June 7, 2015

The Rest of God

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Hebrews 4:1-11
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Can seem to be a difficult passage
  • There are repeated phrases that help us to understand the passage
  • Song: solid joys and lasting pleasure
    • Only real believers know real joy and pleasure
    • The world only knows a fleeting joy and pleasure
    • Many people do not have the love and peace of God filling their lives
  • Llantrisant has a number of spiritists
  • It is all part of a restless world
    • The world talks about materialism
    • Science offers temporary solutions
    • People are looking for other spiritual realities but are looking in the wrong places
    • 1 in 5 have problems with depression
    • A lot of guilt in peoples lives
    • Wars and mans wickedness
  • The passage is about rest
    • His rest - v1
    • Those who have faith enter His rest - v3
    • Some must enter it - v6
    • There is a rest for the people of God - v9
  • There is also the opposite
    • The writer has a tremendous fear that many will turn back and not enter this rest
      • The people are not trusting in the promises of God
    • Fear that you may come short of it - v1
    • Remember the people that wandered in the wilderness, but many did not enter the rest - Deut 25:19
      • Because of disobedience unbelief and fear in their hearts
    • God swears that these people will not enter His rest - v3 & v5

An Outline of the Passage

  • Maybe you have found this passage confusing
    • Maybe you cannot understand the contrast
  • We are to grapple with the Bible
  • "Therefore" - relates to the previous teaching/passage
    • The children of God did not enter because of unbelief - 3:19
      • They became idolaters
      • They didn't receive the commandments of God
      • They hardened their hearts
      • Joshua and Caleb (men of faith) entered, but not the others
    • If that was true of them, it could be true of us
      • We might never reach heaven
      • We have walked back in our heart
      • We have resisted God's word
  • The Sabbath rest
    • Hebrew thought was that rest was due to completion
    • God made the world perfectly and rested on the seventh day
    • Adam entered into this rest but then disobeyed God and broke His commandments
      • Adam and the whole world was thrown into restlessness
    • God set up a sabbath rest
      • Work for 6 days and rest for 1 day
      • This Sabbath day was set up for God's people
    • "There remains a rest for the people of God" - Psalm 95
      • This is a spiritual rest
    • The Sabbath day will be done away with when we are resting in heaven
    • Remains - v1, 6, 9

Explain the Passage

  • v1
    • A 92 year old lady completed a marathon
    • We have entered a marathon as Christians
      • Explanation of this
      • Wouldn't it be sad if we gave up half way through
    • The writer is concerned that the Jewish Christians would come short and miss out on this rest
      • The writer reminds the people to continue on - 3:6 [not 2:6]
      • Continue to the end - 4:14 [not 2:14]
    • Don't trust in anything in the past but hold onto to Jesus Christ
  • v2
    • The old testament people in the wilderness heard the gospel
      • They heard through the promises given them through Abraham
      • They heard through the ear but did not receive the words into their hearts - faith was missing
    • The messenger (Moses) and the message (the Gospel) was not deficient
      • Example of the parable of the sower - the problem is in the soil
      • We have to be careful not to build up resistance to the word of God
      • The problem often is in the hearing of the word of God
      • Do not harden you heart - 3:7,15 [not 2:17,15], 4:7
    • What do you believe about Jesus?
    • "Without faith it is impossible to believe God"
  • v3
    • Jesus gives us rest for our souls
      • Come exactly as you are and I will give you rest and peace
    • If Jesus gives peace, this peace is eternal
    • Example of a hymn
    • Jesus will raise you up on the last day - if you have trusted in Him
    • Jesus will complete the good work He has started in you

A Final Appeal

  • "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. " - v11
    • It is of faith that we receive the word
    • It is not about us doing good works - this does not save
  • As a people of God we are to be diligent:
    • To know more of the blessing
    • To pray together
    • To hear God's word
    • To serve God in holiness
    • About our relationship with God through Jesus Christ
    • Not to be slack but to progress
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