Resting In The Blessing : Pastor Tony Samuels

One of the awesome things about the Christian faith is that we serve a God Who has done it all, and He brings us into relationship so we can receive it all. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (TPT) shows us what has been given: Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.

Many times, we struggle in our walk with the Lord; we feel that it all depends on us to get what the Lord has for our lives. The problem is never Him giving; many times, it’s us just simply receiving His goodness without attaching a requirement to it. Paul spoke to this error in Galatians 3:5 (TPT): Let me ask you again: What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life and the miracles of God’s tremendous power have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith! Remember this: Jesus completed the work, then He gave you His faith to receive what His work accomplished.       

So what does this receiving position look like? It’s simply a position of resting. When we are resting, we are receiving from the Lord. Hebrews 4:1-3 (TPT): Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest.

So the rest of God is not just a place; it’s a promise. Notice, it says we have to enter this place of rest. To enter something means you have to leave something. This is what happens when we do an act of faith…whether prayer, or declaring the promises of God, etc. Instead of entering His rest afterward, we actually doubt and go on to another “act of faith” to keep us going; but they’re really actions based on doubt and unbelief, because we never entered His rest. The enemy would love to wear us out spiritually, and he knows that all he has to do is get us in a cycle of striving and never resting.

To receive what you prayed for or declared, you will have to find the place of rest. True faith will always lead you to the rest of God. Always monitor your joy level. Is what I am doing in my relationship with the Lord producing joy or sadness? Anything that takes your joy is not a work of the Spirit; it’s a work of the flesh. So make adjustments; put down the manmade systems, and find the place of rest. Let the Lord refresh you, revive you, and give you the inner knowing that it’s already done, My son and daughter!

I leave you with this invitation from the Lord Himself to come into this place of rest, as seen in Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP): “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” So, let’s rest in His Blessing!!!!!