Finding Much Needed Rest

Introduction

Last week we learned that disobedience caused an entire generation miss God’s rest in the promised land. So even when the children of Israel entered into the promised land, they did not experience God’s Sabbath-rest. Simply put, God did not allow those who refused to follow Moses, Joshua, and Caleb to enter into his rest. In , “And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

Then we come to verse 1 of chapter 4, and we learn that God still extends His promise of rest, a Sabbath-Rest.

So even when the children of Israel entered into the promised land, they did not experience God’s Sabbath-rest. Simply put, God did not allow those who refused to follow Moses, Joshua, and Caleb to enter into his rest. In , “ “And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient? So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.” (, NET)

If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 4.

Hebrews 4:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

Hebrews 4:1-

God’s Rest

The promise of rest, true rest still stands. And the author reminds us that we need to be careful that none of us fall short of God’s rest!

So here’s the question: What does it mean to “fall short” of God’s rest? We first understand what God’s rest is all about.

In the context of Israel, “rest” was part of Israel’s inheritance (; ). And like Israel, God’s rest is part of the Christian’s inheritance. God’s rest should be experienced by our salvation.

Notice verse 2, “For we also hove had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combined it with faith” Literally the last part could be translated, “. . .but the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.”

Rest should be experienced in and through out salvation.

It is a sad thing to hear God’s message but to miss it because of a lack of faith. Some may say, what is faith? Faith is hearing God’s message and acting on the message.

Hebrews 4:3–5 NIV84

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Hebrews 4:3-

KEY—> Only those who believe—an active faith—will enter into God’s rest.

KEY—> Only those who believe—an active faith—will enter into God’s rest.

The author quotes, . So what is this rest all about?

God finished creation in 6 days, and then He rested on the seventh day. “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” () Israel still did not enter into God’s rest, because He said, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Hebrews 4:6–7 NIV84

It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Hebrews 4:6-

Some will still enter that rest that God promised. It was attached to the good news of the promised land, but they did not go in because of their disobedience!

God, set a certain day, calling it “today.” God spoke this message through David many years later. He said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” () God is making His rest available to a different group of people.

Hebrews 4:8-

Hebrews 4:8–11 NIV84

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Joshua never gave them rest, so God spoke about another day.

So according to verse 9, a Sabbath-rest is still available to God’s people.

Those who enter God’s rest, also rest from their rest. This phrase, “rest from his own work” means that we won’t experience God’s rest until we are finished with our work here on earth.

So to truly enter into God’s rest is to finish well! That means we need to continue in our obedience to God!

So how do we continue in our obedience when life becomes tough? We depend on the Word of God. Look at verse 12.

Hebrews 4:12–13 NIV84

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Resting in God’s Word

We can rest in God’s Word for several reasons.

First, it is living and active. God’s Word is not static, it is not archaic. It is living giving—breathing new life into those who were dead.

Active, means that it effects change—the change that makes us children of the living God.

Next we learn that God’s word is sharper than a double edge sword. Here we see that God’s word is penetrating—going deep. God’s Word is able to work separating out the spiritual man and the natural man. It can even separate when things are so tightly wound together—like the joints and marrow, and our thoughts from the attitudes of the heart.

Nothing, nothing at all can be hidden from God’s sight. I don’t know why we try to hide things from God.

Everything is uncovered—that is “naked”—and laid bare— “exposed, uncovered, or over powered”—before God’s eyes. So He sees everything, and knows everything. It is to Him we must give an account.

Our High Priest

So God is going to be the judge of all, and it is to Him we must give an account of our lives. He has given us “a great high priest.”

Hebrews 4:14–16 NIV84

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus the Messiah is our great high priest. The writer tells us we need to be sure we hold firmly to the faith that we profess.

There are some things about our High priest that we need to understand.

First, he is able to understand our

Secondly, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Notice—the throne of grace!

We approach God’s throne of grace with confidence—but we approach this throne so that we may receive mercy and find grace “to help us in our time of need.” Get this, Jesus wants to help us in our time of need!

Conclusion

God wants to extend His rest to us. But this rest, only comes when our work is finished! So we need to be careful that we finish well!

When we hear God’s voice we need to make sure we do not harden our hearts. When we hear His voice we need to follow with obedience!

Today we need to be reminded that God’s Word is Living—relevant, and breathing new life into us!

God’s Word is Active—constantly working in our lives.

God’s Word cuts away those things in our lives that need to be pruned out.

God’s Word cuts out the sinful earthly desires of our old nature and is able to separate the thoughts from the attitudes.

We need to always remember that NOTHING is hidden from God’s sight. Everything about us is naked before Him and uncovered before Him.

Finally, we need to remember that we give an account to God for everything in our life.

Because of this magnificent high priest, we can come before God’s throne of grace with confidence. Thus, we experience God’s mercy and grace in our time of need!