Entering the rest of God

By Dr. Brian J. Bailey

In the world today where many are weighed down by cares, stress, and the turbulence of life, true rest is one of the most treasured blessings. In this little book, Dr. Brian Bailey explores some of the ways in which we can come into rest and learn to roll our cares upon the Lord in order to gain strength as we continue on life’s journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zion Christian Publishers
• Release date: Mar 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781596656642

Book preview

God.

INTRODUCTION

Rest is one of the most treasured blessings in life. It is sought after at every stage of life. The baby in swaddling clothes craves it after feeding from its mother’s breasts. The student, after a day of classes, looks longingly at the hands of the school clock, or listens intently for the school bell, signalling rest from his studies for the day.

The young labourer yearns for the setting sun to free him from the sweat of his arduous tasks. The businessman seeks rest from the pressures of a day filled with responsibilities and decisions. The housewife desires the evening hours when she may rest from the drudgeries of household chores and caring for the children. The afflicted on the bed of suffering seeks, as both Job and David did, for relief that the night hours bring.

Job speaks of lying still, being quiet, sleeping, and therefore being at rest – perhaps a very good definition of the meaning of rest (Job 3:13). All mankind seek rest as a necessity and as a reward for their daily, weekly, and perhaps yearly labours.

Rest, however, is defined by Scripture in many other ways that we may joyfully experience whilst living upon earth. For example, marriage is intended to be a form of rest. There is also rest from trouble, and the blessed rest that the Holy Spirit gives to those who are filled with Him and who speak in other tongues.

This little book seeks to explore these and other forms of rest, intending to lead you, gentle reader, into these glorious and meaningful experiences. In so doing, we trust that your life lived here below will be more satisfying and rewarding, and one that is lived for the glory of God. All these aspects of rest are provided by a loving Heavenly Father for our enjoyment and comfort along our pilgrim journey from earth to heaven, our final resting place.

CHAPTER ONE

The Rest of Peace

A group of artists were invited to compete for a prize. The goal was to paint the canvas best depicting peace. Some of them painted beautiful, restful, pastoral scenes. Others painted a boat quietly sailing upon a lake. But none of these won the prize. The winning artist painted a terrific storm, where trees were bending over and leaves were flying all over the place. In the centre was a little bird on a branch, singing joyfully. In reality, that depicts peace. The storm can be all around us, but we have the peace of God in our hearts. We have that holy quietness and sense of stillness in our heart, regardless of the circumstances around us.

The Power of Peace

The Sea of Galilee can appear so calm. However, because it is surrounded by mountains, the large difference in elevation between the surrounding land and sea causes large temperature and pressure changes. This results in strong winds descending from the mountains to the centre of the sea, leading to sudden violent storms that are very dangerous.

That is what happened when the disciples and Jesus were rowing across that lake. They had started out in calm weather and, suddenly, it became very stormy. The boat was going to sink. They could not do anything. More water was coming into the boat than they could bail out. One of the disciples, in desperation, went over to Jesus, who was peacefully sleeping, shook Him, and said, Master, do you not care that we are perishing?

I had a friend who had a vision of this event. He said it was so wonderful to see the response of Jesus. He did not jump up frantically and say, What’s wrong? He uncurled Himself, stretched, yawned, went over to the side of the boat, lifted up His finger, and said, Peace! Be still (Mk. 4:36-39).

Think of that mighty storm. The Lord simply said, Peace! Be still. Where there is peace, there can be no storm. The trouble in the hearts of the disciples subsided. In wonderment, they said, Who is this who controls the elements? They had not come to the full realisation of who their Leader really was—the Lord, Creator of the Universe.

If the peace of God is within you, you can speak peace into troubled circumstances. In Romans 16:20, the Apostle Paul promised the Roman church, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly… Here He is not called the God of war, but the God of peace.

God’s Peace in Trouble

The world’s concept of peace is that all situations around us are at rest—there is tranquillity everywhere. A world where problems do not exist; economic disasters, terrorist attacks, natural catastrophes, etc. The world looks at peace as being something exterior. However, God’s concept of peace is that we have His peace in the midst of trouble.

Job was a man who had a lot of trouble. Yet in the midst of that trouble, he was promised peace. In Job 5:17-24, Eliphaz said, Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

We see from this passage that even the wild beasts would feel the peace of God. Job would know that his tabernacle (or house) would be in peace! As Proverbs 16:7 says, When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Job, in a very real sense, experienced peace while the enemy was around.

The Lord Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (Jn. 14:27). When we consider the time when Jesus gave this promise to His disciples, we realise what true peace is. Here was the One who had come to earth for the sole purpose of going to the cross to be crucified, after being unjustly mocked and condemned six times. Yet, in the midst of all this, He was able to say to His disciples, I have perfect peace, and I am going to give that peace to you.

The disciples were all young, probably in their twenties. (Sometimes we criticise them, but how were we in our twenties?) They were all fiery; but they were about to face over 1,000 trained soldiers, coming to take their Leader. Jesus knew all this. That is why He said, I give you My peace. Everything is under control. Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10-11 reads, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Interestingly, the actual context of these verses is in a situation of great turbulence, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah (Ps. 46:1-3).

The Lord gave these verses to a former student of mine when there was a real problem in his life and things did not seem to be going at all well in a certain situation. The Lord said to him,