[0:00] God bless you in many ways. I have on the heart of the Lord spoken to you.
[0:17] Chapter 3. And I just want to look at some verses here. I'd like to talk just a little bit about rest and how that God wants us to have rest and what He means by that rest.
[0:38] Do you have rest in your soul this morning? Is there a rest? Is there a life? If there's life, there's rest.
[0:50] Let's go to verse 18 in chapter 3 of Hebrews. And to whom swear He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believe not.
[1:06] He was talking about Egypt and the Israelites and Moses and how they, or not Egypt, but rather, when they had left Egypt, some were not allowed into the promised land because they believed not.
[1:23] In verse 19. So we see that we could, that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Unbelief.
[1:35] That is the only thing that will keep us out. The sin of unbelief. Now let's go to chapter 4. In verse 1.
[1:46] 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.
[1:57] 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.
[2:08] Some of them did not have faith. Some of them that heard it did not have the faith. For we which have believed do enter into rest.
[2:21] 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.
[2:35] Let's go down to verse 6. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.
[2:46] So we have the Israelites not able to enter into that promised land because of unbelief.
[2:57] And then there are many today, and in this day, that would not enter into the rest of Jesus because of unbelief also. And then in verse 7, again He limited a certain day, saying in David, today, after so long a time, as it is said, today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
[3:22] There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. There remaineth a rest to the people of God. Are we His people? Do we know what that rest is?
[3:34] Have we come to that place where we have ceased from our own works? Let's look at the next verse. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from His own works as God did from His.
[3:51] God's plan for His people are that we come to this place of rest. How do we know that? What did Jesus say when He was here in Matthew?
[4:05] He said, Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. If God's people would have more rest in Jesus, I believe they would have more joy.
[4:23] And if they would have more joy, that joy would bubble out and it would affect those around them. And there would be people, souls added to God's kingdom if there was more rest, more joy.
[4:41] Jesus said, Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
[4:53] That's the gospel Jesus preached, that there is a rest for your soul, a place of rest. And we want to look at this some more.
[5:09] We need to press into this. We need to, now this almost sounds like a contradiction, but let's look at the next verse again there in Hebrews, if you're still there, in verse 11.
[5:21] It says, Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest. Now which is it? Is it labor or is it rest? Labor.
[5:35] This labor, I looked up this word labor in several places, and it's the same word that is used in Genesis where he's talking about a mother in labor.
[5:49] It is hard labor. And what I get from this is that we need to do whatever it takes to enter into that rest. We need to enter into that rest.
[6:04] And where he says, you know, to cease from his own works, that's a key. You know, we know we're called into good works. We're called into love and good works. Our good works don't end when we become a Christian or enter into that rest.
[6:19] But he's talking about ceasing from our own works. He's talking about resting from trying so hard.
[6:34] And I believe that's what Jesus was saying. You know, you've been, you know, the enemy wants to come and he wants us to be stressed out and to be trying and trying and trying and just try to be better.
[6:46] And how often have we heard that? You know, do the best you can and just try as hard as you can and then you'll make it maybe into heaven. But we're to cease from our own works.
[6:57] And I believe that the word of God teaches us to cease from our own works and God wants to give us that life where our works become natural.
[7:14] Our good works are just the life of God through us. And let's read a few more verses here in Hebrews. For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged 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.
[7:37] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. But all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Think about that verse.
[7:48] We talked yesterday. Yesterday we had a wonderful time of God ministering to us and hearts being open and confession being made and maybe things that were secret are no longer secret but they've never been secret to God.
[8:04] It says that everything is manifest in his sight. All things are open and naked unto the eyes of him whom we have to do. Our God.
[8:16] It's always that way. Nothing is ever hidden from God. Seeing then that we have a high priest a great high priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast to our profession 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 but with no sin.
