Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. This I guarantee. That if you come to Jesus, He'll deal with your burden. His power, his strength, his grace, his love. are unsearchable.
Claim the promise. I will give you Rest for your So Welcome to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe.
Sometimes, the burdens and struggles of this world can leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Longing for a place of rest. Today, we'll discover that the rest we so desperately need has already been offered to us. through a special and unique invitation. How will you respond?
Here's Pastor John Monroe with a new message titled Rest for Your Soul. Last time In our continuing series in Matthew's Gospel, we listened to the teaching of Jesus on coming judgment. There is no doubt that for those who reject the Lord Jesus, judgment is inevitable. But isn't it interesting? that Jesus, after speaking about judgment, now gives one of the most magnificent invitations ever.
This invitation is gracious. kind and encompasses all who come to him. God is a God who asks us to come to Him. Today As you listen to the invitation, will you come? All of us have heavy burdens, cares.
difficulties in life and situations which seem insoluble. But here is a unique invitation and one which we all need to hear. All of us enjoy receiving invitations, I suppose, with a caveat that depends who's doing the inviting. and what the occasion is. But generally speaking, we like to receive An invitation.
I'm going to speak. this morning about an invitation An invitation which is for everyone. This invitation comes to you this morning. And it comes. to me.
I'm going to challenge you. To accept this magnificent invitation, I believe it is the greatest invitation which has ever. been given.
Now, if we're going to receive this invitation, humility is absolutely essential. In uh chapter The 11 of Matthew that we are studying, Jesus had said, In verse 15, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. That is, not everyone really hears and understands and receives this invitation. We want to be Those who hear the word of God who respond to it. And who obeys.
So I'm asking you. To humble yourself this morning, not to be a critic over the Word of God. Not to see if you can find fault with the teaching of Jesus. but rather to come in a spirit of humility. Because I don't want anyone to miss the impact, the importance, and the consequences of this invitation, both now and for all of eternity.
This is a wonderful passage of scripture. If you're visiting, let me explain that we're going consecutively through the book of Matthew. And this morning we come to Matthew 11. Verse 25, if you have your Bible, you can open there. And follow with me.
Matthew 11, verse 25. At that time, Jesus declared. I thank you, Father. Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding. and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my father. And no one knows the son except the father. And No one knows the father except the son. And anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me. All who labor. And they're heavy laden. And I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.
and you will find rest. For your souls. For my yoke is easy. And my burden. is light.
Isn't that magnificent? Passage of scripture. Very rich. And we're only going to, as it were, skate over the surface, but emphasize. This gracious invitation.
Come. To me. And this is what Jesus is saying. Come. Come.
To me, come.
Now, why should we come to Jesus?
Well, Notice what Jesus says: come to me. all who labor and are heavy laden. And we want first to understand that we have heavy Burdens. The invitation is given to those who are heavy, burdened. Jesus is praying.
Notice, he says in verse 25, Father, He is the Son of God. God is his Father who is Lord of heaven and earth. What a claim! And then Jesus says something, perhaps which is a little confusing to us. He says, Lord of heaven, you've hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
These spiritual truths that Jesus is teaching Are hidden to some people, some people just don't understand them.
Some people may hear, but they don't really get the point. They are wise in the ways of the world. They're well educated. There's nothing wrong with their intellectual capacity. But the problem is that they are spiritually blind.
This is why Jesus over and over again tells us: he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Don't miss the message, is the point. Previously as we saw a couple of weeks ago, The very cities which had seen the mighty works of the Lord rejected them. They heard, they saw, but they did not fully understand that in their midst. was truly the kingdom of God.
You come in the spirit of pride. You come and you think you know more than the Word of God. You come with a rather critical attitude. I pray you're not. in that category, but rather are humble.
That you are like a child. Not childish, but childlike. Humility. ready to hear, teachable. Ready to grasp these deep spiritual truths.
Don't be a critic, but be humble.
Now, notice. how wonderful it is that this invitation is given to everyone. Verse 28: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden. Usually, invitations are to a select group of people. But this is a universal Invitation.
Everyone is invited to come to Jesus. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. who loves to care. For us, loves to take our burdens.
Loves to take our cares of life. And let's face it. Isn't it true? that you have burdens You have struggles in life. that sometimes overwhelm you.
We heard some of that in the testimonies. Of people as they go through life. Circumstances come into our life, and we may think we're reasonably good people. We may think we're quite equipped for life, and yet there are circumstances, often without our control, which come into our life, and we realize that we cannot handle them by ourselves. We're wearied, we're discouraged, we're overwhelmed.
