Slides: Take a Break

By David Feddes

Busy with ministry

Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two… They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)

Take a break

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32)

Take a break

• Rest: break from busyness
• Solitude: break from people
• Silence: break from noise
• Secrecy: break from publicity
• Fasting: break from food
• Submission: break from control
• Sacrifice: break from plenty

Rest: Break from busyness

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. (Ex 34:21)

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. (Is 30:15)

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31)

Solitude: Break from people

• Moses: forty years in desert; forty days with God on Mount Sinai
• John the Baptist: desert dweller
• Jesus: forty days in the wilderness; often withdrew to desolate places
• Paul: up to three years in Arabia

Silence: Break from noise

Be still, and know that I am God. (Ps 46:10)

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5)

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. (Hab 2:20)

Secrecy: Break from publicity

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them… when you give to the needy… when you pray… when you fast… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-18)

Fasting: Break from food

• Partial fast: give up meats or treats for a period of time
• Skip one meal: use time to meditate and pray with Scripture
• 24-hour fast: skip two meals
• 36-hour fast: skip three meals
• Longer fast: three to seven days

Submission: Break from control

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)

Submission brings freedom: “It is the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way… Our lives will not come to an end if this or that does not happen.” (Richard Foster)

Sacrifice: Break from plenty

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity… they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. (2 Corinthians 8:2-3)

Take a break

• Rest: break from busyness
• Solitude: break from people
• Silence: break from noise
• Secrecy: break from publicity
• Fasting: break from food
• Submission: break from control
• Sacrifice: break from plenty

Break resets and renews

• Rest reenergizes for work.
• Solitude helps relate to others.
• Silence improves communication.
• Secrecy enhances public witness.
• Fasting enriches feasting.
• Submission builds boldness.
• Sacrifice increases satisfaction.

Growing in godliness

Train yourself for godliness… godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Tim 6:7-8)

• Growing closer to Christ in experience
• Growing like Christ in holy character
• Growing like Christ in eternal impact