1. Introduction
Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you and it will give you rest”
· So many people live in constant turmoil, anxiety, fear, striving – no rest in their soul. God promises to give us rest: Rest is a gift of God received by faith – trusting Him. Rest is connected to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our relationships.
Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of heaven….. is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost”
· Whatever disturbs our peace or joy should get our attention.
· Activating sensitivity to the Holy Ghost and response to His presence is key to rest.
Key Passage: Luke 2:41-50
2. Why God Sometimes is Silent
Luke 2:41-43 “Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem and Joseph and Mary his mother did not know it”
· Jesus was silent about His plans. He did not tell them what He was doing!
· Jesus was entering a new season in His life – He did not speak or explain it.
(a) Familiarity Can Lead To Presumption
E.g. Marriage: The most common problem is communication.
“You didn’t tell me”; “I assumed”; “Well I thought”
· Luke 2:43-44 “Joseph and His mother did not know it, but supposing Him to be in the company went a days journey…”
· Note: Jesus was silent – they supposed He was still with them.
· It was an annual event to go to Jerusalem; it was a custom or habit.
· Presume – to take for granted, to assume to be true, to assume without proof.
(b) Why God Sometimes Is Silent
2 Chronicles 32:3 “God withdrew from him (Hezekiah) in order to test him to know all that was in his heart”
· Sometimes God is silent about the things most important to us. Why?
(i) To Reveal What Is In Our Heart Deuteronomy 8:2
· God’s silence exposes and brings to our awareness or condition, priorities, values.
(ii) To Humble Us Deuteronomy 8:2
· We have a tendency to go our own way, to operate independently, to live in our comfort zone.
· Habits and routines are good but can lead us to familiarity and presumption.
· We constantly need fresh challenges to keep us dependent upon Jesus.
(iii) To See If We Will Apply What We Have Learned Deuteronomy 8:2
· God is constantly teaching us, changing us – His plan means ongoing change.
· He wants us to learn to walk by revelation and wisdom (applying the Word of God).
· If you collapse under pressure and challenge your personal foundations are not strong.
· In seasons you do not hear from God – do what He last told you and walk in the principles of God – prayer, thanksgiving, praise, fellowship.
· Mary and Joseph went 1 day without Jesus then experienced and acute sense of loss and anxiety.
3. How to Recognise the Presence of the Holy Spirit has Lifted
Luke 2:48 “So when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said to Him: “Son why have you done this to us? Look your father and I have sought you anxiously”
(i) Anxiety – Loss of Peace
· The presence of God brings with it a peace and loss of His presence brings anxiety.
· Mary revealed she was anxious but sorrowing from on road: to go down.
· She was tormented in her mind and emotions.
· Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing – peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
(ii) Irritability –Loss of Love
· Mary was irritated at Jesus – why have you done this to us?
· She was angry at Jesus and resentful at how He had treated them.
· 1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love – is not provoked (irritated, stirred, sharpened)”
(iii) Lack Clear Thinking - Confusion
· Mary did not understand what Jesus was doing.
· They were amazed…. Why have you done this to us? They did not understand.
· She accused Jesus of treating her unfairly – she took it personally.
· Stresses in life can cause us to turn inward, focus on self, blame others.
· 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, and love and a sound mind”
· When the Holy Spirit rests upon us our thinking is clear and we react in clarity.
4. Returning to the Rest of Faith
Luke 2:44-45 “They sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances, so when they did not find Him they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him. Now it was after 3 days they found Him.”
· They were so preoccupied with familiar – they did not realize Jesus was not there.
· They had to go back to where they lost Him (if lost axe head 2Kings 6:6 Where did it fall?)
(i) Repentance (“They Returned”)
· Repentance – Melanoia = change of mind
· Repentance – recognise have made a mistake, failed and admit “it was wrong”.
· People tend to be defensive rather than admit “it was wrong” and change.
· Repentance is foundational to walking with God – admitting wrong thinking and actions.
· 1 John 1:9 If we confess (say the same as God does) will forgive!
(ii) Pursuit of God –(“They Sought Him”)
· Their focus was not on pursuit of peace but on pursuit of Jesus.
· They wanted to reconnect with Jesus Psalm 27:4
· It took 3 days to find Him – they persevered determined to find Him again.
· We can pursue Jesus by re-establishing times of prayer, fasting, worship.
(iii) Openness to Fresh Revelation
· Their familiarity with Jesus caused them to miss the change in their life.
· He now was at an age where He would come under tutors for His destiny.
· They were astonished, they did not understand, they did not ask questions.
· We must move towards what God is doing, not react and move away to familiar.