And these heavy burdens come in all shapes and sizes. But there is one. The most important burden. A burden that all of us have, whether we accept it or not, is that there is a heavy burden. of sin.
You say send someone. who'd come to Calvary told me that I talked too much about sin. I realize that our culture wants to eliminate the very concept of sin, our courts, our legislature, our media, our educators. have redefined some sense. Even some churches get rid of the term.
We're told that we are all to be positive. People don't want to hear the negative things about sin. That's negative energy. Let's be positive. Let's not talk about sin.
It's antiquated, it produces guilt, it belongs to a past age, surely.
So, sin is redefined. It's renamed, it's removed from our language. And in that way, It is thought our personal accountability to God is evaded.
Well, Jesus talks about sin. The Bible talks about sin. And even if you deny the very concept of sin, let me ask you. Don't you sometimes realize that you've done wrong. that God has given us a conscience.
That there is a God consciousness. And so many people have guilt, have shame. There's not such a thing as sin. Why are we so quick to cover up and excuse ourselves and often come over as complete hypocrites as we try to project an image which we know is not true because our hearts. are deceitful and desperately wit wicked, the Bible says.
And this burden is the greatest burden. And can I tell you, you will never by yourself get rid of the burden of sin. The burden of unforgiven sin is a very, very heavy one.
Now, you know, if you come regularly to church, I love Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. And here is a picture. Uh from the edition of Pilgrim's Progress that I have of the man that John Bunyan calls Christian. And he's about to begin his journey. He's in the city of destruction, John Bunyan says, and he's traveling to the celestial city, a picture of heaven.
And why? Is he trying to go there?
Well, he realizes that he's got a terrible burden of sin. He's read the book, the Bible. and Bunyan pictures it. As a heavy burden. on his back the burden of sin.
Do you feel that burden? I hope you do. I hope you're not one of these people that make out you're perfect and you don't do wrong. that you've not offended God. This is a heavy burden.
Of sin. There's also the burden and struggles of life. Life is hard. Life is often a burden. A struggle.
There are struggles within families. There are broken hearts, broken personal relationships, frustrations, and injustices at work, in society. There is bereavement, there's loneliness, there's personal failure. We're all dealing with COVID-19. There is injustice, there's betrayal, there's sickness, there's terminal illness, there's Frustration with our own failures.
There's all kinds of burdens. And it would be a very unusual person who says, I'm here today and I don't have a struggle, I don't have. A burden. Many of these burdens, in fact, are crushing. You may be A child at school, a student.
And I think you. Have burdens, don't you? There are children and students who are who are bullied at school. unfairly compared with a brother or sister. They're not chosen to play in the team that they practice, and they think they're better than so-and-so, but He or she gets elected and they don't.
Burden of loneliness, of the stress of exams, of the unfairness and stress. and rejection which even children and students experience. We all Carry. burdens. But let me speak about the unique invitation.
The unique invitation. The invitation. is given by Jesus himself. I could never say. To this congregation, far less the whole world, come to me with your burdens and struggles.
Over the years I've been privileged to counsel and meet with numerous people. Who come with burdens and cares, and I have the privilege of praying with them, of counseling them, of looking at the word of God, but in many cases I realize I can't solve. their burden. It's too difficult, it's too painful. The burdens that people Carry, but Jesus says.
Come to me. How is it he can say that? He has all authority. See, this is not so much a demand, it's a gracious invitation. And our Lord Jesus is inviting you to come to Him with your heavy burdens.
You say, well, who is he? Who is this Jesus? That's why Matthew is writing his gospel. the gospel is a an account. Of the life and death and burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
And Matthew has already told us much about Jesus. He is the Savior. His name Jesus means I come. to be the saviour of sins. He's the king, Matthew is saying, he's king Jesus, not only king of the Jews, but king of kings and lord of lords.
Matthew has reminded us that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew has told us that beautiful scene at the baptism of Jesus when the heavens open and the Father says, This is my beloved Son. in whom I'm well pleased. He's the Son of God. This is no ordinary man, not even an ordinary prophet.
Not just someone who has special enlightenment of life and who can help you through the trials and struggles of life. No, this is someone different, he's unique. He says in verse 27, all things. Have been handed over to me by my Father, that is God the Father. King Jesus has absolute authority in heaven and on earth.
Matthew is going to make that clear at the very end of his gospel. As our Lord Jesus is Sending his disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and so on. And Jesus says, All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. Yes. This I guarantee.
