The definition of power is the ability or capacity to do something. One thing we all have in common is we all want more ability and capacity! This is not just true of Christians, but it’s true of every human being alive. Typically, the way most of us try to increase our power is by working harder. While there is a place for hard work in gaining power, one of the most neglected ways we can increase in power is through rest.
Rest? Huh?
Yep, there is power in rest. Look at Hebrews 4:9-10:
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
The writer of Hebrews told God’s people to cease from their own works and enter God’s rest. Why? So they could enter into the promise of salvation and the blessings it provides including healing, prosperity, strength, wisdom, and peace. The writer is also warning them to not go back under a religious system of works, but simply believe in Christ’s finished work so they could receive the promises. Look at Hebrews 4:3:
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
This passage compares the finished work of Christ believers inherit with the finished work the children of Israel were supposed to inherit when they came out of Egypt. Look at Deuteronomy 6:10-11:
10 “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant….
Do you see this? The children of Israel were supposed to inherit beautiful cities and houses full of good things they did not build. They were supposed to inherit wells they did not dig and vineyards they did not plant. The children of Israel didn’t have to strive for their inheritance, they simply needed to believe and enter in.
The same is true for us today. The promises of God in Christ are finished works. We don’t have to strive to make them happen. We simply believe and receive. The key to doing this is learning to rest. The greek word for rest is katápausis, which literally means reposing down or rest. The word repose means to lie down, become tranquil, and even to fall asleep. This is why Psalm 23:2 says He makes me lie down in green pastures. A shepherd lays sheep down in green pastures so they can rest and eat, not so they can strive and worry.
The key to to faith is to rest and feed on God’s promises; it isn’t to strive and worry. Naturally, when we rest our body recharges. The same is true spiritually. We recharge and renew our strength as we lie down and feed on the promises.
What I’ve found over the years is too often I see a problem that needs dealt with or an opportunity to seize and I go into hyperdrive instead of rest. This always weakens me and hinders me from walking in God’s promises. All this may lead someone to ask, “Pastor Brian, do we ever need to do anything?” Sure we do. The Apostle Paul who is the apostle of grace said, “I labor more abundantly than you all, yet not I, but it’s the grace of God in me.” We labor from a place of rest. Think about it. How much more prepared are you to go to work when you get 8 hours of really restful sleep as compared to 5 hours of interrupted sleep?
I want to submit to you that if the children of Israel would have laid down and studied the promises of God right after they received a negative report of giants being in the promised land, they would have taken the promised land. As they rested and fed on God’s promises, their hearts would have moved into faith. They would have then defeated the giants from rest instead of giving into fear and never entering their promised land.
The key to us receiving our inheritance today, which are the finished works of Christ. is rest. We can do more by resting than throught striving. I’d encourage you to both rest spiritually and physically today and feed on God’s word. When you do, I believe faith will arise in your heart and you will walk in a greater measure of power than you have ever walked in before!
I hope this article has encouraged you! If you’d like to learn more, check out this teaching I did at Grace Life Church.
