Sermon Notes
Jesus did not say that tired people only need to come to Him. He said come, take His yoke, and learn from Him. What you are learning is this: He is gentle and humble in heart, and that is where rest for the soul is found. If you are weary and burdened, something that belongs in the heart is missing. Humility equals rest. Pride equals resistance.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28–29)
1. Humility Has to Be Put On
Peter writes to the church, not the world: clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. Clothes do not fall on you while you sleep. Neither does humility. If you did not wake up and put it on with intention, you are not wearing it. The armor of God works the same way. You take up the shield. You take up the sword. You clothe yourself with humility.
2. You Cannot Help Someone God Is Opposing
This letter is to believers. There are people in church whom God is resisting. Do not assume you can fix them with money, advice, or even prayer if they will not humble themselves. The only cure is repentance. Jonah ran the opposite direction of Nineveh and hit a storm that faith could not rebuke, bind, or speak away, because it was not from the devil. That storm was waiting on humility. When Jonah relented and went overboard, the storm stopped immediately. Some storms are waiting on your faith. Some storms are waiting on your repentance. You have to know the difference.
3. God Gives a Greater Grace
James says the same thing Peter says, without comparing notes: God gives a greater grace. You are not nearly as graced as you could be. Grace is the Lord’s mighty help. It is what made Joseph’s work flourish in Potiphar’s house and in prison. It is what made tax money show up in a fish’s mouth and nets fill after a wasted night. Whatever you are graced for feels easy. Whatever you are not graced for will wear you out. That increase or decrease of grace is not according to God’s reluctance. It is according to your humility. Haggai said it plainly: you sow much and harvest little; you earn wages for a purse with holes. Consider your ways.
4. Pride Continues. Humility Submits.
Pride rides out the storm and calls dysfunction “just life.” Humility submits. Jesus grew in favor by living “not My will, but Yours.” Samson had extraordinary grace and spent it in arrogance—touching what God forbade, staying with Delilah, assuming it would not hurt him—until the grace lifted and he walked in circles. When he submitted again, a greater grace returned. Worship is one of the highest acts of humility: eyes off yourself and onto the Lord. Every act of humility invites more grace. Every decision to keep pressing against what God has already said invites chaos.
Pride continues. Humility submits.
Come to Him. Learn of Him. Put humility on.
“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourself under His mighty hand.
