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Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  2 Thessalonians 3. Allow me to read our passage. It's verses 6-15. It says, Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you receive from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day.
• 0:29
  that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have the right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
• 0:58
  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person and have nothing to do with him that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Lord, I pray that our hearts and our ears would be attentive to your word. God be blessed.
• 1:21
  by the preaching of Your Word this morning, and I pray that You would empower it as it goes out. I pray that if there are areas in our lives where we need to be convicted, God, then bring that conviction by Your Holy Spirit. If we need to be exhorted, if we need to be lifted up and sustained and encouraged, God, may Your Holy Spirit be at work in our hearts and minds as we have our Bibles open and read from Your Word. Lord, we know that contained within the pages of this book are the words of eternal life.
• 1:52
  And so, God, I pray that you would use them in a powerful way in our lives today. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Well, have you ever received advice that you just didn't want to take? I was at the dentist last week. And you'll know if you guys come to this church, there is no love lost between dentists and myself. I've got a great dentist. I like him. He's actually a believer.
• 2:22
  I've spoken to him about the gospel. He knows that I'm a pastor of a church and he saw that somewhere and so inquired about it. He and I have spoken about spiritual things. He's a great guy, but I just honestly have a hard time befriending a man who every time I see him, he puts his fingers in my mouth. It's such a weird thing. And I praise God for it. And I know that it's necessary and all of that stuff. But imagine if you had any other relationship on earth where the same thing was true.
• 2:51
  Can you imagine having any friend over to your house and after your customary greeting, they say, okay, now let's take a look, right? And I mean, putting your fingers in another person's mouth is such a weird thing. And I just, my whole life it's been this way. I have such a struggle at the dentist, but my dentist this last week was looking at my mouth and he said, you know, Danny, you have a filling that has cracked. I didn't even know that it had cracked. It wasn't causing me any pain. I was fine with it. But he said, it's cracked. It's going to start causing you problems. He said, I,
• 3:21
  think that you need to get a crown put on. And I'm going to take the filling out, the old filling out, I'm going to put a crown on it. And I said, okay, what else you got? Right? I mean, what else can you do? Are there other options? And he said, sure, there are other options. He said, I can take the filling out and I can refill that same tooth. And I said, great, do that. And he said, okay, I'll schedule you next year to put the crown on because it is going to do the same thing.
• 3:47
  And he said, so I can do the filling now and the crown later, or I can just do the crown now. And honestly, even after all of that, I was still considering the filling and just pushing that ball down the field, right? I don't want a crown. I don't want to do that, the grinding and all of that stuff. Still considering that. You know, our text this morning teaches us through a series of commands and warnings how to have a God-honoring work ethic. And contrary to popular opinion, work is not a result of the fall. I know that there are some people who think...
• 4:20
  that going to their job must be a result of sin, right? The only reason we got to work is because Adam and Eve ate the fruit. And that is not what the Bible says. The Bible says that work actually precedes the fall of man. Adam and Eve were given a task. They were commissioned by God himself to work in the garden. Now we know that sin changed work, but work itself, the Bible says, is divine.
• 4:49
  It comes from God. In fact, God Himself even works in creation. God works in judgment. God works in sanctifying and saving His people. God is at work even now in our hearts as He is calling us more to become like Him. And the Holy Spirit is at work in us to make us more like His Son. And we being created in His likeness are to work as well.
• 5:22
  Our passage this morning gives us advice, but for some reason we are not good at taking advice. There's advice that is given sometimes that we just don't want to take, that we resist. The Holy Spirit this morning, I believe, will advise some of us to get to work. We know that telling lazy people to get to work is hard. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, will tell some of us,
• 5:56
  to get to rest. And we know that telling overworked people to take some rest is hard. And you may say, well, Pastor Danny, why? Why would the Holy Spirit care about our work ethic? And I believe the reason is this. Our attitude toward work, perhaps more than any other daily human activity, reflects our attitude toward God and others. The way that we go about our work is a reflection of our belief in and worship of our Lord.
• 6:27
  And for the believer, there is no such thing as a secular occupation. Because no matter what we do, the Bible says, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are to do it unto the Lord, to the glory of God. Unto the Lord, as if the Lord was our boss. But some within the Thessalonian church, the church that we're studying about this morning, we're not living with this view of work in mind.
• 6:54
  in this church, had begun to sponge off of other believers, becoming an energy and resource drain rather than contributing themselves to the needs of others. Our passage teaches that in order to honor the Lord in our work, we must do several things, beginning with, first, understanding the seriousness of laziness. We must first understand the seriousness of laziness. Look at verse 6.
