Hebrews 3:15 - 4:5 // Rebellion 101
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Our ability to see so much of God in our lives and still turn and go our own way is truly incredible. This apostacy was the exact problem that that author of Hebrews was addressing, and he provided an object lesson by viewing the (possibly) the most unlikely people.
Pew research poll 2018-2019:
· 65% American adults consider themselves Christian
o DOWN 12% in last decade
· 26% America adults consider themselves “religiously unaffiliated”
o UP 26% in last decade
Don’t underestimate the ability of the sinful heart to turn from God.
Case study on a rebellious generation:
Case study on a rebellious generation:
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
This was the generation that God led from bondage.
Who walk with God, heard from Him, yet they are describes with words like:
Rebellion, sin, disobedience.
They are brought into view as an object lesson for us.
They saw God’s power.
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
“… all those who left Egypt …”
They had the best leadership.
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
“Who left Egypt by Moses”
They witness God’s judgement.
And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
“Who fell in the desert.”
(verse 18) The disobedience brought consequences.
And what was the root cause for this rejection? … Unbelief
So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Repeats the issue of Unbelief (from verse 12) as the core reason for being excluded from entering God’s rest.
Thinking about the times you have fallen away;
Would you say it was because of your unbelief in God? (probably not)
According to this, our rejection of God is symptomatic of a root problem .... our unbelief in God.
We might have believed in God’s existence.
But do we believe in God’s love, power, wisdom, sovereignty, glory…
Let this message sink in for a second.
This was the chosen nation of people led out of bondage by Moses himself! They still failed to believe in God.
This should make you want to dig deep to evaluate your heart.
The biblically prescribed response to disobedience.
The biblically prescribed response to disobedience.
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.
“Therefore” assumes:
You have heard this message,
You understand it
You will respond to it.
Understand this is not an Old Testament Dilemma.
Author brought this story today current context for a reason.
Believe that we serve a loving God who promises us rest.
Rest now & eternally
There is time for us to run to God’s grace … but the time is NOW!!!
Fear the Lord.
Foolish idea lately that since God is good, we have nothing to worry about. “His grace is sufficient.” Is the saying now.
His grace IS sufficient for your short comings and your failures, but your intentional disobedience… God held them accountable for willful rejection of Him.
This scripture directly refutes that idea.
Fear and Love don’t have to be in opposition.
We can also fail to obtain God’s rest. (heaven)
We should, therefore, be motivated to obtain it.
This is not just some history lesson.
It is a warning to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors and not repeat it.
Their offense was unbelief after hearing God’s word
Which led to hardening of their hearts.
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.
There is no such thing as a neutral response to God’s word.
You either believe or you reject.
That statistic I quoted at the beginning is troubling.
But it also represents an OPPORTUNITY.