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Psalms
131:1-3 A Song of Ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes
lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too
profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child
with his mother; Like a weaned child is
my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.
Father God, strengthen us so that we
may have faith in what your Son Jesus, did on the Cross for us. Let today be the day of Salvation for those that are lost in their
sinful lifestyle. We pray and ask for this in Jesus name, Amen!
Book of Hebrews 4:1-8 NKJV
The
beginning of this chapter is a continuation of the unbelief that the last
chapter addressed, the unbelief of the Israelites that God would deliver them
into the Promise Land.
Some
of the Hebrew Jewish Christians who received this letter may have been on the
verge of turning back from their promised rest in Christ, just as the people in
Moses' day turned away from God by means of unbelief and disobedience, therefore
not entering into the Promise Land. In both cases, the difficulties of the
present moment overshadowed the reality of God's promise, and the people
doubted that God would fulfill his promises. The people whether it be the
Israelites, Paul’s Hebrew brethren, or present day people, get wrapped up in
daily events, our focus is taken off of Jesus and we try to deal with daily
activities on our own. When we trust our own efforts instead of Christ's power,
we, too, are in danger of turning back. Our own efforts are never adequate;
only Christ can see us through it all.
1
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear
lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Therefore,
since a promise remains of entering His rest; What is this promise that Paul is
talking about to the Hebrews? Is it referring to the Promise Land of the OT or
salvation of the NT? This promise has a correlation between the one God made to
the Israelite’s and also the promise of salvation through the workings of the
Cross. God made a promise to the Israelite’s that He would deliver them to the
Promise Land where they would enter into His rest through trusting in Him. God
made a promise to us by believing in Jesus Christ and the finished works of the
Cross. They both require the same thing, faith
in God! All we have to do is exercise faith through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Let
us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it; This fear is not a fear of
condemnation of God, but fear in a believers life of losing their salvation.
This letter Paul is addressing to the Hebrews is because they had found
salvation through faith in Jesus, but some were starting to fall back to their
old customs and beliefs. Some nonbelievers were swaying some of the believers
to question what they were doing and convincing them to come back to the old
customs and laws they were raised in. They were probably telling the believers
they were all wrong in believing in Jesus and they needed to come back and
practice the religion of Judaism because that is where their heritage is. They
needed to abide in the laws and sacred rituals of the OT. There are two things
a believer should always have on the forefront of their mind, is my faith where
it is suppose to be, and fear of doing wrong and offending God, thus falling
short.
2 For
indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which
they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
This verse rephrase is
stating this: For this good news (gospel; salvation; promise), the rest in
Himself that God has prepared, has been announced to us, just as it was to
them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith in God of
those who listened to God.
For
indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; What Paul is saying here is that the
plan of eternal rest, the gospel was communicated to the Israelite’s and also
to us. Although they seem to be vastly different, but both are a promise of
rest through faith. Faith in the OT was in God and in the NT is it is Jesus.
These plans of salvation were laid out before the foundation of the world.
But
the word which they heard did not profit them; What was this word and who preached
it? This word was a promise by God and Moses preached it to them. They heard
the Gospel, but chose not to believe it, because it was too hard. They had
their faith in something other than God, like self or idols such as a statue of
a person, animal, place, or thing. It is
the same today, ministers of the Gospel today that preach the truth, are not
listen to. So the majority of the ministers watered down the truth so that the
word of God does not offend or bring conviction of wrong doing. Today’s people
like the fuzzy warm gospel that makes them feel good inside and that the life
they are living is in accordance with God’s Word. The word being preached today
is according to a god’s word, but it isn’t according to the true one and only
living God. Therefore the word preached doesn’t profit those of old or present
time.
Not
being mixed with faith in those who heard it;
There were those of Moses time that did enter into the Promise Land/God’s Rest
because they believed, but many did not. Remember last week’s lesson the
estimate was around 2,000,000 that perished in the wilderness. Only a remnant
entered and the same holds true for today. Many say they believe, but their
lifestyle does not show this, therefore even today only a remnant will enter
into God’s rest.
3 For we
who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "SO I SWORE IN MY
WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,' " although the works were finished
from the foundation of the world.
Rephrasing: Only those who
have their faith placed in the right object, the Cross, can enter His (God)
rest. As for the others, nonbelievers, God said "In My anger I took an
oath: 'They will never enter My place of rest,'" even though this rest has
been ready since I made the world.
For
we who have believed do enter that rest; As stated previously it is faith in what Jesus did at
the Cross in dying for us so that we might have the opportunity of redemption.
Faith is the key to rest in God.
What must we believe in to
have faith? It is Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross. This is the object of
Faith. To merely believe in Jesus and who He is, isn’t enough. We must believe
in the Sacrifice which He, actually was.
The very purpose of Jesus,
His mission, His work, His very appearing, were all for the purpose of being
the perfect sacrifice and going to the Cross for us. There He paid the price
for dying humanity, and redeeming us from the powers of darkness. Paul plainly
states in Galatians: Galatians
1:4 Who gave himself for our sins,
that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of
God and our Father. The
phrase in I Corinthians tells us what the center of our faith must be. 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
As
He has said: "SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST; In Chapter 3 verse 11 we studied this
statement. God stated it pertaining to the Israelites, but not just to the
Israelite, He was talking to us also. If we don’t love God with all our heart,
mind, soul, and strength (Faith), then we will not enter into His rest of
eternal life.
