1. In challenge how can I learn to receive real rest.

2.How do I discern what I will need in this journey of challenge, and discern what I don”t need?

3.How do I trust God’s Promises over my life even though all I see is the challenge. `

Point 1: As you lead well through challenge you will learn how to receive real rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Isaiah 30:21 New International Version (NLT)
21 21Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.

2 Chronicles 20:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Point 2: You lead well through challenge as you discern what weight to throw off your life.

Walk with Him- work with Him Watch how He does it.


When you are in a season of great challenge keep it simple. Learn what weight to take off, weight that adds unnecessary heaviness to your present challenge.

Hebrews 12:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

1 Samuel 17 New International Version (NIV)
David and Goliath

37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

John 7:38 New Living Translation (NLT)
38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

1 Timothy 6:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 Fight the good (Means calos, beautiful {Esther} or handsome) fight of the faith. Not heavy, not ugly. This is a beautiful fight. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

How do I trust God’s Promises over my life even though all I see is the challenge.

Point 3: You Lead well through challenge when you mix God’s promises with your faith

Hebrews 4 The Message (MSG)
When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith You find rest
4 1-3 For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith.

Hebrews 4:7 New Living Translation (NLT)
7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 4:9 New Living Translation (NLT)
9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.
Today your rest has come through believing in Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14-16 The Message (MSG)
The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain
14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Bethlehem
Beth Meaning House of God, House of bread

John 6:35 New Living Translation (NLT)
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Lechem Lacham meaning Fight, but also to feed

Psalm 23 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
(This is rest: Which means cease from striving)
3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Not in the absence of my enemies, in the presence
You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

If you want to know more, have just decided to follow Jesus or need resources to start your journey.
Click the link below -
http://gc.org.au/firststeps