Sep. 15, 2024

“LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT”

“TRUSTING IN CHRIST FOR “REST”!”

HEBREWS 4:1-13

We must be careful lest we fail to believe God’s Word, for it is only as the Word is “mixed with faith” that it can accomplish its purposes.

1.   Let Us Fear- Hebrews 4:1-8

Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”

vs.1 “… let us fear…”- There is always those folks who are eager to find fault even with the Word of God, and they will say that this statement is a contradiction of other statements in the Bible.

Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear…”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear.”

The author is speaking of a good fear.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

This is the kind of fear we are to have. This fear is for a purpose “lest any of you miss His rest…” vs.1.

He is saying “be afraid” because you don’t want to miss His rest.

*Entering Rest Takes The Right Formula.

Hebrews 4:2 “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

Here is the “rest” of salvation the rest of trusting Christ as Savior. Have you heard the Gospel and believed it?

The world, the flesh, and the Devil rob many of the blessing God has for them.

Hebrews 4:3 “For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

The author is discussing salvation rest here, the rest of trusting in Christ. Have you entered this rest? “Salvation rest”

Hearing + Believing= Resting

*Entering Rest Takes The Right Attitude.

Hebrews 4:4 “For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”

This is the “Sabbath,” God rested on the seventh day, and that was the Sabbath day.

Hebrews 4:5-6 “and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience.”

vs.6 “…and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience.”

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

*Entering God’s Rest Takes The Right Timing.

Hebrews 4:7 “Again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”

Hebrews 4:8 “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.”

Joshua is the Old Testament or Hebrew name for Jesus or “Savior.”

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 11:28-30 

We need this “today” “let us fear”- what robs us of rest?

2.   Let Us Labor- Hebrews 4:9-13

Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

2 Peter 1:3 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

Hebrews 4:11 “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

“Let us therefore be diligent…”- “diligent”- means let us labor, it is the opposite of “drifting.”

Hebrews 2:1-3

How do we give diligence? By paying close attention to the Word of God and doing it.

Receiving a free offer requires a decision, and act of the will.

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Acts 5:33 “When they heard this (the Word of God), they were furious and plotted to kill them.”

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The Greek word for “sword” means “a short sword or dagger.” The emphasis is on the power of the Word to penetrate and expose the inner heart of man.

The Word “is living”- it is alive, it is relevant today.

The Word “is powerful”- energizing.

The Word “is sharper than any two-edged sword”- it cuts both ways, only God’s Word can divide soul and spirit.

The Word “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

You cannot conceal anything from God. God sees our hearts, but we do not always know what is there:

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

The Canaan rest for Israel is a picture of the spiritual rest we find in Christ when we surrender and trust in Him.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

We must beware of an evil heart of unbelief. Are you trusting in Christ for “rest?”