COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN

IN THE DAYS OF HIS POWER SERIES.

TOPIC: COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN

SERMON BY-:
Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Peace-Udochukwu President Living Fountain Ministries Int’l LIFOM

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Mathew 11:28

Matthew, the former tax collector, recorded the words of Jesus when He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
(Mathew 11: 28-30)

This one Scripture alone could answer all the problems in the world. It would solve the failures in the life of every person who turns back from following God. Coming to the Lord will bring victory in any person’s life. This is the loving Saviour speaking to each of us present today – He beckons us to “Come” to Him.

“Come” – means to leave what you are doing and start doing what the Lord bids you to do.

“Take my yoke upon you…..” We then begin doing His work.

“Come” – is an invitation – it is used nearly 3000 times in the Bible and nearly always it refers to an invitation. “Go” is a command – such as “Go into all the world” – but “come” is an invitation.

An invitation for rest. Freedom from all the cares of the world that surround a person who is trying to live for Christ.

“Come” – has a reward with it. By coming we receive all the Lord offers.

“Come” – indicates a move toward the Lord. You are coming to where He is – or where He wants you to be.
“Come” – there is no stipulation as to who can come. Anyone may come. The wealthy, the poor, the famous, the peasant.

He who would come unto the Lord will experience rest. Certainly there is a sense in which one finds rest as a child of God, while he yet lives on this earth. The inner peace and hope of eternal life is a great reward. Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (I Cor. 15:19). But truly, our eternal rest in heaven will be worth it all.

WHO IS HE THAT PROMISES?
We live in a world of promise. “Come with us,” says one party, and you will be rich. “Come with us,” says another, and you will be happy.

The devil can promise​. “Eat the forbidden fruit,” he said to Eve, “and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. You shall never die.” But he lied to her.

The world can promise​. “Sell all and embark for California,” says one man, “and you will soon roll in wealth.”

“Invest all your money in railways,” says another, “and you will soon make your fortune.”

I never take up a newspaper without seeing many alluring invitations. I see page after page of advertisements, all full of high-sounding promises. I read of short ways to health, wealth, and happiness, of all descriptions. But it is all words and nothing more, and so many a man finds.
But He who promises in our text is One who can be depended on. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s own Son.

He is ABLE to do what He promises. He has all power in heaven and on earth. He has the keys of death and hell. The government is given to Him in time, and all judgment committed to Him in eternity.

He is FAITHFUL to do what He promises. He will not lie, nor deceive, nor break His promise. What He speaks that He will do, and what He undertakes that He will perform. Heaven and earth may pass away—but His word shall not pass away.
He is WILLING to do what He promises. He has long since proved this by the love He has shown to man, and the sacrifice He has made for man’s soul. For man He came into the world; for man He suffered and died; for man He endured the cross and the shame. Surely He has a right to be believed.
Beloved brethren, see that you refuse not Him who speaks to you this day.

If a letter came to you from the ruler of this country you would not despise it. If you were sick, and advice came from a wise physician, you would not reject it. If you were in danger, and counsel came from your best and truest friend, you would not make light of it. Then hear the words that Jesus sends to you this day. Listen to the King of kings. Then body and soul shall be His.

JESUS TARGETED AUDIENCE
Jesus addresses the “laboring and heavy laden.” “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden.” Now, whom does this mean?
You must not imagine it describes the poor in this world. That would be a great mistake. It is possible to be poor in time and even poorer in eternity.
Nor yet must you imagine it describes the sick and the afflicted​. That also is a great mistake. It is very possible to have trouble in this life and trouble in that to come—and this some of you may find.
The “laboring and heavy laden” describes all who are pressed down and burdened by a feeling of sin. It describes all whose consciences are set at work, and who are brought to concern about their soul—all who are anxious about salvation, and desire to have it—all who tremble at the thought of judgment, and know not how to get through it, and of hell, and are afraid of falling into it; and long for heaven, and dread not getting to it; and are distressed at the thought of their own sinfulness, and want deliverance. All such people appear to be the laboring and heavy laden to whom Jesus speaks.
This was the state of mind in which the Jews were to whom Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. Their consciences were awakened; they felt convinced and condemned; and when he had finished, we are told they said, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
This was the state of mind in which Saul was when Jesus met him going to Damascus, and smote him to the ground. A light seemed to break in on his mind. He got a sight of his enormous sin and danger; and we read that, trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me to do?”

This was the state of mind in which we see the jailer at Philippi. He was roused from sleep by an earthquake. His fear brought his sin to his remembrance, and he came and fell down before Paul and Silas, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

This is the state of mind I desire to see in each of you, for the beginning of all saving religion. You will never come to Christ until you feel your need.

You ought, everyone, to feel laboring and heavy laden. Truly it is a marvelous proof of man’s corruption, that men can be so careless as they are. Many, I do believe, feel something of it—but never allow it. There are many aching hearts under silk and satin. There are many merry faces which only hide an uneasy conscience.
All is not gold that glitters—many give the appearance of happiness, but are miserable. Few, I believe, are to be found who do not feel something of it some time in their lives.

THE GREAT PROMISE
“I will give you rest.”
Rest is a pleasant thing, and a thing that all seek after. The merchant, the banker, the tradesman, the soldier, the lawyer, the farmer—all look forward to the day when they shall be able to rest. But how few can find rest in this world! How many pass their lives in seeking it, and never seem able to reach it! It seems very near sometimes, and they imagine it will soon be their own. Some new personal calamity happens, and they are as far off rest as ever.
The whole world is full of restlessness and disappointment, weariness and emptiness. The very faces of worldly men let out the secret; their countenances give evidence that the Bible is true; they find no rest.

He will give you rest from guilt of sin. The sins of the man who comes to Christ are completely taken away; they are forgiven, pardoned, removed, blotted out. They can no longer appear in condemnation against him! They are sunk in the depths of the sea. Ah! brethren, that is rest.

He will give you rest from fear of law. The law has no further claim on the man who has come to Christ. Its debts are all paid; its requirements are all satisfied. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of law. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect in the day of judgment?” No believer can run his eye over the fifth chapter of Matthew, and not feel comforted. And that is rest.

He will give you rest from fear of hell. Hell cannot touch the man who has come to Christ. The punishment has been borne, the pain and suffering have been undergone by Jesus—and the sinner is free. And that, too, is rest.
He will give you rest from fear of the devil. The devil is mighty—but he cannot touch those who have come to Christ. Their Redeemer is strong. He will set a hedge around them that Satan cannot overthrow. Satan may sift and buffet and vex—but he cannot destroy such. And that, too, is rest.

He will give you rest from fear of death. The sting of death is taken away when a man comes to Christ. Jesus has overcome death, and it is a conquered enemy. The grave loses half its terrors when we think it is “the place where the Lord lay.” The believer’s soul is safe whatever happens to his body. His flesh rests in hope. This also is rest.

He will give you rest in the storm of affliction​. He will comfort you with comfort the the world knows nothing of. He will cheer your heart, and sustain your fainting spirit. He will enable you to bear loss patiently, and to hold your peace in the day of trouble. Oh! this is rest indeed.

Let me speak to those who have come to Christ indeed. You are often cast down and disquieted within you. And why? Just because you do not abide in Christ and seek all rest and peace in Him. You wander from the fold: no wonder you return weary, footsore, and tired. Come again to the Lord Jesus and renew the covenant. Believe me, if you live to be as old as Methuselah, you will never get beyond this: a sinner saved by the grace of Christ. And think of the sinner’s end.
Rest in Christ—and so rest indeed!

SHALOM!

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