Summary

This conversation focuses on moving from striving in the soul and mind into the rest of God that is already available through Christ. The speakers emphasize that believers do not have to work their way into God’s presence because Christ has already opened the way to the Father. The struggle comes when the mind and soul try to understand, control, or produce what only the Spirit can bring forth.

The discussion points to a simple, childlike trust in the Father. Instead of constantly striving to know the Lord by human effort, there is also the truth that the Father wants to know us and reveal who we are in Him. Mary and Martha are used as examples of the difference between being distracted by many things and being focused on ministering to what is on the Lord’s heart. The conversation closes with the thought that this is a growth process, where the Father forms us as His workmanship and brings forth the new creation within us.

Show Notes

Ken opens the conversation by pointing out that the mind and soul life are not where believers truly live now. The real place of life is in the spirit.

Mike emphasizes that Jesus’ purpose was to bring us into the same relationship with the Father that He has. Through the cross, that door has already been opened.

The speakers bring out that rest is not something we struggle to attain. Because Christ is already in the Father’s presence, believers have access to that rest now.

Ron talks about the long-standing drive to know the Lord, but also points out the other side of the relationship: the Lord wants to know us. True relationship with God is not built by anxious effort, but by trust and rest.

Ron describes relaxing in the Lord like a child. A child does not carry the burden of trying to figure everything out, but simply lives and trusts.

Mike uses Mary and Martha to show the difference between distraction and true ministry to the Lord. Mary focused on what was needed in the moment, while Martha was pulled in many directions.

Ken closes by describing this as a growth process. The Father works uniquely in each person, bringing forth the new creation as the old nature is laid down.

Quotes

“Your mind is not your friend. Your soul life is not your friend. The spirit is where we live now, not on the soul plane.” — Ken

“Jesus’s drive was to get us to the Father.” — Mike

“It’s not a struggling and striving, trying to get there.” — Mike

“We have access to His rest anytime we want it.” — Mike

“The Lord loves us right where we’re at.” — Ron

“There’s a flip side of that coin. The flip side is the one we always ignore, is that He wants to know us.” — Ron

“How do I relax? Like a child.” — Ron

“People don’t know how to rest.” — Ron

“Are we gonna be a Mary or a Martha?” — Mike

“You just have to do the number one thing, is trust.” — Ken

Scriptural References

John 14 (6) — Jesus is the way to the Father, and through Him the relationship with the Father is opened.

John 17 (21–23) — Jesus prays that His people would be brought into the same oneness He has with the Father.

Hebrews 4 (9–11) — There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, and believers are called to enter that rest.

John 19 (30) — Jesus declares, “It is finished,” pointing to the completed work of the cross.

Hebrews 10 (19–22) — Through Christ, believers have confidence to enter into the presence of God.

Matthew 6 (25–34) — Jesus teaches not to worry about food, clothing, or tomorrow, but to seek first the Kingdom.

Psalm 46 (10) — “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Proverbs 3 (5–6) — Trust in the Lord rather than leaning on human understanding.

Luke 10 (38–42) — Mary sits at the Lord’s feet while Martha is distracted with many things; Jesus says Mary chose the better part.

John 12 (1–8) — Mary ministers to Jesus by anointing Him before His death.

Matthew 7 (21–23) — Jesus speaks of those who did works in His name, yet He says, “I never knew you.”

Galatians 4 (9) — Paul speaks of not only knowing God, but being known by God.

Ephesians 2 (10) — We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

2 Corinthians 5 (17) — Anyone in Christ is a new creation.

Galatians 3 (28) — In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.

Romans 8 (29) — God’s purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son.

Takeaway

The rest of God is not reached by striving, struggling, or trying to force spiritual growth through the mind. Christ has already opened the way to the Father, and His presence is available now. As we learn to trust like children, lay down the soul-life, and live from the Spirit, the Father forms us as His workmanship and brings forth the new creation within us.