Entering His Rest

1
Entering His Rest

• Todays world is anything but restful
• It is possible to acknowledge God and fail to
  enter into His rest
• It happened in the wilderness
• It can happen to us today too
• Why?
• We can fail to enter into Gods rest if we fail
  to obey His word

2
A Restful Life

• Heb 41, 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.
• God promises rest to those who want it
• OT- rest in God was possible
• Israel failed to find this rest
• Not physical but spiritual
• Gods rest comes from faith in his word which
  leads to obedience.
• Heb 319, So we see that they were not able to
  enter, because of their unbelief.

3
A Restful Life

• William Bradford, the governor of the Plymouth
  Colony of pilgrims, insisted, "Those who believe
  in the Holy Scriptures are bound to observe its
  teachings. Those who do not are to be bound by
  its consequences."
• Rewards are great, the consequences for failure
  is also great
• Gods rest is available, but only through faith
  and obedience to His word.

4
A Reckless Life

• Heb 42-10,
• Message was of no value because it was not
  combined with faith
• Disobedience is a form of unbelief
• Israel loved the miracles, but they did not obey
  Gods word so they forfeited the rest God offered
  them
• They were reckless with God and their own lives
• Dont Feed the Bears
• If we dont pay attention to Gods word we also
  pay the consequences later on.

5
A Reckless Life

• The Jet that shot itself down
• Your traveling too fast if
• You dont have time too worship God in regular
  services
• You dont have time too read your Bible
• You dont have time too pray
• If your neglecting any of these your traveling to
  fast too hear the sound of Gods voice
• If you can not hear the voice of God you will
  find no rest.

6
A Restful Labor

• Heb 411, Let us, therefore, make every effort
  to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by
  following their example of disobedience.
• Ironic- Make every effort (labor) to enter that
  rest
• Obedience to Gods word can bring us into Gods
  rest

7
A Restful Labor

• The Christian life is not just a response to an
  invitation or even baptism
• It is also the lifestyle of obedience to the Word
  of God by faith
• Most want Jesus to save them and give them heaven
• Many dont want to hear what the Bible teaches
  about a sinful lifestyle that requires changes

8
A Restful Labor

• Obedience is a requirement or there can be no
  rest.
• It is this Laboring to obey Gods word that
  brings us into spiritual health and restfulness
• It is a daily task
• If we truly have faith in Gods word we will
  follow it.
• No shortcuts in good physical health
• No shortcuts in good spiritual health

9
Conclusion

• Servanthood- improving our service to the Lord,
  doing a better job.
• We will find no rest if we depend on our
  abilities
• Hebrew writer is warning the Jews not to return
  to the Law
• Now he stresses faith and obedience to Gods
  word.
• What does it mean to Labor to find Rest?

10
Conclusion

• The answer is found in Who and not What.
• John 628-29
• 1 Thess 12-3
• Obedience is the evidence of faith, faith
  produces work motivated by love and our hope in
  Christ produces endurance that leads to Gods
  rest.