[8:49] Jesus was tempted too in all points like us but he didn't sin he didn't give in we heard about that a lot this week but then he says verse 16 and this is the last verse here that I want to read in Hebrews let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need coming boldly to him like our one brother shared this morning you know we don't have to go somewhere else we don't have to look for help we can come right to the Father just like he said you know his children when they're in trouble they know to come to him our little children know that as well but when we're a little bigger we seem to forget that sometimes that because of this having a great high priest Jesus we can come boldly to the throne of grace we don't have to wait we don't have to wander but we can come to him when we're in trouble and yes
[10:00] Jesus said to come unto him for that rest that rest doesn't mean that we're not busy that doesn't mean we're not working in our father's business in the kingdom of God it doesn't mean that we get to relax and put our guards down and be careless no no not at all it just means that in our hearts we have a peace we have a joy something that's been settled and it's established and we are free from fear free from anxiety and free from worry because of who lives in us there's that rest aren't you glad for that rest sometimes we need to just stop and think about that sometimes even just a lot of preaching can overwhelm us and we're just like so undone and just so you know where do we start well we start with rest we start with that peace and that joy the spirit of God will bring that to us
[11:11] Jesus will bring that he is that to us he is our rest I was going to read some more verses in Ephesians I think I'll skip that and just keep going here because of what I want to end with the life of God within us is that rest I'd like to look at what is our responsibility in this what is our responsibility in this life that God puts in us and what are some things that we should be looking at so that it so that this life continues and is preserved and I know a lot of that has been touched on already this morning only when we have entered into this rest are our works of any value to God if we're not in this rest then it's still our own works
[12:18] I think Joe had read these verses as well but in Galatians 20 verse 20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me and yes as we heard again this morning that when there's life anything that is birth a plant an animal a little baby when there's life we expect it to grow it must grow if it doesn't grow he or she think about these little babies if they don't grow we were together last night and commenting on these little babies how fast they grow you don't see them for one week you see change there's growth in a little baby and if that were not so we would be concerned wouldn't we and we would go to the doctor and we'd try to find out what's wrong if we don't grow spiritually if we don't grow in knowledge of Christ and grow and we can look back and see growth in our spiritual life then we also have a big problem it will that life will die we need to continue to grow in the word that's one area in the word of God in John 8 31 it says then said Jesus to those
[13:58] Jews which believed on him if ye continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed and also in John 15 verse 9 as the father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love we are to continue it's not a once and done deal we must continue never stop always moving forward and upward never looking back never like we heard again this morning not looking back at the old life but pressing on in the new towards that mark that high calling of Christ Jesus staying near the cross I believe that God wants us and intends us you know when he says to continue in my word he wants us to feed that life what we feed and nourish will grow we heard this also see I said the message has pretty much been preached
[15:10] I'm just highlighting what we've heard really but not to neglect not to neglect this life how shall we escape I think brother Merlin was sharing about that how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation we're called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling but if we neglect that life if we neglect our souls and I think that has been a big problem for me I know that there's been times where I've just neglected and like you shared you know we're good to go for another year right but if we neglect that life we're neglecting our soul people in America spend billions of dollars not one person but the country the nation spends billions of dollars trying to stay healthy think of the health craze and I'm not against it all of it some of it yes but to stay healthy physically we spend hours some of you that are very disciplined you spend hours maybe a day or a week to keep your body healthy to build your physical body and strengthen it and to make it stronger to make it healthier you're very disciplined maybe partly to look better too you know and especially young guys sometimes they really want to show those muscles you know and the gyms in America are booked and busy making a lot of money
[16:53] I admire the discipline I'm not against it especially if it's you know to stay fit and it's after all our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost and so if we want to stay in shape I admire that and I need that discipline myself more and I want to do more of that one of the things that help in all of this especially when we're saying no to the flesh and eating healthy and things like that fasting is another thing that we read about much in scripture it's not only good spiritually it's good physically it's good for us taking care of our bodies is a good thing I'm not against that if it's for the glory of God I'll add that it's not for the glory of man but for the glory of God who made us and created us we need to be more into that
