonna. Get, settled no you leave one busy season just to enter into another. Busy season touch your, neighbors say it's always a. Busy season it's always a. BUSY season i was the IDIOT because i grew up in a place where seasons meant a temporary duration. Of time there was, Four seasons but it turns.
Out it was just a. Busy season would.
Go on and on, and on and twelve, years in, guess what it's been a.
Busy season it's always a.
Busy season and when we think about this idea of, getting rest spiritual rest for, our souls we fall into this trap of thinking sometimes THAT if i can.
Just get through, this season or.
Like, the disciples if we can just get to the, other side then we'll get a chance.
To rest so what struck me in.
This passage of scripture with the with The twelve disciples Is That jesus is says he calls.
Them, to himself and he sends. Them out two.
By two, they leave and they're doing incredible things For. The lord they're healing, the sick they're, preaching repentance they're casting.
Out demons they're being Used by god. IN them i.
FEEL fulfilled i Feel like god. Used ME if i can just pray for someone and. Encourage them these guys are casting, out demons and they come Back to jesus and you can hear the enthusiasm in. Their voices they reported to him all they had done And. Taught jesus we took that sermon you gave up on that mount about how blessed are the poor and spirit blessed are the pure, and heart and we were teaching it, to people and they were repenting coming Into the Kingdom.
Of.
God jesus we were anointing sick people and seeing.
Them healed they come.
Back to jesus and The, reporting jesus look what we've done, For, you jesus look at all the things that we did in.
Your name and yet.
As exciting as, It was i've got to imagine that it must have also. Been exhausting do not grow weary in. DOING good i didn't know you could grow weary in. Doing GOOD but i found out that some of the Things that god has for us in, our life even though they're, good things can also leave us in a place of exhaustion when you're, pouring out, pouring out, pouring out and some of us are tired of the very
things that we prayed And asked. God for things that once came into our life as a blessing now feel like.
A burden why.
Because we go from busy season to busy season to, busy season and wonder why.
We're tired so.
The disciples They're telling jesus what, they've done and it must have sounded like music to their ears when, he says, all right, great work, Great, work.
Matthew, Great.
Work peter now come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get. Some rest, oh great we're going to go to the. Other side is it going to Be? An airbnb is it going to Be? A hilton maybe it's the. FOUR seasons i don't Know how jesus, is rolling but they're excited to get some Rest. With jesus and yet when they get to the other side Of the Sea, of galilee what's waiting? For Them more ministry more, hungry people crowds of people who needs something
from them after they just spent how long. Pouring out not ONLY that i mentioned that in, That time John the baptist, Is beheaded so not only could they possibly be weary of, doing good but they're also carrying the hard thing of having someone that they knew, get beheaded.
And, they're wondering is this going to happen?
To us and so we go through life not only carrying the good things that, are happening but the hard things that. Are happening and so often we find ourselves just out. Of breath come away, with me, by yourselves to a quiet place and get. Some rest and they get to the other side and there are crowds of people waiting To.
See jesus jesus.
Had compassion, on them But the apostles had a. Different RESPONSE and i wondered how they could go so Quickly, from jesus look at all we've done and taught in your name to send the.
People away how.
Did they go from look what we've done For, you god to get these people out.
Of here we're tired and.
We're HUNGRY now i know that's unique to, the apostles you've never been in, that PLACE but i was.
Imagining for, a moment imagining for.
A moment imagine you moved your family all the Way, To Charlotte north carolina to be a part of a church where you could See what god could do. Through you and, it's LIKE am i really going to go spend three hours On a? Sunday serving how do we quickly shift from one place to? The next how did that guy in that photo so quickly go FROM from i CAN'T believe i get to be here to a, DECADE later i found myself in a Place. Going GOD
can i even do this? Any more it's possible today that some of us who feel like, we are that we are weak in, our faith may not.
Be weak we might just.
Be weary we might just. Be weary and look what happens with. The, apostles well these crowds of people, show up Says that jesus, Has compassion but, the disciples they're trying to send the.
People AWAY and i want to.
GIVE you i wrote these down five signs that you might be. Spiritually spent five signs that your soul might be. Exhausted, today, evasion, isolation, projection exaggeration. And preservation let me break. It down they're all on the text.