• 7:22
  It says, now we command you brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. You'll notice in verse six, that laziness, idleness is sinful and God's word recommends keep away from such people. Idleness, laziness are here defined as more than just a refusal.
• 7:54
  to work hard. Rather, it includes a lack of physical and spiritual discipline. You'll notice toward the end of verse six, there's this phrase, walking in idleness. If there is any brother who is walking in idleness, do you see that? Walking in idleness was actually a military term, a military term that could easily be translated as out of rank, out of line.
• 8:23
  Or unruly. It's not just a person who is passive that does nothing. This is a person, a lazy, idle person in the church is a person that is actually acting contrary to the word of God. Unruly and out of rank. This last Thursday morning, we celebrated Ed Holt's life, a life that he lived well. He was a brother of ours, had attended this church for many years, and you guys know, passed away.
• 8:53
  a couple of weeks ago, and I was so proud of our church. Honestly, our church did a good job celebrating his life, but giving glory to God, embracing his family, Liz's family. Honestly, I think that they were welcomed here. We ate with them. We fellowshiped. I was so proud of our church. And I know it's a weird thing to say, to say, you know what, that might have been one of my favorite funerals of all time. I know it's probably a weird thing, but it was.
• 9:23
  It was such a great time and hearing every single person who gave testimony and talking about Ed, but not just the crazy life that Ed lived, but also his dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was awesome. The whole thing was awesome. Just before the service began, our friends, members here, Brian and Carrie Bowen walked in, right? Brian's sitting down here. Brian and Carrie are in the Air Force. They're both in the Air Force. They're both active duty in the Air Force. They came dressed in their dress.
• 9:54
  blues because i'm assuming what they're called right uh so i mean but you guys decked head to toe uh the pants the shoes the jacket i mean the whole uniform the medals pinned on uh honestly you guys i had never seen them both dressed like that together uh they looked awesome they looked awesome my eight-year-old son chase was here he saw brian and carrie coming in and he was like dad they look so cool you know
• 10:22
  Like they do look cool. Honestly, I saw them walking in and they're good friends. I mean, we talk, we laugh and whatever, but seeing them dressed like that, I thought I will never mess with those two. I'm just not going to, right? I mean, I just, it was such an impressive thing seeing them dressed the way that they were, the seriousness with which they took that, everything from their shoes, the top of the head to their shoes was perfectly in line. Carrie had her hair pulled back, right? And the whole thing, not a hair out of place.
• 10:50
  This morning, I went and talked to our friend Clarence, Clarence Craft, who was on our board. He served in the Navy. And I said, Clarence, can you tell me what would happen if you woke up late? If you had someplace you had to be in uniform, you woke up late, you just rolled out of bed, bedhead and the whole thing. You don't have time. You just slap on the uniform. You go running in and try to stand in line, you know, shirt half tucked, your hair a mess, whatever. What would have happened? And he said, oh, you don't do that.
• 11:22
  I honestly, I said, but what, what would have happened if you had, you don't, he just kept saying that you just don't, you just don't. He said, everything has to be in line. He said, Danny, even the buttons on your shirt, the buttons on your shirt need to line up with your belt buckle, which need to line up. Everything has to be square. As he's saying all of this, I'm like, I'm checking like, no, I'm all right.
• 11:53
  I'm good. You just don't. What do you mean you have bedhead? You don't. You don't. You imagine that's the term that the author uses here for idleness, for laziness. It's out of line. It's out of rank. Can I even be so bold as to say insubordinate? It's insubordinate. Those who refuse to work. If you go down to verse 14.
• 12:24
  Verses 14 and 15, at the end of our text, pick up this same idea. Verse 14 says, if anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Now, idleness describes the man or woman who refuses to bring their body and spirit into line with biblical expectations.
• 12:54
  William Barclay in his commentary says it was also used prevalently of truancy, being late, not being where you're supposed to be and on time, late to class, late to work. It's crazy to me. I work with high school students. You guys know I'm a baseball coach here in town. And it is crazy to me how frequently the straight A students are also in their seats when the bell rings and school starts.
• 13:23
  It is also crazy to me how often the D students have trouble getting to class on time. And I think the reason is a student's truancy is an indicator of a much bigger discipline problem. It's just one small indicator. Their ability to show up on time is an indication of their physical and spiritual discipline. And so when they can't do that, something is misaligned. Something may be seriously...
