Building From Rest

Building from rest …. Sounds like an oxymoron, right?  Did you know that is what God has called all of us to do?  God wants you to build your life from a place of rest.

A great example of this is the building of the temple discussed in 1 Chronicles 22.  God had blessed David tremendously and given him a beautiful palace to live in, but David’s heart was grieved because God’s spirit didn’t have a place to dwell permanently in the earth.  David told his son, Solomon, of his desire to build a house for God where His spirit could dwell.  Look at God’s response, however:

1Chronicles 22:8 but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shedmuch blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name,because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 

God wouldn’t allow David to build  Him a house because David was a man of blood and war.  This story is a prophetic picture of Christ and the church (Christians). Jesus was the man of blood and war.  God poured out His wrath on Jesus on the cross; in a sense making war with his son and Jesus shed his blood to pay for the remission of sins.  Jesus made provision for the house God would dwell in permanently one day; the church. More specifically, you and me.

He then told David:

Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around.  His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

The reason Solomon was called to build a house for God is because He was a man of rest.  We as believers are now called to a place of rest, just like Solomon was.  As we read through the story of the building of the temple in 1 Chronicles, we find that David got the plan from God, raised the money, and forged alliances with other nations to gain resources and people necessary to build.  David went to great trouble to provide for Solomon just like Jesus went to great trouble to make provision for the church.  All Solomon had to do was receive.

You are probably saying, well that’s awesome theology, Pastor Brian, but how do I do that practically?  How do I build my life from a place of rest?  Great, question, I’m glad you asked.  It really comes back to knowing who God made you to be. Like Solomon, you need to get the plan from your Father.  As you draw close to God, He will draw close to you and make His plan for your life clear.  As God becomes your delight, He aligns your desires with His desires (Psalms 37:4).

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to begin to get clarity on God’s plan for your life.

  • What do I like to do the most?
  • What things interest me the most?
  • When I am (doing) _______________ I feel the strongest.
  • When in my life did I feel the most fulfilled?
  • What are my motivational gifts (Romans 12:6-8)?
  • What am I most passionate about in life?

As you begin to ask yourself those questions God’s grace or ability in your life will be revealed.  Build your life with the grace (motivations, desires, passion, and abilities) God has given you.  The only way to build from rest is to be the person God has made you to be.  Trying to be someone else or function outside of the giftings God has given you in order to be something He didn’t make you to be is to be at war with yourself.  God won’t build your life from a place of war, He builds it from a place of rest.

God has treasure reserved to supply your specific calling.  God obligates Himself to pay for the things He has called you to do.  All you have to do is rest in who He made you to be and function out of the giftings He has given you.  As you discover who God made you to be, you will build your life from a place of rest and fulfill your God given purpose!

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