Right here.
Real quick evasion it's when they said it's already. Very late evasion is when you start looking for excuses to get out of responsibilities before anything's even asked.
Of you when you are at a place where your soul.
Is tired i'm not talking about physically tired because you didn't get a good sleep. Last night i'm talking about being spiritually weary on. The inside you start avoiding the very god given responsibilities that he's brought into your life because he wants to, use you because he wants to do something. Through you he, starts saying it's already. Very
late isolation is when they say send the. People away when you are, spiritually tired you become quickly disinterested in the concerns of others because it's very difficult to feed hungry people when you yourself.
Are.
Hungry, yeah projection it's when they said send them away so that they can get something. To eat projection is when you start forecasting your own deficiencies on other people as.
An Excuse the bible never actually says that the people.
Were hungry it says earlier that the disciples.
Didn't get something, to eat so?
Who's hungry the apostles send them away so they can get something. To eat that's when you start saying THINGS like i don't want to reach out.
To them i'd hate to be. An, inconvenience no you don't want to. Be inconvenienced.
Projection exaggeration it's when they said it would take more than half a.
Year's wages how are they so good?
At math they just added it up like, that, one, two three four five exaggeration when you start exaggerating what it's going to take to do the Things that god is asking you. To do and, with that the last one. Is preservation when they said are we to go? And spend when you are, spiritually tired when you, are exhausted when you are, missing rest the rest that Comes from jesus in, your life you start holding on to the Things that god has given you in order to be
a blessing? To other are we to go and spend whether it's, your time, your energy or. Your talents the Opportunities that god brings into, your life you begin to see them as an expense rather than an opportunity to do Something for. His, kingdom, exaggeration, evasion, isolation projection. And PRESERVATION when i read this passage, of scripture it hit me.
So deeply i'm TRYING to i want to tell You the lord gave me this message two years ago at a TIME when i needed it, so desperately and, IN fact i would not be here ministering this word to you today If the lord didn't give me this word. For me because all those THINGS that i just read to you in the response of the disciples out there about a decade of ministry, FOR me i found myself
in that. SAME place i vividly remember ONE meeting i was in with one of our other campus pastors who was helping to lead our campuses with me at, the time and we were just brainstorming how we could do, more ministry impact. More people and with every single idea he, THREW out i had a reason for why we shouldn't do it or why it.
Wouldn't work he's.
All enthusiastic we could, do this we could, Do that and with everything, HE said i kept shooting down every idea.
BECAUSE all i could think about is what it was going to. COST me i. Was empty we.
Were coming off like it was that coming OUT, of covid all the residual frustration of that, let alone all THE things i was. Carrying MYSELF and i remember in, that meeting he looked, At me, he's like are, you?
OKAY bro, I said.
I think i just need, a vacation because we get like the, disciples do.
Where we think that rest is somewhere.
Out THERE when i can just get to the, other SIDE when i can just get to that, long WEEKEND when i can just get to, that VACATION then i can Just.
Get i'll get a chance. To rest we go from.
Season to SEE when i can get the kids out, of DIAPERS when i can get the kids out of, elementary SCHOOL when i can get, Them GRADUATED when i can get, this PROMOTION when i can sell, the BUSINESS when i can we, keep PROJECTING if i can just get to the, other Side then i'll get a chance. To rest And so i'm in THAT me, I go I think i just need. A vacation but it pointed out SOMETHING that i was carrying in my, own HEART that i had spent TEN years i was working Working, for god but was not Working.
With god.
And in all my doing, For, him remember because he calls you and he.
Sends you he, calls you and he.
Sends you and it was illuminating to ME because, i realized in my Busyness, FOR god i was rejecting that, first calling which was to Be with him and to receive rest for.
MY soul i needed. This WORD and i want to.
Show you What the lord taught me through this passage, of scripture because it's so Beautiful what jesus says to them in that.
One phrase it gives us a formula.
For REST now i know faith isn't, a formula but let me give you a formula.
For rest. Jesus says i'm verse. Thirty one, he says come.
Away with me by yourself to a quiet place and get.
Some rest now look at this for. A minute come.
Away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest by yourselves is solitude to a.
