Doubting the Word of God (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION

>>DISMISS KIDS<<

Open your Bibles and join me in Hebrews chapter four.

Last week, as we looked at chapter 3 verses 7-19, we saw the author’s second warning—against DOUBTING THE WORD OF GOD. The main idea—there are dire consequences of rejecting God’s Word.

This morning, as we come to chapter four, we’re still in the middle of the author’s warning but he continues by saying that…

The dire consequences of rejecting God’s Word should motivate us to obedience.

Hebrews 4:1–13 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

>>PRAY<<

I want to see how up-to-date you all are with language and pop-culture terms. If I say the word, “FOMO,” what does that mean? Right. The “fear of missing out.” FOMO is a form of social anxiety and was first identified by marketers in the mid-'90s. It refers to the sometimes energizing, sometimes terrifying anxiety that you are missing out on something absolutely terrific. FOMO has only been intensified by the social media age. We constantly scroll and fear that we’re going to miss out on the latest trends, popular restaurants, fashion designs, cultural moments. You may look at social media and see your friends doing things that you weren’t included in and you’re missing out on the fun. People struggle with the fear of missing out on what everyone else is doing/involved with…

When was the last time, though, you had spiritual FOMO? You had a fear of missing out on what God wants to do in your life and what He is offering us…

Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

“Let us fear…” because eternity is at stake. Let us fear so that we do not deceive ourselves that we have been born again when, in reality, we have not.

This is serious business. Do you treat the gospel as an afterthought? Something that’s just part of your life?

The dire consequences of rejecting God’s Word should motivate us to obedience.

The first thing I want us to see is…

We are invited to enter God’s rest.

In verse 1, the author tells us that God “promises” us that we can enter His “rest.”

What is this rest?

Remember—last week—the author is pointing back to the unbelief of the generation of Israelites who were freed from slavery and yet rebelled against the word of God and were not allowed to enter the Promised Land—the land of “rest.”

For the Israelites, “rest,” it was the land of Canaan—the Promised Land. But, the Promised Land wasn’t just a place to live. It was where God’s blessing, His provision, His covenant relationship was given to His people.

What about for us, today? The author tells us in verse 8 that the Promised Land was a “temporary” rest but because of the work of Jesus and the good news of salvation, there is a greater and eternal rest that God offers us.

A FUTURE PLACE

Hebrews 12:28 describes an “unshakeable kingdom.”

Revelation 21:2 speaks of a “city coming down from heaven.”

This eternal rest is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise.

A PRESENT STATE

verse 4—10

What did the Promise Land represent?

peace and fellowship with God

And it’s this relationship of life and joy and peace and blessing that God invites us into NOW!

Verse 2—“for good news came to us…”

Verse 6—“received the good news”

The word is the word for “evangelism” // gospel

The gospel is good news that God—HIMSELF—invites us into a relationship with Him.

There is only one way to enter God’s rest.

Look, again, at verses 2-4…the author says that the good news—the gospel—came to them but the message they heard did not benefit them. It didn’t save them. It didn’t apply to them. Why? Because they were not united by faith. What does he mean? Well, this warning is so serious he repeats it in verse 6—they received the good news but they failed to enter because of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:6 “Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,”

It is entirely possible to sit in church every Sunday, go to Life Group every Sunday, listen to Christian radio, read Christian books—and the message not be of any benefit to you. You may hear with your ears but never receive by faith in your heart.

The only way we can accept God’s invitation and enter into His rest is by FAITH. Faith in the Son of God. Faith in Jesus as the Savior that alone can save you from your sin.

But, faith doesn’t simply mean an acknowledgment that it’s true or following certain steps to check off a list. Faith is action. Faith is a response. Faith isn’t head knowledge. It isn’t just agreeing with something or believing facts about something.

Saving faith is faith that not only knows and comprehends the facts about the gospel of Jesus Christ but also trusts in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

CHAIR ILLUSTRATION—I can observe it, I can believe the facts—but until I put everything in it and do something about it—it’s useless.

Faith requires obedience. It begins with repentance and surrender.

We’re seeing a lot of celebrities and people in the public eye talking more and more about faith and God and even Jesus. I’m thankful that many people are coming to Christ but here’s what I’m afraid of—while a lot of folks are talking about faith and Christianity—how many do you hear talking about repentance? In the last few weeks, Christian musician Brandon Lake has released a song with country superstar—Jelly Roll—called “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” It’s a good song…really catchy. I watched an interview yesterday with both of them and Jelly Roll is talking about God and Jesus and his faith…but I saw another recent interview in which he’s talking about all of the sexual exploits he and his wife get into—outside of their marriage.

You may be thinking, “Well, nobody’s perfect…who are you to point your finger in judgment of someone’s relationship with God.” You’re right. Nobody’s perfect—especially not me. And, look, I believe God is doing something in Jelly Roll’s life to draw him to Himself and we should pray for his salvation. But here’s the point—we can talk about God and Jesus and salvation all day. We can talk about grace and mercy and love all day but until we have repented of our sin and turned by faith to the Son of God in complete surrender to Him—we’re deceiving ourselves and run the risk of—just like the ancient Hebrews—the good news not benefiting us and failing to reach the “rest” of God.

GOD INVITES US INTO HIS “REST.” THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO ENTER HIS REST—BY FAITH THAT RESPONDS TO THE SON OF GOD…BUT…FINALLY…

There is an allotted time to enter God’s rest.

Kristy and I are like a lot of you—we are busy parents that don’t know what day it is. A lot of times, we’re like ships passing in the night. So, we get emails from things our kids are involved in—telling us we need to register for this or that—and we say, “ok, I’ll respond to that when I get to a stopping point in the day.” And then what happens? We forget. It falls through the cracks. A few weeks ago, I got a series of emails reminding me that the deadline to sign up for little league baseball was coming. And, I kept saying to myself, “I’ll get to it.” Well…you can probably guess…I didn’t get to it…and I got a phone call from the league!

Verses 11-13

The warnings, so far in Hebrews, have come with a time sensitive urging. In chapter two, verse 1, the author says “we must pay much closer attention…” In 3:12, he says “take care//or watch closely”…

Verse 1— “while the promise still stands” — implying that there is coming a day in which it will not be open any longer…Also, verse 6—it remains for some to enter it…and verse 7—he appoints a certain day.

Verse 11—“let us strive” — (Greek: spoudázō) conveys a sense of diligence and urgency. This paradox of “striving” to enter “rest” suggests that faith requires perseverance and obedience.

Just like Noah—the door to the ark will close. God has appointed a certain number of days for your life. He has appointed a certain number of times for the good news to come to you.

You are accountable for what you have heard. The word of God judges and saves. It judges those who reject and it saves those accept.

CONCLUSION

I must respond, by faith, to God’s invitation TODAY.

Faith in the finished work of Christ.

You need to get this right today…motivated by fear? You may have an unsettling in your heart this morning. Do you know that you know that you know?

You know how you can move away from that fear? ASSURANCE.

I must respond, by faith, to God’s Word EVERY DAY.

Faith isn’t just what is needed to be saved. It’s needed every day if we’re going to follow Jesus.

Trusting God. Your faith may be struggling.

EXAMPLES

Just the size of a mustard seed is all that’s required.

I must share the good news of God’s invitation with others.

A fear for others

God uses His people to announce the good news (gospel).