Rest For Life

Rest for Life

Hebrews 4:1-13

September 27, 1998

Morning Service

Introduction

1. The idea of zest

A. TV Commercials: There are lots of TV ads - Renew your zest for life, Put the zest back into life, Get zestfully clean, all of these ads are focusing on getting something more out of life or a product, there are several different nutritional companies that show people being incredibly active with the help of their suppliments, there is a seasoning company that wants people to add zest to their food with whatever their blend of spices may be, Zest soap wants people to use their product because it leaves more clean and more refreshed

B. The concept focus: Whatever the ad or product the focus is the same - do more, live more get more out of life, this trend in our society is clear in everything, we should live life to the fullest but it can not be done non stop

2. Society and the zest for life

A. Our society wants more: Much of our society is focused on doing more - American express, getting more - fast food chains and becoming more - Army be all you can be, there is nothing wrong with any of this but are we losing sight of something important,

B. Key Study: study was conducted in the 70’s based on the evolution of computers and technology, it stated that the average work week would be shortented and there would be more time for family, shows that the amount of free time has shrunk in the past 20 years, work week has actually increased, we seem to have such a focus on these things that people have lost something very important - perhaphs we need to put the rest back into life

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Body

I. The Meaning of Rest

A. Basic Definition: Greek term - katapausis: we get the word pause, litterally means to stop working or to cease action, rest is the ceasing of action it is also described in other ways, freedom from worry, to lean on for support

B. Spiritual meaning: No more self effort - we don’t have to search anymore, spiritual needs have been met, we have been centered in Christ, we have peace with God through Christ, He gives us strength to live life,

II. The Availability of Rest

Verse 1: “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.”

A. The key problem: God had openly offered rest for Israel but they rejected it, they would not enter into the rest of God, the writer is stating that all believers need this rest but far too many don’t enter into God’s rest, when we don’t accept God’s promises they will not bear fruit in our lives,

B. The solution: God has not removed the promise of rest, it is still available for us and our lives, all we have to do to enter His rest is accept it

III. The Elements of Rest

Verse 4:2-3: “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 heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed have entered that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared on oath in my anger, They shall never enter my rest.’ And yet His work has been finished since the creation of the world.”

A. Personal faith: Rest in God starts with faith, those who do not believe in God will never enter his rest, it is just not possible, those who don’t trust him will never have the fullness of rest, they will never be able to let go and let God do his work, we will never be able to get the fullness of relationship if we hold back on our resting in Him,

Verse 4:4-6: “For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.’ And again in the passage above he says, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.”

B. Divine decree: God sets the example for us, he took one day from that week of creation to rest, God rested not because he was tired but because he was finished with his work, God commands us to enter his rest, God wants the best for us, this includes resting in him,

Verse 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.”