A Bruised Reed and a Smoking Flax

Mt 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Introduction:

A reed is a type of grass - Sometimes a stalk or rod of any plant, as of the hyssop, Mt 27:48; John 19:29.  Usually, however, the word reed denotes a reed or cane growing in marshy grounds, Job 40:21; Isa 19:6; slender and fragile, and hence taken as an emblem of weakness, 1Ki 18:21; Isa 36:6; Eze. 29:6; and of instability, Mt 11:7.  "A bruised reed," Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20, is an emblem of a soul crushed and ready to sink in despair under a sense of its guilty and lost condition.  Such a soul the Saviour will graciously sustain and strengthen.  Reeds were anciently used as pens and as measuring-rods, Eze. 40:5; 42:16.  The Hebrew "reed" is supposed to have been about ten feet long.

A "bruised reed" (Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Mt 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). The "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Mt 27:48).

A flax - "The flax was in bloom" (the King James Version "bolled"; Ex 9:31); (2) the "stalks of flax," literally, "flax of the tree," put on the roof to dry (Jos 2:6); (3) to the fine fibers used for lighting. This verse literally applied to the chosen nation Israel but also for the believers as well because every Christian can be both a reed and flax. A reed symbolizes weakness while flax is used for light. That even though we are weak and little compared to others but we can be used as a light of the world.

1.       The Perseverance of Christ to His Saints

It is not the Christian who is persevering in his service  but it is Christ who is persevering to teach His saints…

In the life of Jacob – God’s shows His perseverance to His chosen nation Israel. Jacob's name means a supplanter – a deceitful and a manipulator but God persevered to mold his character until God blessed him and called his name Israel –"as a prince he had power with God and prevailed."

God’s perseverance was also manifested in the life of Apostle Paul.  He was a blasphemer and injurious and even called himself the chief of all sinners.  But God persevered in the life of Paul and he became the apostle to the Gentiles. As a result, he helps to build more than 50 N.T. churches and he wrote almost 50% of the New Testament.

God’s perseverance is manifested in the life of every believer – It is not the believer who persevered to serve God – but it is God who is persevering to teach us, to train us, to develop us to be useful and fruitful to give glory and praise to His name.

2.       The Gentleness of Christ to His Saints

The prophet Isaiah, in speaking of the gentleness of the Messiah, makes use of a proverbial expression, which is also quoted by Matthew and applied to Jesus: "The bruised reed he shall not break, and the smoking flax he shall not quench," Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20.  Here "flax" is used for the wick of a lamp or taper, which was usually made of flax.  He will not break a reed already bruised and ready to be broken, nor extinguish a flickering, dying lamp, just ready to expire; that is, he will not oppress his humble and penitent followers, but cherish the feeblest beginnings of true grace.

Sometimes we are not only broken but our hope is flickering. There is no fire in our service – but praise be to God the Bible says – “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench”

Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

3.       The Care of Christ to His Saints

1Pet. 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Psa. 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Illustration: George Mueller -  (September 27, 1805 – March 10, 1898), a Christian evangelist and Director of orphanages in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life^[1]

Not receiving government support and only accepting unsolicited gifts, this organisation received and disbursed £1.5 million ($2,718,844 USD) by the time of Müller's death, primarily using the money for supporting the orphanages and distributing about 64,000 Bibles, 85,000 Testaments, and 29,000,000 other religious texts. The money was also used to support other "faith missionaries" around the world, such as Hudson Taylor. The work continues to this day.

Through all this, Müller never made requests for financial support, nor did he go into debt, even though the five homes cost over £100,000 to build. Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children, further strengthening his faith in God.

It was on a daily basis because when God stop to care He ceases to be God. It is His nature – It is of the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed… - Lam. 3:22-23

4.       The Expectation of Christ to His Saints

God persevered with us; He is gentle on us and cares for us because He expects something out of us. Through us we can glorify Him and pleased Him.

As a reed:

- We can be used as a cane - a help, guide and foundation to the weak.

- It symbolizes greatness – as  Matthew 27:29 …and a reed in his right hand.

