Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Introduction:
There is no greater helper!

Hebrews 4:13  “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Probably thinking of Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:6-11 “she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. ⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Marriage issues
Family problems

In life there are enormous pressures.
…there are tremendous problems.

Is there anyone who understands?
Is there anyone who cares?
To whom can we go?

Psalm 19:12-14 “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!  Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Jeremiah 17:7-10 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. ⁸ He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! ²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The all-seeing eyes of God knows us thoroughly and totally!

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

But if you have, you are safe!  You are fully exposed but you are safe!
You can bring it out into the light of his presence.
You need not cover up or hide or fear!

His presence is the place of forgiveness and healing and renewal.
Worship Him and serve him all your days.

This is all about understanding and accessing the greatest resource we have in life – Jesus

We have a great high priest –
Who is he: Jesus the Son of God
Why is He great: because he has gone through the heavens

I.          His work of redemption is done!
“Is there anyone who cares?  Is there anyone who understands?”

Yes!  Yes!  Yes!
He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses!

Hebrews 2:14-18, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Was there ever any feeling of the desirability of sin that makes temptation so hard for us?

Tempted = a test
Tested to see if we will obey when the chips are down Ge 22:1
Tested to see if we will be faithful when there isn’t anything in if for us (Job 1-2)
Tested to see if our hearts are trying to serve two masters
(James 1:14-15; 4:3-4)

Matthew 4 – Like God’s people in the dessert:

a.         When he is starving will he demand that God feed him?
b.         Was he certain that God cared for him?  Why not test God to see
c.         Will God really give him the kingdoms of this world? A short cut to being blessed!

Jesus refuses to compromise with evil.
But we so often fail the tests! Romans 7:17f

A desire for food, for things, for sex,
Becoming godly is learning when to say no and when to say yes to desire!

Did Jesus ever have desires?
Matthew 4:2  he was hungry – we can assume he had all our other desires – thirst, weariness, sexual desire, loneliness and everything else we feel.

With one exception: he did not sin.  Matt 4 – he never gave in.

Could he have sinned?  The question is academic because he did not sin!  That is what we do know.

He has experienced the same kinds of weaknesses – yet without sin.

He never failed the tests!
Jesus took the same tests as we – even more intense
Yet without sin.

Having experienced the same pains of temptation.
Having experienced the same impulses as we
There is no way he is not like us…except one – he did not sin.

And, in fact, when it comes to sin he even experienced this…for he took on himself all our sins on the cross.  He experienced fully what it is like to feel guilty before God.
He knew God from eternity – experiencing the guilt of sin was even more intense for him

Application: Therefore
Let us hold onto our faith – there is no reason to give up!
Why would we give up?
Because of our sin!  When we sin we move away from Him.
We have difficult time looking at ourselves in the mirror
Of being honest with ourselves and others
We actually become different in our mindset and disposition
We lose desire to read the Bible, to go to church, to worship.
But this passage says, “Don’t turn away!”
He is the only One who really “gets it”!

II.         He is always there to help!
¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 10:19-23 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful”

Let us approach the throne of God for help with full confidence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz8b0IbhPMk

Brooke Fraser
None But Jesus lyrics

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-UDWk6e_aE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPuUIUWE8h8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jyrpdztKIg&feature=related

Six stages of faith development (You might be really surprised by its accuracy in your own life.  4:2, 6  (disbelief and disobedience)

1-The Recognition of God
Faith is the discovery or recognition of God. (first awareness)

2-The Life of Discipleship
Faith is learning about God. (faith community emphasized)

3-The Productive Life
Faith is working for God. (spiritual goals reached)

4-The Journey Inward-
Faith is rediscovering God. (crisis in faith or life)
The Wall-The mystery of our will meeting God’s will face to face.

5-The Journey Outward – Faith is surrendering to God. (ministering out of a deep calmness before God)

6-The Life of Love – Faith is reflecting God.
From: The Critical Journey by Janet Hagberg & Robert Guelich

Say it with me:
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The only reliable guide to the human soul is the Word of God.

