“Entering into God’s rest (Pt. 1)”
SERMON Title: Entering into God’s rest (Pt. 1)
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 3:5-19 (ESV)
Introduction:
As we are focusing on the theme of Running the Race Together in 2022, we've been going through the Book of Hebrews to rekindle our spirits to run the entire race alongside Jesus. The theme for the next two weeks is this: “Learning to rest in Jesus gives us the strength to run the face faithfully”.
Overview:
Put your trust in Jesus because He is the Son of God
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:5-6
Do not harden your hearts
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” - Hebrews 3:7-11
Hebrews reminds us of what happened when the people of Israel distrusted God and failed to enter the promised land. Entering into this promised land is an example of entering into God’s rest.
God is completely trustworthy because he is the God of the universe. All He asks us to do is have faith in Him. We can take comfort in Him.
As the Holy Spirit speaks, we must hear his voice and not allow our hearts to become hardened. Listen to the Holy Spirit today.
Beware of your unbelieving heart
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. - Hebrews 3:12
Hebrews warns us of those with unbelieving hearts who can lead us astray.
Catholic philosopher introduced three levels of belief: public belief (what I say I believe), private belief (which is what I think I believe), and core belief (which is what I actually believe and live by).
How does my life reflect this core belief, commitment, and allegiance to Jesus?
The help of the community of Christ
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, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” - Hebrews 3:13-15
We must exhort one another every day.
We must live in a Godly community for accountability, growth, and love. In community we can remind each other of Christ’s love and dependability.
Deceitfulness of sin
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. … 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. - Hebrews 3:13, 18-19
We need each other to keep each other from the deceitfulness of sin. Those who were disobedient to God were unable to enter God’s rest.
Application:
If your trust is getting weaker, you need to listen to the Holy Spirit today. God will give you a rest that gives you the peace of a satisfied soul; the peace of a clear conscience, the peace of a living, vibrant, active walk with God that brings an indescribable rest and peace into your life.
Sermon reflection questions:
Have you heard the Holy Spirit’s voice recently? Have you had times of hardened hearts that kept you from hearing?
What does God’s rest look like for you? What is this rest for? Have you felt God’s rest these days?
