Enter In
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God’s Rest
God’s Rest
What we learned last week, and a little bit of what I missed.
God wants us to enter into His rest.
He wants us to be rested and refreshed.
Rest - Pausing in the presence of God where we find life, satisfaction, joy, and peace.
Rest - Pausing in the presence of God where we find life, satisfaction, joy, and peace.
God’s rest has its beginnings at Creation.
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Ever since the 6th day was completed, God has been resting, since His creative work at that time has been finished.
The rabbis taught that this 7th day rest was to be never ending as it does not have “and there was evening and there was morning...”
The point is God’s rest can be and was intended to be entered into forever.
The example at the beginning is that Adam and Eve had the opportunity to enjoy the presence of God and enjoy His creation, while tending the garden in total contentedness forever.
The rest of God is more than just physical rest, it is relational and spiritual rest.
We can enter into that rest TODAY!
Initial entrance into God’s rest is found in Jesus Christ.
Although Adam and Eve were experiencing the rest of God in the beginning, God’s plan from the beginning included mankind falling into sin and losing that rest.
Sin messes up the rest of God for us!
But God wants to restore that rest, which is why He says:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We enter that eternal rest through Jesus Christ who through His finished work on the cross enables us to be forgiven and to enter into God’s presence and thus into God’s rest.
Our relationship to God is restored, and we are able to rest spiritually.
Final entrance into that rest will be with the Father in Heaven.
But we don’t have to wait until Heaven to experience God’s rest.
He wants us to experience tastes, glimmers, glimpses of Heaven, now.
Present entrance into that rest is through the Holy Spirit.
Even though we are already resting in God, the writer of Hebrews alludes to needing to enter that rest TODAY.
Resting in God is something we do daily, but especially on Sundays.
While we can pause at any time, God has set aside a specific day for us to do that.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
While we can pause anywhere, God has set aside a specific place for us to do that.
katapausis - most of the references to rest in Hebrews 4. to cease, but also means a place of rest. A place where we find cessation from labor and rest is given.
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
In the Old Testament, this was a specific reference to the physical Jerusalem.
In the future that is a prophetic reference to the New Jerusalem
In the present it is the church, where His people gather, as we wait for the final eternal rest in the New Jerusalem.
Rest - Pausing in the presence of God where we find life, satisfaction, joy, and peace, through Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Rest - Pausing in the presence of God where we find life, satisfaction, joy, and peace, through Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Take a breather; bring life back to your mind, body and soul by resting in Christ’s finished work on the cross and worshipping Him through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
When we actively find our rest in God, we gain life, breath, quenched thirst of the soul, joy and bliss.
Every time we enter God’s rest we are being saved.
stress, anxiety, worry,
fear, anger, self-loathing
bondage, baggage, bitterness
Then the author challenges us with this final exhortation.
Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Today, we’ll talk about how we diligently enter that rest and how disobedience keeps us from entering in.
We’re also going to see that entering that rest includes seeking the word of the Lord, seeking the Lord Himself, and seeking the wonder of the Lord.
Be Diligent To Enter That Rest
Be Diligent To Enter That Rest
We are called to Enter In - verb
The implication is:
If we don’t enter in, we will fall into disobedience.
entering in helps to keep us in the right.
God wants us to draw near to Him.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Come clean, open your hearts, and recommit to make God your sole desire.
Drawing near to God will keep you from sin, but sin will keep you from drawing near to God.
Spring-boarding off last week, even though we are saved and have entered that rest,
God wants us to KEEP entering that rest.
This is why He repeats the word TODAY, so many times in Hebrews 4.
God has rest for you TODAY.
In that rest, God has something He wants to do for you TODAY!
A Teaching to grow in maturity
A Blessing to enjoy and be thankful
An Encouragement to lift our spirit
An Exhortation to challenge us
A Rebuke to keep us right
A Victory to rejoice in
A Hunger He will satisfy
A hurt He will heal
To produce purity, righteousness, peace, mercy, gentleness, contentment, joy, and love.
The beatitudes of Matthew 5
The fruit of the Spirit of Gal 5
The restoration of Isaiah 61
The spiritual blessings of Ephesians 1
The promises of 2 Peter 1
God wants us to experience His rest TODAY! We don’t have to wait until Heaven.
This is the rest that God says, “Be diligent to enter in”
God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.
There is nothing we need that He can’t supply.
When your well is empty, He wants to fill it up.
And, once again, the warning is that we will fail to enter in due to disobedience.
At this juncture, this is not a salvation issue, but a sanctification issue.
This is God wanting to make the most of every situation in our life good or bad.
This is God saying, “I want you to be so full of me, that there is no room for the darkness, or the devil.”
Satan you have no hold on me.
Darkness you are dispelled by the light.
And the presence and glory of God burns away the dross.
But, disobedience will keep us from experiencing this kind of release and freedom.
This is why we must be vigilant and diligent
Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
What Does It Mean To Be Diligent?
What Does It Mean To Be Diligent?
To make every effort to enter that rest.
To be eager to enter that rest.
To enter with haste
There must be effort on our part. Again, this is not about salvation, but sanctification. It’s not about what we receive, but about where we find our satisfaction. God’s present rest is something He initiates, but we have to pursue.
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.