Quiet, place silence silence plus solitude. Equal rest silence and solitude. Equal rest silence and solitude are two.
Spiritual disciplines have you heard of the spiritual? Disciplines before spiritual disciplines are means by which we Connect with god and so coming to church, corporate worship this is a spiritual discipline you coming here On a, sunday morning worshiping with brothers and sisters in.
The faith this is a.
Spiritual discipline give yourself a round. Of applause you've done one. Already today Studying the Word of god is a spiritual discipline opening up his words so he can speak. To us or two, for two give yourself a round.
Of, applause, yeah, yeah yeah.
YEAH yeah i grew up in an amazing church where we learned, about worship we learned, about prayer we learned about. READING scripture i don't ever remember being taught about the spiritual.
Disciplines of silence.
And solitude but silence and solitude are the way that we experience the holy Rest.
Of god not. Physical rest you can take a nap.
For that but spiritual rest Or what jesus calls rest for. Our, souls now there is a difference between isolation. And solitude isolation Is when. I'm alone solitude Is when i'm Alone.
With god it's what our pastor taught us a couple of.
Weeks ago he Said that jesus would get Alone with god so that he could Align.
With god solitude IS.
When i get Alone with HIM so i can align. With him isolation leads, To loneliness solitude leads, To intimacy silence. And solitude in his book on, Spiritual Disciplines, richard foster, he said in silence we create an open empty space.
Where we are free to Receive what god wants.
To give, in solitude we come to know the Gentleness of god's presence and the strength of.
His LOVE can i read it one more time? For you is? That good?
Or what in silence we create an open empty space where we are free to Receive what god wants. To give in solitude we come to know the Gentleness of his presence and the Strength of. His love silence and solitude is the place that we Receive. From god see this Life with god. We live it's as it, should be as natural. As breathing you, breathe in you. Breathe out he, Calls you he, Sends you he, calls you he. Sends you because everything you Do for god was never
meant to come from your. Own strength but it's an exhale of the Strength that he's.
Given you, We inhale. We EXHALE but i.
Wonder if some of us are, tired today if some of us are weary if some of us feel like we have nothing left to give because we're we're, breathing out we're, breathing out we're showing up for every. Other person and Yet when jesus gives us that call to come and be, with him we. Neglect It why because
silence and solitude is. Incredibly uncomfortable i'm the type of person That if i'm driving three minutes to the, Grocery store i'm making a phone call JUST so i don't have to sit alone with my own thoughts for those. Three minutes silence and solitude is the key.
To REST and I remember i was telling you about.
THAT season i remember after that, This realization god speak, TO you i got to get Alone. With GOD and i remember taking a half day to just go and
read my word. And PRAY and i know this sounds so, incredibly simple but it's so incredibly powerful when we can just get Alone with god for a. Little bit The things god can do in a. Moment unbelievable, He started he started convicting me because there ARE things i was blaming other people for FOR why i felt THE way, I did but it was THINGS that i was carrying on.
The inside he started.
Comforting me he started speaking, to ME and i, just remember in the stillness of, that moment be still and KNOW that I. Am god in the stillness of, That moment god speaking. To ME after i was just listing out all my complaint we started the worship experience.
That they saying, thank you.
Thank you think sometimes my prayer life looks, like, complaint, complaint COMPLAINT and I but god can handle. Those THINGS and i remember listing all my frustrations and just unloading my burdens on him and him just SAYING and i, love YOU and i Love you. Henry now and he calls silence and solitude the furnace, of transformation because, he says in, that place we can't hold on to, the scaffolding the things, we put the things.
We guard our lives with to make us feel.
Like something but, in silence, in solitude you're not, a mom you're not, a dad you're not, a boss you're not. An employee you are simply a son or. A daughter and it's in that place of being Alone with god that you can receive. What matters what's when he calls you, his son when he calls you his daughter and pours out his strength and love into, your life silence. And SOLITUDE and i think for some, of us Even, as christians we're doing all the right activities.
And wondering why something is.
Still missing it's because he, sends us but he also. Calls us he, sends us and he. Calls us, in fact it's actually the other way where he calls us and then. Sends Us in genesis, one Four when god is creating, the earth, that says this is so interesting.
