From: "Gospel Messenger Service" Subject: New Covenant Rest Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2005 15:16:24 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5E152.BE845A80" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5E152.BE845A80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable THE NEW COVENANT REST=20 By Pastor Dick=20 Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might = have it more abundantly" and "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are = heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Jn.10:10; Matt.11:28). The road = to this abundant, restful life here on earth is the straight and narrow = way that so few seem to find. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the straight = gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to = destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is = the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there = be that find it" (Matt.7:13-14).=20 Many preachers relate those scripture verses to salvation, meaning that = there will be few saved; but that teaching contradicts the Word of God. = The Bible states that the seed of Abraham are as the stars in the = sky=97too numerous to count (Gen.15:5). The Apostle John had a vision of = the redeemed that surely reveals more than a few: "After this I beheld, = and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, = and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and = before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands" = (Rev.7:9). You can be assured by the Word of God that Heaven will not be = a lonely place! There is a broad, wide highway that many Christians are walking on, = leading to destruction. Not the destruction of their souls, for our = salvation has been secured by the blood of Christ. What that well = traveled road leads to is destruction of our physical and emotional = lives here on earth. It leads to the ruination of our ability to find = that perfect spiritual fruit for which our soul hungers. Why, oh, why, are so few of God=92s people finding their way onto the = glorious straight and narrow way to the Promised Land of Rest, and so = many, even after years and years of serving the Lord, remaining on that = wide road of destruction?! Part of the answer can be found in the = scripture verse that comes at the end of the parable of the workers in = the vineyard where it says, ". . . for many be called, but few = chosen"(Matt.20:16). I believe that verse means that many are called but = few have chosen. I know that our Heavenly Father would not call us to do = something and then choose for us not to do it. No . . . the call is from = Him; the choice is ours! He made us with the freedom to choose. The = foolish choices we make are what get us into so much trouble. He does = the calling; we do the choosing. When we choose to walk on the straight, = narrow High Way of Life and dwell in the New Covenant Land of Rest, our = Lord will see to it that the "good part," which has been chosen, will = not be taken away (Lu.10:42).=20 This glorious New Covenant Land of Rest is not anything that can be = viewed on a planned sightseeing tour. We need to be personally guided by = the Holy Spirit. It is not something that can be seen with the natural = eye or comprehended with the natural mind; it takes a revelation from = God, which He wants to give to everyone who belongs to Him. Not only = does God want us to view the land, but He longs for us to enter into it; = for that is where we can rest in His perfect love. We can get a revelatory view of the Promised Rest of God and still not = enter in. This is not about the salvation of our soul; it is about rest = for our soul here on earth. Our entrance to Heaven is secured by a = promise from the Lord! Rest assured that your salvation and your = righteousness are a done deal! However, as far as entering into the New = Covenant Rest, that is something you can bypass; but if you do that, you = will miss the best part of the Christian life here on earth. It is difficult for anyone to relate to God through grace if they = won=92t get out of the Old Covenant and into the New, or if they insist = on hanging onto old religious traditions. Suppose you lived in an old, = beat up, run down house; one that was beyond repair; one that was = falling apart at the seams. The plumbing and wiring were shot; plaster = was hanging from the ceilings; the furniture was in shambles; and none = of the appliances worked. Then, your earthly father, who loved you very = much, had some good fortune and came into a lot of money. Wanting to = help you, he gave you a nice new home, completely furnished with all new = furniture and appliances, along with a new wardrobe. Everything in it = was the very best and all bought and paid for. So you graciously and = thankfully accepted all those wonderful gifts and moved into your new = house. But there was a problem, a big problem: you hated to let go of = the old things, old useless things that you thought some day you might = need. So you dragged all your old beat up furniture, all your worn out = appliances and your old wardrobe, into your new house. Then, before = long, you had so much junk mixed in with the new that you didn=92t have = room to lie down and rest. I will end this little allegory by saying: It is time to let go of the = old and make room for the new; time to realize that when anyone becomes = a new creature in Christ, "old things are passed away; behold, all = things are become new" (2 Cor.5:17). Give that new man room to breathe! I am sure you have noticed that at most highway rest areas there are = trash containers. Many Christians who are shouldering heavy loads are = making their journey to the New Covenant Promised Land of Rest = difficult. Most will agree that our old habits, such as, bad attitudes, = gossiping, complaining, etc., should be tossed in the trash barrel, but = may I suggest a few more that should be dumped? Lighten the load by = dumping some of those old religious relics. We do not need all that old = lifeless, ceremonial pomp and those religious exercises that centuries = of religion have heaped upon us. In that old stuff there is a certain = type of false security for people outside the family of God; but if you = have Christ in your heart, you don=92t need all that extra baggage. Let = it go! Lighten up! All you need to do is live in your new creation and = enjoy the perfect, unconditional love of God!=20 Not long ago, early in the morning, I was suddenly awakened and heard a = clear voice say, "It=92s all over but the wedding." This is not the time = to get caught up in the world's religions, regardless of how much their = activities are displayed in the news media. It is time to respond to the = invitation to the Royal Wedding. I am not referring to an earthly royal = wedding, but the one from above. It is time for people to flock, not to = religions, but to Jesus.=20 In my spirit, I see that the Lord has risen from His throne and is = standing in the Royal Wedding Chamber! His Royal Wedding Invitation is = going out to all the world. This is not a call to a religion; it is a = call from the Holy Spirit to come to Christ, to be joined to Him! The = Lord's proposal is: "And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I = will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in = lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in = faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord" (Hosea 2:19). When a person = is joined to Christ, he or she becomes part of His Bride, along with = every other believer who has become united to Him. That is the Royal = Wedding. There will be a time when the Royal Wedding will be complete = and the King=97Bridegroom=97will say: "Sound the trumpet. Bring my = Precious Bride to Me in her glorious resurrected body. And let the = Wedding Banquet begin!"=20 As for we who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior and become His = precious Bride, this is not a time for spiritual slumber! It is a time = to believe in the finished work of Christ! To put on our glorious = Garments of Salvation and our wondrous Robe of Righteousness! = (Isa.61:10). A time to live in the new life that is created in = righteousness and true holiness! (Eph.4:24). Oh, glorious Bride, it is = time to stop trying to wash away the spots that Christ has washed away = on the cross! To stop trying to iron out the wrinkles He has ironed out = (Eph.5:27)! To stop trying to improve what God has perfected forever by = the one offering of His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary! = (Heb.10:14).=20 We do not have to wait until we get our new bodies in Heaven to begin = celebrating. By faith, we can begin now to celebrate=97today! His banner = over us is Love. The Banquet Table is loaded with the Fruit of the = Spirit! (S.of S.2:3-4). Oh, precious Bride of Christ, come into the New = Covenant Rest now and live in and enjoy the perfect, unlimited, unending = love of God! ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5E152.BE845A80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
THE NEW COVENANT REST=20
 
