REST - Part 1

“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last.” (Genesis 49:19)

When the first man (Adam) disobeyed God, humanity became slaves to sin (the works of the devil). Sin became a troop which overcame man. Sin has bound us through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life but thank God for sending His Son to come and die to release us from the bondage of sin.

God promised the redemption of man in Genesis 3:15 that, “…He shall bruise your head…” This was the first Messianic prophecy for the redemption of man. A troop had overcome humanity but God had promised us triumph at last. This triumph was his REST.

Man was destined to overcome but the question was “How?” Man can only overcome the bondage of sin by accepting, believing and following Jesus Christ and His works. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and I will give you rest”. Until man accepts, believes and follows Jesus Christ, he shall never find rest from the works of the devil (sin). It is only the knowledge of Christ which empowers us unto godliness. Without Christ, we shall forever remain in the bondage of sin. 1 John 3:8 says, “He that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil”. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the promise of God by giving us rest. We must accept Him, believe in Him and follow Him to receive rest from the bondage of sin.

There was once a man in the Bible who was overcome by a troop of devils but he overcame at last when he met Jesus. Let’s take a look at Mark 5:1-20.

“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”

This man was possessed by many devils. He was being tormented, disgraced and hurt. He was heavily burdened by the work of the devil but when he met Jesus Christ, he received rest in his soul from all the spiritual and physical torment. Until we encounter Jesus Christ, we cannot move out of the darkness of the devil. Jeremiah 2:19 says, “Thine own wickedness shall punish you”. Satan has planted lust in our hearts to work sin in us and to keep us in his bondage and this will land us in hell.

Poverty, sorrow, sickness and wickedness are all works of the devil and we must become free of them by accepting and believing in Christ. There are many who have been oppressed by the enemy but were delivered when they encountered God, and His messengers. A man named Jabez was very unsuccessful and felt pain and sorrow but when he cried to God, he received so much blessings (1 Chron. 4:9, 10). The widow of Zarephath thought she was about to die with her son but the prophet Elijah came and ministered the rest of God unto her and she received so much blessing from God that her flour never run out (1 Kings 17:8-16). Until we encounter Jesus Christ, we will not move into the rest of God where we are saved and made free from the powers of darkness. To receive rest, we need to receive Jesus Christ. [Read HOW TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM O GOD]

Read REST - Part 2

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 By Samuel Entsua ©2014-2015 Christ for Humanity Outreach 

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