Rest

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Text: Hebrews 4:1-11

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Listen as Pastor Thad brings a message from the book of Hebrews on the subject of "rest".  Are you resting on God or are you resting on yourself?

Outline:
I. Rest Established

3a-Rest for those who believe
3b-No Rest because of unbelief
4-Rest established by God
   “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work which He had done.  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.?
5-No Rest-Author reiterates Israel’s unbelief
6a-Rest remains for some
6b-No Rest for those disobedient
7a-Rest offered-What’s the significance of this offer as mentioned in verse 7?

1. The time David wrote Psalm 95 was 3-400 years after Israel entered the land.
2. Even after their disobedience and entrance into the land via Joshua; Rest is still being offered.
3. Rest God offered is more than a piece of land as evident from Psalm 95.
4. The offer to Rest is still appropriate at the time of this letter and as the text indicates in verses 1 and 6 still available now.

II. Rest Available

* Rest is presently available. Entering in verse one is present tense; indicating that the rest available is neither past or future but a present opportunity for those believing. (verse 1)
* Rest is possible as one hears the good news (the gospel) and has faith. (verse 2)
* Rest does not mean absence of activity; but as the author establishes in verse 9; Rest means enjoyment of relationship.

III. Rest Brings Strong Exhortation

* Let us fear.  Homer Kent writes, “the fear spoken of is not terror but Godly fear which produces soberness and solemn recognition of God’s awesomeness.?
* Let us be diligent. (labor) John MacArthur writes, “the passage is not teaching that you can work to salvation or toward rest, but that you diligently enter in by faith alone.?

IV. Practical Thoughts on Rest

* Rest means no more trying to please God by fleshly works.  We are free from legalism; we rest in grace.
* Rest means to be free from the worry of losing salvation and free from the worry’s of every day life.
* Rest is to have absolute confidence that God does not change.
* Rest means that we trust in Him.