This pastor's blog post draws directly from Jeremy Wood's sermon “Redeemed by the Blood” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Finding True Rest: The Sabbath and Our Spiritual Battle
"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His." - Hebrews 4:9-10
I've been thinking about what true rest means in our hectic world. Last Sunday, I felt the Holy Spirit redirect our sermon series on practicing Sabbath to lay down some foundational truths first. Before we can truly understand Sabbath rest, we need to understand the spiritual battle that often prevents us from experiencing it.
The Battle Within Us
Scripture clearly identifies three areas where we face temptation: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). These are the same three categories of temptation that Adam and Eve faced in the garden, and they're the same ones we battle today.
What's fascinating is that these three passions are exactly what the Word of God divides. In Romans 7, Paul describes this internal war: "I notice these two things inside. The law of Christ and then the law that's waging war against my mind." Then in Romans 8, he reminds us there's "no condemnation for those who are in Christ."
This spiritual battle is real. Our flesh, our eyes, and our ego constantly war against our mind, which is being renewed by God's Word. Each of us has free will to choose which side will win that war.
"This world is fading away along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases the Lord will live forever." (1 John 2:17)
What Is True Sabbath?
With this spiritual foundation in place, we can now understand what Sabbath truly means. Sabbath isn't just about stopping work—it's about entering God's rhythm of life, rest, and renewal.
In Genesis 2:2-3, we read: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
Sabbath is built into creation itself. To ignore Sabbath is to violate the created order—it's like using a phone without ever charging it. We need that 24-hour period to rest, to delight in what God has done, and to reflect on Jesus.
But here's the powerful truth: Jesus is our Sabbath. As Mark 2:27-28 tells us, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Sabbath isn't primarily about a day—it's about a person. It's about Jesus Christ.
Four Rhythms of Sabbath
True Sabbath involves four key rhythms:
Stop - Disconnect from everything. This is challenging in our culture, but unplugging from technology will do wonders for your mental health.
Rest - Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30).
Delight - Sabbath is for joy! Isaiah 58:13 speaks of calling "the Sabbath a delight." It's about feasting, worship, joy, creation, family time, and yes, even naps.
Worship - Celebrate God's presence and provision in your life.
Remember, Sabbath is a gift to receive, not a rule to keep. It's about freedom, not slavery.
The Big Challenge
Our culture glorifies hustle and busyness. We measure our worth by productivity. But God's solution is Sabbath—to stop, rest, delight, and trust.
My challenge to you this week: Set aside time for Sabbath. I'm not expecting everyone to immediately plunge into a full 24-hour practice, but take a step forward. Try to unplug, stop working, feast, worship, and rest for as long as you can.
Ask yourself: Do I trust God enough to stop? Do I delight in Him enough to rest?
Prior to coming to the Lord, my wife Lisa and I worked seven days a week from sunup to sundown. Even as long-term Christians, we still struggle with actually stopping and delighting in Jesus for a 24-hour period. But I've found that when I do, it strengthens my inner core in ways nothing else can.
When we practice Sabbath, we resist the world's lies. We declare God's provision. We celebrate His presence. And most importantly, we enter the true rest that only comes through Christ.
Want to go deeper? Join us next Sunday as we conclude this series by looking at what it means to be witnesses for Christ in today's world. I believe the Holy Spirit is calling many of you to step into a deeper walk with Him. Will you answer that call?
Meta Description: Discover the true meaning of Sabbath rest and how it helps us win the spiritual battle against worldly desires. Pastor Scott shares biblical insights on finding rest in Christ.
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