Experiencing God's Rest!

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People! Experiencing God's Rest! Hebrews 3:16 – 4:13

It is good to rest.... But in today’s society, so much emphasis is put on busyness and work, that it seems “rest” is hard to come by. We have failed to really find REST!

REST.... • 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. SPIRITUAL REST

MAIN POINTS 1. Salvation Rest “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. Our SALVATION is 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]

Peace with God.... Romans 5:1…. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[NIV]

2. Submission Rest

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” Peace of God

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]

REST Which of these is being talked about?

Hebrews 3:18-19…. “18And to whom did God swear that they wouldnever enter his restif not to those who disobeyed?19So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” [NIV]

Who was not able to enter that “rest?” Those who disobeyed Those who did not believe

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. ….

…. 51 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. ….

…. 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] Moses did not enter God's rest in Canaan.

What was Moses’ problem here? Moses DISOBEYED God! He struck the rock instead of speaking to it!

Submission Rest "spiritual rest for our souls" 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]

God's rest ... can only be entered by faith!

Hebrews 4:2,3…. “2For 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. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest.”[NIV]

Did the Israelites enter the that God promised? rest

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. 44The 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]

3. Sabbath-Rest

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. Fulfillment in the physical.

The command to rest on Sabbath Day.... 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 "SABBATH REST."

To experience we must make a conscious effort to purposefully set time aside for God, self and family. Sabbath Rest Jesus fulfilled God’s promise of SABBATH REST!

Hebrews 4:9,10…. “9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.”[NIV]

Exodus 20:8-11…. “8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but 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. Matthew 5:17.... “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.

CONCLUSION Need 1. Salvation Rest Need 2. Submission Rest Experience 3. Sabbath Rest

Experiencing God's Rest!