DIVINE REST (1)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) We have dwelt on the importance of nutrition, frest air, regular exercise and pure water in their relationship to God's health care for our bodies. God has also designed regular rest to our physical bodies and our digestive system (also called fasting) to further enhance our overall wholistic health.
1. Rest
a) Jesus said, "4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4 NIV). In the Old Testament our Lord instructed, "2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalms 127:2 NIV).
b) God in his wisdom and who created us, knows the very make-up and the specific needs of our bodies. He planned for each of us to have a daily rest; to be refreshed, renewed or recharged with new strength. He made the day and he made the night, and this for a purpose; to grant to man daily rest.
c) God grant us daily 6 - 9 hours of sleep depending on our indvidual needs. When we do not get a good night's sleep, our bodies and minds become very tired and we cannot function effectively. Long term violation of sufficient rest and sleep brings its health hazards; a weakened immune system and lack of productivity.
d) Apart from our daily rest, God also instituted a weekly cycle of Sabbath rest from the very beginning at creation. It is of such great importance that God inscripted it into the 10 Commandments.
i) 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:9-11 NIV)
e) Regular rest renews our energy and brings healing to our tired bodies. Our Lord Jesus said, 27“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27 NIV). He knew the health benefits and also the spiritual benefits of God's ordained rest.
f) Isaiah the prophet says, 13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” (Isaiah 58:13-14 NIV)
g) Workaholics (those who break God's design for rest) finds themselves with more stress, depression, more work but less productivity, low concentration levels and easily susceptible to diseases.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) We have dwelt on the importance of nutrition, frest air, regular exercise and pure water in their relationship to God's health care for our bodies. God has also designed regular rest to our physical bodies and our digestive system (also called fasting) to further enhance our overall wholistic health.
1. Rest
a) Jesus said, "4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4 NIV). In the Old Testament our Lord instructed, "2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalms 127:2 NIV).
b) God in his wisdom and who created us, knows the very make-up and the specific needs of our bodies. He planned for each of us to have a daily rest; to be refreshed, renewed or recharged with new strength. He made the day and he made the night, and this for a purpose; to grant to man daily rest.
c) God grant us daily 6 - 9 hours of sleep depending on our indvidual needs. When we do not get a good night's sleep, our bodies and minds become very tired and we cannot function effectively. Long term violation of sufficient rest and sleep brings its health hazards; a weakened immune system and lack of productivity.
d) Apart from our daily rest, God also instituted a weekly cycle of Sabbath rest from the very beginning at creation. It is of such great importance that God inscripted it into the 10 Commandments.
i) 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:9-11 NIV)
e) Regular rest renews our energy and brings healing to our tired bodies. Our Lord Jesus said, 27“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27 NIV). He knew the health benefits and also the spiritual benefits of God's ordained rest.
f) Isaiah the prophet says, 13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” (Isaiah 58:13-14 NIV)
g) Workaholics (those who break God's design for rest) finds themselves with more stress, depression, more work but less productivity, low concentration levels and easily susceptible to diseases.
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