1. Introduction
· Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invitation and promises “I will give you rest” “You shall find rest for your souls”
· So many people today are in turmoil – anxiety, stress, anger, fear, striving
· Jesus invites us into a lifestyle of learning how to handle life – have rest in our soul.
2. Intimacy with the Holy Spirit is the Key to Rest
Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…..”
· The activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to produce the fruit of peace.
Peace = NT1515 = to join, rest, prosperity, quietness, set at one again.
(a) Example of Samson
Judges 16:20 “He did not know that the Lord had departed from him.”
· Over a period of time Samson continued to grieve the Holy Spirit.
· He felt nothing when the anointing lifted from him but the impact was devastating.
· The consequence of the Holy Spirit being grieved was that he lost his strength to prevail in life.
· The result: loss of vision – bondage to his enemies – daily grinding in slavery.
(b) Example of Jesus
John 1:33 “….. upon Him whom you see the spirit descending and remaining on
Him, the same is He that baptizes in the Spirit.”
· The Holy Spirit remained on Jesus empowering Him each day to live in victory.
· The Holy Spirit is gentle and sensitive:
(1) Sensitive to the needs and emotions of others
(2) Capacity to be hurt and grieved.
· The Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove – symbol of peace.
· Turtle doves are very sensitive animals – symbol of the Holy Spirit: Dove not Pigeon. E.g. Never fight, don’t like noise, can’t be trained, mate for life, not territorial, afraid of people.
· The Holy Spirit felt at home on Jesus – values and lives in agreement.
3. Don’t Grieve the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:29-32 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed…..”
· The Holy Spirit is sensitive, has feelings and can be hurt and quenched.
· Grieve = NT3706 = To distress, to make sorry, cause grief and pain.
· Grieving the Spirit occurs when our attitudes and actions hinder Him flowing.
· When He’s not grieved we experience the fruit of His presence within us.
(a) What grieves the Spirit?
Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice”
· Holy Spirit is grieved and withdraws presence when we are filled with bitterness, hold grudges, refuse to forgive and allow sin and uncleanness in our lives.
· The lack of peace (rest) is an indication that something is wrong (Colossians 3:15).
· Each of the sins mentioned is a response to failing to address the pain and hurts that arise in relationships.
· Hurt = anger = resentment = bitterness = malice = evil speaking.
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(b) Why Are You Angry?
Ephesians 4:26 “ Be angry but sin not, neither let the sun go sown upon your anger.
· It is ok to have feelings of anger but must manage them or it becomes a disease of the heart and grieves the Holy Spirit.
· Angry – we get angry when we don’t get what we want or think we deserve.
- when we feel our rights or entitlements have been taken away.
· Anger – Somebody takes something, somebody owes me!, Payback!!
· When there is anger in the heart it will always find a way of expressing .
Internalise Anger – person suffers depression, sadness, apathy, withdrawn.
Extending Anger – tend to want payback, revenge, explode, tend to talk to others to justify feelings and causes.
· Anger is a contagious heart disease that is destructive – become angry with all.
Proverbs 22:24 “Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man you shall not go lest you learn his ways and set a snare to your soul.”
4. Dealing With Your Anger
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”
· There is the remedy! But how to apply it?
(1) Identify who you are angry with
· Need to address the source of anger.
· Who do we hope we never see again?
· Who do we hope to payback?
· Who do we hope will severely fail?
(2) Determine what they owe you!
· Cannot be general, must be specific.
· What do you want, feel entitled to?
· What did they take?
· Until you know what’s lost you’re unable to relax
- What does this person owe you?
- What did they take?
- What do they need to do to put the matter right?
(3) Grieve the loss.
· You cannot just override feelings.
· How do you feel about the loss?
· Express grief constructively.
· Acknowledge the feelings that you have harbored in your heart.
(4) Cancel the debt, forgive.
Ephesians 4:32 “……., forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”
· Jesus endured the pain and forgave, He released us from all debt.
· Make a decision – speak it out, release them from the debt.
· Have you made any bitter judgments?
· Renounce and cancel the judgments.
· Ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you fro holding wrong attitudes and for grieving Him.
(5) Pray for the person to be blessed.
John 2:14 “We know we have passed from death to life when we love.”
Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies……pray.”
· You are not free until your heart is free.
· Picture the person as you pray and release blessing over them.
· Jesus said “Come to Me and I will give you rest”.