HOFC Sermon Archive: September 2025

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptation of Jesus

5. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus I

6. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II

7. The First Disciples

8. A Teacher with Authority

9. At the Home of Simon and Andrew

10. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025

16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts

17. Three Responses to Jesus

18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles

19. The Family of Jesus

20. The Unforgivable Sin

21. The True Family of Jesus

22. Parable of the Four Soils

23. How Well Do You Listen

24. Parable of the Growing Seed

25. Parable of the Mustard Seed

26. Benefits of Private Teaching

27. Jesus Calms the Storm

28. Who is Afraid of Jesus?

29. The Touch of Jesus

30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

31. Principles of Evangelism

32. Weakness in the Seat of Power

33. The Need for Rest

Today is Sunday. September 9^th, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 6:30-31
“And the apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. ³¹And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)”

INTRODUCTION

Some may believe that serving the Lord is all work and no play. Especially when you read passages such as;

1 Timothy 5:13 “…they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house. And not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.”

Ephesians 4:28 “He who steals must steal no longer, but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”

1 Thessalonians 4:11 “and make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,”

YET, Jesus speaks of the need for rest!

After His Apostles returned from their “Limited Commission” (sharing the gospel message with Israel), Jesus encouraged them to come aside to a deserted place and rest a while.

We cannot earn Salvation or a seat in heaven by working for the Kingdom, but we can earn deserved rest from our labors.

A sweet rest that is free from guilt and condemnation, because we served, and served well. Labored for the kingdom, and now need time to recharge our batteries.

Many misunderstand rest. They trouble, toil, work, push themselves with worldly matters, burn themselves out, then reach for rest, and still they will find no peace in it, because their labors were in vain.

Guilt, conviction, troubled rest, because in their spirit they know there is work to be done that has been overlooked. They spend 100 hours making money, working on worldly projects, going here, going there, and what time was spent serving the Lord for His Kingdom?

And in their worn and tired souls from their running’s and serving of self, they long for rest, yet find no peace, because their labors were for everything but the Kingdom of God.

Serving the Lord and the Kingdom is no all work an no play! I promise you!

It is possible to read the word daily, pray, talk with the Lord, study, serve the Kingdom using the gifts you have undeservedly received from the Holy Spirit, and produce works worthy of your repentance daily, and when the time for rest comes, you shall have it, and find both peace, and a renewal of spirit and mind.

But the rest we so desperately need is not the self-serving activities, hobbies or downtime the world says we need. The rest we truly need that will recharge us, prepare us, and enable us to enjoy the rest of life, including hobbies and family time, is rest in the quiet place with the Lord.

Despite advances in labor-saving technology, it seems we are more stressed than ever. We do well to remember and apply what the Bible says about rest.

Today, we will examine The Need for Rest.

I. THE NEED FOR REST

a. Illustrated as example by the Sabbath

i. In Genesis 2:1-2 God rested on the seventh day

ii. This principle of rest served as the basis for the Sabbath (Genesis 2:3)

iii. This was later commanded of the Israelites as a weekly observance in Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Clearly, God approves of taking time to rest on a regular basis

b. Also illustrated by Jewish holy days (holidays)

i. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, two days of rest (Leviticus 23:5-8)

ii. The Feast of Harvest (Pentecost) one day of rest Leviticus 23:21

iii. The Feast of Trumpets (1^st day of the 7^th month) one day of rest Leviticus 23:23-25

iv. The Day of Atonement (10^th day of the 7^th month) one day of rest Leviticus 23:26-32

v. The Feast of the Tabernacles (15^th day of the 7^th month) two days of rest Leviticus 23:33-36

vi. Included with the aforementioned were

1. Required trips to Jerusalem Leviticus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16

2. Seven-day feasts, including one week of living in tents Leviticus 23:42

vii. These were in addition to the weekly Sabbaths

This equates approximately 70 days each year “no customary work” was to be done.

As the Old Testament was recorded for our learning (Romans 15:4), it is apparent that God created man with a need for rest.

