Peter Tan-Chi - The Secret of Rest in Times of Stress
Hello, it's such a pleasure to be with you again. Have you ever realized that in this time of pandemic, our problems, our challenges are not just about COVID-19. Our problems, our challenges are not just about COVID-19. But the impact of this pandemic, the anxiety, the fear. I realized there are two types of people: worriers and restful people. Who is the anxious person? They are always anxious. I notice that these people like to be in control of situations. They worry when things seem out of control. I believe the fundamental question is, who do they think God's understanding is limited.
And you have another group of people who stay calm. They are laid back, they are restful. Why? Because they realize that ultimately God is in control, not them. You will not find rest unless you surrender your life to the sovereignty of God. Today's topic is very relevant. I call it the secret to resting under pressure. What's the secret to resting in peace? How do you avoid anxiety under pressure? Life is really stressful for most people, especially right now. They think about their jobs, they think about their health. They think about their future, they think about their financial situation. This is indeed a stressful time.
I want to share with you what is the secret to resting in peace. Today we read Psalm 139. And our theme, the secret to rest is cultivating an intimate relationship with God. Notice, I use the word nurture. This is a process. This is what you and I need to learn, to develop intimacy. Not just know God, but really know Him, so you become very close to Him. The key to intimacy is knowing God. Someone once said: "The most important thing about you, and about me, is that you believe God is real". "The most important thing, about you, and about me, is that you believe God is real". We really know God ? Do we have an intimate relationship with Him?
So today's topic is important, it's cultivating intimacy with God in the midst of stress. If you want to experience rest, you want to experience calm, inner peace, there are no shortcuts. This is a summary of today's topic. The secret to rest is cultivating an intimate relationship with God. Psalm 139 is divided into three main sections. Part One, God's Omniscientness, God Knows You Well God is everywhere and God is always with you. God is not just everywhere, God is with you wherever you are. The Almighty of God, God is the Creator, God created you especially. If you notice Psalm 139, it's about God's intimate relationship with us. God is close to us. The question is, are you intimate with Him? Let's get started!
Psalm 139 verses 1-3 You have searched me, O Lord, and you know me; You know when I sit down and when I rise up. You know my thoughts from afar. You observe my ways and my lying down, and you are aware of all my ways. He first said, O Lord, you have searched me and know me. The word "search" comes from "dig". This is a picture of mining. You are digging for gold. The Bible says, "Lord, dig me"! You really know me, you know me, and then he said, you know my deeds. I sit down and I rise up, not just my actions Lord! You know my thoughts from afar. You watch my walking and my lying down. You are also aware of all my ways. I don't know if this brings you comfort or fear.
But God says, I know you, I know you well, not just your works. He added, O Lord, there is not a word on my tongue that you do not know. He's saying, Lord, You know it before I say anything. God is so close to you. You surround me before and behind me and lay your hands on me. Such knowledge is wonderful and beyond my ability to fathom. The highest is beyond my reach. So the psalmist David, David wrote based on his experience. In the midst of fear and stress, David knew his theology. For David, his security, his rest, was because God knew him well. I'd like to know your opinion on the fact that for some people, they are familiar with CCTV cameras, CCTV cameras are always on.
For some people, they don't like it. Why? Because they feel like someone is always watching them, as if they are watching them. For some people, they like privacy. I heard the interview. They did this interview in the United States, they did it in Europe, and they asked, do you have any problems with CCTV cameras in public places on the street? One person said: I have nothing to be afraid of, and I have nothing to hide. So why should I be afraid of the camera? You see, when you have something to hide you may be uncomfortable with what God sees you doing. A member of our church shared with me how this family was in the business of installing CCTV. He told me not long ago that the houses he visited were full of CCTV cameras. He said this was good protection because when he was going to pursue the daughter of the family, he knew he had to be careful. Why? Because there are CCTV cameras.
So knowing that God is watching over us should give us comfort. At the same time, it also helps us live a holy life. Because you know, God knows everything. You can rest in the knowledge that God sees everything. My best examples are my kids and my grandkids, they're always shouting. "Look at me! Look at me! Dad! Dad! Look at me"! My grandson: Grandpa! Grandpa! Grandpa! Look at me. Why do they want me to look at them? You see, if I look at them, in their mind, I'm paying attention to them. They matter, they feel safe. That's why it's important for you to know that God knows everything about you. It is important for you to know that God knows everything about you. God is watching you, and He brings us great security and great rest. We have nothing to hide, why do I say that?
Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 10: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them should fall to the ground, except your Father would not. Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid. You are more valuable than many sparrows. Do you know what Jesus is saying? Jesus said our Heavenly Father knows everything. Even the birds. Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? In other words, sparrows, Mayan birds, are so common. In Israel it was very cheap, two for a penny. Jesus said, not one of them falls to the earth without the Father knowing about it. He said even the very hairs of your head are numbered. I don't know how many hairs you have. But God says every one of them is numbered. This is a metaphor. Nothing falls to the ground that God does not know.
So what does it mean that God knows us? Well, that's the point. Don't be afraid, be at peace. Don't worry, you are more valuable. God cares about you. God is watching you. I like what James Packer said, James Packer said this: "It's a huge relief to know that His love for me is completely real, based on knowing my worst-case scenario in advance, so No discovery can disillusion Him with me, and I often become disillusioned with myself, and wither His determination to bless me". What was he saying? He is saying: There is great relief and great rest in knowing that God knows everything about us. Still, He loves us. This sentence means that God knows everything about us. But He still loves you. Have you heard of this phrase? If I had known, I wouldn't have married him. If I had known, I would not have married her.
What are they talking about? They're saying that when I marry this person, I don't know anything about him or her. Now that we are married and I know the personality better, I think I made a mistake. What is she talking about? You know, it's shallow and risky to be loved but not fully known. It's hard to be known but not loved. You feel rejected and it hurts. However, it is another thing to be fully known and fully loved. This is God's love. God knows everything about you, from your past to your present and even your future. Still God is saying, I love you. This will give you great comfort, you can be honest with God, you can be transparent, you don't have to pretend, because God knows everything, and He still loves you. David said so.
You know everything about me, and in this fact, I find rest and I don't have to pretend. Do you realize that no matter what the situation, God still loves us? It is a very humbling experience. This is the secret of transformation: unconditional acceptance, unconditional love. You know, one of the biggest compliments I always get is when my wife tells me: "Honey, if I could get married again, I would marry You". I said the same thing to my wife. After 47 years of marriage, I know my wife better than I ever did before. And I can honestly say, "If I ever got married again, I would marry my wife". It's such a comfort to know that God knows us well.
The second principle of developing intimacy, cultivating intimacy, is to know that God is everywhere. God is always with you. God is not just everywhere. God is always with us. Notice what the psalmist David said, Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, where will you be? If I make my home in Hades, you will be there too. The word Hades means the place of the dead. What David means is, even if I die, you will be there, if I spread my wings of morning and fly to the ends of the sea to live. What David said, if I could travel at the speed of light, Spread the wings of the morning, How fast can life travel, there you are.
Then he continued, There your hand will guide me. Your right hand will also support me. God is always with us. He is guiding us. If I say, Darkness will cover me, and the light around me will become night. Even the darkness cannot hide me from you, but the night shines like the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Can you see what the Bible says? God doesn't just see everything. God is everywhere. God is close to us. You have no place to escape from him. You have no place to hide. God says, I am with you always.
Now, what are the implications of this fact? To me, the meaning is as follows. If God is always with us, that means we will always be protected because nothing can happen to us without God's permission because God is with us. I have friends who travel with bodyguards. I noticed their bodyguards. Their bodyguards are always nearby, their bodyguards are always watching. Why? Because their responsibility is to stay near that person. Well, praise God. This fact is comforting. Because God is saying, I am always with you. I'm here to protect you. And God says, I am with you always. If you feel lonely, I'm there. How does this truth help us when I am tempted to sin? I was recently chatting with a man who told me that God's presence was a great motivation for me to live a holy life. Not only does God see it, God is also with us.
I remember doing psychological counseling for an elder in my church. I remember doing psychological counseling for an elder in my church. He fell into an immoral situation. I said, "What's wrong? What are you thinking"? Do you know what he told me? He said, "I keep God out of my mind. I deliberately don't think about God's existence". You see, my friend, you can deny His existence or pretend that He is not with you. But the truth is, God is always with us. How do you find a sense of rest? How do you rest under pressure? Know that God knows everything, God knows everything about you and your situation. God is always with you. one way or another.
