Entering God's Rest

Febuary 10,2000

Beloved Children of God,

THE IMPORTANCE OF REST:

These past days, the Lord has been reminding me about the importance
of rest to us.  That failing to understand and observe this in our
lives will be detrimental to our well-being.  However, due to various
pressures that God's people are facing in these days, many of us have
overlooked this resulting to great harm and confusion overtaking us.

Even Jesus Himself rested often during His ministry and He also
encouraged His disciples to rest.  In Mark 6:30-32 we will find this
story.  " The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all
they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming
and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to
them.  " Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some
rest.  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

WHAT IS THE REST OF GOD

Understanding and experiencing God's rest are two different things.
Many of us try to rest and do various activities which we construed as
resting, but at times we still come out not rested.  Our physical body
maybe resting, but our mind and spirit are fretting.

True rest in God does not depend on outward circumstances.  It is
being able to enter into the inner sanctuary of the most High despites
the battles and problems that we faced and finding refreshment in Him.
This will not be automatic, it will need an abundance of God's grace
and also discipline from our part.  We must learn to shut out all
other voices shouting for our attention during these times.

The coming days will be turbulent days.  The day of the Lord will be
an exciting time to be living in.  It will be full of activities both
from God and from the enemy.  It is important that God's people learn
to access this special provision of the Father.  Unless we learn how
to rest in God, we will not stand with Him when that day comes.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

I don't normally like to share personal testimony in public post, but
somehow the Lord has impressed upon my heart to share about these
particular events for it will help make understanding about God's rest
easier to those to whom this message is intended.

Last 1997, what I thought was an ordinary sore in my tongue turned out
to be cancerous.  In God's perfect timing, we discovered and removed
it before it can spread further.  The doctor cut away a portion of my
tongue and after two weeks of recuperation.  He send me to another
city to undergo radiation treatment.  God has given us a prophetic
word in that area before this happened so when all this was happening
to me, I was very strong spiritually.  The peace of God was much
evident and even the joy of the Lord.  Many times I will be surprised
at the laughter that comes out from within me in the midst of the
pain.

So I really felt very strong throughout this whole period.  Towards the
middle of the radiation treatment, all the physical symptoms began to
appear.  Destruction of the taste buds, nausea, no saliva, difficulty
of swallowing, gasping for breath, pain.  And all these began to take
it's toll on me physically.  But I remained strong and high spirited
during the whole ordeal.  Daily I was confessing to myself, "I can do
this.  I can take it.  I am a child of God.  He is with me."  However
as the days progress the more difficult the physical discomfort
becomes.

One day it finally dawn on me that something is very wrong.  So instead
of the usual positive confession coming out from my mouth- I found
myself crying out to God.  " Lord, I cannot do it anymore.  Unless you
come and take over."  Then the most amazing realization dawn upon me
which comes through a vision.

God showed me that in the past weeks of my ordeal.  I was holding on
tightly to God.  But at this last stage, I let go of my hand and
instead of me holding on to God, I found that He is holding my hands.
He carried me in His arms.  Finally, I have understood what resting in
God meant.  Not only did I understand it, but I was experiencing it
for the first time in the midst of the worst physical circumstances.
A well known preacher once described this as resting faith.

For the rest of the treatment time, I entered it from another
arena.  I was no longer trying but I was totally resting in Him.  The
Father carried me through day by day and it was the most glorious time
of rest that I've ever had.  I was not doing anything but He was doing
everything for me.

Finally, I was able to understand fully and appreciate better the
meaning of these words spoken by our predecesors:

Like Job I cry out to God and mean it from my heart "Naked I came from
my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord
has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.  Though he slay
me, yet will I hope in him.....indeed, this will turn out for my
deliverance.  .  .  ."  Job 1:21, 13:15-16

Like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego I was able to speak these words
back unto the face of my tormentor who was trying to cause me to doubt
Father's love for me and to distrust His promises -" O Nebuchadnezzar,
we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we
are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save
us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if
he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your
gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Daniel 3:16-18

Like Habakkuk my heart shouts these words "Though the fig tree does
not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop
fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the
pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I
will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the
heights."  Habakkuk 3:17-19

The days and months of my recovery were the most painful moments
physically but my spirit was getting stronger day by day.  The more I
let go, the more rested I become inwardly.  I don't have the word to fully
explain what was taking place inside of me.  But it was real and
something beautiful was happening inside my soul.  In the midst of my
desolation.  My soul was resting and it was being refreshed by the
Father Himself.  Oh what a glorious time that has been.

GOD'S MESSAGE

My people, do not be distracted by the many things taking place in
your midst.  I am God and I am who I say I am.  No one can stand
before me.  You are my child, and I love you beyond words.  Come and
give everything to me.  Give me your pain and I'll turn it into joy.
Give me your dryness and it will be turned into a river.  Give me your
failures and I will turn it into gold.  Give me your fear and I will
replace it with my strength.  Give me your weary body and I will
refresh your soul.  Come and do not hold back anymore.  I longed to
remove the yoke that is upon your shoulder.  I desire to take the
burden from you.  Come and take your rest in me.

MY PRAYER

Father, draw us near by your Spirit.  Remove all hindrances that is
preventing us from experiencing the fulness of your rest.  We come to
you now and we enter your rest once more.  Thank you for being such a
wonderful Father to us.

ROMANS 8: 28 -35,37-38

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those
God foreknew he also predestined to be comformed to the likeness of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And
those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also
justified; those he justified; he also glorified.

What then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who
can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but give him up
for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us
all things?  Who will bring a charge against those whom God has
chosen?  It is God who justifies.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.  CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH.  COME AND LET US ENTER INTO THE REST OF THE FATHER FOR HE IS THERE WAITING FOR US WITH OPEN ARMS.

In His service,

Sis Ching Co
Cebu City
Philippines

by permission of Ching Co - River of Life Ministries