To me it says that.
He created evening, and morning and he called it day evening, and morning and called. A day we would think morning, an evening that's how we think of. A day But, for god the day begins. With rest before you get up to, do anything the day starts. With rest so my work is an overflow of the REST that i Have. In him and at the beginning of, This passage jesus models it. For us it says that he calls them, to himself and he, sends them, calls them. Sends THEM
now i know what, you're THINKING. Pastor jj it would be so.
NICE if i could just take half a day to.
Go pray and Read the bible and spend Time. With jesus but you don't know. The life we're not pastors. Like you we got real life. To do i've got Three kids i'm trying to take. CARE of i got a demanding job. Right now this IS what i wanted to show you from, the scriptures because if you find yourself in a place where, you're, life well what does it really look like for me to find these Moments with god in the middle of our? Crowded, lives remember
crowds of people are waiting For. The apostle in the middle of our crowded calendars and crowded lives and. Crowded minds HOW do i find time to be Alone?
With jesus and.
This IS what i wanted to show you because look at This when jesus says, to them come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get, some rest and they get in the boat to go.
To the other side Of the Sea. Of galilee the QUESTION is.
I know that the disciples they didn't know what was waiting for them on the. Other side they, didn't know just like you don't know what's waiting for you on the other side of.
This season just like, you're.
Thinking MAN if i can just get but you don't know what diagnosis your mom might get on the other side. Of it you don't know what's waiting for you on. This side the disciples. Didn't know but the question Is did jesus know what was waiting for them on the, Other side and of course the answer, Is yes.
Jesus knows.
Jesus knows so was he tricking them when he said, to them come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get Some Red if jesus knew what was waiting for them on the other side Of the Sea? Of galilee was he tricking them when he gave them this invitation to come away and be with him for. A moment and this is What the lord showed me from. This Passage after jesus gives them, that invitation it says in verse. Thirty two so they went away by themselves in. A boat.
I thought rest was. A place i found out that rest is in.
A person i thought rest was a DESTINATION if i can just get. Over THERE but i found out rest is on. The way rest Is what jesus wants to give you as you are heading from one place to, the next from one season of life to.
The next it says that they got in a.
Boat together so the moment for the disciples to get rest wasn't when they would get to the, other side wasn't when they would get, a sabbatical wasn't when they'd finally get.
A vacation the Rest that jesus.
Wanted to give him was when he invited them into the boat so that they could rest on, the Way because jesus knew what was waiting for them on the. Other side jesus knew that there would be hungry people that he needed the apostles, to feed so he invites them into the boat so that they could receive from him all that, they need so that they could breathe in before they needed to. Breathe out rest happens on. The way HOW do i know this because look what
it says in. The scripture it says that the people who were, standing there they, watched them and they followed them. On foot that Means that jesus and the disciples could have walked to where they. Were going jesus and the disciples could have ran along with all the other crowds.
Of people And yet, jesus says come.
With me in this boat for just a little while it says that they actually got to the other side Faster than jesus and.
The apostles they were waiting.
For Them so, jesus says let's take the slow way, over there just so you can. Take them get a moment to really catch, your breath because he wants to give you rest On the pay attention to the transitions in, your life the, transition moments because they are windows to Connect.
With jesus jesus will show up in your life with. Little Boats richard foster.
Calls this he calls them, little solitudes, little boats little Moments where god wants to breathe into you and give. You rest touch your, neighbors say don't miss, the boat don't miss.
THE boat.
I think we so often miss what the disciples miss because we think rest is somewhere. Out there but when we come to the Realization that jesus wants to give us rest on, the way we start looking for the.
Little boats the, little boats the.
Little moments throughout our day where we can Connect, with him those moments. Of transition That's why, david said in the morning and, the evening those are. Transition times, the morning it's not quite night it's not quite day transition times.
For us to Connect.
With GOD and i want to encourage you brothers and sisters that in your Rhythm, with god don't grow weary in, doing good but look for the little moments throughout your day to simply Breathe in his, holy rest to breathe in, his faithfulness to Breathe in.
His goodness this can.
