2nd Danger (Part 2): Fear of Missing Out (version 2)

Hook:

This morning we will take a deeper look into the rest of God and how important the Word of God is.

Recap:

Today’s study is a continuation of what we talked about last week. This second warning is given to those who might be apathetic and unbelieving. The danger is to miss out on God’s rest.

We saw last week that the Holy Sprit is still speaking to believers today. With the charge not to harden our hearts.

Hardening means: To disbelieve God, to complain and grumble against God, regretting having left the world.

The Israelites did not understand God’s ways. When we understand His ways, faith and trust, we quickly realize that the sufferings and trials are important teaching tools that show us:

That we need to draw nearer to Him. allowing us to have deeper fellowship with Him. Leading us to be truly depended upon our God. And this is what I believe it means to walk with God.

One of the failures of believers then and today is unbelief. Sometimes we have such a hard time believing God- that He will do what He says he will do. Just because we do not understand God’s ways does not make God at fault, it will never be His fault.

We finished last Sunday with what are we to do?

We need to encourage and exhort one another daily, and that means discipleship. Living life together and pointing each other towards Jesus Christ.

Again family I am unable to live out your Christian walk this is something you must do on your own:

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Introduction:

As we have discussed earlier in our study, this passage is something that needs to be preached to believers time and time again. It is a passage that discusses the glorious promise of God’s rest, but it is also a warning. The warning need to be heeded by all: the fear of missing out on God’s rest.

vv 1-2) Don’t miss God’s rest

What is God’s rest? What is the rest that is offered us in God? These are important questions that we need to answer.

We are continuing the train of thought previous discussed in Hebrews 3, that unbelief kept the generation that escaped Egypt from entering the Promise Land, Canaan.

As the promise of entering God’s rest still stands, as our text, tells us. We can enter into that rest by faith. Unbelief will make us fall short of the rest God has for us.

John Owen described five features of this rest:

Rest means peace with God.

Rest means freedom from having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others, with a bondage- like spirit in worship and service of God.

Rest means deliverance from the burden of Mosaic observance.

Rest means the freedom of worship according to the gospel.

Rest means the rest that God Himself enjoys.

This place of rest is so glorious it should concern us when others (our brothers and sister) or ourselves seem to come up short of it.

It isn’t enough to almost enter His rest, we don’t want to come up short of it.

What our author does when mentioning “failed to reach it.” Is to spark in the mind of the readers and hearers of the Grecian games: If someone failed to reach it or came short they were those at any distance, no matter how small, behind the winner. Second place is still the first place loser.

Rest doesn’t mean inactivity. God has not been inactive since creation; on the contrary He is very active. He has been administering the universe and working out the salvation of mankind.

John 5:17 ESV

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Therefore, when the Bible speaks of rest for the believer, it doesn’t mean a state or life of inactivity for us. It doesn’t mean that we sit or lie around relaxing and doing as we please. It doesn’t mean that we are freed from duty and responsibility.

Rest for us means something far more meaningful and hopeful. In fact, it offers the most glorious hope possible for us.

Here is the point of all of this: No one should think that the promise of rest is no longer valid. It has never had a complete and final fulfillment in the past; therefore the offer is still in effect.

All who profess to be believers should make sure that they don’t come short of the goal at hand. If any of our professions are empty, there is always the danger of turning away from Christ and embracing some religious system that is powerless to save you.

I would love to believe that everyone in this room, watching online is a true born-again believer, but I cannot take that chance.

That is why I believe we have passages like this in scripture. Israel missed out on God’s rest, I believe we can too. I do not believe that you can lose your salvation, but I think you can have a false security.

Regardless where you stand on the issue is not the point… Make sure you are right with God, that Jesus Christ is the LORD of your life, and that you trust in Him for your salvation and not in your works.

If I might be allowed a small rant: Saying a prayer after someone does not save a person, any more than trying to work your way to heaven. The only way to truly be saved is a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.

[2] Hearing God’s word isn’t enough. Israel heard the word but it didn’t benefit them because they were not united with those who listened. Simply meaning they didn’t receive it with faith.

Hearing gave them the opportunity, but the opportunity only profited if it was acted upon.

The comparisons between the exodus generation and the church are rather fascinating. Both received divine proclamation of deliverance (good news) and both were called to respond in faith. However, the exodus generation did not receive the promised benefit since they failed to respond in faith.

