ക്രിസ്തുവില്‍ വിശ്രമം.

The ICC Newsletter Publisher-TA Volume Number 2 Issue Number2 Date: 2/14/2010 The Importance of Resting in Christ
For the last couple of weeks we have been listening to the preaching on the importance of rest. Many a believers now-a-days, think that a victorious life is a Herculean and not a formidable task to accomplish, and they do not believe that it is even possible. Now, there is another minority in the spiritual world who that think it is possible and they have tried hard by themselves and has miserably failed. Why did they fail? They have failed because they do not know the secret to a victorious Christian life. The secret is not in working hard, it is rather in having rest. “To forsake the worldly pleasures, To withstand the forces of darkness I will rest in In his Name-Jesus”-an old Malayalam song goes like that. The old testament believers became weak weary and heavy-laiden, because of the rigidness and toughness of the law. They were crushed miserably under the weight of the law. Because of all the work they have to perform under the law, they became tired and weary. They have to carry all that load by themselves. There is an alarming verse in Romans 7:24 ”What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” But, Jesus came to this world and He said, in Matthew 11:28,29, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Karl Marx who in “Das Capital” wrote a lot about work, workers and weariness. What Jesus said about weariness greatly differs from what Marx has wrote about. (By the way, Marx was a Jew by birth.) When Jesus spoke about weariness, He was talking about the law, which was like an unbearable load for the people of the time. In Acts 15:10- we read: “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?” But then Jesus declared: in Galatians 5:1-“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Jesus added” Hear from me, then you will find rest, then you will fine d rest for your soul.” We ought to know how Jesus lived, and that we should learn from his life. Son can do everything the father can do. In John 5:19, Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. We are His sons and daughters, we need to observe what Jesus has done, and can perform even more than the Son has done. Jesus said in John 6:57, “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 15: 4, Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” So, if we are not victorious means we are not living in him. For a branch to bear fruit, it has to have constant supply of nutrients and water from the vine itself. Likewise, Jesus said, if you abide in me, you will be fruitful . The Importance of Resting in Him I do not have anything in me to be victorious, I have everything in Him for me to my bearing fruit and to and to be victorious. I live, because He lives. Amen. In Colossians 2:6,7 and 8 we read: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” This tells us that we need to be deep-rooted in Him in order for us to increase in faith. Just as when you plant a seed in the soil, the plant need to absorb everything from the soil for its growth and to bear fruit. A believer is likewise also. Jesus has imparted into us the knowledge, sanctification, justification, resurrection, victory, and a glorious hope to lead victorious life. For us to live, every minute of our life, we need to acquire this by faith. According to Colossians 2:9, For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. You are also complete in Jesus, according to Colossians 2:10. “and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” So, lets look up to Jesus, getaway from self and pity and be victorious. Do not attempt to accomplish anything by your might, Rest in Him. This is the key to a victorious Christian life. Thank You, -Thomas Abraham.