- We can be used as measuring stick, a standard on this wicked world – Ezek. 40:1-9, 42:16-19; Rev. 11:1, 21:15-16

- We can be used as staff, a rod that used by Moses to perform miracles– Moses has only a rod but it used to part the red sea and to smote the rock and water came out of it. That the greatest miracle this world wants to see is our changed life.

As a flax:

- We can be the light of the world

- Used to light – a fire for revival a wild fire everyone of us is a potential wild fire…

- We can be act as a clothing – a fine linen of Egypt – it is a flax used as a royal apparel. Ho 2:9 Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness..

- We won’t fire without a wind – it symbolizes the power of the Holy Spirit in order to send revival.

Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

A vision signifying that God wants to use us in His hands… We are the standard bearer, the measurement and our light should shine among men that they should see our good works and glorify God which is in heaven. God wants to used us mightily in His hands –

Conclusion:

Just like a bruised reed and a smoking flax we are almost useless and very weak but at the hand of God we are mighty and more than conqueror. God wants to use us.

1. He perseveres in our every weakness and limitation

2.  He is gentle in His commands to teach us to follow Him

3. He is caring to supply all of our needs

4. And He is expectant to be fruitful in all our endeavors.

Rey Sandoval Dalde .
Ark Bible Way Baptist Mission
reydalde@gmail.com

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Introduction:

The present world is in turmoil – wild fire, floods all over the world, earhtquakes, famines, wars and rumor of wars, etc. And being a Christian does not exempt us.  These things are the noise of this world. We are always bombarded by negative things and thoughts. Then here comes the technology and gadgets – the iPod, iPad, iPhone, cellphone, smartphone, net-tops, tablets, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube – and the sad thing is that all of these just create noise but does not help us to draw near or closer to God. Just try to imagine if the angels from heaven will dwell with us and live with us. Will they emulate our lifestyle?

Most of the things that we possesses are things that hinder our relationship with God because most of those things does not make us quiet. We have all those gadgets connected to our bodies. Remember that the most important thing in our Christian life is our relationship with Him. And this relationship must foster or grow. The grave question today is do we really know God?

I remember when I was about three or four years old Christian, I was in a very deep difficulty almost in the wit’s end. Then as I sat down one afternoon – tears ran down out of control for a long period of time as I utter Jesus is my friend – I know then that I have that friend closer than a brother. I know that afternoon... as I sat down.

Still means – to slacken -abate, cease, consume, draw, fail,  be faint, be  feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone, slack, stay, be still, be slothful,  be weak

Know  is  used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment,--acknowledge, acquaintance, advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, etc.

Just started in recent months when I used “Father” when I pray to God. Before I used the word  Lord or God when I talk to God but now I used Father. Our relationship to our God must grow. 


In a book entitled in Pursuit of Silence the author said “People are accustomed to noise. Jackhammers, car alarms, ringtone, earphone, television, etc…. But silence focuses us, brings us closer to people around us, improves our health, and is a key to lasting peace and contentment. In deaf communities attentiveness is heightened in almost every  aspect of life. If two deaf people are walking together, using sign language, they constantly watched out for each other holding the other in their gaze. They are connected yet keenly aware of their surroundings.

I.                   Our DUTY

To be still – don’t complain, don’t murmur but learn to wait upon God. Our duty is to Sit down and wait in patience. God hated the Israelite because of their too much murmurings and complains.  

The murmuring of the children of Israel cost them very dear. Be still, that is, beware of murmuring against me, saith the Lord.  God gives not an account of his matters to any; because there may be many things ye cannot see through. We must be still as to actions and outward behavior, so as not to oppose God in his dispensations; and as to the inward frame of our hearts, cultivating a calm and quiet submission of soul to the sovereign pleasure of God, whatever it may be.

We always cry, murmur or complain about our situation, that we are always tested – that the devil try us – that sister So and Brother So is unfair that we are always the victim of circumstances. And because of that we missed the most important lesson God wants to teach in our life – we missed many opportunity of learning.

Our duty is to listen before God – wait on His instruction. Our Lord wants to instruct us how to be happy, productive and fruitful, and how to live victoriously. But our problem is we don’t have time to listen. We go with the noise this world is making. We lost our focus because of those noise that already attached in our body.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

We may observe the ground of this duty, namely, the divinity of God.  His being God is a sufficient reason why we should be still before him, in no wise murmuring, or objecting, or opposing, but calmly and humbly submitting to him. Many great ideas were developed in silence.