II. TAKING TIME TO REST

a. Dangers to avoid

i. Work-alcoholics (too much work)

1. No one can work without rest

a. And no man can live the Christian life unless he gives himself times with God

2. How can we shoulder the burden of life, our job, our family, if we have no contact with the Lord, who IS the Lord of all that is good in life?

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

a. Jesus is not speaking primarily about material wealth or physical prosperity. The abundance He offers is the fullness of spiritual life—eternal life in relationship with God.

b. Now: Believers experience joy, peace, purpose, and communion with God despite trials.

c. Forever: This abundant life culminates in eternal fellowship with God in His kingdom.

ii. “But I’m so tired from the things I must do, how can I serve the Kingdom and the Lord too?”

1. We do the worldly things in the strength of our flesh.

2. We do the Spiritual things with the Spiritual strength the Lord gives us!

3. But how can we receive that strength from the Lord unless we seek in quietness and the stillness of the presence of God?

iii. Not enough fellowship with the Lord

1. “Devotion” that does not issue action is not real devotion

a. Remember James “Faith without works is dead!”

2. We do not seek fellowship of God to “avoid” the fellowship of men, rather, in order to build ourselves better for it

3. The fulfilling and rewarding rhythm of a Christian life is the alternate meeting with God and the still and quiet place and the serving of men in the world

a. Meeting with God in quiet refuels us for serving Him in public.

b. TWO TYPES OF REST

i. Physical rest to refresh the body

1. A good night’s sleep

2. An afternoon nap

3. Vacation / travel

4. Dining with friends (plenty of feasts talked about in scripture)

5. These activities lessen stress, improve memory performance, help overall good health, including less weight gain because your stress is lessened

ii. Spiritual rest to refresh the spirit

1. Daily reading of God’s Word

2. Time devoted to prayer and speaking with the Lord

3. Meditation on the Word of God

Philippians 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things. ⁹The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

4. These activities bring a closer walk with God, inner renewal, peace of mind, strength, and an energized spirit making you capable of serving the Lord in this fallen world

iii. Both the body and soul require periods of rest!

iv. Even if you allow yourself physical rest, without spiritual rest you will remain tired, feel defeated when facing the world, and never find true peace.

v. Why do we feel as though we can face all the spiritual battles of life without ever spending any “quality” time with the Spirit of God?

1. “God will fight my battles!”

2. “Jesus is my strength!”

3. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

4. “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!”

vi. But, you are far from Him.

1. Will God fight your battles when you give Him no place in your life?

a. Remember Jesus said earlier in the Gospel of Mark, the more you put into your walk the more you get out.

2. Is Jesus your strength when you spent ten minutes this week with Him?

3. Can Christ strengthen you when you have not drawn near to God?

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

4. Greater is He who is in me…is He in you?

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

5. How are you doing facing the spiritual battles of the world in your life right now?

6. Is God fighting your battles? Is Jesus your strength? Are you doing all things because Christ is in you?

James 1:22 “But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

Test yourself. Examine yourself. Be honest with yourself. Do not deceive yourself and suffer in life for it.

Find a quiet, desolate location where you can be alone with God.

Isaac liked the evening (Genesis 24:63)

David and Daniel like the morning (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10)

Jesus preferred the early morning (Mark 1:35)

In the Old Testament they had weekly and annual days of rest to develop a habit so as never to neglect time with God.

CONCLUSION

The life of the Christian is a marathon, not a sprint...

We need to have endurance - Hebrews 10:36; 12:1

Lest we fall short of reaching our rest - Hebrews 4:1, 9-11

To reach our "Heavenly Rest", we need both...

Diligence in serving the Lord

Diligence in taking time to rest

Some Christians fail to maintain a proper balance...

Suffering physically as a result (e.g., poor health)

Suffering spiritually as well (e.g., emotional and mental burn out)

As physical strength requires both exercise and rest, so it is with spiritual strength.

Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." Mark 6:31

NEXT WEEK: “Part 34: Feeding the Five Thousand”

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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Gospel of Mark Part 33: The Need for Rest