The Promise Remains

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you apply GOD's Words in your life?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to apply GOD's WORDS in our lives everday or every moment we have opportunity.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 4:6 (Amplified Bible)

4:6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience,

V. THESIS:

I'm acting every GOD's WORD that I hear.

James 1:22 (The Message)

1:22 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!

VI. TITLE:

The promise remains

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

G. Keyword: better

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The Promise of entering GOD's rest remains

"Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity,"

Rest came from the Greek word: "sabbatismos" means:

1. a keeping sabbath

2. the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians

3. A type of Heaven here on earth

Hebrews 4:9 (Amplified Bible)

4:9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;

Isaiah 11:10 (Amplified Bible)

11:10 And it shall be in that day that the Root of Jesse shall stand as a signal for the peoples; of Him shall the nations inquire and seek knowledge, and His dwelling shall be glory [His rest glorious]!

John 12:32 (Amplified Bible)

12:32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself.

We see here the glorious rest of the Gentiles, because the first one: Jews failed to receive the Promise, but it's not a reason for GOD to abolish His Promise of Rest so it remains until this day.

Our sabbath rest is different from the world's rest, the world's rest is cursed by GOD.

Luke 12:19-20 (Amplified Bible)

12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily.

12:20 But God said to him, You fool! This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be?

B. The first one given opportunity failed to receive it.

1. Because of disobedience

"failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience,"

The one reason they can't receive from GOD that GODly Sabbath's Rest is:

disbelief (obstinate and rebellious): - disobedience, unbelief.

Our response is quick obedience to every GOD's Word that we hear.

James 1:22 (Amplified Bible)

1:22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

Colossians 3:17 (Amplified Bible)

3:17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

John 13:17 (Amplified Bible)

13:17 If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them].

We apply everything we hear from the WORD in our daily lives and live them out. We just don't hear and let the other ear lose it.

James 1:22 (The Message)

1:22 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!

IX. CONCLUSION:

Declaration: "I am a smart carpenter building a foundation on the Rock - CHRIST JESUS."

Luke 6:47-49 (The Message)

6:47 These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.