   II. OUR PRIVILEDGE

To know  - that I am God. It speaks about past, present and future:

1.  In that he is God, he is an absolutely and infinitely perfect being.

2.  As he is God, he is so great, that he is infinitely above all comprehension.

3.  As he is God, all things are his own.

4.  In that he is God, he is worthy to be sovereign over all things.

5.  In that he is God, he will be sovereign, and will act as such

6.  In that he is God, he is able to avenge himself on those who oppose his sovereignty.-  

To hear that still small voice – the voice of God the Holy Spirit that is in us. The Holy Spirit that is in us a still small voice that we can’t hear if we don’t listen to Him in stillness.

To know that we are protected - Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Our priviledge as we listen to Him aw we wait upon God is that we will know Him better.

I personally experienced to call Jesus as my friend during those unexplainable events of my life – I know dearly that He is my Father as I wait upon Him as I developed my relationship with God. Those are our privilege to know God.

III.              Our FOCUS

Our main goal and our objective is that God must be exalted and glorified – I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth

God wants first to listen to Him and develop our relationship with because He wants to  use you to exalt his Holy name.

Matt. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

God is glorified as we walk circumspectly – which is a result of maintaining our duty and getting the privileges.

Conclusion:


Out RESPONSIBILITY/DUTY is be Still
Our PRIVILEDGE is to know God
Our FOCUS/GOAL is that God may be Exalted

Rey Sandoval Dalde
Ark Bible Way Baptist Mission
reydalde@gmail.com

Smooth Stones Out of the Brook

Text: 1Samuel 17:38-40;48-50 c.v.40

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine."

Introduction:

Today we will speak about the smooth stones out of the brook. It seems to us that this is insignificant and an unworthy topic. But many little, base and insignificant things bring precious gems if carefully attended. God does not forget little things.

Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? (for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth)

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting

1Sa 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

It was a little maid that gave hope to the great and valiant but leprous man called Naaman.

It was a little boy with 5 bread and 2 small fishes that fed 5 thousand men beside women and children in the earthly ministry of Christ.

There are several truths and principles (precious gems out of the Word of God) that we can learn out of that small, little and somewhat insignificant thing.

I. God Does Not Necessarily Use Great And Mighty To Kill A Giant.

Of course we know that David, the little boy killed the giant Goliath, but what David used in killing that Goliath give as an interest though somewhat insignificant.

In verse 38-39 King Saul wants to wear his armour, helmet, coat and his sword but David did not used it instead he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, (v.40)

When David went back to the mountain probably because the brook is a river in the valley of mountains, he did not choose a lion or bear or any wild animal to accompany him against Goliath. He did neither chose a hard tree to be used as a rod or spear against Goliath but a smooth stones out of the brook – an unknown, insignificant, unseen things out of the great mountains.

1Cor. 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power, Not the mighty and noble, the famous in the world, the renown the Ayalas, the Cojuancos, the Zobels to publish the gospel of grace and peace.

But God called the weak, base, little and somewhat insignificant people… But to those who are called and saved he is the wisdom of God, and the power of God.

But God seeth not as man seeth. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and despicable things of the world, men of low rank, of no liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. God is a better judge.

God knows what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of his glory. David certainly knew what tools and instrument served him the best.

Jer. 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Many great, rich and famous people that don’t understand the Word of God – and if you understand the Word of God, give glory to God even you think you are but little, despise or insignificant.

God wants to triumphs the foolishness of preaching over human wisdom.

Ps 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

It is strange thing why God who is so mighty and so wise used those who cannot pronounced good, uneducated in world’s standards, weak in grammar, cannot construct a good sentence to spread the gospel. It is because God wants to beat down the pride and vanity of men.

So if you think you are little, despise, small & insignificant – God wants to use you… but before that God wants to smoothes you.

II. God Smoothes Those He Wants To Kill The Giants

God wants to cleanse us. To get rid of our rough edges. The weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.