Bookends vs. 1 and vs. 11
Remember, the writer to Hebrews is speaking to Christians, which again is why we know He is ultimately referencing a rest that many Christians fail to enter now.
To Diligently Enter In: To eagerly do everything you can to enter the place where God is so as to be in His presence and find rest.
Our specific example today is Moses who shows us a little of what this diligence and desire looks like.
Read Exodus 33:7-18
The Tent Of Meeting (vs 7-11)
The Tent Of Meeting (vs 7-11)
Some things we observe in general
The word for meeting means appointed time and/or place.
People would go there to seek the Lord.
Outside the camp.
A special place not common.
External not internal.
The people watched from a distance. Each at their own tent.
When they saw the pillar at the entrance, the people rose to worship.
Worship was external - outside.
We can go through the ritual and routine, tradition and liturgy, but if it does not impact us internally, what’s the point?
Moses was not satisfied to just worship externally. He was not satisfied at keeping God at a distance.
Moses entered in.
The pillar of cloud descended.
The pillar wasn’t there and then Moses entered.
Moses made the effort first and then God showed up.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Story of the married couple and the wife getting further away.
Going up the down escalator.
The Lord spoke with Moses. (vs 9)
He had Facetime with God: Face to Face with God. (vs 11)
This doesn’t mean he actually saw God’s face. It is a figure of speech for openness and friendship.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Opposite of Adam and Eve hiding their face from God.
Joshua would not depart.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Desiring The Presence Of God (vs 9-15)
Desiring The Presence Of God (vs 9-15)
Some things we observe specifically.
Seeking the Word of the Lord. (vs 9)
Speak to me Lord. The Lord would speak with Moses. (vs 9, 11)
God what’s your word for me, TODAY!
Seeking The Lord. (vs 12-13)
However, Moses says, “You say to me (word)…BUT who are you sending with me?”
There’s an subtle implication here that is often missed.
God has already said that a representative of His presence would go before them.
“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. “Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him.
I want more than just your word.
I want more than just a representative.
If You do not go with us, do not lead us up! (vs 15)
A mere angel is not enough. I need You to show up.
Where you go, I’ll go, where you stay I’ll stay, but I am not moving until You show up.
“You have said you know me and you are pleased with me…But I want to KNOW you!”
It’s good to know that you know me, but I want more.
I want to YADA you, relationally AND experientially.
It is an intimate knowledge where you know the other person so well you finish their sentences for them.
I want to think like you think.
I want to like the things you like.
I want to do what you are doing.
I want to be where you are.
Desiring The Presence Of God Corporately (vs 14-17)
Desiring The Presence Of God Corporately (vs 14-17)
I vs. we.
Moses is pleading for more than just himself.
But God’s response to his plea? My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.
Remember God’s frustration with the nation of Israel.
“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”
God is willing to destroy the people and start over with Moses.
This explains why the people were staying at a distance afraid to enter in.
Remember what Hebrews 4:11 said? That our disobedience would keep us from entering in...
(vs 15-16) - if your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up
God already said that He would not go in their midst.
But Moses is pleading for the people.
How can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I AND Your people.
Is it not by Your going with us?
So that we, I AND Your people.
Moses says, “I want us to know you corporately.”
God wants us to know Him individually and corporately.
God would You be pleased to reveal Yourself to us corporately?
Side Application
This is how Jesus pleads with the Father on our behalf. Moses is a type of Christ, and Israel is a type of us.
We are an obstinate people.
Church in America we are an obstinate people.
We can be like Moses.
This is how we can plead for the church in America
God send Your presence to be in the midst of Your churches.
Prompt everyone’s heart to diligently desire to enter into Your presence.
May we be distinguished from all the other people.
We are to look differently from all the others.
The church of Jesus Christ is supposed to look differently!
May The Lighthouse Fellowship look differently than the world around us!
AND GOD LISTENED TO MOSES AND GRANTED HIS REQUEST!!!!
Not because of the people, but because of Moses’s relationship with Him.
Desiring The Glory Of God (vs 18-23)
Desiring The Glory Of God (vs 18-23)
Then to seal the deal, Moses makes one more ostentatious request.
In this situation, Moses is asking God to go over the top so that Moses can admire His beauty and bask in His very essence.
To know and experience God in the most intimate way possible.
Ties into YADA. An intimate, experiential knowledge that a man and woman share in the context of the marriage bed.
I want to see you exposed in all your glory!
Seeking The Wonder of the Lord (vs. 18)
Seeking a deeper revelation of who God is.
Seeking the favor of the Lord. (vs 15-17)
grace, acceptance
bless me God.
When you enter in, here’s what you experience:
Ex 34:5-8
Compassion
Grace
Mercy
Lovingkindness
Truth
Forgiveness
Perfect Justice - peace
This would be the ultimate display of being diligent to enter rest in the presence of God.
Seeking the Word of God.
Even more, God I want to know you relationally and experientially.
Even more, I want to be enveloped in the very essence of who You are.
Let your glory swallow me up!
One last example: The Mount of Transfiguration
Prayer: I long and yearn for rest in Your presence. I need to find my life’s breath in You. Reveal to me Your Word and Your Wonder. I want to know You and experience You. Holy Spirit fill me afresh and God, show me Your glory.
Closing Song: Holy Spirit, One Thing
