Go! And Enter His Rest - Hebrews 4:9 Series

Go! And Enter His Rest - Hebrews 4:9

Hebrews 4:9 – “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.” (NLT)

Introduction: Restless in a Restless World

We live in a world that is constantly restless. Think about it—our culture prizes busyness, our calendars are full, and our minds are rarely still. Even our holidays often leave us more tired than refreshed! Yet the Bible speaks of a special rest that God has prepared for His people. Hebrews 4:9 declares,

“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.” (NLT)

This isn’t about a nap on Sunday afternoon. This is something far deeper, richer, and eternal. It is about the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is about the peace that comes only through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. It is about salvation, sanctification, and ultimately glorification.

Today in our Go! And… series, we will explore what it means to Go! And Enter His Rest—not just in eternity, but in the here and now, by trusting fully in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Point 1: The Promise of God’s Rest

Hebrews 4 sits in the context of the writer’s warning. Israel failed to enter God’s rest because of unbelief. They heard God’s Word but did not respond in faith. Hebrews 4:1 reminds us:

“God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.” (NLT)

The Greek word for “rest” here is ?at?pa?s?? (katapausis)—meaning “to cease from labour, to settle down, to rest.” It carries the picture of God resting on the seventh day after creation (Genesis 2:2), not because He was tired, but because His work was complete.

This promise is not about laziness; it is about completeness. Just as God’s work in creation was finished, Christ’s work of salvation is complete. To rest in Him is to trust that what He has done is enough.

Matthew 11:28–30 – “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

Jesus Himself offers this rest—not escape from life, but the peace of God in life.

John Piper once said: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

And what is satisfaction in Christ if not resting in Him? If we are restless, chasing after the things of this world, we miss the joy of His sufficiency.

Friend, what burdens are you carrying today? Worries about your future? Regret about your past? Weariness in the present? Jesus invites you to rest in Him—His grace is enough, His cross is sufficient, His love never fails.

Point 2: The Danger of Missing God’s Rest

The Israelites in the wilderness saw miracles but still doubted. Hebrews 3:19 says:

“So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.” (NLT)

The word “unbelief” here is ?p?st?a (apistia)—not merely doubt, but a stubborn refusal to trust God. It is a hardened heart.

Psalm 95:7–8 – “If only you would listen to his voice today! The Lord says, ‘Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.’”

John 3:36 – “And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

To miss God’s rest is to remain under His judgment. There is no neutrality. Either you believe and enter His rest, or you reject and remain restless under His wrath.

R.T. Kendall writes: “The greatest sin is unbelief. It is the refusal to trust God, the refusal to take Him at His Word.”

Unbelief kept Israel out of the Promised Land, and unbelief keeps people today from the ultimate rest—eternal life in Christ.

Do not harden your heart today. The danger is real. To delay repentance is to risk missing the rest God has promised.

Point 3: The Fulfilment of God’s Rest in Christ

Hebrews 4:10 says: “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labours, just as God did after creating the world.” (NLT)

The picture here is sabbath rest—but fulfilled in Christ. The Greek word saßßat?sµ?? (sabbatismos) in verse 9 is unique, used only here, and means “a keeping of the Sabbath.” But not in the Old Covenant sense of legal observance—rather, the ultimate Sabbath is Christ Himself.

Colossians 2:16–17 – “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”