Stop Grinding and Start Resting
Notes
Transcript
introduction
How many of you think that when archeologists uncover the remains of today’s culture, they will find relics of an anxious society?
We have vacation locations that are used for those who want an escape from “burnout”. There are treatment facilities for people who are suffering from mental, emotional and physical breakdowns. Therapists help to calm the stressed and anxious and physicians prescribe medication to offer relief.
Our society is riddled with evidence of anxiety; feelings of apprehension, uneasiness, worry and dread. It is a constant grinding that keeps us up at night or wakes us up in the early hours of the morning. It robs us of our focus and, at times, drives us towards despair.
The only solution to the grinding that we experience is resting.
When we think of resting, what do you picture?
Sleeping in late on a Saturday? Going to the beach without a schedule to keep? A drive through Mt. Charleston or up to St George?
These are some things that have certain qualities in common. They are low-stress, no-pressure, reduced tension activities; or calm, serene, restful inactivity. Our bodies and minds scream for these during the day to day drama of life.
If this is true for our minds and bodies, the same is true for our souls. Although our bodies and minds can break down and refuse to go on without rest, the outcry from the “inner person” is often drowned out by the external pressures.
The good news is that there is spiritual rest available. It doesn’t require us to fly or drive to some paradise or rent a cabin or pay a masseuse to work out the knots. As we go through these verses, we will see that God has made provisions for us to enjoy real spiritual rest every day.
Therefore, since the promise to enter his rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short.
Before we get into this verse let’s take a look where we left off last week.
For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all who came out of Egypt under Moses? With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
We were talking about the Jews hardening their heart against God and following their own path. We also discussed the fact that if these chosen people can harden their heart against God, they would not get the rest they sought. Moving forward into this section of the letter to the Hebrews, we find that the promise of God’s rest is still available.
Therefore, since the promise to enter his rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short.
God offered them rest and they refused it. Today, God still extends this same offer but we often reject it too.
Based on the consequences of the unbelief the Jews had, the author of Hebrews offers another warning in this verse. This is done so that we can stop grinding and start resting. These people had come so close to the promise land that they could see it, but they became so full of fear that they turned and ran.
Does verse one say we should fear? That we are supposed to?
Yes, we must fear God with all honor and respect. We mustn’t fear the things that are put in our paths. In other words, we fear God and keep His commands in faith, in spite of the numerous distractions that we face every day. The word here means that we should have a healthy respect for the consequences of faithlessness and disobedience to God.
What kind of rest is the author talking about? Is it physical, emotional or mental?
katapausis (κατάπαυσις) [2663] “rest,” “cessation of labor,” “resting place”
This Greek term can mean a “state of cessation of work or activity” as well as a “place of rest.” In its specific use in Hebrews 3–4, some view it as referring specifically to heavenly rest (glorification). Others view the “rest” as the state of salvation entered into by faith at conversion (justification).[16] Still others consider the “rest” to be a present experience available to believers today by trusting and obeying (sanctification). Though all these notions of “rest” have a basis in the Bible’s teaching concerning salvation, the author of Hebrews emphasizes “rest” as a present reality available for believers, similar to the “peace … which surpasses all comprehension” (Phil. 4:7), “joy” in the midst of “various trials” (Jas. 1:2), and “hope” that helps us persevere in “tribulation” (Rom. 12:12).
In other words, this is a present reality available for believers-a spiritual condition that affects our inner peace, joy and hope. This is a spiritual place of rest that is explained in the next few verses.
Hebrews 4:2–8 (CSB)
For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith. For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said,
So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest,” even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works. Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time:
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Whenever God gives us the warning signs, he always includes directions. After the warning in the first verse, the writer provides 3 guideposts that point God’s people toward the place of rest. What does it take for believers to enter into the rest God has for them?
First, entering God’s rest takes the right formula
Hebrews 4:2–3 (CSB)
For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith. For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said,
So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest,” even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
Don’t get this wrong, this is not like a 3 step formula to riches or some sort of works based idea. In these verses we see a simple equation for entering into rest:
HEARING+BELIEVING=RESTING.
The author makes it clear that simply hearing good preaching doesn’t enable anybody to enter into spiritual rest. Some of the best taught people can be the most anxious, orneriest, tensest people out there.
The Israelites who were with Moses when God spoke to him about the promise of entering the land of Canaan did them no good because they failed to embrace the promises of God.
For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.
If they truly believed, they would have acted with confidence. Christians today, who have been called out of the slavery of sin, can find themselves wandering in the wilderness because they fail to trust God fully to deliver them all the way out and into the rest he has established for them since the foundation of the world.