By Pastor Dick
 
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they = might=20 have it more abundantly" and "Come unto me, all ye that labor and = are=20 heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Jn.10:10; Matt.11:28). The = road to=20 this abundant, restful life here on earth is the straight and narrow way = that so=20 few seem to find. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the straight gate: for = wide is=20 the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many = there be=20 which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the = way, which=20 leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt.7:13-14). =
 
Many preachers relate those scripture verses to salvation, meaning = that=20 there will be few saved; but that teaching contradicts the Word of God. = The=20 Bible states that the seed of Abraham are as the stars in the sky=97too = numerous=20 to count (Gen.15:5). The Apostle John had a vision of the redeemed that = surely=20 reveals more than a few: "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great = multitude,=20 which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and = tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with = white robes,=20 and palms in their hands" (Rev.7:9). You can be assured by the Word = of God=20 that Heaven will not be a lonely place!
 
There is a broad, wide highway that many Christians are walking on, = leading=20 to destruction. Not the destruction of their souls, for our salvation = has been=20 secured by the blood of Christ. What that well traveled road leads to is = destruction of our physical and emotional lives here on earth. It leads = to the=20 ruination of our ability to find that perfect spiritual fruit for which = our soul=20 hungers.
 
Why, oh, why, are so few of God=92s people finding their way onto = the=20 glorious straight and narrow way to the Promised Land of Rest, and so = many, even=20 after years and years of serving the Lord, remaining on that wide road = of=20 destruction?! Part of the answer can be found in the scripture verse = that comes=20 at the end of the parable of the workers in the vineyard where it says, = ". .=20 . for many be called, but few chosen"(Matt.20:16). I believe that = verse=20 means that many are called but few have chosen. I know that our Heavenly = Father=20 would not call us to do something and then choose for us not to do it. = No . . .=20 the call is from Him; the choice is ours! He made us with the freedom to = choose.=20 The foolish choices we make are what get us into so much trouble. He = does the=20 calling; we do the choosing. When we choose to walk on the straight, = narrow High=20 Way of Life and dwell in the New Covenant Land of Rest, our Lord will = see to it=20 that the "good part," which has been chosen, will not be taken = away=20 (Lu.10:42).
 
This glorious New Covenant Land of Rest is not anything that can be = viewed=20 on a planned sightseeing tour. We need to be personally guided by the = Holy=20 Spirit. It is not something that can be seen with the natural eye or=20 comprehended with the natural mind; it takes a revelation from God, = which He=20 wants to give to everyone who belongs to Him. Not only does God want us = to view=20 the land, but He longs for us to enter into it; for that is where we can = rest in=20 His perfect love.
 