The most beneficial ministry of the church is to expose its people directly to the Word of God. In classrooms, in small groups, in worship services, in counseling, in Kid’s Connection, youth group, Vacation Bible School!  That is our first responsibility!

The most important spiritual discipline you will ever learn and apply is to directly expose yourself to God’s Word! This includes really listening to messages – with a focus on what God is actually saying to you in your life.  And for sure, it is great to ask questions.

The biggest blessing you can give your children day by day as they grow up is to directly expose them to the applied teachings of God’s Word!

God’s Ability to Read Your Mind
The Spiritual MRI
Ed Riddick, April 18, 2010

PARADOX* Form of expression that seems to be either self-contradictory or absurd but at another level expresses fundamental truth. It is often employed to get hearers to think at a deeper and more critical level. In the paradox there is an apparent element of contradiction, which arrests attention and demands consideration

That’s one of the things we have in this passage.  “Strive…to enter rest”.  Do you see the contradiction?  Striving to rest!  We will look at this closer.

Hebrews 4:11-13 “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Let’s learn this together – Say it with me:
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Therefore
~ In light of all that is accessible to faith
~ In light of the spiritual disaster of unbelief
make it your earnest mission to enter the “promised land” of all that God has for you.

God is not to be messed with!
We are to worship His Son
We cannot afford to ignore such a great salvation.
We cannot afford to harden our hearts
We must respond to Him when he speaks to us
Today has arrived and we must take His Word seriously and make haste to enter His rest.

I.          The Paradox of Striving To Rest
Let us strive to enter that rest
1.         The promised land
2.         The weekly rest
3.         The cessation from labor which God enjoys and which he invites believers to share.

“The rest not only describes the introduction of believers into eternal life, but also depicts the process by which we will continue to work and live, namely, dependence on God to be at work in us and through us.  In many ways this is the lost secret of Christianity.”

Ceasing our striving for God’s acceptance.
Ceasing our striving to make things work in our lives.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)  “I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “

Galatians 2:20 (ESV) “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

John 15:5 (ESV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

I do not look for any achievement by my own efforts.
Sabbath rest is achieved when the heart rests on the great promises of God.  We cease from our own efforts and look to his working within us and on our behalf and for his glory.  The hope of rest is not inactivity.  But it is effort done relying on his power, his timing, his means, not on our own effort or strength.

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Isaiah 40:28–31 (ESV) “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

The “faith rest” life is not inactivity.  It is moving in Spirit relying on Christ, trusting in the promises of God day by day and moment by moment.  It is learning to function from a position of rest – co laborers with God.  “Make every effort to enter that rest.” Effort is needed to resist self-dependence.  Decisions are still required.  Effort is still made.

127: 1-6  “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved (ones) even in their sleep.”

Say it with me:
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

II.         The Living and Effective Book!
A.        It is living and active
So we could rightly ask, “What does it do?”
Acts 7:38 “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. ³⁹ Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt”

1 Peter 1:23-25 “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25   but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Ephesians 4:11-15 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ”

2 Tim 3:14-17 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

B.  The Word of God is effective
It is sharper than the sharpest sword!
(Bible treasure hunt: Judges 3:16; Ps 149:6; Pr 5:4; Rev 1:16; 2:12; 19:15)

Isaiah 55:10-11 “for as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,  making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

The Word of God diagnoses the condition of the human heart
The Word of God opens and exposes our inner life to ourselves and others.

Divides between the subtle differences
~ soul and spirit (inner self and spiritual being)
~ joints and marrow – Very, very important to have a sharp knife!

Cleaning fish / Field dressing and then deboning a deer
The whole of our “inner self” – precarious to draw conclusions about the author’s psychology!  But it is consistent with Paul’s words

1 Thess 5:14-23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

Point: An honest revelation is what we need to humble our stubborn pride and render us willing to look to God for forgiveness and his gracious supply.

Experience observed by philosophy and psychology only give us a partial insight in broken humanity.

The only reliable guide to the human soul is the Word of God.

The most beneficial ministry of the church is to expose its people directly to the Word of God. In classrooms, in small groups, in worship services, in counseling, in Kid’s Connection, youth group, Vacation Bible School!  That is our first responsibility!

