Claiming The Promised Rest Of God

Claiming the Promised Rest of God

Hebrews 4:1-13

“4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ”

Memorial Day Service Pine Bluff Baptist Church

As I sought the message that God wanted me to bring to this Memorial Day service I was drawn back to my childhood. I thought about sitting on these very steps eating my lunch, seeing the people wandering through the cemetery reminiscing about love ones who have gone on before. That is the reason why most of us are here for today to remember our loved ones who have gone on before us. But I want to remind you, what we really are here for, and that is to worship our Lord and Savior. As a young boy I remember walking through the cemetery and asking my dad who was this or who was that and he would tell me some stories about them. You see I never knew them but I know them because of the family stories that have passed down through the generations. Why some of them sound like they were interesting characters to be around. But all of them have gone on to be with the Lord and they are resting in Him now. Yes today is memorial day, a day of remembering our dead; but I want us to understand that what we are really here for is to remember what Jesus has done for us. Capture this now I want to express the opinion that every day that we draw breath, is a memorial to Jesus and that we have to live our life as a remembrance or memorial to him. How wonderful to know that our loved ones are celebrating and praising our Risen Lord and Savior in Heaven now. But we are here on earth struggling through life. Do you know that we don’t have to struggle? That Jesus has provided for you a way to conquer life’s problems.

Today I want us to examine what Jesus really meant when He said that He would provide rest for us. In the world of today many Christians get caught up in the things of this world. We strive to succeed; there is nothing wrong with this if we are doing it for Jesus. But for many of us, we have to keep up with our neighbors, we have to have the newest model car, the latest gadget, and the next promotion so that we can feel validated. This is how the world views success, it is not a Biblical sense of success. God does not measure success by what we have He measure success by what we do with what we have, whether it is a little or a lot. Too many of us are scrambling from one thing to the next. We don’t have time for Jesus or for His Kingdom. We have to get to the next ballgame, or meeting. We don’t have time for Wednesday night service because our kids have practice or we are just too tired. We don’t have time to study the Bible but we do have time to watch four hours of T.V. before we go to bed. Where are our priorities? Have you ever wondered what you could accomplish for Jesus if you put as much energy into His work as you do in the things of this world? Now I am going to step on some toes and make you uncomfortable because I am going to ask some tough questions. How many of you place more or as much importance on your work for Jesus as you do on your everyday job or life? Are you more concerned with succeeding at work than succeeding as a Christian? We struggle to be a success in the eyes of the world and we are failing in the only important thing there is, our service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What good is it to be rich and do nothing for Jesus? Jesus gave you everything that you have. Well you say I earned it, yes but God gave you that talent so that you could increase His kingdom.