Warning #2 - Unbelief

5 Warning Signs   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction:
Pledge (Have them sit down while we read the passage)
Passage:

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

13 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.

14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

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.

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.

3 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.

4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

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

7 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.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

12 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.

13 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.

Segway:
Illustration of Belief
Lady praying for food and he Atheist neighbor heard her praying.
Define belief:
An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exist. (Webster)
Trust, Faith, or confidence in someone or something.
Its important for us to understand that what this pericope is dealing with is “BELIEF.”
This was a very long pericope. Let me break down to you what is taking place.
The author reveals to them what the Holy Spirit is saying.
(7) “Today, if you hear his voice”
Don’t do what your ancestors did!
What did they Do?
Harden their heart while in the Wilderness (Moses time)
Put God to the test! (translated Rod Kincaid - Got on Gods nerves)
They missed out on entering the promise land
The author then issues the warning, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you and evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (12)
The author then issues action to be done ....
He says to, “Exhort one another every day” (Urge Strongly, encourage)
Why?
so none will be deceived by sin.
For we have come to share in Christ
if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hang in there)
The author then uses rhetorical questions to make his plea.........
(Vs 16-18 - 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?)
This questioning was to remind and reveal to the reader what Vs 19 states, “So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
Chapter 4:1-13 is nothing more than examples the Author uses to hammer home this understanding that everything that happened to those in Moses’ day was due to unbelief.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
If you remember last week, as we started this series (5 Warning Signs)
The First warning was Drifting
Warning #2 - if you haven’t already figured it out - it’s the warning of “UNBELIEF!”
Body:
Significant statement: “In order to “not believe” you must first experience “whatever you do not believe in” within 1 or more of your 5 senses.”
There is that deer in the headlight look again ..... hang with me!
Let me explain ......
The author in Hebrews has made reference to the Hebrew children/the Israelites!
He reminded the readers that they (Israelites) had unbelief!
This is why that generation didn’t enter into the promise land.
To explain this let me remind you of the journey of the Israelites: and How all 5 of their sense’s was tapped into.
SIGHT
Once released from Egypt God led them (By cloud of smoke during the day and a pillar of fire at night (SIGHT) (Exodus 13:21-22)
Parted the water for them to cross (SIGHT)
TASTE
Mana from Heaven/ fruit from the land of milk and honey (TASTE)
FEEL
The thunderous Voice of God shaking the ground/ radiance from Moses
HEAR
God’s warning /God’s Direction from Moses/ promises from the angels and the Prophets
SMELL
The burning aroma from the offerings given up for man’s sins
The Author reminds the reader that all 5 senses were activated and yet they still had unbelief.
“In order to “not believe” you must first experience “whatever you do not believe in” within 1 or more of your 5 senses.”
The Author then issues a very well pronounced warning and commandment ..... (12-13)
Take care - warning (See to it)
Exhort one another every day - commandment
Climax:
We find a clear explanation and application of the warning found in verse 12.
The Hardening of the Heart!
Sinful
Unbelieving Heart
No longer believing in the Power of God
Turn’s away from the Living God
The outcome of having a evil, hardening, unbelieving heart
Conclusion:
Le us “Heed” the warning today!
Learn from those who have come before us!
The Israelites/the Disciples/The church of the past/our family members/our parents/our past
Application for us today?
Remind us of the 5 senses
See God
Taste His goodness
Feel his touch today
Hear his Voice
Smell his sweet aroma
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