Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Hebrews 3:16 – 4:13Hebrews 3:16 – 4:13

But in today’s society, so much emphasis is put on

busyness and work, that it

seems “rest”is hard to come by.

How can we really

experience “REST” in

spiteof ALL our busyness?

How can we really

experience “REST” in

spiteof ALL our busyness?

• We need it• God designs it

• We need it• God designs it

The Bible speaks of

in a couple of different ways. 

“REST” that is given to us from the Lord when we come to Him in faith.

“Come to me, all you whoare weary and burdened, and

I will give you rest.” [TNIV]

Matthew 11:28….Matthew 11:28….

This is a “rest” that

Jesus gives as a gift.

…. given through and by

Jesus Christ when

we come to Him in faith.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —

and this is not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God…. ” [NIV]

Ephesians 2:8….Ephesians 2:8….

Romans 5:1….Romans 5:1….

“Therefore, since we have

been justified through faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

[NIV]

“Take my yoke upon you

and learn from me, for I am

gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for

your souls.” [NIV]

Matthew 11:29….Matthew 11:29….

This “rest for your souls” … “submission rest”

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by

prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your

requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends

all understanding, will guardyour hearts and your minds in

Christ Jesus.” [NIV]

Philippians 4:6,7….Philippians 4:6,7….

“18 And to whom did God

swear that they would never

enter

his rest if not to those who

disobeyed? 19 So we see that

they were not able to enter,

because of their unbelief.” [NIV]

Hebrews 3:18-19….Hebrews 3:18-19….

Who was not ableto enter that “rest?”

“50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will

die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother

Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ….

Deuteronomy 32:50-52….Deuteronomy 32:50-52….

…. 51 This is because both of

you broke faith with me in the

presence of the Israelites at

the waters of Meribah Kadesh

in the Desert of Zin and

because you did not uphold

my holiness among the

Israelites. ….

…. 52 Therefore, you will see

the land only from a distance;

you will not enter the land I

am giving to the people of

Israel.” [NIV]

What was Moses’ problem here?

He struck the rock instead of speaking to it!

You can still feel and

experience it no matter

what the circumstance

or situation is.

“Therefore, since the

promise of entering his

rest still stands, let us be

careful

that none of you be found

to have fallen short of it.”[NIV]

Hebrews 4:1….Hebrews 4:1….

can only be entered by faith!

“2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as

they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them,

because those who hearddid not combine it with faith.3 Now we who have believed

enter that rest.” [NIV]

Hebrews 4:2,3….Hebrews 4:2,3….

Did the Israelites enter the

that God promised?

“43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give

their forefathers, and they took possession of it and

settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their

forefathers. ….

Joshua 21:43 – 45….Joshua 21:43 – 45….

…. Not one of their enemies

withstood them; the LORD

handed all their enemies

over to them. 45 Not one of

all the LORD’s good

promises to the house of

Israel failed; every one was

fulfilled.” [NIV]

“For if Joshua had given them

rest, God would not have

spoken later about another

day.” [NIV]

Hebrews 4:8….Hebrews 4:8….

The “rest” that Joshua

led them into was only

a shadow and type of

the true rest God

wanted to give.

Hebrews 4:7-11….Hebrews 4:7-11….

“7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today,

when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said

before: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your

hearts.’

…. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have

spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a

Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from

his.

…. 11 Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that

rest, so that no one will fall

by following their example

of disobedience.”

[NIV]

Though many kept the

Sabbath, and might have had

some physical rest from taking

a day off, but they never got to

experience the fullness of

what God intended for a

To experiencewe must make a conscious effort to purposefullyset time aside for God,self and family.

Jesus fulfilled God’s promise

of SABBATH REST!Jesus fulfilled God’s promise

of SABBATH REST!

“9 There remains, then,

a Sabbath-rest for the people

of God; 10 for anyone who

enters God’s rest also rests

from his own work, just as God

did

from his.” [NIV]

Hebrews 4:9,10….Hebrews 4:9,10….

“8 Remember the Sabbath dayby keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is

a Sabbath to the LORD your God.

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or

daughter, nor your manservant….

Exodus 20:8-11….Exodus 20:8-11….

…. or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens

and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath

day and made it holy.” [NIV]

What is the command here

regarding the “Sabbath?”

That is to….That is to….

Jesus IS the Lord of the Sabbath, the fulfillment of the

law.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the

Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill

them.” [NIV]

The “Sabbath Rest” for our physical bodies is important.

We keep the Sabbath

holy

by honoring Christ with our body — as we take

time to REST in Christ

and with our family.

Need

Need

Experience