• 13:52
  And here the apostle tells the church to keep away from such people in verse 6. In verse 14, he says, take note of that person. Have nothing to do with them. Disassociate, disfellowship with them. And he says, do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Take note, disfellowship, and then warn him. And notice in verse 15, he says, not in an effort to remove him from the fellowship, but rather to restore him.
• 14:21
  after he repents from sin. We find in our text that not only is laziness sinful, but it is also shameful for those that claim the name of Christ. Laziness, idleness, lack of discipline, lack of work ethic are serious problems because they indicate a lack of spiritual discipline. That's first. We must, if we want to honor the Lord in our work ethic, we must first recognize that laziness is sinfulness. Second.
• 14:53
  We must also follow the example of hard workers. Follow the example of hard workers. Notice verse 7. He says, For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. Take note of that word imitate. Imitate us because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it. But with toil and labor we worked night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have the right.
• 15:23
  but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. Two times in these three verses, the author uses the term imitate, which is the Greek word mimeomai, where we get the English word mimic, mimic, to copy. You're going to look at somebody else and copy the way that they live to follow after that pattern of life. My oldest son, Pearson, who turns 17 next month,
• 15:55
  honored me the other day when he told me he wants to grow up to be exactly like me. I think he probably meant minus the hairline, all right? But other than that, and I filled in that little part, I think the assumption was exactly like me, but with hair, I think would be his hope. But you guys have kids, you know. My hope for him is not that he become exactly like me, but that he become better than me in everything. No, don't just settle.
• 16:30
  Because I know my own weakness. I know my faults. Don't follow me down every path. Some of them end in disaster. Be better than me. My hope, my honest hope is that for my sons, my ceiling will become their floor that they can stand on. And what else are generations for? We hope and we pray, even spiritually in this church, we hope and pray that the generation who comes after us will stand on our shoulders. Of course you can. Grab a higher rung of the ladder.
• 17:00
  than we ever could and as we talk about work ethic and idleness it's important that we set an example for those who would come after us and be they co-workers or employees or friends or even our own children and the thessalonian church was to mimic paul's life the way that a son looks at his father and tries to step like his father stepped
• 17:26
  to imitate him, to copy him. And that's what the Thessalonian church is being called here to do. They were to pattern their lives exactly after the apostles. And you may say, why? Why is like, we see that it's sinful. We see that it's shameful, but why? Honestly, Danny, what's the big deal? What's the big deal if I'm a little bit lazy? What's the big deal on the opposite side? What's the big deal if I'm a workaholic? What's the big deal?
• 17:55
  Why does our work ethic matter so much? And I would say, consider how the apostle came to this church. The first time he came to this people, to the people of Thessalonica, how did he come? And consider how the way that he came to them was just as important as the message he brought. You guys remember how he came? We studied it this last fall.
• 18:27
  You guys turn just a few pages to the left. 1 Thessalonians 2. 1 Thessalonians 2. He talks about the attitude with which he came to this church. Notice in verse 5. He says, For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. Do you see that? The Apostle Paul did not come to these people with his hand out. Keep reading. God is witness.
• 18:59
  nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. What he's saying is I could have come to you and said, I am the apostle Paul. Treat me with respect. Roll out the red carpet. Take care of me. Free food, free lodging, right? I mean, he could have done that. He could have made these demands as an apostle, but he didn't. Instead, verse seven says, instead, we were gentle among you.
• 19:29
  like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves because you had become very dear to us. Skip down to verse 11. Notice what he says. For you know how like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God. The apostle Paul came to the Thessalonian church.
• 20:00
  He likened himself to a nursing mother and a loving father. He came to give, he says, not to take. He came to serve, not to be served. And our text in chapter 3 of 2 Thessalonians, verse 8, he actually says, I didn't even take free food and lodging. Even if it was offered, I paid for it. I didn't want to become a burden to anybody. He worked for everything the Thessalonian church
• 20:32
  gave him. Now imagine if the reverse were true. What if he had come with a sense of expectancy, with the attitude that the church somehow owed him something, that the church would care for him, that the church would be responsible for him. Imagine if he came to that church with his hand out. If he had come with laziness, would they have heard the gospel from him and believed such a messenger? Would you?
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  I think the quickest way to ruin your gospel witness is to communicate that you want something from those to whom you share. Like you need to believe for my sake. You need to obey for my sake. That I want something from those to whom I preach. Why was their work ethic such a big deal? Why did he tell them, follow after me, pattern your lives after me? And the reason is this, because lazy people make lousy evangelists.