For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said,
So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest,”
even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
If we ignore the “hearing + believing = rest” formula, there will be no rest, only wandering. Since faith undergirds everything God does in the lives of his people, failure to respond by faith, both to his words and commands, will result in discipline rather than blessing.
Second, entering God’s rest takes the right attitude.
For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works. Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,
The author unpacks this idea by going back to the beginning in Genesis and to one of the Psalms. This idea of rest prompted the writer to think of God’s own work of creation and then resting on the 7th day. Now he sits in his place of rest with open arms, inviting us to have communion with Him. God didn’t intend to enjoy rest on his own. He opened the gates of fellowship for all who would simply surrender their labors and churning and embrace his rest by faith.
The Israelites didn’t get this. When they crossed through the wilderness, the LORD’s open arms were met with fear and trembling. They saw the distractions and became scared and failed to obey him. This resulted in them grumbling and complaining and them refusing to enter the land he provided. This is why God, in his frustration and anger at their unbelief, pronounced they will not enter my rest.
Likewise, our lack of faith can do us in. Sometimes the most insignificant obstruction can look too big to get around. A critic of our faith can look like an imposing giant. But instead of fearing the things of this world, we should hold on to God and let him take us through the valley of the shadow of death. It’s not too late to enter this place of spiritual rest.
Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,
All we need to do is trust him and act on his promises.
Third, entering God’s rest takes the right timing.
Hebrews 4:7–8 (CSB)
he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
The promise of rest can be realized today.
Hebrews 4:7 (CSB)
he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
When we hear his voice, we have a choice: harden our hearts in unbelief and disobedience or soften them in faith and action. This is a constant, ongoing, every-moment decision- not a one-time event. This is sanctification.
The Israelites failed to enter God’s physical rest in the promised land and even though Joshua led the next generation into the promised land, the psalmist shows there is another, greater type of rest.
Christians can find their rest for their souls in Jesus at any moment- and at every moment-of their spiritual life. This invitation still stands.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
The same kind of rest God entered into after he finished creation still remains for us. All we need to do is surrender our anxieties to him and take him at his word. It’s like a reserved seat at a banquet. God purchased and prepared the meal, set the tables and did everything necessary for to have this great experience. He opened the doors by sending his son and accomplishing the work of salvation.
He sent his spirit to dwell in us and empower us so that we have the means to take him at his word. 2 peter says:
His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
The author ends this section where he began: by warning his readers of Israel’s failure to enter the rest of the Promised Land. The labor that was needed was accomplished on the cross on our behalf and nothing is required of us but faith. We shouldn’t end up falling short of entering spiritual rest.
Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
He also makes it clear that receiving a free gift requires a decision or an act of will. This why we are called to be diligent to enter the rest available to us. This isn’t a suggestion or him trying to persuade, he knows old habits die hard and this is why he commands it.
Believers should be eager to pass the line into the promised land of rest and begin experiencing this for our souls but our natural tendency, which is motivated by self-sufficiency, fear and rebellion-is to linger at the line.
We are being told to stop churning and start resting.
end (length)
OVERCOMING THE ENEMIES OF REST
Now the question is, have you entered this rest that the author of hebrews is talking about or are you still wandering in the wilderness of worry about the future, regrets over the past, or frustration with the present? Are you pacing back and forth, biting your nails over the seemingly giant obstacles in your path of spiritual progress?
The ancient Israelites saw several obstacles that sent them packing and missing out on the promise God gave them to enter his rest. There are two main enemies that stand in the way of our own entrance into spiritual peace, joy and hope: panic and pride.
Panic
This says “you aren’t going to make it!” Like a soldier in the midst of battle who loses his mind and runs in every direction. When panic kicks in, we begin to see our problems as too big and that not even God can handle them. But let’s put this in perspective, if God can take the formless and void world of Genesis 1:2 and put things in order and fill it in six days, then he most certainly can put your chaos in order and fill your needs. So when panic looms on the border of God’s place of rest, resist it! Enter into his rest today and don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed.
Pride
This says “you can handle your problems on your own.” When this shows up, it convinces us that we don’t need God’s help and we don’t need his rest. With just a little more effort, self-motivation, and personal endurance, we can overcome our own struggles. But the end of result of pride will be destruction.
Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Having pride in something isn’t a bad thing. Having pride in yourself isn’t bad either, but having the belief that you can somehow accomplish life without God sustaining you is sin. Looking down on people, having the opinion that you are better than others is sin. And ultimately, after a life of living as if you don’t need God will result in your ultimate destruction.
You need to release this pride and rest on him.
Replace panic and pride with peace. Offer up your fears, worries, pains and problems to Him in prayer. He’ll make good on his promise and replace your worry with rest. Once you are in his rest, resist the temptation to go back, trying to work things out on your own. Meet each morning with a new resolve to enter HIS rest.
