Part 1 of the Closer series

July 7, 2019  Sermon Synopsis

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.

Matthew 11:28-29, “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

I.          Introduction

1. Breaking point – This point where you reach your max point as it relates to things that you can

1. When the foreclosure sign was put in your front yard, this is an example of a breaking point. When no financial aid has come in and it is time to start class, this is an example of a breaking point.

1. All of us have experienced moments where we have been pushed to the edge. God is sending you this word today to let you know that your breaking point is about you being closer to Him.

1. Know that whatever is challenging you, will not be the end of your vision and it won’t be the end of you.

1. Rest mentioned in verse 28 implies support and exchange. In other words, give it to him and God will give you something you can bear.

1. The scripture says “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. When you see the word rest, think of the word peace. God is saying to us that at our breaking point, he will give us

1. “Take my yoke on you” the scripture goes on to say. The yoke was the thing that was placed on the ox’s neck to control them. This yoke would cause the ox to go in the direction that the farmer wanted them to go. God will put a yoke on us, and He will guide us and lead us. He will try to show us how to live a life that is free.

II.          Comfort for Laborers and the Heavy Laden

A.    You have to come to the Lord to receive from Him

1. You must get closer to the Lord. He is not a harsh teacher. He instead nurtures you.

2. What you are burdened down with, you can no longer handle. You can’t deal with this without a
3. Even though it is free, you have to RSVP. The Lord won’t just assume that you want this peace in your life. You have to ask for it.

4. Scripture References: John 16:24  (NKJV) says ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

5. Matthew 7:7  (NKJV) says ⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

6. Mark 11:24  (NKJV) says ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have   – Everything you need is in Him. It is not in the other people you often go to. The answer is in God. Your peace, your healing, your breakthrough is in him.

B.     Rest is available for those who are ready

1. Are you ready?

2. You have got to get to a place in your life where you are willing to allow God to do what’s necessary to distress you.

3. David was acquainted with stress. He got a revelation. He realized that the Lord was his shepherd.

4. David realized that the Lord would make him lie down in green pastures. When God is ready for you to rest, he will make you rest. Whether its voluntarily or involuntarily, you will rest.

5. When you lie down and rest, God will restore you. Too many of us are trying to get restored on the run.

6. Sometimes God has to treat you like a car that is not running correctly. He has to put you in the garage and jack you up, so He can take a good look at the problem.

7. There is a little control freak in all of us. When you are ready to relinquish control, God will step in.

8. Scripture Reference: Psalm 23:2-3  (NKJV) says 2 He makes me to lie down in [a]green pastures; He leads me beside the [b]still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

III.          Command to Learn from the Lord

A.    Be steered by what’s right instead of being controlled by what’s wrong.

1. We often stay in the rut, because we continue to do what feels is right to us. We find out later that doing what we thought was the right thing was not necessarily doing the right thing, because God never intended for us to be slaves to anything.

1. Think about it. You can even do dysfunction the right way, but it will still be the wrong thing to do.

2. Scripture References: Leviticus 26:13  (NKJV) says ¹³ I amthe Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk ^[a]– God wants you to be free of bondage, pressure, and sin!

3. James 1:12-14  (NKJV) says ¹² Blessed isthe man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

4. When the Lord leads you and guides you, you will be led in the right direction.

B.     His guidance is a gift that is gentle

1. Scripture Reference: Psalm 23:4  (NKJV) says ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You arewith me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. – God brings correction in the areas of your life, when you are out of order. When the sheep was out of order the rod and staff corrected them. The rod was for correction and staff was for

1. How many times have god hit you with rod? How man times have you felt the staff pull you right back into position?

2. God does this to bring you to a place of humility.

IV.          Contentment to Live this Life

A.    Nothing compares to the contentment of the Creator

1. Scripture Reference: 1 Timothy 6:6  (NKJV) says ⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain.– Stop living your life to impress others and learn to impress God.
2. Hebrews 12:1  (NKJV) says 12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, – I have my own race. I have to learn to stay in your own lane.

3. God is trying to work things out in your life, but you keep looking to everyone else for the answer to your problems.

B.     You will be free from it, when your soul finds rest

1. Scripture References: John 8:36  (NKJV) says ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
2. When a slave was about to get free, they got a blow to the ear. The slaves were good with this, because this meant freedom was close. Just like this, the Lord never intends to put you on a platform without a test.

1. What are you willing to go through to get what God has for your life? God uses the trial to set you up for what you are about to go to.

3. Psalm 55:6(NKJV) says ⁶ So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. – There is a moment where you realize there is a need for peace.

4. There are many of you right now that need peace. You got to bring it to the Lord.

5. The benefits of being Committed
6. The breakthrough is for the obedient.

7. On the other side of what you are going through is the the greatest thing you have experienced in your life. You’re about to find peace, once you turn this stuff over to the Lord.

8. This is the 1^st month of the second half of 2019. I declare this half will be better than the first half! God has moved you from your breaking point to your

9. Breakthrough is about to hit your house! You got to decide, “I’m letting go of everything that stresses me and am going to align with things that blesses me”.

10. Rest in him now. The best season is around the corner!