• 21:44
  Lazy people make lousy evangelists. The message is powerful, but it will be carried forth by a messenger. And that messenger must, must work as unto the Lord. Notice third, if we want to honor the Lord with our work ethic, then we must not become a burden to the body. Look at verses 10 to 12. We must not become a burden to the body. Verse 10 says, for even when we were with you, we could give you this command.
• 22:14
  If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies. Such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
• 22:34
  I enjoy backpacking. I enjoy just like everybody else in Denver, right? Going to the mountains, being in the mountains. I enjoy being away from the city. I enjoy getting out of the noise pollution and the light pollution. I love being at high elevation and seeing the stars. I love it. I love going places where nobody else goes. I enjoy that solitude. I enjoy the quiet. I enjoy fly fishing. I enjoy all of that. I love.
• 23:03
  love being in the mountains, and much of what I love necessitates backpacking. I will pack up a bunch of gear, haul it up into the mountains so that I can stay for a prolonged period of time. My goal in packing my backpack is always to carry as little as possible, right? I'm not going up there for comfort. And so I pack as little as possible. I don't want to carry all that stuff up the hill, if I'm honest. As little gear as possible.
• 23:32
  If I ever pack back down a t-shirt that smells good, I didn't do my job, right? If I ever pack down food that I also packed up, then I overpacked. I brought too much stuff. I don't want to carry all of that stuff. What was the point? And I remember the very first time I ever took my oldest two sons backpacking. Chase wasn't even born yet. I think Pearson was maybe seven. Zach was about four.
• 23:58
  I decided we were going to go backpacking for a couple of nights up into the high elevation Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, 12, 13,000 feet. I'm going to take the boys up there. I was packing my stuff and always in this effort to pack as little as possible. But Pearson, being a seven-year-old about that tall, couldn't carry very much of his own stuff. Might have carried his sleeping bag, but that was it. Little Zach at four?
• 24:25
  Couldn't carry anything. Now the rule is everybody has to carry something. So he had some little backpack on. I think all that was in there was this little stuffed animal. And so he's going to haul this thing. I had everything else. I was carrying everything else. And so my pack was already heavy. I mean, it was 50, 60 pounds. But then I think that first time we went, I think made Hallie a little bit nervous that I was carrying our little baby boys up to this mountain. And because every time I looked over, she was packing more stuff in my pack, unzipping it and sticking stuff in there.
• 24:55
  big old bag of like trail mix. My boys will not starve, you know, and I don't know what she was imagining, you know, but every time I look up, there's beef jerky. Now there's granola bars and now there's, and the pack is just getting heavier and heavier and heavier and heavier. And on top of that, as we're climbing up this mountain, my little baby Zach, you know, he can't walk very far and climbing up. He's just huffing and couldn't cross many of the rivers we had to cross. And so not only did I have my pack, but much of that hike and especially the way up, I had him on my shoulders.
• 25:25
  As he was carrying his little backpack, you know, and so I'm hauling all of this stuff up there. And honestly, most of the stuff that she packed came back down with us. The trail mix unopened, right? We just didn't need it. It was way too much stuff, way too much. You can imagine this church committed to the gospel, committed to the word of God. We've talked about their commendations the last several months. This was a good church, a model church.
• 25:56
  A model church, and yet they were being weighed down by people who just weren't pulling their weight. They just weren't. They weren't doing anything. Instead of working, they had actually become a burden to the church. Rather than, verse 11 says, being busy, he says they have become busy bodies. People who don't work oftentimes become, in their boredom, an irritant, a nuisance.
• 26:26
  And actually affect not only their own productiveness, but actually the productiveness as others as well. And you can imagine the apostle Paul saying, look, if you're not going to help us, at least don't weigh us down. At least don't weigh us down. Notice what he says in verses 10 and 12. What should we do with such people? Verse 10 says, for even when we were with you, we would give you this command. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. If you're not willing to work, he says, close the kitchen. There's step one.
• 26:56
  You don't just get to mooch off of the church, right? If you're not willing to work, he says, let him not eat. I actually think this is pretty good advice to parents as well. Feel free to employ this in your own home. My boys don't do this anymore, honestly. I think they learn very quickly. But when they were younger, you know, we'd say, would one of you please go out and mow the lawn? What do we get if we do? Lunch.
