Series: FruitWorks~Rest

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given a list of the fruits of the Spirit. They are the guidelines to which we conduct ourselves in our daily walk. These are nine different aspects of Godliness that we must adhere to in order to live to our fullest spiritual potential. They vary slightly, depending on the translation, but the foundational fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While at first glance, these all look the same, a closer look reveals small differences in their meanings, which translates to differences in their application and implementation. This article is meant to shed light on each of these nine characteristics of holiness, to explore their nuances and minute differences. Rest falls under the category of peace.

Rest

What is it? What does it look like? The modern definition for this word is most often linked to having a night’s sleep after a day’s work, or stopping for a break during working hours. But, what does this word really mean? How do we apply it? And, is there a Scriptural model?

The dictionary describes rest in the following way:

As a noun:

1. the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep
2. refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor
3. relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs
4. a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquillity
5. mental or spiritual calm; tranquillity
6. the repose of death
7. cessation or absence of motion

As a verb:

1. to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing
2. to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor
3. to be at ease; have tranquillity or peace
4. to be quiet or still
5. to cease from motion, come to rest; stop
6. to base, or let depend, as on some ground of reliance

On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made. Genesis 2:2-3

Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!' Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, 'My lord Moses, forbid them!' Moses said to him, 'Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!' Numbers 11:25-29

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. Joshua 11:23

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11

These verses having to do with rest are self-explanatory in that, if the Holy Spirit rests on us, and we are obedient to our calling, then we are assured of rest in our spirit, rest from our journey during, and at the end of this life, which means we are assured of rest in eternity.