“Rest–>Trust–> Obedience”Hebrews 4:1-11

Rest brings Trust, Trust brings…•It is not easy to find a person who knows how to balance work and rest Many of us are so driven that we feel guilty to rest •I am guilty of a driven attitude as well•The physical that leads to the emotional•What about your spiritual side?•Do you rest in God? Even know what that means???

Rest brings Trust, Trust brings…•Does it mean copy this guy over here and think about Jesus while napping?•Christians are no exception for “not-resting”•Many feel guilty if we are not working– but are resting and seeking the Lord in the quietness of heart•Martha syndrome…

Resting in God is not laziness…•It means that we trust our Lord for…•Who He is, what He promised, and how He fulfills His promises•Because of His faithfulness, we become obedient to the Lord in spite of difficult circumstances•Thus we can have a simple formula: Rest–> Trust–> Obedience

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

Hebrews 4:1-11 (NASB)

A. Entering God’s Rest…•Vv 1-3,

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. Heb. 4:1-3

A. Entering God’s Rest…•Vv 1-3, Entrance into God’s rest has been available since creation– 6 days work, then rest…•Not because He was tired, but as an example to us

“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Genesis 2:3, NIV

A. Entering God’s Rest…•Vv 1-3, Entrance into God’s rest has been available since creation– 6 days work, then rest…•Not because He was tired, but as an example to us•Greek word ‘rest’ is ‘katapausis’– compound word (kata and pausis)•Means a place you can go to like a room

A. Entering God’s Rest…•So, what does ‘rest’ have to do with trusting the Lord?•Back to Exodus…

“…then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? 29 See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.”

Exodus 16:23-30, NASB

A. Entering God’s Rest…•So, what does ‘rest’ have to do with trusting the Lord?•When the Jews cried out to the Lord in hunger in the wilderness, He provided ‘manna’ everyday. Each morning they had to go out and get their daily bread•But on the sixth day, they had to trust the Lord to provide them twice as much for the seventh day…

B. The Right Mindset…•Vs 4-6,

“4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience…”

Hebrews 4:4-6 (NASB)

B. The Right Mindset…•Vs 4-6, Ever hear, “You can lead a horse to water…”?•God graciously rescued them from Egypt– to receive all His blessings, all they had to do was trust God, and be obedient•But, Human Nature doesn’t like that…•Rather than Trust–> Rest, we rebel…•No trust= me trying to fix future events– the problem is that we can’t see the future!!!

C. Today– Not later…•Vv 7-8,

“7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.”

Hebrews 4:7-8 (NASB)

C. Today– Not later…•Vv 7-8, Twice, here, the author stresses the urgency of entering into God’s rest with the word ‘today’, reminding us it’s a daily process•Know why the author uses the name ‘Joshua’ in verse 8?•Jesus!•Same Hebrew Name-- Yeshua

C. Today– Not later…In the OT, the Day of Atonement, a.k.a. Yom Kippur, is called a Sabbath day of complete rest (Leviticus 16:29-31). On that day, people completely stopped work. In the NT, Jesus (as our Great High Priest) has offered a once-for-all sacrifice that decisively dealt with sinHe has provided the final Day of Atonement sacrifice, thus offering people spiritual rest, which they enter by believing the Good News of Jesus Christ

D. Be Diligent…•Vv 9-11,

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:9-11 (NASB)

D. Be Diligent…•Vv 9-11, Coming to Faith in Christ brings us into the rest of Salvation, no more enmity with God•Yielding our desires to Him, studying the Word, obeying in Faith– gives us rest in submission to Him because of our Peace with God•There is one big snag however--

D. Be Diligent…•Unless we are diligent in our faith and obedience in Him, we CAN lose the peace of God by becoming self-reliant (result of pride)•Which Brings us to the opposite of the formula in the message title•Self-reliance–>Distrust in God–> Rebellion against Him•Remember David and Goliath

Take Home!!

Remember:

We are RESTLESS until we find our rest in God. Choose to enter…