The most important spiritual discipline you will ever learn and apply to directly expose yourself to God’s Word!

The most biggest blessing you can give your children day by day as they grow up is to directly expose them to the applied teachings of God’s Word!

Say it with me:
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

III.        It Works Better Than the Best Airport Security Scanners
Hebrews 4:13  “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

The new airport security scanners!
Open and exposed!

Psalm 19:12-14 “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!  Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Jeremiah 17:7-10 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. ⁸ He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Psalm 139:1-18
¹ O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ² You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³ You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. ⁵ You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. ⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” ¹² even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. ¹³ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! ²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The all-seeing eyes of God knows us thoroughly and totally!

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I never saw this before!
My predominate emotion when thinking about being exposed for all to see is fear and shame and embarrassment!

But do you see it?
All of our brokenness is laid open and exposed to him.
Our inner thoughts and motivations and feelings and longings and dreams and hurts.  They are an open book for him to see!

But do you see that
~ yes, we are accountable to him.
~ But the focus here is on his empathy and understanding!
~ Far from being a motivation to run and hide, this is a call to draw near to receive the grace of his mercy and forgiveness, and his ability to help in times of need!

You must know that it is a terrifying thing to be exposed in his presence if you have not turned to him for forgiveness.

But if you have, you are safe!  You are fully exposed but you are safe!
You can bring it out into the light of his presence.
You need not cover up or hide or fear!

His presence is the place of forgiveness and healing and renewal.
Worship Him and serve him all your days.

Introduction:
The Masters Tournament – Augusta, GA
Tiger Woods struggled all day.  That’s how he characterized it.
Tom Watson: Two-time winner Tom Watson, 60, carded a one-over 73 to end two under alongside 2008 winner Trevor Immelman.

“I was disappointed with the way I played today,” said Watson, who won the Masters in 1977 and 1981.
“With no wind and perfect conditions a 73 is not a very good score. I didn’t strike the ball very well.
“But it’s still always a pleasure to walk around Augusta when the azaleas are popping and there was the most beautiful bluebird on 17 I ever saw.”

Hebrews 4:1-10 “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands (left open), let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed (missed his change)  to reach it. ² For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,  “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. (see also, Heb 9:26; Mt 13:35; 25:34; Lk 11:50; Jn 17:24; Eph 1:4; 1 Pe 1:20; Rev 13:8; 17:8)  ⁴ For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵ And again in this passage he said,    “They shall not enter my rest.”
⁶ Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,  “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. ⁹ So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ¹⁰ for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…”

Ge 2:2 | And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Ex 20:11 | For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Nm 14:26–35

Ps 95:11 | Therefore I swore in my wrath,  “They shall not enter my rest.”

Ps 95:7-8 | For he is our God,  and we are the people of his pasture,  and the sheep of his hand.  Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,  as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

X                                  X                                  X                                  X                                  X                                  X

Creation             Exodus                  David’s Day                Cx’s Offer             2^nd Coming               Eternity (the timeless moment)

B.I.      The promise of entering rest remains open today! (Then and now).  The possibility of entering God’s rest!

I.          The Promise of Rest Still Stands
There is a parallel promise of rest…and parallel warning of the danger of unbelief and disobedience still stands!

A.        Good news was preached to them (Ex 19:3-6; 23:20-33)
The good news they heard didn’t do them any good because it wasn’t
mixed with active faith.

Principle: it is not the hearing of the gospel by itself that brings salvation but the active application of the gospel through faith.  Genuine faith is persistent faith.

The promise still requires a response!
Hebrews 11:6 ^“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ⁷ By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17 “¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Story of Blandon the Great!- Tight rope walker over Niagara

But look closer!
What is the “good news” that both the Israelites and the original readers of this epistle had heard preached to them? It was the news about their inheritance and the possibility of entering into their rest. This is not only a reference to the gospel message of salvation.  The good news the Israelites heard did not profit them because they refused to trust God but rebelled against Him.