• 27:30
  How about if I don't make you pay for your toothbrush and your clothes and the bed sheets? How about if you mow the lawn, I'll provide the bed sheets? You expect me to throw a $10 bill on the top of that? What are you talking about? If you want to eat with us, contribute, he says, to the good of the body. Notice in verse 12, he continues, what should we do? Verse 12 says, now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ do their work quietly.
• 28:00
  to earn their own living. In other words, second, tell them to shut their mouths and help. Rather than being a burden, they were to be a blessing to the body. Instead of meddling in the affairs of others, they were to mind their own business, both figuratively, mind their own business, keeping their mouths shut, working quietly, and literally mind their own business. Get to work. Get about your business. Laziness.
• 28:31
  I think if you struggle with laziness, the advice of the Holy Spirit would be to get to work. Work as unto the Lord. But not all of us struggle with laziness. In fact, after being here and pastoring this church, I think a majority of the members of this church, rather than struggling with laziness, actually struggle with the opposite end. We don't do a good job resting. We're working, but we don't do a good job stopping that work. And the danger of that is verse 13. Verse 13 says, as for you brothers,
• 29:01
  Do not grow weary in doing good. Do not grow weary. I think the apostle knew if I challenge all of these people who are already working to work even harder, he says what's going to happen is they are going to burn themselves out. How does the modern Christian do-gooder keep from burning out? And the answer is rest. Rest. And I'm not talking about taking a day off. That's not what I'm talking about. And I'm not talking about sleeping in. Those may be involved in rest.
• 29:33
  But you can take days off and you can sleep in and still not experience what the Bible describes as rest. Real, biblical, spiritual, and physical renewal. The Bible says that we were designed to work. The Bible also says that we were designed to take one day a week and rest from our work. And when we don't, we will become weary.
• 30:02
  You say, Pastor Danny, aren't you talking about a Sabbath? Yes. Yes. I do not believe that the Bible teaches that Sabbath was meant to be restrictive, legalistic. It wasn't meant to be a burden to mankind. Instead, Jesus himself said it was meant to be a blessing to us. A blessing to us where we could get one day a week away from our work in order to be satisfied and renewed in Christ.
• 30:31
  our work now there's a lot of confusion around new testament believers and the sabbath but it really boils down to this god rested he commands us to rest and most of us don't now i only have time this morning to give a brief survey of what sabbath is as defined in scripture i'll come back to this topic and i've really been honestly thinking and praying about it but i think i will come back to this topic soon
• 31:02
  to give a fuller more comprehensive sermon on god's intention for our sabbath rest what is it what does it mean what does it mean for new testament believers how does it look so please don't understand that the brevity of these thoughts this morning to communicate that god has little to say on the subject he actually talks about it a lot both old and new testament but god has from the beginning desired for men to rest our work was meant to be enjoyed
• 31:31
  by breaking from our work one day every week and dedication to a man's work was meant to be the outpouring of his dedication to his lord first and foremost but by the time of jesus that what was meant to be a blessing that which was meant to be a blessing to mankind had actually become a burden for the people it had become twisted to the point that even jesus and his disciples were rebuked
• 31:56
  In Matthew chapter 12, for picking grain, rubbing it in their hands and eating it, their enemies claiming that they had somehow broken the Sabbath by doing that. The rules established to ensure that none worked on the Sabbath became unbelievably restrictive. But we must not, in an effort to avoid legalism that direction, throw the baby out with the bathwater. Creation.
• 32:23
  Its natural laws and our biology have not changed since Jesus walked the earth. In other words, what God intended for mankind from the beginning, he still intends to some degree. Our biology hasn't changed, right? So that now we can have, we can do more work in less time and all of that. I mean, the things that are meant to make us efficient, like technology, iPhones also make us horribly inefficient. Can't believe how often that stupid technology doesn't work.
• 32:54
  I spend more time trying to fix it than time that it's saved, right? So it's not like our biology has changed. We've gotten better at being human. That's not it. We are still designed to enjoy our work by devoting regular time to spiritual and physical renewal. So as it relates to our text this morning and this one verse, do not grow weary in doing good. Allow me to expound. There are no shortcuts when it comes to rest. Let me rest real quick. Doesn't happen.
• 33:26
  Many misdefined Sabbath by working even harder to attain it. This was the mistake of the Pharisees. This is the same mistake made by modern day workaholics. The Sabbath should be a day in which we deliberately separate ourselves from the work week and we give ourselves to being present in what God has done and is doing. Allow me to read that again. The Sabbath should be a day.
