“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
1. Come to Me (Relationship)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
2. Yield to Me (Partnership)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)
3. Learn from Me (Discipleship)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.
John 1:44-46 (CSB)
1. Never underestimate Jesus
Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?”
John 7:41 (CSB)
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offense at him.
Matthew 13:55-57 (NIV)
2. Always see what God is doing
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.
John 1:44-46 (CSB)
As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.
John 15:9 (CSB)
3. Always respond in faith
Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!”
John 1:47-49 (CSB)
Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:50-51 (CSB)
Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.
Daniel 6:3 (CSB)
2.INTEGRITY—Doing the right thing no matter thecost
The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:4-5 (CSB)
3.INTERCESSION—Bringing everyconcernto God inprayer
Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” 9 So King Darius signed the written edict.10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”
Daniel 6:8-12 (CSB)
4.INFLUENCE—Using theplatformGod gives me for good
Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound. 26 I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel.
Daniel 6:25-26 (CSB)
…be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll also do the same.’ 31 You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice every detestable act, which the Lord hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.
Deuteronomy 12:30-32 (CSB)
When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
Ezra 9:3 (CSB)
1. THOSE WHO EXPEREINCE THE HAND OF GOD…
A. STUDY THE WORD OF GOD
He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Ezra 6:6 (CSB)
Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you…
Colossians 3:16 (CSB)
He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:9-10 (CSB)
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:28 (NIV)
B. SEEK THE HEART OF GOD
I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. 22 I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him.” 23 So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.
Ezra 8:21-23 (CSB)
2. THE HAND OF GOD…
A. GIVES ME STRENGTH TO CARRY ON
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, 28 and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by the hand of the Lord my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.
Ezra 7:27-28 (CSB)
We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and he kept us from the grasp of the enemy and from ambush along the way.
Ezra 8:31(CSB)
B. GIVES ME PASSION TO SERVE
…I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites there. 16 Then I summoned the leaders…I sent them to Iddo, the leader…, with a message for him and his brothers, the temple servants…, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God. 18 Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight…along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, 19 plus Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20 There were also 220 of the temple servants, who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites.
Ezra 8:15-20 (CSB)
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
James 5:17 (ESV)
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
James 5:15 (ESV)
“From there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT)
2. Emboldened by righteousness
So keep on confessing your sins to one another and praying for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 (ISV)
If you are a husband, you should be thoughtful of your wife. Treat her with honor, because she isn’t as strong as you are, and she shares with you in the gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)
But there is a problem—your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Isaiah 59:2 (NLT)
We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to anyone who worships and obeys him.
John 9:31 (NCV)
3. Inspired by power
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16b (ISV)
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:13 (ISV)
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
4. Cultivated by simplicity
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
James 5:17 (ESV)
5. Strengthened by persistence
Elijah was a man just like us, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the ground for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and heaven sent rain, and the ground produced its crops.
James 5:16-18 (ISV)
Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out before You day and night.
Psalms 88:1 (HCSB)
At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God.
Luke 6:12 (NCV)
They reported to Moses, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit.
Numbers 13:27 (CSB)
When your outnumbered stop…
1. Looking at your obstacles
However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there.
Numbers 13:28 (CSB)
2. Listening to the majority
But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” 32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. 33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”
Numbers 13:31-33 (CSB)
GOD IS FOR ME
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
GOD IS IN ME
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
GOD IS WITH ME
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
3. Living in the past
Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Numbers 14:1-4 (CSB)
Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
Luke 7:11-17 (CSB)
Keep Getting Up Because…
1. Jesus Is Full of Compassion
Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Don’t cry.”
Luke 7:11-13 (CSB)
Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.”
Mark 1:40-41 (CSB)
2. Jesus Is Full of Assurances
When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.”
Luke 7:13 (CSB)
WE HAVE MANY ASSURANCES
Assurances We Are Never Alone Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (CSB)
Assurances of Answered Prayer If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11 (CSB)
Assurance of Spiritual Guidance For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
Romans 8:14 (CSB)
3. Jesus Is Full of Power
Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Luke 7:14-15 (CSB)
Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: 8 I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close.
Revelation 3:7 (CSB)
You were made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Ephesians 2:1 (NASB)
4. Jesus Is Full of Help
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Luke 7:16-17 (NIV)
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 (CSB)
