ZNA-138

941030am
Matthew 11:28-30 L-A-S-Hed to Christ Part Four: Hold on to Him

One of God’s persistent invitations and commands in all the Bible is that we cleave, cling and hold fast to Him.
Deuteronomy 4:4 4 but all of you who held fast to the LORD your God are still alive today. (NIV)
Deuteronomy 10:20 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. (NIV)
Deuteronomy 11:22 22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow — to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him — (NIV)
Deuteronomy 13:4 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. (NIV)
Deuteronomy 30:20 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (NIV)
Joshua 22:5 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (NIV)
Joshua 23:8 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. (NIV)
01692 dabaq {daw-bak’} a primitive root; TWOT – 398; v AV – cleave 32, follow hard 5, overtake 3, stick 3, keep fast 2, …together 2, abide 1, close 1, joined 1, pursued 1, take 1; 54 1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cling, cleave to 1a2) to stay with 1b) (Pual) to be joined together 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to cleave to 1c2) to pursue closely 1c3) to overtake 1d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave
Acts 11:23 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (NIV)
Romans 12:9 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (NIV)
2853 kollao {kol-lah’-o} from kolla (“glue”); TDNT – 3:822,452; v AV – join (one’s) self 4, cleave 3, be joined 2, keep company 1, vr reach 1; 11 1) to glue, to glue together, cement, fasten together 2) to join or fasten firmly together 3) to join one’s self to, cleave to

Remember how we started on this study? We noted that One of the classics of ancients literature is the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. This 8th century BC account of the great warrior Ulysses [Odysseus], he is seen plugging his sailors ears with wax so that they would not be drawn to destruction by the irresistible songs of the Sirens. Ulysses however had himself lashed to the mast so he could hear them and yet not be able to be drawn into their deadly presence.
LASHED what a great way to describe Matthew 11:28-30. Lashed to Jesus Christ is the only way to keep from crashing on the rocks of the world.

Part One: LISTEN to Christ’s Message “Come…and I will give…” Part Two :ADMIT there is a Need “all who are weary” Part Three: SUBMIT to Christ “take my Yoke” Part Four: HOLD on to Him

This morning let’s look at the last these three verses and with the fourth letter of that word L-A-S-H. We can see how Jesus wants us to be victorious in Him.

1. “and learn of Me, for I am MEEK…” = HOLD ONTO HIS MEEKNESS

Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice.
Thus, meekness toward evil people means • knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, • that He is using them to purify His elect, • and that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Is. 41:17, Lu. 18:1-8)

Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work [ or fruit] of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will. (Gal. 5:23)
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
2. “and ye shall find rest…” = HOLD ONTO HIS PEACEFULNESS.

Well, how can we HOLD ON TO HIM? May I suggest a few aspects of Christ’s way of life we must emulate:
1. His purpose in life was DOING THE WILL OF GOD!
Hebrews 10:7 7 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come In the roll of the book it is written of Me To do Thy will, O God.'” (NASB) ⇒ ⇒ Do we want God’s will more than our plans?

2. His delight in life was DOING THE WILL OF GOD!
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. (NASB) Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart. ” (NASB)
⇒ Are the things of earth more delightful than the Truth of God?
3. His patience in life was knowing and DOING THE WILL OF GOD!
Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and meal offering Thou hast not desired; My ears Thou hast opened; Burnt offering and sin offering Thou hast not required. (NASB)
⇒ Are you patient enough to let God choose what is best? Remember God gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him!
4. His priority in life was DOING THE WILL OF GOD as even unto DEATH.
Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)
John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (NASB)
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. (NASB)
⇒ Are you dieing daily to be alive in the Spirit unto Christ/
5. His attitude of life was DOING THE WILL OF GOD in humble faith.
John 8:28 Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. (NASB)
⇒ Are we ever whispering, “Not my will but Thine be done”? This morning do you want to be lashed to Christ? and not be dashed on the rocks of temptation, and not be dashed on the rocks of doubt, and not be dashed on the rocks of fear, and not be dashed on the rocks of insecurity, and not be dashed on the rocks of discontent, and not be dashed on the rocks of undisciplined living, and not be dashed on the rocks of rebellion, and not be dashed on the rocks of lust, and not be dashed on the rocks of anger, and not be dashed on the rocks of gossip,

Ulysses only had a wooden mast to hold himself back. You have a Cross stained with blood, A Savior Risen and Living for you. Won’t you be lashed to Christ?