Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!
Hebrews 3:16 – 4:13
But in today’s society, so much
emphasis is put on busyness and
work, that it seems “rest”
is hard to come by.
• We need it
• God designs it
How can we really experience
“REST” in spite
of ALL our busyness?
The Bible speaks of
in a couple of different ways.
“REST” that is given to us from
the Lord when we come to Him in
faith.
Matthew 11:28….
“Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and
I will give you rest.”
[TNIV]
This is a “rest” that
Jesus gives as a gift.
…. given through and by Jesus
Christ when
we come to Him in faith.
Ephesians 2:8….
“For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith —
and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God…. ” [NIV]
Romans 5:1….
“Therefore, since we have been
justified through faith,
we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” [NIV]
Matthew 11:29….
“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.”
[NIV]
This “rest for your souls”
… “submission rest”
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.” [NIV]
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.”
[NIV]
Who was not able
to enter that “rest?”
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. ….
….
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. ….
51
…. 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.”
[NIV]
What was Moses’ problem here?
He struck the rock
instead of speaking
to it!
You can still feel and experience it
no matter
what the circumstance
or situation is.
Hebrews 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.”
[NIV]
can only be entered by
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.” [NIV]
Did the Israelites enter the
that God promised?
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.”
[NIV]
Hebrews 4:8….
“For if Joshua had given them
rest, God would not have spoken
later about another day.”
[NIV]
The “rest” that Joshua
led them into was only
a shadow and type of
the true rest God
wanted to give.
Hebrews 4:7-11….
“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.”
[NIV]
Though many kept the Sabbath, and
might have had some physical rest
from taking a day off, but they never
got to experience the fullness of
what God intended for a
To experience
we must make a conscious
effort to purposefully
set time aside for God,
self and family.
Jesus fulfilled God’s promise
of SABBATH
REST!
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.”
[NIV]
Exodus 20:8-11….
“8 Remember the Sabbath day
by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you
shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a
Sabbath to the LORD your God.
On it you shall not do any work,
neither you, nor your son or
daughter, nor your manservant….
…. or maidservant, nor your
animals, nor the alien within your
gates. 11 For in six days the LORD
made the heavens and the earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
but he rested on the seventh day.
Therefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.”
[NIV]
What is the command here
regarding the “Sabbath?”
That is to….
Jesus IS the Lord of the Sabbath, the
fulfillment of the law.
“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.”
[NIV]
The “Sabbath Rest” for our physical
bodies is important.
We keep the Sabbath holy
by honoring Christ with our body — as we
take
time to REST in Christ
and with our family.
Need
Need
Experience