Moses understood this. That's why Moses longed for God's presence in his prayers. God said to Moses: "I will personally go with you, saith the LORD, and I will give you rest". Please note that God's presence and rest go together. And Moses said to him, If you will not go with me yourself, do not bring us up from here. How will it be known that I and your people have found favor in your sight? Is it not because you went with us that you set me and your people apart from all the peoples of the earth?
You know what Moses said, Lord, don't lead us up unless you come with me personally. This is the same prayer I prayed a few years ago. I told God, I don't want to lead the church if you don't come with me personally. I don't want to be a pastor if You're not with us. You see, God's presence is very important. Because with God's presence, you receive God's favor and you receive God's blessing. Moses said, Lord, I need your presence. Without Your presence, how would the world know? Without your presence? Is it not because you went with us that you set me and your people apart from all the peoples of the earth? You know what makes us different? God's presence.
So my question is: Have you ever experienced this? Do you see God's presence in your life? In your family? When people see your marriage, when they see your family, do they see the presence of God? Your business, your ministry, that's my prayer. When you practice God's presence in everything you do, you will rest because you know, and God knows. The New Testament tells us: Do not love money in your heart, but be content with what you have. Be careful, be content with what you have, because the Lord has said: I will never leave you nor forsake you. Therefore, we can boldly say: The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can anyone do to me?
The Bible says to learn to be content and stay away from the love of money. Don't be greedy, learn to be content. Why? Because God has given a promise. Pay attention to the important points. The Lord has said. This is what God Himself says. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Grammatically, this is what they call a double negative, and sometimes a triple negative. No, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Do you see the no? No, I will never leave you. No, I will never abandon you. Very emphatic. God is saying, I will always be with you. Because God is always with us, you can experience rest. In times of stress, remind yourself, God, you know everything. God, you are with me. I want to rely on you.
Notice, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Finally, the secret to rest: Cultivate an intimate relationship with God, God's omniscience, God knows you very well. God is everywhere, God is with you all the time. But notice the omnipotence of God, God created you especially. This gives me great comfort, God made you, God made me. How does the poet describe this? David said, You created my inward parts; You protected me in my mother's womb. The word wove. Having the idea of knitting, knitting and other complicated things. You have protected me. I want to praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. David now speaks like a scientist, like a doctor. He is not just a warrior, not just a king, he has some understanding of the human body.
Note I know this in my heart, he said. I was created in secret and connected in the depths of the earth. My form was not hidden from you then. David said, "You created me while I was still in my mother's body." By the way, I encourage people, how do you know where life comes from? In the Psalms, David's life began in his mother's womb. David said: For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Let us look at science. How fearfully and wonderfully are we made? Well, look at human arteries, just arteries, capillaries in veins.
If you connect them from end to end, the average adult is about 60,000 miles or 100,000 kilometers. If you connected all our veins, capillaries, arteries, the Earth would be about 25,000 miles in comparison. This means that a person's blood vessels can circle the earth. You can circle the earth two and a half times. This is the wonder of the human body. Where is the heart? OMG the heart is even more amazing. The heart beats approximately 100,000 times every day. On average, it pumps 2,000 gallons of blood per day. Just imagine how the heart works day and night. A lifetime is enough to fill 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Did you know? Your heart beats nearly 3 million times a year, depending on your health. Some people have less than that, but the point is that the heart is always working. Miraculous instruments, God created the heart, God created the eyes. Eyes are even more amazing, the human eye can see approximately 576 million pixels. Did you know? I found that our mobile phones, what is the highest pixel in the mobile phone? It could be 10 million, 12 million, 16 million pixels. Now they've invented a camera with nearly 100 million pixels, the most advanced camera ever created. But the eye has 576 million images and has the fastest muscles in the body. You can blink five times in one second. In other words, these eyes are amazing. The best camera in the world is no match for your eyes, as God made us.
What about DNA? DNA is amazing. If unwound and linked together, the DNA strands in each cell would be 6 feet long. There's a piece of DNA in each of the 100 trillion cells, and if you stretched it out, it would be over 110 billion miles. In other words, the DNA in each human body is so complex at the same time. If you put them together, connect them. Will they go around the sun, how many times around the sun? Circle 260 Did you know that DNA contains information about your hair color? What kind of eyes you would have, the shape of your ears. It's called information technology. Evolution cannot explain how DNA was created. Every living cell has DNA. This is what you call information technology. The information is given in the correct order and you cannot mix it up. Only who can do it? God. It's not accidental because it has to be precise.