God wants to use us but he needs to cleanse us first for God wants a clean vessel.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

We are liken into a clay in the potter’s hand -

God is in smoothing business

See the life of the ff. Bible characters:

Joseph – He was 17 yrs when God spoke to him in a dream that God will used him and he will become a great ruler…

David – Was also 17 years old when God asked Samuel to anoint him to be the next king of Israel…

John the Baptist – He was filled of the Spirit in his mother’s womb but still he undergone the smoothing process in the wilderness

Apostle Paul – He was about 30 years old when God called him to be the apostle to the Gentiles…

Jesus Christ our Lord – He was 12 years old when He said in Luke 2:49 …How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

God does not want rough edges in our life - The weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.

Our God wants to smooths you because He wants to use you – Maybe to be an usher, choir member, sun sch. teacher, preacher, pastor, preacher’s wife, missionary evangelist, or just a simple giant killer.

Maybe God want to use you to build a great works for him but before that you need to undergo a process.

Challenge: If you want to be mightily used by God you need to live a life of a clean and a pure lifestyle. God’s number one attribute is still holiness.

Our God is a holy God and that holy God still hates sin. God wants to smooth and cleanse our immoral and dirty lifestyle, our pride, our covetousness, our envy, etc.

Until God not seen the image of Christ in our life, we cannot mightily used by Him.

1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

(The picture here is of an ancient goldsmith who puts his crude gold ore in a crucible, subjects it to intense heat, and thus liquefies the mass. The impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed off. When the metal worker is able to see the reflection of his face clearly mirrored in the surface of the liquid, he takes off the fire, for he knows that the contents are pure gold)

A silver or gold is tried with fire until the face of the goldsmith is seen clearly out of the melted elements. God does not want dirt and rough edges in our life. And most of the time the process is long and tedious.

Illustrate: The archer with a smooth arrow -stretching the bow to the limit.

God is not only smoothing us but sometimes He stretched us to the limit in order that when He pull us off we will hit the target – the perfect will of God.

III. God Smoothen Us As We Stay In The Brook

The Brook – It is a river. A small streams in the valley.

How the stones in the brook become smooth?

We are smoothing as we apply the Word of God in the most difficult circumstances in our life.

We are not smoothen in our most happy and joyful events but rather in much tribulations, trials and troubles, in pressures, persecutions and problems, in sufferings, sadness & sorrow, in discouragement, distress and drudgery.

The stream in the valley represents pressures in the lowest part of our life. The water in the brook represents the Word of God that makes us smooth.

Smooth stones are found in flowing water not in stagnant water.

We need the Word of God to smooth us. But the Word Of God must be applied.

The stone smoothen in the brook because of the flowing water. The Word of God must flow through us. It must be seen in our lives.

The Word of God must not only receive, it must be applied and seen in our lives.

When is the Word of God best applicable? During the time of great difficulty.

When is the joy unspeakable and full of glory (1Pet. 1:8) best seen in our lives? When we are distress and discourage. When is that peace that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7) best applied in our lives? When we are pressured. When can we best apply Phil. 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” How about James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Many active Christians quit during the time of great discouragement and pressure. They say “God understand my situation – ” The Word of God must not only heard it must be seen and applied in our lives.

It’s good to hear the Word of God… but if it is not apply – it will just hardened us. It must not stay, we need to teach the Word of God – let others see Jesus in us.

The world needs the truth in us. Somebody must hear and see the truth in us.

It is how God smoothen us – when the Word of God flows in our lives by applying and teaching it especially during the time of great trials and difficulty.

Conclusion:

Three principles that we can used in our topic Smooth Stones Out Of  The Brook.

1. God does not Necessarily use Great and Mighty to Kill a Giant.

2. God Smooths Those He Wants to Kill the Giants

3. God Smoothen Us as we Stay in the Brook

Is The Holy Spirit Finally Found Rest In You?

Genesis 8:6-12

 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:  And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.  Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;  But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.  And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;   And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.  And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

Introduction:

We can see in the passages that we have read the events that happened after the flood… Noah sent a raven and the raven went forth to and fro – very happy to see the things – dead and rotten bodies, foul smelly decomposing plants, beast and human beings… and the raven did not return.

Then after that Noah sent a dove – “… But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot…”

Rest means - quiet, a settled spot, or  a home, place of rest.