Likewise the good news of our inheritance and rest may not profit us if we fail to trust God but turn from Him in unbelief. Remember that by inheritance Moses and this writer meant all that God wanted and wants to give His people. We will all receive many blessings even if we apostatize because we are God’s children whom He has promised to glorify (1 Pet. 1:3-9). Nevertheless we will not enter into full rest or experience all we could inherit if we depart from God.

Instead of receiving their inheritance they wondered restlessly in the wilderness of struggling and grumbling and mission out on the benefits of their relationship with God.

B.        The good news has been preached to us (2:3f)
The writer is warning us to beware of the spiritual disaster of missing out on salvation if we merely hear but do not believe
and on benefiting from our inheritance if we do not follow and obey!

The warning is just as real to us as it was to those the writer of Hebrews addressed, as it was to those to whom David wrote, as it was to those in Moses’ day!

We are urged to not miss the “open door” but to press on
It will not be reached automatically. We would do well to fear missing out.  Very serious issue!

If we treat the saving message lightly…
If we presume that we can live our lives for ourselves, that we
can ignore so great a salvation and presume that we will not            miss out we are living dangerously.

II.         The meaning of “rest”
A.        Canaan Rest
Utopia by Thomas Moore, 1516 AD
In Greek it means “no place”  Many attempts…yet dream still alive!

The land of rest was not enjoyed by the first generation because they refused to believe God’s promise and follow Him.  They did it their way.  They trusted their own wisdom.  They tried to take things into their own hands.  They tried to hand onto their idols and when these were destroyed when their leader was not looking they made them over again.

But it was partially enjoyed by the second generation who followed Joshua.   Now when you listen to God and he tells you to march quietly around a walled, fortified city and you do so…and you do this 6 days in a row and on the seventh you march around 7 times and then shout like a bunch of banchees…and believe the walls are going to come down you are either believing the promise of God or you are nuts!

Crossing the Jordan marked the beginning of God’s testing of the new Israelite generation. He had previously tested the former generation during the wilderness wanderings. Each succeeding generation throughout the history of Israel faced its own tests. The people’s responses to these tests determined the amount of rest they experienced. Likewise the Christian’s response to his tests (whether he will trust and obey God faithfully or depart from God’s will) determines how much rest he or she will enjoy.

B.        Creation Rest
“My rest” – Not a rest of total inactivity “My Father works and I work”
“A perfectly functioning creation”
Mechanic rests when his mapped out motor runs in perfect harmony!  Ultimately God’s promised rest is when we live in
Is it merely the rest that God bestows?
Or is this rest more profoundly the rest that God enjoys?

The latter – God shares his rest with us.  God’s promises his people that if they mix his promises with their faith they will share in the rest that He Himself enjoys.
The rest that God promises has been available since creation.

C.        Christ’s Rest
The spiritual parallel of earthly Canaan is the goal of God’s people
today.  Joshua led his people to enjoy earthly Canaan.

Yashua Jesus leads the heirs of the New Covenant to enjoy their heavenly inheritance starting today!  We are the “now” generation.

Matthew 11:25-30 “At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The promised rest refers to the present life of the believer who rests in the Lord: the “faith rest” life. Having been saved, we enter into our rest as believers by surrendering our lives to Him and enjoying peace with God.

The Meaning of Rest:
1.         Unbroken, intimate fellowship with God through personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Do you hear me now?
Philippians 3:3-9  “For we are those who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day (religious ritual), of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin (family, religious heritage), a Hebrew of Hebrews (knowledge and ability in the ‘mother tongue’); as to the law, a Pharisee (a strict fundamentalist); ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church (a enthusiastic zealot); as to righteousness under the law, blameless (a committed extremist). ⁷
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish (a pile of cow manure) , in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”

~ Ceasing from the labor of work
The end of our feeble efforts to please God and measure up to his standards and finally resting in his salvation

It means being free from quilt and unnecessary feelings of guilt through personal faith in Jesus Christ.  It means freedom from worry about sin because your sin is forgiven in Christ.

God’s rest is the end of legalistic works and religious ritual as a basis of your relationship with Him.  The rest He gives is the experience of peace in the total forgiveness of God through faith in JC.
Have you wrapped all your religious ritual, all your own sense of being righteous and thrown them away placing your only hope in the promise of forgiveness in Christ alone?