Look like, for me it looked like pulling in the driveway and taking three MINUTES before i walked in the house just to unload the burdens of my day SO that i could move from one moment of ministry to the ministry that happens in my home and FEEL like i actually had something to give.
Little moments. Little moments.
And for those of us who, feel, Like ah i'm just, So busy i'm just, so busy how is It, that jesus who was perfect and only had three years to, do ministry knew how to prioritize Time. With god, in fact right after he feeds the, five thousand you know what. He does he goes up onto a mountainside. To Pray because jesus knew the importance of getting Alone with god
so that he could Align with god and Receive. From god and what makes us so arrogant to think That it jesus needed to get Alone, with god that we can somehow make it through, this life that we can somehow fulfill the Purposes that he has, for us that we can somehow do all the Things that he has in his heart without us taking.
Time to really Receive. From him so.
THE way i, pictured it THE way i pictured it is like we're sometimes going through life on, one foot, just SAYING if i can just get to the other side Of the Sea, of Galilee then i'll get a chance.
To rest and.
We're doing everything that we Can for god, like this and we're wondering sometimes why we're. So tired we're wondering sometimes why. We're shaky we wonder sometimes why it feels like we're out. Of BREATH and i think it's because we haven't learned how to rest on, The way rest on, the way rest on.
The WAY so.
I pictured you getting your stability back and your strength Back, because jesus it says that he, called them and he.
Sent them, he calls He sends galatians five. Twenty five so since.
We live by, the spirit let us keep in step With. The spirit there's a cadence to Walking. With god and it looks like, breathing in, breathing out, breathing in. Breathing out it looks like not hopping on one foot from one place to, the next from one season to, the next from good news to, bad news from response with one season to. The next it looks like finding the Rhythm of. God's Grace and he calls you and he.
Sends you he calls you and he. Sends You so i'm gonna heal The, Sick lord BUT sometimes i need to come to you because there's places in my LIFE where i. Need Healing and i'm gonna feed The. Hungry GOD but i need you to be my bread. Of LIFE so i need you to speak. TO me i need your word in. MY life i need. Your Strength and i'm gonna. Comfort, Others god i'm gonna. Do it i'm gonna show up. For them i'm gonna sit with them in the hard places of. Their Life But, holy
spirit would you comfort me in my? Life too and suddenly it doesn't feel like. We're straining suddenly it doesn't feel like we're limping around, as believers but it feels like we're going from strength, to strength glory, to glory Because when god sends a little boat into, your life don't miss the opportunity to get alone. With him he knows what, you, need disciples and he knows that if you're hungry because you haven't a chance.
To eat he can make food out. Of nothing he can. Feed you.
It's the place to receive silence, and solitude and as uncomfortable as it, can be because often it's in that Place where god strips away the layers of our life that we used to keep some fabricated version, of ourselves it's actually the furnace of transformation because it's the place where we receive our strength as we are reminded of who we really Are. In christ we got to learn how to rest along. The way if you've been coming to this church for, A while i love the message
that you'll hear over and. Over again it's actually our, mission statements See what god can do. Through you it's this underlying belief that we carry that no matter what you've, been through no matter what your, past Is that god wants to. Use you god wants to. Use YOU and i believe that with my.
Whole heart.
And Yet what I've found i've needed in my life the most is the reminder of not Only does god want to, use me but to Know that god also wants to be.
With me did you, know that Child, of god that he wants to be. With you some of.
Us think that he he just wants to use us for, His Glory but god wants to be, with you and in, that place he wants to give you everything that you need to walk out the Purposes that he's called, for You because he. Loves you the first ministry is To, the LORD and i don't want to go through LIFE saying i did all these things in. Your name and, he SAID but i never knew you because you never got in the boat and sat still enough long enough for me to get to.
Know you be still and KNOW that I. AM god.
I want to just as we close this, service today take a moment to just pray for those of you who maybe find yourself in a place where you're, facing burnout you're facing, spiritual exhaustion where you almost feel like you wonder if you're losing. Your faith you're not losing. Your faith you're not losing. Your faith you're not walking Away. From him you've just, Grown tired and if you find yourself in that place today where, YOU'RE like i don't KNOW if i have bread to. FEED anybody i need.