[17:55] I believe I really believe that we need to be careful we need to think about how we eat and things like that but I want to share this morning with you the burden of this message and my question for us is are we neglecting our souls do we care that much about our spiritual being do I care that much I know in this past week many of us have been revived and there's a new spring in our step and we're rejoicing in the Lord we're happy about that we're excited to keep moving forward forward right but what is your plan what are you planning to do to keep this in your heart in a week from now in a month from now in a year from now ten years from now are we committed to keeping on we must not neglect the salvation of our souls we must feed this life within us we heard this week about the word and being in the word and about prayer and our channel to God and how to be connected with him and are we willing to do something about that maybe our prayer life isn't what it should be well if we're going to remain living if we're going to keep on living this life that God has put in us then we must stay connected to the vine just like that power cord yesterday you know if we're not connected to Jesus the vine then life will begin to die it will die we must grow that life must be nurtured and cared for maybe trimmed from time to time you know like like in an orchard you know they the man what do you call a man that runs an orchard not a shepherd but what is he husbandman thank you yeah and he takes care of the orchard and he trims those trees back sometimes
[20:20] God will trim us and he'll prune us he'll take some of the bad off he wants to if we let him but it's to produce more fruit anything that might harm this life these are just thoughts that I've been writing down but anything that harms this life or causes this life to die must quickly be dealt with we don't have to wait we don't have to sometimes yes we need to go to somebody I'm not discouraging that at all sometimes we need a brother or sister to help us but it must be dealt with quickly and we can come to Christ anything bad any poison in the water will kill things like false doctrine anything that is not Christ will try to kill this life sin lust evil music evil movies deception that we get off the internet things that deceive or bring death we need to be alert and willing to say no to our own thoughts our own way instead of
[21:46] God's way that will bring death wasting all our time on unholy things instead of unholy things will bring certain death what is something that help with life spending quality time with brothers and sisters fellowshipping with the saints that love God and will also stir up and nurture this life within you looking at sin as exceedingly sinful very wicked hating it like God hates it walking in the light this life needs light we need to walk in that light as Jesus is in the light walking in the light being open that's what that means having an open heart one that you know you're not hiding anything you just are who you are and you want to just grow in the
[22:54] Lord and be honest and be accountable we talked about that yesterday being accountable one to another that is a big part of walking in the light is being open with each other being open walking in the light praise the Lord that we have that opportunity thank you Lord that we can be in a body where we can do just that will this life remain in us until Jesus comes if we allow him that life let's remember that life is not something you and I produce that is his life but we have been so blessed with it will you go along with Jesus this is something that he pointed out this week will we go along with
[23:57] Jesus when he calls this life home to glory remember what he said about he had this question for God how is he going to name off all the millions of people in less than a second everybody going to hear their name and he was asking God how is this going to happen the twinkling of an eye and then it was as if God showed him that no he's just going to call that life home you either have it or you don't we either have that life or we don't that's what he recognizes he recognizes his son his life that he puts in his people he won't be confused on that great noble day his presence on earth in his church is what's going home and that better be in us when he returns you see how serious it is to maintain that life the spirit of
[25:12] God in us Satan hates only one thing the life of God and he came to destroy it my question to us this morning if I can just I know we've had a wonderful week but if I can just challenge this are we willing to do whatever it takes and this is for me am I willing to do whatever it takes to preserve this life to allow God to preserve this life in us are we willing to take every thought into captivity and bring it before Christ and say God is this you I have an idea I'd like to do something I'd like to plan something fun God is that thought of you is that okay with you is your blessing upon this or is it just my thought and my selfishness are we willing to do that what about our friends friends can and will either promote life or bring death to us who we connect with who we fellowship with who we associate with who we play with if they don't have this life if they don't have sound teaching then they need to be a mission field not a fellowship place not a place of fellowship they need to be a mission field to us we need to try to help them find this life also and if they're not interested then they shouldn't be your friends in the first place but that is a big one especially