2.         A “Sabbath rest” lifestyle of obedience to Jesus Christ and dependence on his promises!

~ Rest means freedom from whatever worries or disturbs you.
Rest does not mean freedom from all the nuisances and hassles of everyday life.  But it does mean freedom from being so easily bothered by them.  It means relying God to enable you to be inwardly quiet, composed and peaceful.

Two illustrations!
1.         Take your hands off the yoke – the plane will fly itself!
2.         Stop flaying around in water – with your nose and mouth out of the water learn to breath in and out slowly!  You will float!

Exodus 17:9-16 “So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. ¹² But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³ And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, ¹⁶ saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Rest means that for the remained of our lives we lean on God’s faithfulness to come to our rescue.

James 1:5-7 “⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Rest means to lie down and be settled in and secure. We are freed from running around in a desperate search for God’s will.  We are growing in His word and are no longer running from one philosophy to another and one religion to another.  We are becoming established and rooted and grounded in Christ.

John 16:23-24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Rest involves remaining confident and keeping trust in Christ. We have no reason to fear but we have hope that he hears and answers

How is trashing around working for you?
How’s that change working for you?
“Do you miss me yet?”
The writer is telling us to not turn back
To not neglect or be indifferent to our wonderful salvation
He is telling us to take personal responsibility for our
spiritual growth! To stop being polluted by the culture.
To take a stand and grow up!
The rest spoken of here is full and blessed and sweet and satisfying and peaceful.
What will it take for you and me to get serious about trusting and following Christ?

III.        The Time for Response is Today!, 4:3-7  Do you see this?
Today is a word of hope.  Yes, there is likely some hardening.
That can be reversed.  Our eyes can be opened.  The veil lifted.
And our calloused heart softened!

Today is already over 10 hours over!  It is only 24 hours long.  But as long as it is still “today” God’s grace is all anyone of us needs!

Relief from our struggles can only come as we learn to live out of the rest of God!Psalm 91:1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Isaiah 40:27-31 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel,  “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God,  the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. ³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;  they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; hey shall walk and not faint.

Easter 2010 Power Point
Finding Peace – Renewing Strength
Ed Riddick, April 4, 2010

Climate, atmosphere: Do you feel the tension?  Can you sense that the room is laced with emotional markers of anxiety and fear.  Have you ever notice how children and even pets can pick up on the mood of the moment?  Feel it with me.

Put yourself in his shoes…  I have never seen anything like
INDIANAPOLIS — West Virginia forward Da’Sean Butler had to be helped off the court after injuring his left knee in a hard collision against Duke in the Final Four.

Butler, the Mountaineers’ leading scorer, drew a foul after driving into Duke’s Brian Zoubek under the basket with 8:59 left in the second half of Saturday night’s NCAA semifinal. The senior forward collapsed to the court and writhed in pain as a trainer tried straighten his leg. Teammate John Flowers stood over him clapping his hands in encouragement.

DeSean and WV beat the _________ Cardinals the week before.  A lady listening to the broadcast had a heart attack.  He went to visit her.
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins didn’t come out at first, but walked over to Butler after a minute or so as his star player lay there in agony.

Huggins barked at an official for a second, arguing that a foul should have been called on Zoubek, then knelt on the court next to his player. He leaned down to put his face nose-to-nose with Butler, cradling his head and stroking his face, trying to get the senior to calm down.  Butler pounded his fist on the court, then was helped up by a teammate and a trainer, unable to put any weight on his leg as it dragged behind him. He was lifted onto a nearby golf cart and rode to locker room facing backward, stone-faced toward the scoreboard as West Virginia’s fans chanted “Da’Sean! Da’Sean!”

John 14:1-3, 16-21 “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also…And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Do you feel the anxiety?  Do you feel the questions…the unrest?
Do you feel the fear of being left alone?

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Luke 22:31-34, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ³³ Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Finding peace…renewing strength!

Clearly, Peter does not know himself well.  He is over-confident. But maybe even his reaction isn’t in reality, over-confidence but nervousness.   And out of the same fear he will soon deny Christ he is speaking to Christ.  And after he denies Christ he is very discouraged and weeps bitterly.

