Overview

1. You have a Good Shepherd who loves you
2. Come into His presence and enter His rest
3. Scripture exhorts you to come boldly!
4. Come to Jesus and find rest for your soul

You have a Good Shepherd who loves you

Beloved, whatever you may be going through today, know that you are not alone. Perhaps you’ve been going through a difficult season. Maybe disappointments or unanswered prayers have left you feeling distant from the Lord. But the Lord is closer than you think. The Bible tells us that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). This is our spiritual reality, regardless of how we may feel or what we may be going through.

Today, the Lord wants to draw you close to Him, into His loving arms, where He can quiet your fears and anxieties and fill your heart with His perfect peace. In fact, did you know that there are three beautiful invitations in Scripture where the Lord Himself invites us to come to Him? Let’s take a closer look at each one in turn and see what we can learn from them.

Come into His presence and enter His rest

The first invitation is found in Psalm 95:

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”
—Psalm 95:6–7 NKJV

Notice how the psalmist describes us as “the people of His pasture.” What a beautiful picture of our relationship with the Lord! He is our Good Shepherd, who loves us, watches over us, cares for us, and tends to our every need.

And He isn’t watching over us from a distance. He is ever so close to us. The phrase “the sheep of His hand” speaks of such closeness and intimacy with Him. His hand is there to bless us, provide for us, protect us, and lovingly lead and guide us.

So beloved, whatever cares or concerns may be weighing on your heart today, take some time to set them aside and simply be in the Lord’s presence. Turn your attention to Him, and let Him tend to the cares in your heart.

And this invitation isn’t just for when we gather in church. We can draw near to Him, worship Him, and experience His love and presence in a real and tangible way every day.

Coming back to Psalm 95, we see that verse 7 ends with: “Today, if you will hear His voice:”

Doesn’t this remind you of what our Lord Jesus said in John 10:27? “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Friend, as His sheep, you can hear His voice. Our Good Shepherd desires to speak to you, to lead you, and to encourage you with a timely word from His heart. So take time to listen to what He has to say to you today.

And as we continue reading Psalm 95, we see why it is so important not just to hear His voice, but also to believe what He says.

“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work.”
—Psalm 95:8–9 NKJV

Here, the Lord was referring to the Israelites in the wilderness. He had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and faithfully provided for their needs. Yet when they encountered a lack, they began to doubt Him, questioning, “Is the LORD among us or not?” (Exod. 17:7). Despite all that they had seen Him do for them, they allowed their circumstances to shake their trust in Him.

Aren’t we like that sometimes? When we receive a bad medical report, face financial difficulties, or encounter problems in our relationships, it’s easy to begin wondering, “Lord, where are You? Are You really with me? Why is this happening?”

But beloved, even when you cannot feel His presence or see what He is doing, the Lord has not left your side. He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Don’t let what you’re going through cause you to question His heart for you. Whatever the circumstances, you can be assured that He is still with you, loving you and faithfully watching over you.

Psalm 95 goes on to tell us that because of the Israelites’ unbelief, God declared:

“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
—Psalm 95:11 NKJV

Interestingly, when we look at the original account in Numbers 14, we find that God had actually declared that the unbelieving generation would not enter the promised land. Yet when David recounted this event in Psalm 95, he was inspired to describe the promised land as God’s rest.

When we think of a promised land, we often think of something we’re waiting to receive, such as a new home, a dream job, or a long-awaited opportunity. And while these are all wonderful blessings that we can believe the Lord for, our true promised land is not merely a physical place. It is an inward rest in our hearts, minds, and consciences.

This is the true rest the Lord desires for us to experience, a rest that isn’t dependent on our circumstances.

So how do we enter this rest?

“‘So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.”’ Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”
—Hebrews 3:11–12 NKJV

Here, Hebrews 3 quotes Psalm 95 and warns us against having an “evil heart of unbelief.” 

What does that mean? We often associate evil with outward actions, such as stealing or hurting others. But here, Scripture draws our attention to a heart that refuses to trust God and take Him at His Word. The Israelites failed to enter the promised land because of unbelief—they did not believe God’s promises. Instead of trusting the One who had faithfully provided for them, they focused on the obstacles before them.

But the good news is that today we can enter God’s rest simply by believing Him and His Word. Instead of relying on our own wisdom, strength, or ability to work everything out, we can choose to lean on Him. We can trust that He is with us, that He loves us, and that He will provide all that we need.

Beloved, whatever situation you may be facing today, you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Your Good Shepherd is with you, and He will take care of you. He doesn’t want you to spend your days weighed down by fear, worry, and anxiety. He wants you to live with a quiet confidence in His love and faithfulness. 

