The Rest Giver

Series: The Journey of Faith 
Message: The Rest Giver 
Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-11

If we are going to have the strength to complete our journey well, we must learn the value of rest!

We need more than just physical rest – we need a deep rest of the Soul – resting fully and completely in what Jesus has done for us.

Ways Rest Is Used In This Passage

1. Canaan Rest
2. Sabbath Rest
3. Present Rest
4. Eternal Rest

The Rest Christ Offers Us

1. It is a rest that must be Claimed (1-2)

Fear – A healthy respect for the consequences of unbelief and Disobedience to God

Reminders:

• Hearing the message is essential, but not Sufficient
• Hearing and understanding must be accompanied by Faith

“Faith is reliance (trust/confidence) revealed in attitude and action.”  Dallas Willard 

2. It is a rest patterned after God’s Rest (3-5)

Characteristics Of God’s Rest:

• Joyous

“when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7, ESV)

• Satisfying (See Genesis 1)
• Working

“But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.'” (John 5:17, ESV)

The rest Christ offers to us includes our total Acceptance by God and the blessing of His presence, leadership, and power in our lives.

Don’t think Inactivity – God’s rest produces people who receive divine energy to serve, obey and work as a part of Christ’s kingdom.

3. It is a rest which Still Remains (6-11)

• The Urgency of that rest
• The Nature of that rest

Under Joshua, the Hebrew people entered into the territory of Canaan, they never truly entered into the Spiritual Rest that the territory typified.

• The Extent of that rest

God’s rest is present and Future – “already and not yet”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'” (Revelation 14:13, ESV)

“Only one thing can satisfy the restlessness of the human soul—the “rest” of God. And the only way we can access God’s rest is by faith in Jesus Christ, the One who secures God’s rest for believers through his death and resurrection.”   Albert Mohler

Two Invitations

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30, ESV)

“To take Christ’s yoke upon us is to enter his school, to become his disciples and to submit to his teaching authority. It implies that we are to regard him not only as our saviour but also as our teacher and Lord. Jesus himself put this beyond doubt when during his last night on earth he said to the Twelve, ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am’ (John 13:13). In other words, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ were more than courtesy titles; they bore witness to a reality. It will include bringing every part of our lives, public and private, under the sovereign lordship of Jesus.”  John Stott

“Only the man who follows the command of Jesus single-mindedly, and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon him, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way. The command of Jesus is hard, unutterably hard, for those who try to resist it. But for those who willingly submit the yoke is easy and the burden is light.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

You can take all the vacations in the world, but if you don't have deep rest of the soul that comes from resting in what Jesus did on the cross and His Lordship in your life, you will not truly rest.

Making it Personal

• Can you describe your life today as one that is marked by a deep “rest within your soul”?
• Have you come to Jesus, entrusting yourself to Him as Savior and Lord? Will you do that today?
• Is there any area of your life where you are resisting Christ’s Lordship instead of resting is His yoke?
• What is your next step in response to these truths?
• Who can you share these truths with?