Don't Miss Your Rest!

Don't Stop Now!

A study of the NT book of Hebrews

by Pastor Frank Rice

Hebrews 4:1-10

[Don’t get the ridiculous idea that you’re being encouraged to catch up on your sleep during the service or that God wanted you to stay in bed this morning! We’re not talking napping!]

Ads often caution us, “for a limited time only!” We may panic and think we’ve missed out on some important event, only to find out there is still plenty of time to take advantage of it. But some things have legitimate expiration dates.

We can and do miss out on things. One of the things we do not want to miss is the rest offered to us in the person of Christ! The shepherds were told, “Do not fear!” We’re told, “Let us fear!”

 

I. Believers Must Develop a Healthy Phobia (Vv. 1-2)!

• Rest is promised but it is also possible to miss it!

1. One strange command is given! “Let us fear.” People may argue that fear is unhealthy. But some fears are necessary.

 

2. One special group is being addressed, those who consider themselves to be God’s people. The author includes himself.

 

3. One significant concept, “rest,” is developed. And the terms “enter & promise” occur repeatedly! The promise remains!

1. This is not merely salvation or escaping bondage (The X generation had already exited). It’s not just geographical. Rest was later offered to a generation livingin Canaan.

 

2. This has to do with being reconciled to God, listening, believing, obeying the good news, sensing His pleasure; it is the personal satisfaction and joy of doing His will.

 

3. God’s formula for success is: His Word + Faith = Rest! “A word, however great, is of no avail unless it becomes integrated into the person who hears it.” (Barclay)

 

• Rest is the result of hearing and obeying the Good News!

1. There was good news for the X-generation (Ex. 19:3-6)! But disbelief led to disobedience and disqualification from rest!

 

2. There is good news for our generation! It includes salvation but there is much more! Jesus promised an “abundant life!”

 

“The parallel between those Israelites and the people of God in the new age is impressive enough for the disaster that befell the former to serve as a warning to the latter.” (Bruce)

 

II. Believers Must Demonstrate a Grasp of God’s Rest (Vv. 3-8)!

• God’s rest was established at creation (v. 4). (There are 4 major epochs when God offered His rest, chronologically as follows.)

1. From the beginning, He intended for man to participate in the realization of a finished work and the satisfaction that comes from the completion of a task.

 

2. That’s what He had in mind for those who would choose to walk in faith and obedience with Him.

 

• God’s rest was offered to the X-generation (vv. 5-6, 8).

1. Those involved in the exodus had the wonderful privilege of entering His rest. But they blew it!

 

2. It was not because the land had not been prepared that they failed to enter. Preparation had been made before creation!

 

• God’s rest was re-offered to David’s generation (v. 7; Psalm 95). Evidently they as a nation also failed to hear and to claim it! The United Kingdom did not cash in on their privilege.

 

• God’s rest is being re-offered to our generation (v. 3). It begins with faith that leads to salvation and leads to surrender.

1. “Rest in the Christian life comes through complete reliance on God’s promises and full surrender to His will.” (Ryrie)

 

2. “His rest is a joyous, satisfying, and working rest – it is available right now. Nothing can prevent the promised rest from taking effect except distrust and disobedience.”

 

3. “Rest is walking in obedience by grace and experiencing God’s presence whether going through hardships or happiness.”

 

4. “The Canaan rest for Israel is a picture of he spiritual rest we find in Christ when we surrender to Him. When we come to Christ by faith, we find salvation rest (Mt. 11:28). When we yield and learn of Him and obey Him by faith, we enjoy submission rest (Mt. 11:29-30). The first is ‘peace with God’ the second is the ‘peace of God.’ It is by believing that we enter into rest, it is by obeying God by faith and surrendering to His will that the rest enters into us.” (WWW)

 

III. Believers Must Determine to Experience God’s Rest (Vv. 9-10)!

• There is a type of rest having to do with eternity (vv. 9-10; Rev 14:13). At the heart of discovering and participating in God’s rest is the necessity of hearing His Word and doing what it says.

 

• God’s rest is available now! You don’t have to be dead to enjoy it! There is a present rest offered to God’s people. It involves living a life surrendered to God (Gal 5:22-25). If you are moving in that direction, don’t stop now!

 

• God’s rest is available for those who are willing to surrender to Him! There is no rest without surrender (Isa 30:15)!

 

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

But you would not

 

Don’t make the same mistake!