So respond to His invitation today. Come into His presence, believe His promises, and enter into His rest!

Scripture exhorts you to come boldly!

The second invitation is found in Hebrews 4:16:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Notice the verse doesn’t simply tell us to come. It tells us to come boldly! And why can we approach our heavenly Father with such boldness? Because of our Lord Jesus and His finished work at the cross.

Through His perfect sacrifice, Jesus has put away all our sins and made us the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Today, we don’t have to approach our Father with fear, guilt, or a sense of unworthiness. We can come boldly with confidence in what Jesus has accomplished for us. And when we come, Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “time of need”? Perhaps you think of a major challenge, such as a serious illness, a financial crisis, or a difficult situation in your family. And certainly, these are times when we need the Lord’s help. But friend, every moment of our lives is a time of need. Our Lord Jesus Himself said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Think about that for a moment. Every breath you take and every beat of your heart is a gift from the Lord. Even the things we often take for granted show us how completely dependent we are on Him, whether we realize it or not.

Yet we often turn to the Lord only when we encounter a problem we cannot solve. When things are going well, we may unconsciously begin to rely on our own abilities, experience, or understanding. 

But the Lord doesn’t want to have such a transactional relationship with us. He desires to have a close, intimate relationship with us every single day. He wants us to come to Him, not just to receive something from His hand, but to enjoy His love and fellowship.

So don’t wait until you’re facing a crisis to draw near to Him. Come to Him throughout your day, in the big moments and the seemingly ordinary ones.

And there’s something beautiful about the phrase “time of need” in Hebrews 4:16. The Greek word is eukairos, made up of eu, meaning “good,” and kairos, referring to an opportune or fitting time. So as we continually come to the throne of grace and depend on the Lord, we can trust Him to lead us into the right opportunities and encounters at the right time.

Perhaps you’re believing for a career breakthrough, seeking wisdom for an important decision, or praying for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone you love. You don’t have to strive or depend solely on your own efforts to make things happen. Instead, come boldly to His throne of grace and trust Him to lead you.

And sometimes, these opportunities may come in the most ordinary moments. It could be a simple word of encouragement to someone who’s having a difficult day, or an unexpected opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones.

So, keep looking to the Lord and depending on Him. He knows what lies ahead, and you can trust Him to lead you every step of the way.

Come to Jesus and find rest for your soul

The third and final invitation comes from our Lord Jesus Himself:

“Come to Me, all you 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Notice who Jesus is speaking to here: those who labor and are heavy laden.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, many were weighed down by the demands of the law, striving to attain righteousness through their own efforts yet never able to fully meet the law’s requirements. Even today, as believers under the new covenant of grace, we can sometimes find ourselves weary and burdened. Perhaps you’ve been trying to resolve a difficult situation in your own strength, or carrying worries and responsibilities that have left you feeling overwhelmed.

But look at what Jesus says. He doesn’t tell you to try harder, work harder, or get everything in order before coming to Him. He simply says, “Come to Me.”

And notice that He makes two promises in this passage. First, He says, “I will give you rest.” Then, He says, “You will find rest for your souls.”

So there is rest that is given, and there is rest that is found.

When we first come to Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, He gives us rest in our conscience. Because of His finished work, all our sins have been forgiven, and we have been reconciled to God. We no longer have to live under the burden of guilt and condemnation, wondering whether we have done enough to be accepted by Him. Our standing before God is secure because of what Jesus has accomplished for us.

And as we continue walking with the Lord, learning from Him and depending on Him, we find the rest that He has for our souls. True rest isn’t simply the absence of activity or difficult circumstances. It comes from knowing that you are deeply loved, fully forgiven, and always cared for by the Lord.

And notice how Jesus describes Himself in Matthew 11:29: “I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Beloved, the One inviting you to come to Him is gentle, humble, and full of compassion. He knows what you’re going through, and He understands the worries and burdens you’ve been carrying. You can come to Him just as you are and find rest in His love.

In Genesis 7:1, God said to Noah:

“Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

Noah’s name means “rest,” and the ark is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. So just as Noah was invited to enter the ark, where he and his family would be sheltered from the flood, we too are invited to come to Jesus and find our rest and security in Him.

Whatever you may be facing today, don’t carry your burdens on your own. Your loving Savior is inviting you to come to Him, to lay your worries at His feet, and to rest in His love and faithfulness.

Will you respond to His invitation today?

Come to Jesus. Spend time in His presence and allow Him to refresh your soul. As you draw near to Him each day, may you experience His rest in every area of your life, knowing that He is faithfully watching over you and taking care of you.

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These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.