Greater Glory & Rest
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Squirrel in the leaves when hunting
Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
CONNECTION
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
TAKE HOME
We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin.
Warning: Take care you don’t fall away
Task: Encourage and warn one another
Antagonist: Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
Fuel: Not knowing the ways of God
Scripture Introduction
Christians contemplating leaving the faith after suffering persecution.
Yahweh has revealed Himself through the Old Testament prophets, yet they offer only a partial glimpse of God’s revelation. The complete revelation of Yahweh is found in Jesus.
Jesus is the heir of all things, the creator of the universe, the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of His nature, the sustainer of all creation, our deliverer, exalted above all, and superior to angels.
Jesus surpasses the angels in every way—by virtue of His divine power, His supreme authority over all creation, and His redemptive work as the Savior of humanity.
Pay closer attention to Jesus and the authors of Scripture, the authenticating work of wonders, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so you stay anchored to the truth.
More Glory than Moses 3:1-6
More Glory than Moses 3:1-6
Deer verses the squirrel
For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
Glory: Glory (architect); honor; praise
Builder is superior to building
Jesus is likened to the builder
(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
Which includes Moses
Moses was the highest regarded prophet.
Revered for high position of receiving the law.
Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
House = believers
Confidence: state of boldness; confidence & courage
Hope: Assurance; expectation (not a desire)
These two gets us through persecution and hardships.
Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Faithful: dependable, inspiring trust/faith
Deuteronomy 18:15 ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”
Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Moses a servant vs. Jesus a son
Heir
Believers
Policy at work: coworker’s opinion vs. the owner’s directions
*APPLICATION
Moses had an important position as a servant of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
*CURRENT APPLICATION
Best practices have an important position as a servants of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
Deceitfulness of sin- Idolatry (praise, deliverance, or covet)
*REFLECTION
What we choose to praise and share with others reveals where our true confidence and hope lie. Are we praising Jesus, or are we focusing on something else?
*IMPLEMENTATION
Consider what you currently praise in light of God’s revelation.
Encourage or warn others when you notice them praising something other than Jesus as necessary for life to the fullest.
If it doesn’t line up
Sounds good, but has flaws when lived out to the fullest
Is good, but not necessary
If it does line up
Highlight the biblical principle and illustrate it by explaining the best practices that demonstrate how or why it applies.
Warning 3:7-4:2
Warning 3:7-4:2
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
“unbelieving heart” leading you to fall away” Heb 3:12
To take the Promise Land, some would die in battle.
Today, in persecution, some may loose their lives.
Don’t loose faith. It is better to die in the will of God than live outside of it.
The Issue
Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’
Fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Heb 3:9
Therefore, “They shall not enter my rest” Heb 3:11
Fall away from the Living God Heb 3:12
The Preventative
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Keep oneself awake; to be on guard
Issue: When we don’t know the ways of God it can result in an unbelieving heart, leading to falling away.
This is serious!
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Exhort: To warn; encourage; remind
So, be on guard for yourself and for one another.
It starts with not knowing God’s ways (rather than falling away or unbelief)
The Promise
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Received every spiritual blessing Eph 1
Seated with Christ in the heavenly realm Eph 2
New creation Eph 2
Saved by grace Eph 1 & 2
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.
The promise of entering God’s rest and deliverance from Egyptian bondage did not result in blessing for them because they did not trust it. They responded wrong. The promise became judgment with disobedience.
Those who listened- Joshua and Caleb
*APPLICATION
Encourage and remind one another of God's ways, so that we keep our focus on Him rather than on our circumstances.
We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin
More Rest than Joshua 4:3-13
More Rest than Joshua 4:3-13
Christians use to have better health because of less stress. (Psalm 23:1)
We Have Entered
We Have Entered
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.
Ongoing faith that walks out initial belief.
Likened to the Sabbath
Likened to the Sabbath
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.
Shadow
Shadow
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.
Promise land was only a shadow
Sabbath was only a shadow
Colossians 2:16–17 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Rest: An absence of tension and worry. No longer seeking to acquire or retain the favor of God.
Important elements of rest
Yahweh’s presence
Rest from enemies
Inheritance
They shall not enter my rest Heb 4:5
Today, if you hear his voice Heb 4:7 (day spoken of later on)
There remains a Sabbath rest Heb 4:8
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.”
Current generation being offered the promise anew
The second generation under Joshua entered the Promise Land, but Psalm 95, which came afterward, spoke of another day of rest to come.
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.
Applies to current situation
Will not remain neutral. It will accomplish its task. Bringing blessing or judgment.
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.
Unlike a physical sword that only cuts flesh
Soul: Being alive | Spirit: Personality
Joints: Place of action | Marrow: Inmost part
Thoughts | Intentions: Content of mental processing
Surface verse Desire
Chaff verse Wheat
*APPLICATION
The promised rest of God was not fulfilled when Joshua brought the Israelites into the promised land; it is fulfilled in Jesus, where we can truly rest from tension and worry, no longer seeking to acquire or retain God's favor.
Encourage and remind one another of this truth when a Christian expresses a need to acquire or retain God’s favor.
*IMPLEMENTATION
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
My achievements are not by my efforts.
My achievements are accomplished by Jesus.
My dependence is on Jesus working through me.
Our rest comes from stepping back from dependence on our abilities and trusting in God's promise to work through our efforts in ministry, worship, service, and daily life.
*CURRENT APPLICATION
Rest is achieved in our union with Jesus and not in relaxation, clearing the mind, avoidance of problems, or a change in circumstances.
Deceitfulness of sin- Idolatry (deliverance, praise, or covet)
Summary
We need the encouragement and warning of one another so we don’t fall for the deceitfulness of Sin.
Best practices have an important position as a servants of God, but Jesus is superior because he is the Son.
Warning: Take care you don’t fall away
Encourage and remind one another of God's ways, so that we keep our focus on Him rather than on our circumstances.
Task: Encourage and warn one another
Antagonist: Deceitfulness of sin leading to unbelief
Fuel: Not knowing the ways of God
We can truly rest from tension and worry, no longer seeking to acquire or retain God's favor.
*End