That if you come to Jesus, he'll deal with your burden. Absolute burden of sin. His power, his strength, his grace, his love. are unsearchable. Not only has Jesus all authority, he says, notice verse 27.
All things have been handed over to me by my father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. You say that's really deep, it is very deep. Powerful statements that are only true of Jesus. He is a Son of God who comes to reveal the invisible God.
God is spirit. No one has seen God at any time. And into time, into space.
So that we can see and understand. As the disciples touched Jesus, as they saw him in action, they realized that in Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God with. Uh And the Father reveals these truths to his son.
So that to see Jesus is to see God. He who has seen me It says Jesus has seen The father. Everything that the Father knows is revealed to the Son. Why? He's equal with God, God the Father, and God the Son.
And Says Jesus, the Son chooses to reveal the Father to others. And this is so important, then, that Jesus is the only one. who can reveal God the Father to us. This is why the invitation is unique. That Jesus is the only way to God.
I realize people challenge that. People think we're bigoted when we say that. People say you're not tolerant of other views. Listen. This is God incarnate.
Saying it. This is not my idea. This is God. That to know Jesus is to know God. And so responds.
to this gracious invitation. He is uniquely The one who can say, Come to me, all who are weary, all who are laden, and I will give you rest. Come to Jesus. with these heavy Pardon? She said, how is it?
that the Lord Jesus can deal with our heavy burdens. Because not only is that based on who he is, but based on what he has done. What about this terrible burden of sin? The biggest burden. That any of us can have.
What about that? Isaiah the prophet. says these wonderful words. Yeah. Prophesize.
The death of Jesus. And do you notice in the testimonies that a number of them said? That Jesus dies for us. for our sins. The gospel, the good news, isn't just that Jesus died.
He died for our sins. There's our word again. Don't try and evade it. He dies for our sin. Isaiah puts it this way: surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
Do you know anyone else who can? Carry your griefs and your sorrows. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of his soul. Peter writes He himself, Jesus, bore our sins. in his body.
on the tree. Here is my heavy burden of sin. And Isaiah is saying, that heavy burden of sin is laid on Jesus on the cross. He who knew no sin is made sin for us.
So John the Baptist Brilliantly points to Jesus and says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away. The sin of the world. How does he take away the sin of the world? He's the sinless one. God incarnate.
And so when he dies on the cross, he is dying for the sins of the world. Dying for my sins, paying the price for my sins. Going into the judgment of God and the condemnation of God, which I deserve. Not only dying for my sins and being buried, but being raised again on the third day according to the scriptures, so that he is alive.
So it is a living Christ. Who says? Come to me. And I'll give you. Rest.
Here's another picture from Pilgrim's Progress. There he is. There's Christian. John Bunyan's character and pilgrim's progress. And there he is at the cross.
You say, what about his sin? Do you see it? is beginning to roll away. And Bunyan. Right.
puts these words in Christians' mouth.
So I saw in my dream, says John Bunyan. that just as Christian came up with the cross, His burden loose from off his back. and began to tumble. and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher. where it fell in and I saw it no more.
Isn't that wonderful? How do you get rid of this burden of your sin? You come to the cross of Christ. There's Christian, humbly. Acknowledging I've sinned.
And looks to the cross. Where there my Savior paid the price for my sins. And as he comes to Christ, this miracle, yes, this miracle takes place. Says Bunyan, the the burden rolled away. And he said, And I saw it no more.
When you come to the cross You're forgiven. And just picture. Your sins is this big, big burden. Big big package and it rolls and it rolls and it rolls and you will see it no more. We sometimes remember When people Malay nature.
Someone has Made life difficult for you. And you say you forgive them, but you still remember God doesn't do that. He remembers our sins no more. They're totally. God.
That's what Paul is saying. 2 Corinthians 5.17. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old. has passed away, the new has. Come.
If you come believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried and rose again, and receive him into your heart as your Savior, He will forgive all of your sins. He will not cast you out. You will never ever be disappointed with coming to Jesus. This is why I say this is the greatest invitation. About given This is the verdict featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help he do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity.
Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry. Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam. It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website.
Again, that's theverdict.org. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ. We invite you to join us for our Sunday services.
For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Have you come to the Saviour? I'm sure you have heavy burdens, frustrations and failures. Perhaps you feel exhausted, unable to continue. But today, Jesus is extending an invitation.
He's asking you to come and find rest. Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. Here is rest as you come to the Lord Jesus. Listen to his voice and come. Don't miss next time as we continue to think of this sweet rest for our souls.
Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