Max Lucado points out in his book Fearless that Jesus issued 125 imperatives.  The 2^nd most common command was to love God and our neighbors.  He gives this command 8 times in the Gospels.

He points out that the 1^st most common command that Jesus gave was “fear not”. 21 times he said, “do not be afraid” “do not be troubled” “fear not” “take heart” “be of good cheer”.

He sent them out to do something they’ve never done before.
Matthew 10:5, 21-23, 26-31 “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions…Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes…
So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows”

Did you notice the context? Jesus is sending them out on a mission. He is asking them to step out in faith into a world where they will be like sheep among wolves.  They are to be shrewd as snakes but as innocent as doves.  They will come back with joy.  They will not be defeated this time.  But he warns them that there will be times when the world will push back on their message and on them.  “Christ-followers contract malaria, bury children, and battle addictions and face fears.”  It is not the absence of storms that defines Christians. It is that in these storms we discover the resurrected Christ.

Lucado is right to point out that “Fear never wrote a symphony or people, negotiated a peace treaty or cured a disease.  Fear never pulled someone out of a burning building or reached out to someone who might disagree with you and reject you.

Disheartened by permanent disability and discouraged by crowd
Matthew 9:2 “And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.””(Reassured of a right relationship with God)

The news strikes fear into you!  Like someone hit you in the gut!
News about yourself or news about someone you love and care about.

Worried and anxious about fiancés & making ends meet
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing…Why are you anxious about clothing? …do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I never saw this before!  I never put 1 + 1 together!
Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Frightened by a Storm
Matthew 8:23-27 “When he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Have you ever wondered what pilots do when there is turbulence or an in-flight emergency?  They keep their eyes on the instruments and fly the plane!

Mark 4:35-41
1.         Jesus was sleeping on a cushion
2.         “Don’t you care”!  Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness in our lives.  The pelting wind driven rain of life’s unexpected storm has caused them to panic and to question the love of God.

Matthew 14:22-33 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Fear raised by life’s mysteries and overwhelming circumstances!

Uncertain times of threatening national and international turmoil
Matthew 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”
Matthew 17:7 “But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
Luke 8:50 “But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.””
Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 24:36-39 “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Story
Professor Robert Wuthnow of Princeton University has explored how it is that people make everyday ethical decisions. Many people, he found, perform deeds of compassion, service, and mercy because at some point in their past someone acted with compassion toward them. He wrote, “The caring we receive may touch us so deeply that we feel especially gratified when we are able to pass it on to someone else.

He tells the story of Jack Casey, who was employed as an emergency worker on an ambulance rescue squad. When Jack was a child, he had oral surgery. Five teeth were to be pulled under general anesthetic, and Jack was fearful. What he remembers most, though, was the operating room nurse who, sensing the boy’s terror, said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be right here beside you no matter what happens.” When Jack woke up after the surgery, she was true to her word, standing right there with him.
Nearly 20 years later, Jack’s ambulance team is called to the scene of a highway accident. A truck has overturned, the driver is pinned in the cab and power tools are necessary to get him out. However, gasoline is dripping onto the driver’s clothes, and one spark from the tools could have spelled disaster. The driver is terrified, crying out that he is scared of dying. So, Jack crawls into the cab next to him and says, “Look, don’t worry, I’m right here with you; I’m not going anywhere.” And Jack was true to his word; he stayed with the man until he was safely removed from the wreckage.

Later the truck driver told Jack, “You were an idiot; you know that the whole thing could have exploded, and we’d have both been burned up!” Jack told him that he felt that he just couldn’t leave him.  Many years before, Jack had been treated compassionately by the nurse, and because of that experience, he could now show that same compassion to another. Receiving grace enabled him to give grace. Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.”

Luke 24:1-5 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Hebrews 4:14-18 ^“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Jesus is alive.
He is here now
Do not fear or be disheartened!

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Hebrews 2:12-15 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ,

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Come Alive
(Chorus)
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave  (2X)

(Verse)
O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He is alive, He is alive

Chorus