Their failure serves to caution the Christian community against unbelief. The “good news” of the exodus included God’s promised deliverance from Egypt, the covenant He established with His people, and the hope of entering the Promised Land (Exodus 6:1-9).

The good news for the church includes the revelation and deliverance found in the Lord Jesus, the new covenant He established through His high priestly sacrifice, and the hope of eternity with Him.

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Family this is why you can hear the word and have spiritual experiences, unless the work of God is included, it won’t do any good. This explains why two people can hear the same message and one benefits while the other doesn’t.

Ponder this for a moment… Think of the joy Israel had in coming out of Egypt and approaching the Promise Land- and then think of all the graves dug in the desert, some 600,000. A wonderful promise was available but unattained. They came short because they heard God’s word, but failed to act upon it.

vv 3-9) Proof that rest remains

[3] The continuity of thought becomes difficult in this verse. There seems to be three disjointed and unrelated clauses, yet we can see that there is a common thread in each clause the theme of God’s rest.

First we lean that we who believed are the ones who enter God’s rest. Faith is the key that opens the door. as has been already pointed out. Believers today can enjoy rest of conscience because they know that they will never be brought into judgement for their sins: John 5:24

John 5:24 ESV

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

It is also true that those who believe are the only ones who will ever enter God’s final rest in glory. It is probably this future rest that is primarily intended here.

This quote from Psalm 95:11

Psalm 95:11 ESV

11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”

Is the next clause reinforces the idea by stating it negatively. Just as faith admits, so unbelief excludes.

Those who trust Christ are sure of God’s rest; the unbelieving Israel couldn’t be sure of it because they didn’t believe God’s word.

The third clause in this verse presents the most difficulty. Perhaps the simplest explanation is found by linking this with the preceding clause.

There God had used the future tense in speaking of His rest: They shall not enter My rest. The future tense implies that God’s rest is still a live option, even though some forfeited it through disobedience, and this rest is still available in spite of the fact that God’s works were finished from the foundation of the world.

[4-5] What our author is trying to convey is that God’s rest found in verse three is connected with God’s resting on the seventh day.

The implication they are trying to explain is the simple fact that until Christ returns people throughout the entire age can similarly enter into this rest.

[6-7] God didn’t create this place of rest in vain. If Israel failed to enter because of disobedience, the someone else would enter into that rest.

You see verse seven advances the thought by suggesting that the today of Psalm 95:7-8

Psalm 95:7–8 (ESV)

7 For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

holds out to the worshiper the possibility of entering even now in a partial way into the end-time “rest” and blessing that the exodus generation missed.

God’s rest centered upon recognizing that his work of creation was now completed; Christians enter into his rest through recognizing that his work of creation was now completed; Christians enter into his rest through recognizing that Christ’s work of redeeming them from sin has also been completed.

[8-9] We now are given a spiritual example. The rest patterned after the rest provided through Joshua.

The mention of Joshua reminds us that the name “Jesus” is the same as “Joshua.” The second Joshua will finish what the first Joshua left unfinished. Jesus is greater than both Moses and Joshua.

This rest is in a person- Jesus Christ, not so much in doctrines and ideas. If you meet a troubled, crying child and try to comfort him and give him rest using ideas and logic, it won’t do must good. But when the person of comfort comes, the child is able to relax again.

v 10) Rest and works

Entering God’s rest means no longer needing to work for it. What I mean by this is that there is no longer any place for works as a basis for our own righteousness.

Work as a basis for righteousness will never allow you to rest. God rested from His work on the original Sabbath because the work was finished. We cease from self-justifying works because Jesus finished the work already. on the cross.

v 11) Accepting the invitation

“let us therefore:” As we have already seen through out this letter and we will see continuing going forward… reminding us to really think about what was mentioned prior, think of the author laying foundational doctrinal truths that he is building upon.

Here they are reminding us of the truth of a remaining rest available by faith. Now the author is going to apply truth.

The rest of God is there, but He isn’t going to force it upon you. You must enter that rest. The rest is entered by faith; but it take diligent faith, hence the use of the word strive. Strive to enter that rest.

What this shows us that faith is not passive; it take diligence to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus and His work for us.

If we are not strive to enter that rest, the result will be disastrous. We may fall, even as the children of Israel did in the wilderness.

vv 12-13) Found out by God’s Word

God’s Word diagnoses the condition of man with a surgeon’s precision. It lays open our heart and discerns our spiritual health. In the case of those the author first addressed, they were too ready to follow in the failure of the children of Israel and to give up strong, living faith. That can be us too.

