Experiencing God’s Rest
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It is good to rest.
Everyone here today, I am certain looks forward to rest at some point or another.
Especially in today’s society, there is so much emphasis put on busyness and work, that it seems rest is hard to come by.
We go to work and labor all day, we come home and microwave a meal to save time, eat our meal and head off to get our kids to a sporting event in our cars that have given us the ability to travel great distances in small amounts of time compared to 100 years ago.
We talk on our cell phones while in our cars to help us save time.
And while we are at our kids events.
We come home and throw our dishes from dinner into the dishwasher so we are not stuck wasting time washing them by hand.
But alas, all of these time saving devices have given us great amounts of time to rest and relax, right?
Wrong. Even with all of the time saving devices that we have today, we have failed to really find rest and in fact I would argue we are less rested than we used to be as a society..
It is not that we don’t want it or need it, we just fail to find it.
The fact is we need rest.
God has designed us to need rest.
How is it though that we can really experience rest if not through time saving devices?
Well, today, we are continuing in
Hebrews 3:16-4:13 (turn there),
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Last week we talked about the Israelites who were led out of slavery in Egypt, out of captivity, which for us is symbolic of us being led out of slavery to sin, but those Israelites grumbled and rebelled against the Lord and followed the path of a hard heart despite God’s continued work in their presence.
And now the author tells the readers that they will miss out on the Spiritual rest that God offers just like the Israelites missed out on the Physical Rest in the land of Canaan by following the path of a hard heart.
Hebrews 3:16-4:13
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Heb 4:1 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. 2 For we also have had the gospel (good news) 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. 3 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. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel (good news) preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 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."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
12 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. 13 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.
Ok, What is this Spiritual rest that the author is comparing to the rest in the land of Canaan?
Before we look at that, we need to understand that the Bible speaks of Spiritual rest in a couple of different ways.
First,
There is a Salvation Rest
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This is the rest that is given to us from the Lord when we come to him in faith.
This is the rest that Jesus is talking about in
Matthew 11:28
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
This is a rest that Jesus gives as a gift.
Our salvation is a gift.
It is given through and by Jesus Christ when we come to Him in faith.
This would be the Peace with God spoken of in
Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (from New International Version)
Often this is non experiential, but it can be.
Secondly,
There is a Submission Rest
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Continuing in
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Rest for your souls. Now that sounds experiential.
And it is.
Isn’t that what we all want to experience?
And this passage also tells how to have that, We
take his yoke and
we learn from Jesus.
This rest for your souls, this submission rest, is also the Peace of God found in
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So which of these rests is being talked about by the author of Hebrews?
Which rest is being talked about by the author of Hebrews?
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Well let’s take a look at what he says.
Hebrews 3:18-19
18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Who was not able to enter that rest? Those who disobeyed and did not believe?
Who is that?
The generation that died in the wilderness that came out of Egypt.
Now where they saved or just not following the Lord in obedience?
It could be either still, except for one thing.
Turn over to Numbers 20.
Last week, we talked about the grumbling of the Israelites always complaining. One of the times they were complaining about no water. So Moses and Aaron went to seek the Lord.
Numbers 20:6-13
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
At the end of Moses life, God told Moses to go up to Mount Nebo.
Deuteronomy 32:50-52
50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."
(from New International Version)
Moses did not enter God’s rest in Canaan.
But Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
Moses disobeyed God when He struck the rock and he did not have faith enough to just speak as God told him to and water would come out. Instead he struck the rock.
But we know that Moses was a man of God, one of God’s people that would enter heaven, but because of his disobedience and unbelief, he missed entering into God’s rest of Canaan.
Canaan Rest = Submission Rest
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The rest that Canaan represents is not a salvation rest, i.e. heaven, but a Submission rest, i.e. spiritual rest for our souls that you can feel and experience no matter the circumstance or situation.
This rest, this submission rest of God is still available to us.
Hebrews 4:1
1 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.
God’s rest can only be entered by faith.
Whether that is salvation or that is even submission rest.
It requires faith that produces obedience.
God has given us good news of His promise for rest. We have to walk in it by faith.
The Israelites had good news preached to them. This good news was the good news of going into the promised land. But they did not walk into it in faith.
Hebrews 4:2-3
2 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. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest,
We who trust by faith can enter that rest.
Did the Israelites enter the rest that God promised?
Yes and no.
It turns out that after Moses died in the wilderness, that
Joshua fulfilled God’s Promise of Canaan Rest
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Joshua 21:43-45
43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Then why does the author of Hebrews say that Joshua did not give them rest.
Hebrews 4:8
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. (from New International Version)
Because the rest that Joshua led them into was only a shadow and type of the true rest God wanted to give.