We can apply this truth in our world today. The dove represent the Holy Spirit - Matt. 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

The raven also can be represented as the evil spirit – that went forth to and fro upon seeing dead, decomposing and rotten bodies. The ministry of the devil is to went forth to and fro in the presence of God accusing the brethren.

Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Job 1:6-7 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Every Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit - 1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

But the grave question today who really owns you? Is The Holy Spirit Finally Found Rest In You?

Or It is the raven – the evil spirit that went forth to and fro and the Holy Spirit is grieving? 

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Only a person who loves you so much will be grieved (if you did a wrongdoing or a bad thing.)

You can only feel sorry if somebody you know became a victim of tragedy or involve in any wrongdoing but if that somebody is your love one or you have a relationship to that person it grieves. The Bible says grieve not – not to feel sorry or condemning you but grieve every time you do wicked things simply because the Holy Spirit love you so much.

Is the Holy Spirit grieving? Because of the kind of living you are entangling with. Just like our Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says He came to His own but His own receives Him not. Today, every person who accepted Christ as His personal Lord and Savior was owned by the Holy Spirit but His own receives Him not.  Why? Because the owner of the body constantly grieves. 

And not unless you are dead in trespasses and sins, dead in selfishness and personal ambition, dead to praises and in vain glory in envying and in strife and pride the Holy Spirit can’t found rest in you.  But the devil will laugh at us and scorn – he went forth to and fro – very happy in the in the presence of the Lord – Job 1:6-7.

Ephesians 5:8-9,14-17 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Galasians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Is The Holy Spirit Finally Found Rest In You? There are some truths that we can claim today in the passages that we had read.

I.                    God Will Always Extends The Works of His Spirit in Us

We have read in our passages how many times the dove was sent forth.

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.  Aiden Wilson Tozer

Did not you realize that God is constantly offering us the best gift? - Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Most of us neglect the best and perfect gift and we try to exchange it with dead and vain things. Things that will someday decompose. The dead and rotten things of this world.

That’s why the Holy Spirit found no rest in us because of the things that we value most are the dead and the vain things of this world. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

How many needs or it is just one need? – The only thing that you really need tonight is the power and presence of the God. And through the Holy Spirit you can have it even today. Luke 11:13

God will always extends the works of His Spirit in Us

God will gave you enough time to come unto him and surrender and yield and be filled with his power and might. No wonder that even if Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Ezekiel,  Paul – they were men past their youth when God used them.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."

Isa. 40:29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The Holy Spirit will find rest upon us if we wait upon God-

II.                  Life Comes Only Through the Spirit

Gen. 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Olive leaf is a sign of life. - Gen. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Revival, joy, enthusiasm, excitement, fruitfulness only comes as the spirit moves.

The energy – the wind, oil.

Just like Samson, David, and even the power of Christ and His apostle.

Our work and energy if it does not comes from God it is void and vain.

Isa. 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Just like the deeds of Pharisee and Sadducees.


III. The Holy Spirit Wants To Find Rest in Us

As a temple of the Holy Spirit it is but natural that He wants to have rest in us. It is but natural that the Holy Spirit will do His best to find rest upon us.

Illus. There will come a time in our life that even though we are here doing our job and ministry and other thing but we know our heart is not right with God – and what the Holy Spirit will do – give you right message in every possible way. Sometimes in your devotion, or in listening to preaching, music, in fellowship, etc. – That’s the work of the Holy Spirit because he wants to have rest in you –

The holy spirit is not happy as you live in the flesh,in sin and wickedness – he is grieve

Gen. 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

The devil will tell you do this small thing called sin but afterwards he will tell you how great you are a sinner before God.

Is the Holy Spirit finally found rest in you? As you wake up this morning -  Is the Holy Spirit finally found rest in you? Or it is the Devil that went forth to and fro. I do believe the Holy Spirit found rest if you woke up praying and meditating upon the Word of God and you make Christ as the Lord of your life. 

"If you have the Word without the Spirit, you'll dry up.

 If you have the Spirit without the Word, you'll blow up.

 If you have both the Word and the Spirit, you'll grow up."  --Derek Prince

D.L Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."

Not unless you are dead in trespasses and sins, dead in selfishness and personal ambition and in vain glory in envying and in strife and pride the Holy Spirit can’t found rest in you.