Although
the works were finished from the foundation of the world; This whole plan of eternal rest
(salvation) was planned when the God create all things. God has a plan for all
things in our life, all we have to do is trust Him. 1 Peter 1:17-21 And if you
call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work,
conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with
corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received
by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation
of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 2 who through Him believe in God, who raised
Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
4 For He
has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM
ALL HIS WORKS";
Verses 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7
all have one thing in common that Paul is trying to bring out. God spoke all
these things that are in capital letters. It isn’t something Paul dreamed up
and attempting to get us to believe fabricated facts. If you read these verses
slowly and carefully you will get the idea and after reading them several times
they will all start to make sense. These things are all stated in the OT and
point toward Jesus Christ. This verse is stating what God said, “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL
HIS WORKS, “works” meaning all that He created including the plan of Salvation;
Jesus death and resurrection. Have you ever thought about this statement
including the plan of salvation? Genesis
2:2 And on the seventh day God
ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His
work which He had done.
5 and again
in this place: "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."
This
is taken from Psalm 95:11.
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY
REST; We studied this phrase in Hebrews 3:11. The purpose of quoting this here appears
to be two-fold: 1) To show that even in this Psalm God spoke of “his” rest, and
said that they should not enter into it, referring to the Israelites and 2) it
is connected with Hebrews 4:6, and is intended to show that a rest
yet remained, the divine rest spoken of in the Scriptures, the new covenant;
Jesus death and resurrection. This rest is still alive today for those that
choose it.
6 Since
therefore it remains that some must
enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of
disobedience,
Since
therefore it remains that some must
enter it; This phrase
should have been translated, “It remains for some to enter in”, meaning the
door of salvation. The door is open to all who will believe, which falsifies
the erroneous manner in which predestination is taught in many cases. God has
not predestined some to go to Heaven and some to go to Hell, with them having
no choice in the matter. It is left up to “whosoever will”. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say,
"Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who
thirsts come. Whoever desires, let
him take the water of life freely.
And
those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience; God had given the Israelites the
opportunity to enter Canaan, but they disobeyed and failed to enter Numbers
13-14. Now God offers
us the opportunity to enter his ultimate place of rest; he invites us to come
to Christ. To enter his rest, one must place their faith in Jesus and the
sacrifice on the Cross. You must stop trying to create salvation through your own
power, and you must trust the power of the Holy Spirit that one can obey Him.
It was lack of faith by the Israelites that caused them to falter which led
them to disobedience.
7 again He
designates a certain day, saying in David, "TODAY," after such a long
time, as it has been said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT
HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."
Taking this verse an
mulling it over and stating it another way it says: David’s time was a long
time after the Israelites exodus, but the word “today” was still being referred
to for accepting salvation, and not to harden ones heart.
Again
He designates a certain day, saying in David, “TODAY,” after such a long time; He, meaning God, set another time for
entering His rest, and that time is today. Not tomorrow, next week, or next
year, but “today”, because tomorrow will be too late for some. God announced
this through David some 500 years after Israel’s experience in the wilderness.
"Today if you hear His voice,
harden not your hearts."
God calls to a dying
humanity daily, salvation is always an open invitation. Although the invitation
for each individual is only open for a limited time, with our death the door to
salvation is closed.
As
it has been said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR
HEARTS."; Hard
hearts are brought about through unbelief which keeps people from hearing the
voice of the Holy Spirit. This in turn prevents people from accepting the call
of God and accepting Him today.
8 For if
Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another
day.
For
if Joshua had given them rest;
The name Joshua is also translated as Jesus. The Syriac renders it, “Joshua the
son of Nun.” “Jesus” is the Greek mode of writing “Joshua.”
Then
He would not afterward have spoken of another day; This phrase is stating then, “if the
Israelites would have found rest through Joshua, then finding rest thereafter
would not be mentioned in God’s Holy Words. Instead it is telling us salvation
through Jesus Christ is alive today.
God wants us to enter his
rest. For the Israelites of Moses' time, this rest was the earthly rest to be
found in the Promised Land. For Christians, it is peace with God now and
eternal life on a new earth later. We do not need to wait for the next life to
enjoy God's rest and peace; we may have it daily now! The rest we can have now
is a rest that gives us peace and comfort knowing that God is taking care of
us. It doesn’t mean every day will be a pot of honey. Believers will still undergo
trials and tribulations through life, but the difference being is an inner
peace knowing God will provide. Our daily rest in the Lord will not end with
death but will become an eternal rest in the place that Christ is preparing for
us. John 14:1-4 "Let not your heart
be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go
you know, and the way you know."
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All
things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill
Wiesbrock https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn
The Lighthouse
Full Gospel Church
Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe
it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus
I know I am a sinner. I confess my sins
to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a
sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all
of my sins. I believe that only you can
forgive sin. I commit my life to you and
ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.” I believe this and have faith you will make a
new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead
me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1
John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom.
1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)
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