FINDING REST HEBREWS 4.1-11

Adding to Your Toolkit

FINDING REST HEBREWS 4.1-11

Sleep-deprivation played a role the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the

Chernobyl nuclear accident.

A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year

Teenagers need as much sleep as small children (about 10 hrs)

According to Reuters, a study was published that says the French get the most sleep with Japanese and Koreans getting the least.

Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.

Some studies suggest women need up to an hour's extra sleep a night compared to men.

The record for the longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes during a rocking chair marathon. The record holder reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.

Possible meanings for “rest”

1) God’s Sabbath rest after Creation

(2) The rest for Israel after wandering for forty years

(3) The believer’s present salvation rest in Christ

(4) The overcomer’s present rest of victory

(5) The future eternal rest in heaven.

Focus on Two Generations

the Exodus wilderness generation who set the pattern of unbelief

the writer's generation who have the opportunity of responding to God's invitation.

vss.3-4 God models rest

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1.31

Rest is something like the satisfaction that comes from accomplishment.

Rest makes us more like God.

vss.6-7 God provides rest today

The promise of rest lies unclaimed before you.

Yesterday’s disobedience or disbelief does not nullify God’s promise today.

Not listening and hardening our hearts leads to exhaustion

God values His work, done His way

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working . . . Whatever the Father does the Son also does"

John 5.17 & 19

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Colossians 3.23

vss.9-11 To rest is to be obedient

Definition: Rest

“to cause to cease” or “to end”

“to bring someone to the point where he ceases to suffer something”

Misplaced values

We reward work and feel guilty about rest.

We wear hurriedness like a badge of honor.

We believe fatigue legitimates our existence.

We are convinced that our value is measured by our activity.

So we measure our worth by . . .

Our accomplishments Our busyness Our being needed Our filled calendars Our doing things for God

Lightening Bolt

Marathon runners

Ask yourself . . .

When someone interrupts your planned activity, how do you feel?

How would you describe your mood at the beginning of the day?

How would you describe your mood at the end of the day?

How do you feel when you are waiting in traffic or in line?

How often do you feel joy in your work?

The message they heard was of no value to them (vs.2) . . .

let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest (vs.11).

“For indeed by loving myself wrongly,

I lost myself,

and seeking you alone and purely loving you,

I found both myself and you.”

Thomas a Kempis

Learn from ME (Mt.11.29)

It is not the amount of activity, but the . . . Manner Mode Method

. . . . of the activity.

Holy Spirit inspired work is always more efficient, effective, productive and inspired.

How do we get to the back of the boat?

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;

the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Isaiah 30.15 & 32.17