Finding True Rest
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Personal Example:
My Problem: I was seeing my weakness in managing our Campus Ministry. “Is this the best fit for me?”
Poor at delegation.
Struggle with details.
LIke organization, but I am not naturally good at it.
Hear the solution: Harold Called. Did not know my situation.
In order for “Good News” to be valuable, one must...
Recognize that there is a problem and a need.
Hear and trust the solution.
Experience the blessing.
1. Don’t miss out on the promise of God’s rest (v.1)
1. Don’t miss out on the promise of God’s rest (v.1)
Have you ever felt like you were missing out on something that God had in store for you?
“Therefore” - “What is the ‘therefore’ there for?
The context: The author calls us to reflect on the Israelites as they disobeyed God.
They disobeyed because they did not believe Him.
They had been slaves in Egypt - Not rest.
Then they were in the desert - not rest.
God had desired to bring them into a place called “The Promise Land,” a place of rest from their previous slavery and wandering.
We can miss out on what God has in store for us because we think we have a better idea, or we dont recognize his plan as what we need.
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. Learn from the mistake of the Israelites in the desert (v.2)
2. Learn from the mistake of the Israelites in the desert (v.2)
What was their mistake?
For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
They did not respond to the good news that God had for them.
Constant complaints and doubts
Fear of entering the promise land
Rebellion against God’s commands
Remember: In order for “Good News” to be valuable to someone, he must...
Recognize that there is a problem and a need.
“Maybe slavery in Egypt wasn’t so bad”
Hear and trust the solution.
Yes, but responded with fear and unbelief.
Maybe they would have believed God enough to do something with no risk.
But they didn’t trust him enough to move forward with what God asked.
Experience the blessing.
They missed out on the blessing.
3. God’s rest is still an open invitation for you today (v. 3-7)
3. God’s rest is still an open invitation for you today (v. 3-7)
Part of God’s intent for mankind was for them to enter this rest.
Today there is a fresh opportunity to respond to God’s invitation to enter his rest.
God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
4. We must enter into this Sabbath-rest (v.8-13)
4. We must enter into this Sabbath-rest (v.8-13)
Joshua - Eventually led the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. They finally experienced a measure of the “rest” they longed for.
But circumstantial rest was not all God had to offer.
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
Joshua/Jesus are the same spelling and pronunciation in the original language. “Ιησους”
Meaning “The LORD is salvation”
CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 4)
The ministry of Joshua did not bring people Sabbath rest. Only through the superior ministry of Jesus the Son of God may a person enter divine rest.
What is this rest?
What is this rest?
for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
There are three aspects to the Full experience of God’s Rest:
A. Rest that comes from believing the gospel
A. Rest that comes from believing the gospel
See the need (God’s Word shows us our need) Heb. 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It gives us the diagnosis
It makes sense of our pain.
It makes sense of our knowledge that something is wrong.
“The Law cuts into the core of the evil, it reveals the seat of the malady, and informs us that the leprosy lies deep within.” Charles Spurgeon
Treatment for Leprosy Illustration:
Current Treatment: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine.
Sip this wonderful smoothie I made.
My story: I rebelled against God
The more I tried to find pleasure…
The more guilt and emptiness I experienced.
I was guilty before God, and I knew it.
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.
Trust the good news
Jesus came to forgive our guilt.
He died in our place.
When I realized this it hit me in a whole new way
There was a way, a real way to have things right again.
I turned to follow Jesus.
Experience the Blessing:
My life was now redeemed by God.
My guilt was gone.
Whatever I went through, God was now with me.
This is Gospel Rest:
Internal rest for the soul knowing that Jesus has made you right with God.
Nothing more you need to prove.
Nothing more you need to earn.
You are free. You are forgiven.
Jesus says Matt. 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
B. Rest in the Sabbath Day
B. Rest in the Sabbath Day
A Sabbath day = A day of rest
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
Not laziness:
Work hard for 6 days if your body is able to.
Rest on the 7th
A Sabbath day is a gift.
We receive this gift by incorporating it into our lives.
For some, it is a big act of trust.
Just as the Israelites were afraid to enter the promise land, and missed out on the blessing of that rest....
We can be afraid of what might happen if we take a day off from work, and we miss out on the blessing of rest God offers us.
The Sabbath is a reminder that we are free from slavery.
He brought our spiritual fathers out of slavery. They didn’t get the option to have a Sabbath
We get to rest
The Sabbath is a reminder that our value does not come from what we do but rather from God.
C. The future Rest we will have in Heaven
C. The future Rest we will have in Heaven
This passage is likely pointing us to the final restoration we will have with God in heaven.
“The rest, or sabbatism, which is the subject of the apostle’s reasoning, and as to which he concludes that it remains to be enjoyed, is undoubtedly the heavenly rest, which remains to the people of God, and is opposed to a state of labour and trouble in this world” -Matthew Henry
We are in a time in history we call “The already and the not yet.”
Christ has already come and saved us from the penalty of sin.
We are still living in a broken world which has not yet been restored.
One day, all who have trusted Jesus will experience the final form of the Rest God offers.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Are you entering into God’s rest?
Have you...
Recognized that there is a problem and a need?
Sin
Guilt before God
Have you heard and trusted the solution?
If “yes,” rest assured, you are entering into the blessing of God’s rest.
If “no,” then will you respond to him today?
End in Prayer
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