We can get a revelatory view of the Promised Rest of God and still = not=20 enter in. This is not about the salvation of our soul; it is about rest = for our=20 soul here on earth. Our entrance to Heaven is secured by a promise from = the=20 Lord! Rest assured that your salvation and your righteousness are a done = deal!=20 However, as far as entering into the New Covenant Rest, that is = something you=20 can bypass; but if you do that, you will miss the best part of the = Christian=20 life here on earth.
 
It is difficult for anyone to relate to God through grace if they = won=92t get=20 out of the Old Covenant and into the New, or if they insist on hanging = onto old=20 religious traditions. Suppose you lived in an old, beat up, run down = house; one=20 that was beyond repair; one that was falling apart at the seams. The = plumbing=20 and wiring were shot; plaster was hanging from the ceilings; the = furniture was=20 in shambles; and none of the appliances worked. Then, your earthly = father, who=20 loved you very much, had some good fortune and came into a lot of money. = Wanting=20 to help you, he gave you a nice new home, completely furnished with all = new=20 furniture and appliances, along with a new wardrobe. Everything in it = was the=20 very best and all bought and paid for. So you graciously and thankfully = accepted=20 all those wonderful gifts and moved into your new house. But there was a = problem, a big problem: you hated to let go of the old things, old = useless=20 things that you thought some day you might need. So you dragged all your = old=20 beat up furniture, all your worn out appliances and your old wardrobe, = into your=20 new house. Then, before long, you had so much junk mixed in with the new = that=20 you didn=92t have room to lie down and rest.
 
I will end this little allegory by saying: It is time to let go of = the old=20 and make room for the new; time to realize that when anyone becomes a = new=20 creature in Christ, "old things are passed away; behold, all things = are=20 become new" (2 Cor.5:17). Give that new man room to breathe!
 
I am sure you have noticed that at most highway rest areas there = are trash=20 containers. Many Christians who are shouldering heavy loads are making = their=20 journey to the New Covenant Promised Land of Rest difficult. Most will = agree=20 that our old habits, such as, bad attitudes, gossiping, complaining, = etc.,=20 should be tossed in the trash barrel, but may I suggest a few more that = should=20 be dumped? Lighten the load by dumping some of those old religious = relics. We do=20 not need all that old lifeless, ceremonial pomp and those religious = exercises=20 that centuries of religion have heaped upon us. In that old stuff there = is a=20 certain type of false security for people outside the family of God; but = if you=20 have Christ in your heart, you don=92t need all that extra baggage. Let = it go!=20 Lighten up! All you need to do is live in your new creation and enjoy = the=20 perfect, unconditional love of God!
 
Not long ago, early in the morning, I was suddenly awakened and = heard a=20 clear voice say, "It=92s all over but the wedding." This is not the time = to get=20 caught up in the world's religions, regardless of how much their = activities are=20 displayed in the news media. It is time to respond to the invitation to = the=20 Royal Wedding. I am not referring to an earthly royal wedding, but the = one from=20 above. It is time for people to flock, not to religions, but to Jesus. =
 
In my spirit, I see that the Lord has risen from His throne and is = standing=20 in the Royal Wedding Chamber! His Royal Wedding Invitation is going out = to all=20 the world. This is not a call to a religion; it is a call from the Holy = Spirit=20 to come to Christ, to be joined to Him! The Lord's proposal is: = "And I=20 will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in=20 righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I = will=20 even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the=20 Lord" (Hosea 2:19). When a person is joined to Christ, he or = she=20 becomes part of His Bride, along with every other believer who has = become united=20 to Him. That is the Royal Wedding. There will be a time when the Royal = Wedding=20 will be complete and the King=97Bridegroom=97will say: "Sound the = trumpet. Bring my=20 Precious Bride to Me in her glorious resurrected body. And let the = Wedding=20 Banquet begin!"
 
As for we who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior and become His = precious Bride, this is not a time for spiritual slumber! It is a time = to=20 believe in the finished work of Christ! To put on our glorious Garments = of=20 Salvation and our wondrous Robe of Righteousness! (Isa.61:10). A time to = live in=20 the new life that is created in righteousness and true holiness! = (Eph.4:24). Oh,=20 glorious Bride, it is time to stop trying to wash away the spots that = Christ has=20 washed away on the cross! To stop trying to iron out the wrinkles He has = ironed=20 out (Eph.5:27)! To stop trying to improve what God has perfected forever = by the=20 one offering of His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary! = (Heb.10:14).=20
 
We do not have to wait until we get our new bodies in Heaven to = begin=20 celebrating. By faith, we can begin now to celebrate=97today! His banner = over us=20 is Love. The Banquet Table is loaded with the Fruit of the Spirit! (S.of = S.2:3-4). Oh, precious Bride of Christ, come into the New Covenant = Rest now=20 and live in and enjoy the perfect, unlimited, unending love of God!=20
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