When the word of God exposes our weakness and unbelief like this, it demonstrates its inherent power, sharpness, and accuracy.

It bears constant reminding that as we submit ourselves to the word of God, we do it for far, far more than intellectual knowledge or to learn Bible facts.

We do it for the ministry of the Word, because God meets us in His Word and the Holy Spirit works powerfully through the word of God. This spiritual work of God’s Word goes far beyond the basic educational value of leaning Bible.

God’s Word bring true health, fruitfulness, prosperity and success to what we do. (Psalm 1:3)

The Word of God has healing power and the power to deliver from oppression. (Psalm 107:20, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:16)

God’s Word cleans us. If we take heed according to God’s Word, our way will be cleansed. (Psalm 119:9, John 15:3, Ephesians 5:26)

The Word of God, hidden in our hearts, keeps us from sin. (Psalm 119:11)

God’s Word is a Counselor. When we delight in God’s Word, it becomes a rich source of counsel and guidance for us. (Psalm 119:24)

God’s Word is a source of strength. (Psalm 119:28)

God’s Word imparts life. It is a continual source of life. (Psalm 119:93, Matthew 4:4)

God’s Word is a source of illumination and guidance. When God’s word comes in, light comes in. It makes the simple wise and understanding. (Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130)

God’s Word give peace to those who love it. They are secure, standing in a safe place. (Psalm 119:165)

When the Word of God is heard and understood, it bears fruit. (Matthew 13:23)

The Word of God has inherent power and authority against demonic powers. (Luke 4:36)

Jesus Himself- His eternal person- is described as the Word. When we are into the word of God, we are into Jesus. (John 1:1)

Hearing God’s Word is essential to eternal life. One cannot pass from death into life unless they hear the Word of God. (John 5:24, James 1:21, 1 Peter 1:23)

Abiding-living in- God’s Word is evidence of true discipleship. (John 8:31)

God’s Word is the means to sanctification. (John 17:17)

The Holy Spirit can work with great power as the Word of God is preached. (Acts 10:44)

Hearing God’s Word builds faith. (Romans 10:17)

Holding fast to the Word of God gives assurance of salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:2)

The faithful handling of the Word of God gives the ministers of the word a clear conscience. They know that they did all they could before God. (2 Corinthians 4:2, Philippians 2:16)

The Word of God works effectively in those who believe. (Ephesians 6:17)

The Word of God comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, with “full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

The Word of God works effectively in those who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Word of God sanctifies the very food we eat! (1 Timothy 4:5)

The Word of God is not dead, it is living and active and shaper than any two edged sword. The Word of God can probe us like a surgeon’s expert scalpel, cutting away what needs to be cut and keeping what needs to be kept. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word of God is the Christian’s source of spiritual growth. (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

If we will allow it, God’s Word can reach us with incredible precision, and the Holy Spirit empowers the ministry of the Word to wok in our hearts.

Preachers often are accused of preaching a message directed at people, as if they know what they are going through. Most of the time it is the sharpness of the Word of God, delivering the message in just the right place.

“A sword with two edges has no blunt side: it cuts both this way and that. The revelation of God given us in Holy Scripture is edge all over. It is alive in every part, and in every part keen to cut the conscience, and wound the heart. Depend upon it, there is not a superfluous verse in the Bible, nor a chapter which is useless.” -Spurgeon

“While it has an edge like a sword, it has also a point like a rapier. ‘piecing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.’ The difficulty with some men’s hearts is to get at them. In fact, there is no spiritually penetrating the heart of any natural man except by this piercing instrument, the Word of God. But the rapier of revelation will go through anything.” - Spurgeon

Our author makes a distinction between soul and spirit, indicating that a division can be made between them.

However, the stress of this passage isn’t to spell out a theology of the difference between soul and spirit. It is to show that in very facet of our lives can be effected by the Word of God.

What is being taught is that the word of God effects the inner man, soul and spirit, and the outer man, joints and marrow

[13] Remember the context. The author trusts that he has pierced the hearts of his audience, who thought about giving up on Jesus. In this passage, he makes it clear that they cannot give up on Jesus and keep it hidden from God. The Word of God discovers and exposes their condition.

[[application]]

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Thy Word

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path And a light unto my path You're the light unto my path