Christ Is Rest

Opening:

Story

REST IN PEACE

Six-year-old and his four-year-old sister presented their mom with a Mother’s Day present: a small, spindly house plant. While it wasn’t the finest looking specimen, they had bought it with their own money and Mom was thrilled. She hugged and kissed her children and told them she loved them for thinking of her. Johnny said, "There was some other flowers we wanted to buy for you, Mom, but we didn’t have enough money." "Yeah," said sister Suzy, "they had a real nice bunch of flowers at the shop that we were going to buy." "But I love this plant," said the happy mother. "I know, Mom," said Johnny, "but these flowers would have been perfect for you. They were in a wreath and they had a ribbon that said ’REST IN PEACE’ on it AND YOU’RE ALWAYS ASKING FOR A LITTLE PEACE SO YOU CAN REST."

Recap/Intro

Christ is faithful (better servant than moses)

Moses led people to physical rest

Jesus leads his children to eternal rest

The Provision (Vs.1-3)

Failure (v. 1).

They failed to accept God’s promise of rest.

Perhaps they were depending on good works for salvation (see Eph. 2:8, 9).

Note also their rejection (John 1:11, 12; Mark 16:16).

Faithless (v. 2).

“For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us]

the miracles and story were useless, since they failed to believe them

Faith (v. 3).

Enter the rest of salvation by faith.

Verse 3b is a quotation from Psalm 95:11.

Those without faith who reject this rest will face God’s judgment.

The Plan (Vs. 4-11)

Practices (v. 4)

God rested from His work after six days (Gen. 2:2, 3).

Prophecy (v. 5).

This is a quotation from Psalm 95:7–11.

Pardon (v. 6).

The door is open to rest and pardon.

No one knows how long it will remain open.

Those who refuse this open door have no hope (John 3:18).

Problem (v. 7).

Accept the invitation. Don’t harden your heart (Ps. 95:7, 8).

Those who harden their hearts will be destroyed (Prov. 29:1).

E. Place (vv. 8–11).

This is not speaking about Israel

but of salvation and heaven (see John 14:12, 13).

The Power (Vs.12-13)

A. Revelation (Heb. 4:12)

The Scriptures reveal our character. The Bible shows us what we really are (see Luke 12:2).

The Scriptures reveal our complacency. The Bible shows us our indifference (see Rev. 3:15–22).

The Scriptures reveal our concerns (1 Cor. 4:5). It shows what we put first in our lives.

Reality (Heb. 4:13).

He knows and sees everything

no excuses

Closing:

Invitation

Prayer