THERE IS REST II

Mathew 11:28 KJV.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

In the last publication- "There is rest" it was established that we need faith to enter into His (God's) rest. One of the faiths identified was FAITH TO FOLLOW HIM.

If we must enter into His rest we must be ready to follow Him. Following is difficult because of the way we are fashioned as human beings. So it is quite difficult to follow without the element of Faith. 

We saw examples in the Bible of men who lacked the faith to follow God and failed to enter His rest:

• Israelite: God demanded that they followed Him to enter into the promised land (the place of Rest) but they failed to follow demonstrating a lack of faith in Him many times. Numbers 32:11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

• Gehazi: He was the heir to the anointing of Elisha (that was His rest) but he failed to receive the anointing because he failed in following. He demonstrated a lack of faith in following God (his master) that he followed after money. II Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well

• Peter: Peter had the opportunity of a lifetime, Jesus beckoned on him to come after him on the water but a momentary display of lack of faith saw his testimony of walking on the water dented. Mathew 14:29-31 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

• The Sons of the Prophet: They lost the opportunity of a lifetime after God had revealed to them that Elijah will be taken away, they could not follow hard to receive the power that will put them in total control over the realm (rest). Elisha who was not a son of the prophet entered into the rest that belonged to them. II Kings 2:3

What is the Faith that is required to follow Him?

1. Knowing the one you are following: The problem of following starts from the lack of full knowledge of the person you are following. If you know the personality and capabilities of the person you are following it gives you more confidence to submit. 

2. Understanding the interest of the one you are following: One of the things that affected the Israelites in their journey with God was that they did not fully come to bear with the fact that God was interested in them and that everything He is doing is for their good. 

3. Submitting your knowledge, experience and abilities to the one you are following: Many fail to enter God's rest because they still look at things based on their experiences, knowledge and capabilities, so they keep asking questions and rationalising instructions.

4. Avoiding distraction and keeping focus: If you must follow God effectively you must keep your focus on Him, don't look at any other thing. There must be no plan B. Make God the one and only plan. Peter began to sink because he was distracted, he lost focus on Jesus. 

5. Fervent relationship with the one you are following: Relationship is key to help followership. Following becomes easy and beautiful when there is a fervent relationship between the leader (God) and the follower (you). The Israelites saw God's act but did not know His way because there was no relationship between them and God. Moses was the one God revealed His ways to because he was the one standing between them and God. Psalm 103:7.

Friends, if you want to enter His rest you must be ready to follow Him, so connect with Him by activating your faith to follow Him effectively. 

May the Lord grant you the grace to see the light in this word. God bless you.