[27:10] I'm thinking of young people that is a really big one is who our friends are because the Bible says that evil communications corrupt good manners it corrupts that life that is in you if it's an evil communication somebody that's not communicating the right thing and it says also that God is not mocked this is just how it is God said so and you and I won't change that do whatever it takes to preserve this life to allow God to preserve it in us and to cause it to grow will we commit today to walk in this light to walk in this life I know I've said life many times but that's what it is it's the spirit of
[28:12] God within you it's the new birth when we're born again God puts his seed in you and it's a precious thing it's the most precious thing on earth is the life of God in John I want to look at John yet and we'll end with this perhaps but in John chapter 7 verse 36 Jesus said what manner of this what manner of saying is this that he said he said ye shall seek me and ye shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come he's talking to the Jews here but then he said in that last day that great day of the feast
[29:15] Jesus stood and cried saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water out of his innermost being from the bottom of your heart will flow rivers of living water it's that life he's talking about that life is that river flowing it doesn't say there's going to be a pond there with a lot of water because the pond would become stale and nothing fresh but a river that flows it's always fresh it's always more it never stops you can't go stop the river down here nobody will even bother trying they'd have big problems it's going to flow and this river flows it's the living water that only flows out of heaven out of knowing
[30:19] Jesus and it says in verse 39 but this spake he of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified but he has now been glorified and the holy spirit has now been given are we walking in that and will we continue to walk in that I just wonder if we need to make a deeper I know we have confessed we repented of things we are free we are rejoicing in him we are happy in Jesus but are we committed to this am I really committed to this that I am going to spend time in the word and I am going to be careful about the sins that are out there I am going to guard my heart the Bible says guard my heart I want to be careful with who I want to associate with and if they're not bringing life then I don't want to be part of that you know what
[31:24] I mean you know what I'm talking about and that doesn't mean we have to be unfriendly people no no it just means that we treasure this life and we care about our own soul and we don't neglect our own soul are we that committed are we going to be that committed that we don't just in a week from now just don't know what happened that was a great week we had but it's all gone now I don't feel anything anymore and I just don't know what I guess I'm back where I was before we're not going there are we no we're going to stay in prayer we're going to keep I wonder if we should just stand and if anyone wants to just make a deeper commitment that you know your hearts are free
[32:28] I'm not looking for repentance necessarily although that's always welcome but if you just want to make a commitment to God a commitment to God that you're going to really stand and you're going to do what it takes walk near the cross embrace the cross in your life deny yourself all those things and just say Lord I want to preserve I want you to preserve that life in me help me to do whatever it takes if you want to do that and just come up here and stand here or kneel and and we'll just end with prayer I'll pray for you is there anyone that would like to do that and then we'll just you know we won't spend a lot of time but just in your hearts make that commitment why don't we stand and if you'd like to make that commitment firmly and come up here and be serious let's just do that and we'll just pray together pray in your hearts and ask
[33:41] God for wisdom in showing us showing us some of those things that we need to do and deal with in our hearts that will stand against death stand against those things that bring death to our hearts Lord I just pray God that you would bless everyone that's here this morning and Lord everyone that's serious about this life that you've put within us Lord that you would preserve it in our hearts Lord and that it would not just be something exciting for one week Lord but Lord it would be something that remains and becomes stronger and stronger Lord that your life would flow through us like those rivers of living water Father I pray for every soul here this morning that you would do a deep work in our hearts and make that commitment strong Lord help us to mean it with all our hearts and that we would go all the way with you
[34:42] Lord not just part way until we come to the cross and then we stop and it's that we would just tear down those barriers in our lives and we would really mean it Father I pray that you would preserve this body Lord that your spirit would remain strong and alive and it would bring a hatred towards sin and against sinful things Lord the things that want to come as a question Lord I pray there would be a clarity there oh God that we would be clear with what you love and what you hate Lord lead us guide us help us to walk in humility and brokenness before you help us to hate the pride that wants to rise in our hearts and bring destruction to this life this precious life of
[35:55] Jesus that you've entrusted us with I pray that others would come to the cross because of it others would see Jesus because of it because of you all for your glory Lord help us to never touch that glory but that we would always give it to you Lord help us help us Lord Jesus help us to walk in that rest and that peace and that joy I pray Lord you'd make our young people strong Lord that they would be strong and stand strong Lord they would be accountable one to another however you lead them Lord give them the victory they need
[36:55] Lord Jesus Lord we thank you and we praise you for who you are in Jesus name Amen and