BREAD myself i. NEED rest i need rest for. MY soul i remind you of the Words, of jesus, who says come to me all who are weary, and BURDEN and i will give. You rest rest is not found in. A place rest is found in. A person would you take a moment. AND stand i love IT when i look around, THIS room i see so many PEOPLE that I know god is using in an, amazing way and you're carrying.
So much.
IT'S amazing i think it's because you've learned how to catch your breath along, the way to, breathe in to, breathe out learn how. To rest for some of, us today maybe we're in a place where we've, been neglecting the secret Place where god.
Wants to fill us in this. SIMPLE message i know, it's.
Simple but it was powerful for me at a TIME where i, needed IT because i don't KNOW where i would be right Now if god didn't speak this to me and remind me that the first calling is that calling. To Himself and i've learned to embrace what it means to, take time even if it's just for a few moments at, a time to connect, with him to be alone with
HIM so i can align. With him and for someone who feels like they're holding so much right now and you feel shaky and you feel weak and you don't know if you can GO another i want to pray
For The holy spirit to strengthen you. Right now but more, THAN that i want to Pray that god would stir up a hunger in your heart for, His Presence that god would stir up a desire in his heart to come back to your, first love to be with him in that place so that he can, fill you so that he can, strengthen you so that he can.
Feed you.
If that's, you TODAY and i really want to Know who i'm specifically. Praying FOR and i know we've got people joining us at other campuses and people joining, us.
Online but even in the room where you are in, the.
Chat let us know if that's, you today you find yourself where, YOU'RE like i don't Know if i'm. GIVING up i don't Know if i'm quite, there YET but i feel myself. Growing weary no one, Walks away no one. Gives up just in a moment, like that you. Grow weary you grow weary because, you're doing, you're doing, you're doing, you're doing but you're neglecting that the little Boats.
That he's sending you so that you can be, with him be. With him if you.
Find yourself in, THAT place i want to pray specifically for you. Right now just raise your hand up in, the AIR and i want to Pray that god would stir up a hunger for. His, presence yeah, Thank, You lord Thank.
You.
Lord yeah someone, over here you're on the verge of. Giving up, come on put your hand in. THE air i want to pray.
For, you, yeah. Yeah YEAH so.
I declare the Promise of matthew eleven, over you the Words. Of jesus come to me all who are weary, and BURDENED and i will give. You, rest jesus your yoke, Is easy your yoke. IS easy i pray for, MY brother i pray for. MY sister i pray for everyone who's in that place right.
Now where they've been going, through it going.
Through it they've been carrying all the things that you've called them, To, carry lord but it feels sometimes like they can't take, another step that they can't take, another breath like they're. COMPLETELY underwater i want to pray for them, Right, now GOD and I Ask holy spirit that you would fill, their breath that you would fill their lungs with the strength of.
Your Wind.
Holy spirit, right now, Come Quickly, holy spirit and. Strengthen them strengthen them in their. Feeble, needs god that they would not give up or. Grow, weary God, AND lord i pray that you would open up. Their ears open up their ears to hear your voice calling them into the. SECRET place I hear, god saying, over you come away. With me come get in the boat. With me let's take a. LITTLE while i want to, FEED you i want to speak. TO you i want to. COMFORT you
i want to. Strengthen you there's THINGS that i have in my heart for YOU that i still want to, show you and there's things you're going INTO that.
I want to equip. You For, so god open up their ears to hear your.
Voice, and god as, you Say, come lord our, Response, is lord we want to step into that boat.
With you and be. With, you god be. WITH you i.
Speak against every scheme of the enemy that would come to. Discourage, THEM god i declare over them that they're, not wicked they're. Just. Weary GOD but i thank you that the Strength Of almighty god is coming into their life. Right, Now god, so brothers, so sister do not, grow weary don't. GIVE up i Pray that god would give you rest for.
Your, soul.
Hallelujah hallelujah thank you for.
Joining us special thanks to those of you who give generously to. This ministry is because of you that this ministry. Is possible you can click the link in the description to give now Or visit elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more information and if you enjoyed, the podcast you. Can subscribe you can share it with. Your friends you can click the, share button take a screenshot and share it on your social stories and tag Us At. Elevation church thanks again. For listening god. Bless you