This is why the psalmist said: My unformed body, your eyes have already seen the days you have appointed, and you have written them in your book before I even live them. God is saying: You are so special, I have given you Special mission and purpose. What will your life be like. I have a special purpose for you. God, how precious are your thoughts to me! How numerous they are! If I counted them, they are more than the sand on the sea; when I wake up, I am still with you. Do you know what David is talking about? Lord, I am so special. You always think of me and you make me special. Even after I was created, you were always thinking of me. What does He mean when He speaks of the days appointed for me? You see you are special and God created us for a purpose.
In the first chapter of Jeremiah. The Bible tells us, The word of the Lord came to me: Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. God told Jeremiah, I Before I made you in my womb, I already knew you were special. I separated you before you were born. I appointed you for a purpose, a mission. Friends, you can see this in the Bible. You look at John the Baptist, how his life is described. How God designed John the Baptist, in his mother's womb, that you were special.
Never believe it when you hear people say: "You are a nobody". Never believe it when people say: "You are the product of an accident," "Your parents don't really like you," "You are an accident". No one is Accidentally, you are special, God created you. The Bible tells us, David, based on his own experience, David said, The Lord will do what is concerning me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever! Please do not forsake the work of your hands. I share this with everyone, your life is immortal until God's will is done.
The Bible says, "The word of the Lord will accomplish what is concerning me". Maybe some of you are sick right now, listen to me, maybe you have someone you love. What is comfort? take it easy. God has given us a promise: I will do it, and the Lord will do everything that concerns me; the Bible says so. The Bible tells us that in the New Testament, we are so special... It is by grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should do them.
Notice, in the New Testament, God says He loves us so much. Salvation is a gift and we are saved by grace through faith. It is by grace that you are saved. God not only created us for a special purpose, He also saved us for a special purpose. It has to do with salvation, which doesn't come from yourself, it's a gift from God. It doesn't come from works, it comes from grace. But notice the next verse after salvation. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. The word workmanship comes from the Greek: "poima". poetry. You are God's special poem. You are God's special work. You are a masterpiece, you are God's special masterpiece.
Did you know that you were created in Christ Jesus for good works? In this stressful time, I want you to know that God has a purpose for your life. You will never fully experience what God wants you to experience until you understand God's will for your life. God made you specifically for you. Do you know God's will? What can I tell you? Unless you know God's will, you will not experience the fullness of life. God says that when you are intimate with God, you need to cultivate intimacy. God says that when you are intimate with God, you need to cultivate intimacy. You know God is with you all the time, and you know God sees everything. But most importantly, you know that God created you for a purpose. But you will never know His purpose unless you consult Him, the Creator, Designer of your life.
That's what God wants you to understand, in this COVID-19 situation where you can have time to meditate, "Lord, what is your purpose"? He suddenly changed. Pay attention to the grammar. Instead of praising God for how He was created. He is praying a request now. What is his request? God, you will slay the wicked. Therefore, depart from me, you who are lovers of blood! Your enemies also take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? Do I not hate those who attack you? I hate them with all my heart and regard them as my enemies. What is he talking about? The psalmist says now, Lord, now I know You, now I know how wonderful You are, now this is my prayer.
Notice his prayer: God's desires are now his desires. God's desires are now His desires. Why? God is holy. God hates evil and says, "Lord, I want you to do what your heart desires". God wants to be holy, and his hatred is not personal. He said, God, you are so great, you are so great that these people, they speak evil against you and your enemies take your name in vain. It has nothing to do with what they did to him personally. He was concerned about God's reputation, he was concerned about God's glory. He said, "These people have treated you badly, so you must judge them. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? Do I not hate those who attack you?" When you see hatred, when you use the word evil, it's not like the word we use today. You really hate someone and you want to get rid of them.
The Bible says: Anyone who doesn't hate his father, brother, and mother is not worthy of being my disciple. Hate them. He's asking, he's saying, the difference between your love for me and your love for them must be so great that there's no comparison. God tells us to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. What is God saying when He tells us "to love sinners, but hate their sins?" That's what he meant.
