A Better Way: Better Rest

Intro:

Hebrews 4:9–10 NKJV

9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Tonight, we will continue our study through the book of Hebrews, we’ve titled this series, [A Better Way]. The subject of tonight’s message is, [Better Rest].

The Center for Disease Control estimates one in three Americans do not get enough sleep. They suggest people should get at least seven hours of sleep.

I come from a napping and sleeping family. Every Sunday we napped as faithfully as we went to church. As a child, I hated taking a nap, as an adult, I have woken up some mornings ready for a nap.

Studies show the value of having proper rest. Proper rest improves memory, sharpens attention, and has overall benefits to individual health.

I know when I do not get proper rest, I am more agitated. I become shorter with those around me. I have trouble focusing or retaining information.

Last year when Bekah and I preached in Maryland, I stayed up nearly twenty-four hours. I drove through the night to get to the airport. For some reason I could not sleep on the plane.

I drove us to Farmington and by that point, nothing made sense. We traded spots at Culvers and Bekah got us to Vulcan. I laid in bed and crashed for four or five hours. I knew I couldn’t keep going if I did not get rested.

As we read , notice the word rest is found nine times. The author speaks to the reader of the better rest we have through Jesus.

When we do not get physical rest, something feels off in our lives. Likewise, when we do not get proper spiritual rest, we too are disoriented and not spiritually alert.

It is obvious this was the condition of the original recipients of this letter. They longed to return to their Jewish roots. Therefore, the author systematically proves the superiority of Christ.

He wants them to see how Jesus is the better way. He is better than the angels. He is better than drifting and neglecting so great a salvation. And He is better than Moses.

Now, he makes his point that resting in Jesus is better than worrying or wandering in the world. Instead of resting in the plan Jesus had for their lives, they looked at their difficult surroundings.

Coming to Christ intensified persecution in their lives. Many of the Jewish Christians in Rome lost their jobs, their friends, and their means of sustaining their life.

Their concern caused them to want to turn back to their Jewish faith instead of resting in the grace of God.

Though their circumstances differ from ours, if we do not carefully rest in God’s presence, we will end up spiritually depleted. Therefore, there are three areas of rest I want us to notice.

[The Promise of Rest], [The Power of Rest], and [The Person of Rest].

Let’s begin

1. The Promise of Rest

Notice the first word in chapter four: therefore. This connected chapter three with chapter four. Remember the author’s point in chapter three, Jesus is better than Moses.

Moses led the Israelites for forty years yet Mos never entered the rest God had prepared for him in the Promised Land. God’s plan for His people was a quick exodus from Egypt and a swift entrance into Canaan.

He promised the Israelites would live in homes they did not build, eat from gardens they did not plant, and enjoy a life of rest. The problem was, they would not receive it in faith.

Likewise, the author tells us the promise of rest is still available. Therefore, we need to fear, or have a healthy concern for those who will not enter into the promise of God’s rest.

For the original audience, their decision to return to their Jewish roots was a decision that would exclude them from God’s rest. What then is the way to enter God’s rest?

Verses two and three show us we are to HEAR and BELIEVE God’s word. Then we can REST in Him. Both hearing and believing are vital.

The Israelites HEARD the promise that God would give them the land, but they did not believe it was possible. Instead, they allowed their circumstances to replace their faith with fear.

God then decided they would not enter His rest. The generation of those who refused to believe His promises would never live to see them come to pass.

Even though set a pattern of rest after creating the world in six days, the Israelites would not rest. Was this promise indefinite?

Hebrews 4:6–8 NKJV

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

Though the generation of Israelites who lived during Moses’ time were not allowed to enter God’s rest, Joshua led the new generation into the Promised Land.

Some might have thought, then there is nothing available for us. However, God spoke through David who issued a promise, HEAR MY voice and do not harden your hearts.

What was God’s point?

Hebrews 4:9–10 NKJV

9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

There is a place a rest available for His people. David spoke long after Joshua lived. God’s promises a place of rest for His people. What is this rest?

One day in heaven, we will rest. But we can also rest in the promise that He is with us.

Matthew 11:28–29 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew

We can rest in His promises for they are always true. The Christians who first recieved the letter of Hebrews were tempted to return to their old lives.

The authors point is God’s people need to go all in and rest in the promises of God. Go ahead and enter the Promise of rest instead of staying on the border looking in and never attaining God’s promises.

2. The Power of Rest

Hebrews 4:11–13 NKJV

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Read the next warning, stay diligent to enter into the rest God has for us. The Israelites never entered into God’s rest for they stayed in disobedience.

Therefore, we must obey in order to rest. Obey what? The WORD of God. What is the word? The word can take on three forms:

First, the written word of God. If we want to know what to do or what not to do, let’s look into God’s word.

Second,

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the Word of God in flesh. We must stay obedient to follow Jesus’s model of faithfulness to the Father.

Third, the spoken word of God. The Lord will encourage and challenge us through the preaching of His word.