Looking for fulfillment in the physical
The Israelites like the people today are looking for fulfillment in physical things.
We always think that
more money,
a bigger house,
a better sex life,
a different job,
a different spouse
better kids,
a new car,
is going to make us happy.
And while they can be good things, they are only temporary, only a shadow of what we truly want.
The Israelites thought that being in the Promised land would be the best, and it was good, but it did not really fulfill the desire of their hearts long term.
They had physical rest, but they did not have spiritual rest.
The author brings up something that seems out of place when talking about the rest God wants us to have and the physical rest that He offered in Canaan.
He starts talking about the command to rest on the Sabbath day.
Hebrews 4:3b- 11
He talks about God resting on the seventh day
And then repeats what God said, “They shall never enter my rest.”
Well those who died in the wilderness did not enter into Canaan rest.
But now he is equating that also with them not receiving rest on the Sabbath.
Now while many of them kept the Sabbath, they were an unbelieving people. And while they might have had some physical rest from taking a day off, they never got to experience the fullness of what God intended for a Sabbath rest.
Why?
Because of their sin and disobedience and lack of faith.
Even being led into the promised land did not give them the rest they longed for inside them.
So, Joshua did not lead them into the fullness of rest that God desired for them and for us.
That is why He sent Jesus.
Jesus fulfilled God’s promise of Sabbath Rest
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Hebrews 4:9-10
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
There remains open a rest from God that can be experienced now in a way that gives true rest to our souls.
We can have this rest now, this Sabbath rest.
The Sabbath Command
The fourth Commandment is remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Jesus repeats every one of the ten commandments in the New Testament except for the Command of the Sabbath.
Mostly, He internalizes them all instead of just telling us the physical manifestation of the command.
For instance, He says
Matthew 5:21-22
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ’Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Matthew 5:27-28
27 "You have heard that it was said, ’Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
While we don’t see Jesus do this or repeat the Sabbath rest command, He does talk about rest.
In the verses we read earlier in Matthew 11.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
We can experience Sabbath Rest by
receiving the gift of salvation rest from Jesus and
finding the rest that comes from submission by following His commands.
Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, the fulfillment of the law
Matthew 5:17
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath
Listen to what Paul says while speaking to the Colossians.
Colossians 2:16-17
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
We find the reality of spiritual fulfillment and Sabbath Rest in Christ.
Now while I believe the principal of the Sabbath rest for our physical bodies is important, we keep the Sabbath holy by honoring Christ by receiving Him as Savior through faith and by abiding in Him in faith.
We have Sabbath Rest in Christ.
Well, I have received Jesus and I am striving to follow Him, and while sometimes I feel the Peace of God, I don’t always. Why is that?
Because we lack faith.
We lack faith in Jesus.
That is why he tells us to fix our thoughts on Jesus in verse 1 of Ch. 3.
We lack faith in His word.
We don’t believe it is powerful.
Hebrews 4:12
12 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. (from New International Version)
We lack faith that He will be true to what His word says, that he will judge us.
Hebrews 4:13
13 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
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We are going to
Experience Sabbath Rest by Having faith in God and His Word
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That faith in God and His word will manifest itself in following Him in obedience.
Both Salvation and Submission come as a result of following the word of God in belief and faith.
“Well, I believe but I don’t experience this type of rest.”
Help me overcome my unbelief
When Jesus walked the earth, he did many healings.
One time a demon possessed boy and his father came to the disciples but they could not drive the demon out.
Then Jesus came to the boys father and he told Jesus the situation.
Mark 9:19-24
19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23 "’If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
If we are going to experience true Sabbath rest that is offered in Christ, a rest for our souls, we need to be true believers in every sense.
While many of us have believed on Him for salvation, we still struggle with unbelief and miss the rest for our souls that Jesus offers, a true Sabbath rest.
Do you want that today?
Need Salvation Rest
There are those here today who have never even believed on Him for salvation. If you are going to experience rest for your souls, you need to begin by trusting Him for your salvation.
Need Submission Rest
Many others of you here are struggling with finding rest in God by submitting to Him.
Experience Sabbath Rest
You miss the Sabbath rest that God wants to give you by only looking for the physical rest that is only a shadow of the real rest God has for us to experience.
We need to repent and make our prayer the same prayer as the demon possessed boy’s father.
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” and then trust Him and do what He says.
Which ever one of these categories you fall into today, I am going to ask you to act on that by coming forward this morning and kneeling down at the alter.
We are going to take the next few minutes and pray as Simon plays and then I will close us out in prayer.
Come and begin to experience God’s Rest today.
pray
