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.”
John 19:30 – “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
The work of salvation is done. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are the guarantee of rest for all who believe.
Charles Stanley once said: “Our faith rests not in what we do for God, but in what God has already done for us in Christ.”
We cannot earn this rest. We cannot work harder to achieve it. We can only receive it by faith in Christ’s finished work.
A weary traveller - Imagine a traveller carrying a heavy backpack filled with rocks. Every step grows harder. Then someone comes and says, “Set it down. I will carry it for you.” That is what Jesus does. He carries the burden of our sin, so we can rest in His grace.
The completed painting - An artist paints a masterpiece. Once complete, he does not keep adding brushstrokes. To add more would spoil it. So it is with Christ’s work on the cross—it is complete, perfect, finished. To try to add our works is to spoil the beauty of His grace.
Gospel Presentation:
The rest God offers is not mere relaxation—it is salvation. You and I are sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” The wages of sin is death, separation from God (Romans 6:23).
But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He paid the price in full. He declared, “It is finished!”
When we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we enter His rest—not just in eternity, but right now, with peace in our souls and the hope of heaven in our hearts.
Call to Action:
Believer: Stop striving in your own strength. Rest in Christ’s finished work. Live with assurance, not anxiety. Walk by faith, not fear.
Seeker: Don’t delay. Today is the day to enter God’s rest. Surrender your life to Jesus. Repent, believe, and find peace with God.
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, maybe today you feel weary. Burdened. Lost. Restless. Jesus Christ offers you rest—eternal rest, soul rest. Will you receive Him?
Confess your sin. Believe in His death and resurrection. Declare Him as Lord. And you will enter His rest.
Benediction:
“May you go from here with hearts at rest in Christ, with burdens lifted, sins forgiven, and hope secured. May you know the peace that passes all understanding, guarding your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