• 33:55
  in which we deliberately separate ourselves from the work week and give ourselves to being present in what God has done and is doing. We take a separation from our work and remind ourselves that we are actually involved in a much greater work, the work of God. We must purposefully give ourselves to being present in the creation into which God has placed us, but also into the salvation
• 34:25
  in which He's called us. Take time to enjoy His creation and to enjoy our salvation. A Sabbath does not necessarily have to be a religious day in the conventional sense of the word, but rather, the Sabbath should be a day of non-necessities. What Eugene Peterson calls a day of pray and play. That should be a Sabbath.
• 34:58
  For our family, let me tell you what our family does. And we are by no means perfect at this. In fact, I don't actually think we're very good at it. But I'll tell you what our family has tried to employ in our own home when it comes to taking a day of rest. One day a week, we only do the things that we enjoy doing. For instance, they can be hard. Like we just sit around on the couch, stare at each other, right? That's not what we do. They can be hard things. Yard work. For me,
• 35:32
  is enjoyable. I work with books all day. On that day off, I enjoy mowing the lawn. I don't know why I enjoy it, but it's cathartic for me. It's therapeutic for me. I enjoy it. Yard work, although it's hard, is often a time of spiritual renewal. Painting. I enjoy. Well, I sometimes enjoy it. Hallie has me painting so much stuff right now. It's getting a little bit old, but...
• 35:58
  right? Putting in your earbuds, listening to music five, six, eight hours at a time and just painting. I enjoy it. It's a time of seclusion, solitude for me. Doing work in the garage. Maybe that's something you enjoy doing, right? It's therapeutic for you. They can be hard. They can be intense. The things that we do on our Sabbath, they can be intense. Hiking, right? It's not necessarily restful, but it's rejuvenating. Fly fishing, traveling, those types of things. If you enjoy it, if it
• 36:27
  fills you back up. Those are the things to do. They can be denial. Denial like media fasts. And can I encourage you to do this in your own home? Do this in your home. One day a week, one day a month, collect everybody's cell phones, put them in a bag, and set them in the closet. One day. And just say, you know what? I'm taking us back to 1995. You guys remember that blessed year? You went the entire year, the entire
• 37:00
  year without getting a text. And it was wonderful. It was wonderful. We all survived. Here we all are. We can live. Humanity can survive for one day. One day without those little screens. One day without filling every single moment, right? Take a media fast. Anything that plugs in. Boys, we're taking the day off. Anything that plugs in, we're taking the day off. You can read books. You can play games.
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  Right? I mean, do something different. It's meant to be a break, a purposeful break from the normal routine. A media fast. Music fast. Sit in silence. The times that you would normally fill with noise, driving, right? Now sit in silence. Just listen. A food fast. This is my personal least favorite. All right? But it's good. Take a day.
• 37:56
  And say, you know what? We're going to designate that day. We're going to take a fast. We're going to fast from food. We're taking breakfast, lunch off. We're taking three meals off. Whatever it is, however you want to designate that. Take some time off. It's a physical reset. A physical reset. In other words, the things that we do on our Sabbath are only the things we choose to do. We must not understand this to be a wasted day. I know what some people are thinking. Pastor Danny, I just don't have time for a Sabbath. But you know what? I would argue the opposite.
• 38:27
  We don't have time to not take a Sabbath. We must not understand it to be a wasted day, but rather understand that a lot is going on when we don't think anything is going on. In our Sabbath, God is renewing our bodies. He's renewing our souls. And prolonged periods of time with no rest sap us of our strength and joy and honestly cause us, like verse 13 says, to grow weary in doing good. Are you working? As unto the Lord.
• 39:01
  Are you resting as unto the Lord? I would say take the Holy Spirit's advice. If you're lazy, get to work. Laziness is sinful. It's shameful. You need to mind your own business, literally and figuratively. If you're overworked, take the Holy Spirit's advice and get some rest. Your joy and your work will come from your rest in the Lord. And God, I pray.
• 39:32
  that we would be not only hearers of Your Word, but doers also. Lord, that Your Spirit would show us what areas in our lives may need to change. God, I just don't think that very many people at this church struggle with laziness, but I think a lot of us, and myself included, may neglect what is the clear teaching of Scripture that we are designed not only to work, but also to rest.
• 39:56
  Lord, may we not become legalistic and just silly about that, assuming that it has to look the same way for every person, that it has to be the same day for every person. That's not what your word says. But God, may we devote regular times in our schedule to renew ourselves physically, to renew ourselves spiritually. May your Holy Spirit help us in that work. We love you, Lord. We're grateful. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.