These three descriptions, scripture, the Son, or the sermon are all based on one book: the Bible. There is rest in knowing, studying, and living the words found in Bible.

Notice the author’s description of God’s word:

It is living- I am constantly amazed at how God speaks to me through the word. Thought the words were written thousands of years ago, the message is alive.

There are many times I will read a story I have read over and over, only to notice something new. Or, I will read the same story again and God will speak to me in a poignant way that will encourage me.

It is powerful- one author wrote, “No poem, however beautiful; no song, however moving; and no novel, however inspiring can accomplish what God’s powerful word can.” (Swindoll, p. 70).

There is a reason Jesus quoted the word to Satan. Every time the enemy tempted Jesus, His response began with, IT IS WRITTEN.

The Word is powerful because it is the inspired and infallible word of God. There is NO error in the Bible. Therefore, we can rest in its irresistible power.

It is sharper than a two-edged sword- one author suggests the two edged sword is not like a blunt object used in battle. Instead we need to imagine a surgeon’s scalpel.

If I have to have surgery, I do not want the surgeon to use a dull knife that hopefully will get the job done. I want a sharp instrument that will cut what needs cut and protect what needs protected.

When we read God’s word, He will speak to us right where we need to hear. That is why reading the Word is so important. He will show us something in the most surprising places.

Let’s imagine what the original readers thought. Their understanding of the Bible was the Old Testament. But the words of the Old Covenant make much more sense because of Jesus, who is the WORD of God in flesh.

Let’s use this example:

Isaiah 61:1–3 NKJV

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:1–2 NKJV

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah 61:1–2 NKJV

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah

The Jewish people knew this passage of scripture in relation to their coming Messiah. Imagine what it meant when they understood Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise.

How did they know?

Because the WORD (Jesus) spoke the written word (Isaiah) proving He was the fulfillment of God’s promises. Therefore, we have the hope that ALL God’s promises will come to pass.

He knows all things and sees all things. Therefore, we can rest in His promises and in the power of His word...

3. The Person of Rest

The original reader might have thought, this is easy to say, but how can we really rest in God’s promises and power? They wanted to return to Judaism, which had a high priest and sacrifices.

But, they can rest in the fact that JESUS is the great High Priest. Because He sacrificed His life, we can rest in who He is in God’s plan for our salvation.

Therefore, they were to hold fast to their confession. What was their confession? That Jesus is the Son of God.

Back to this thought, how can we mere mortals hold fast to this confession when temptation and difficulties surround us?

For the original reader, they endured persecution, loss of friends and livelihood. What does Jesus know about this?

As our High Priest, Jesus understands our weakness, for He was tempted JUST like us, but He never sinned. Because He was sinless, His sacrifice makes a way for us to enter the rest God promises us.

What then do we do when we lack the spiritual rest?

We boldly before God knowing that He will give us the grace we need.

I absolutely love verses fifteen and sixteen, they are underlined in my Bible and memorized in my head. When we struggle, feel unsure, and lack spiritual rest, let us NEVER give into the lies of the enemy that God does not care.

Jesus sympathizes with us for He faced what we go through when He was on earth.

Jesus was tempted, but He didn’t sin.

Jesus had rough days, but He didn’t sin.

Jesus felt the pain of loss, but He didn’t sin.

Jesus felt the agony of defeat, but He didn’t sin.

Therefore, He is worthy to stand in the gap for us with the Father. He opens the door to this place of rest because He is the door!

Therefore, we have the promise of grace and mercy in our time of need because we can rest in the promises, power, and person of God.

Close:

I’d say that the Hebrew Christians felt encouraged when they read the promise of rest. Knowing this could help them as they faced difficulties in their lives.

We live in a society where distractions and busyness are all around us. We too face difficulties, spiritual persecution, and struggles. BUT THERE REMAINS A REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

What hope we have knowing we can rest in God’s promises.

What peace we have knowing we can rest in God’s power.

And what joy we have knowing we can rest in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I encourage everyone tonight, we need to REST in God.

Last year I went to Sabbath Rest in Zalma for twenty-four hour prayer retreat. As I prayed the Lord spoke to me about resting in His presence.

He reminded me of how I get when I do not get enough physical rest. I become agitated and short. Likewise, when I do not get enough spiritual rest, I become spiritually agitated and short.

Since then, I am disciplined and intentional in resting in God. Not bringing my needs to Him, but just spending time with Him.

Tonight, the Lord wants us to ask Him to help us rest in His promises. Let’s not believe the lies of the enemy. Instead we rest in the knowledge that there is a rest for the people of God.

When we do not know what to do because our circumstances seem unsure, let’s rest in God’s promises. Get into the word and watch how God will encourage.

Then, we can boldly come before God because we have a great High Priest who is with us in our hour of temptation and struggle.

Let’s not live in fear, but ask God to increase our faith that there remains a place of rest for the people of God!