You see, it's a myth. The myth goes like this. We can love God without hating evil. I'll say it again. There's a myth that you can love God without hating evil. No, no. When What does it mean to love God when you learn to love Him? What does it mean when you love God? What He doesn't want you to avoid. That's it. When you love, you fall in love with what God loves. So learn not to hate people, but to hate people's sin. I believe the evidence of love for God, the evidence of intimacy with God, is a change in our values. The more I get to know God, the more my values change. It's very sad when Christians don't accept God's values. God values holiness and purity, do you love what God loves?
Can I give you an example? God wants you to share the gospel. Do you do that? God loves us to forgive others. Does God love you to live in peace?, love your family. Love the people around us, is that what you do? You see, when you are intimate with God, when you cultivate intimacy, you begin to do and love the things that God loves and avoid what He wants. What you want to avoid. God tells us that we will be so different. No wonder David ends with this prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart, and try me, David said. Know my thoughts, know what he's saying? Watch, God, search me and know my heart. David knows that the heart is so deceitful that we need God's help to see that.
That's what David said. David said, know my thoughts, know what's going on in my life. You see, David, having an intimate relationship with God makes you like pleasing God, how do you please God? By living a holy life, living a life that pleases God, how do you please God? He goes deep inside, David is not superficial about outward behavior, look at my heart. God, please search me and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. You know, as I walk with the Lord, I find that my heart can be wild and wild. Can be deceptive. We rationalize our actions. We need God to see our hearts. We need God to help us see our sins. Is there any evil in me?
Notice, the word "hurt" means pain. Help me so that I don't hurt myself and I don't hurt those family members. God, for those around me, I need yours. Protect. Lead me in the way of eternal life. A life of total dependence. "Lord, I need you. guide me. " Why? Once you have an intimate relationship with God, your desire is to please Him. You want to live for Him. Many years ago, I told my son when he went to study in the United States, I said, "Son, you Go to a foreign country where no one knows you. They won't know you are my son. You can do things I will never know. I said to my son, can I tell you something? Don't deceive your heart. Don't kid yourself, for God sees it and God knows it all.
I told my son, "My prayer is that you will be honest and truthful with God. Be transparent and don't joke with God. That's what David said. Cultivate an intimate relationship with God. You know, God is intimate with us". When you study Psalm 139, you realize that God is so close, but are we so close to Him? I say it again, God is so close to us, He knows us, He has always created us, are you close to Him? He wants you to be close to Him. So it's important to know Him. David's prayer is the key to truly knowing Him when you ask God to search your heart and search your thought life. As you live a life that pleases Him, it is sin that prevents us from knowing God.
So there is power in praying to God. Lord, please search my heart and search my thoughts. David wanted to live an inner life that truly pleased God, a truly pure life that pleased God. What would intimacy with God bring? Rest. Why could David find rest in a crisis? David knew that God knew him. Everything, David knew God was with him. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to encourage you that God has given you a special purpose. So, what's the summary? Realize that your main purpose here is to know God, and most of life's problems will take care of themselves". Meaning if you realize that the highest, most important purpose is to know Him. Because when you know Him, you You will fall in love with Him.
When you know God, you will want to serve Him. When you know God, you can rest. So we know Him. That's what Packer said. "Once you realize that your main purpose here is to know God, most of life's problems, all other problems, will fall into place". Do you understand? Remember, in Jeremiah 9:23-24, God is saying: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches. But let him Focus on one thing, and if you want to boast, brag about it. You know God, and you know me. What can you learn from God, and that I delight in loving, justice, and righteousness in the world? Boast.
Do you know that God pleases you? My prayer is that you will live in a way that brings joy to the Lord. That will only happen when you learn to pray like David said, "Lord, leave you. I can't live my life to please you. Lord, I need You to search my heart. I need You to search my thoughts. I need you, help me, you need to guide me". This is how you live a restful life.
Now you begin to understand why David didn't worry so much… He could calm down. Because when you walk closely with God, you experience rest. If you don't walk with God, You can't rest in stress. If you don't walk with God, you can't rest in stress. Maybe God is saying to you, you know, "I don't know God very well, I guess". Get to know Him". Okay, I want you to humble yourself before God today and ask Him to make you real. What do you do? You ask Jesus to make God real in your life. Because Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, Life; No one comes to the Father except through me. So let us pray!
Lord Jesus, I want to know God. I want to know You. Lord Jesus, I want to be humble. Open my eyes, open my heart, and let me know that I need you. I invite you, Jesus, into my life now. I accept your gift of forgiveness. Give me a heart. A new heart that lives for you and pleases you. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.