ENTERING GOD’S REST
Hebrews 4:11-16

Introduction:     In verse 11, we are encouraged to labor to enter into the rest God has prepared for His people. The word labor means to give diligence, to make haste, to make an all out effort. But this is not a work dependent upon human resources. In the final verses of this section, the writer points us to two provisions upon which our experience of God’s best are founded.

I.          THE SCRIPTURES (VV.12-13)
God’s will and works are revealed in his word.

A.                 God’s Word Is Enduring With Life – that means that it is alive.

It continues to speak to all generations.

B.                 God’s Word is Effective In Power – that means it is powerful.

When it is believed and obeyed, things happen. God’s Word is penetrating – that makes it essential. No part of the life is left untouched when it is exposed to the Word of God – soul, spirit, attitudes and motives are all laid bare by the Word of God. The Word of God confronts our past, our problems, our potential, and our personality so that we are left naked and opened before the eyes of God.

            C.        God’s Word Explores All Motives

I will either live by that which my eye can see, or that which God has said. Experiencing God’s rest is really very simple. We are to go about our lives – making decisions, confronting our problems, performing our ministries, and so on – as if God is really going to do what He said He would do. I will either believe that Christ completes my life, or I will look to someone or something else to make my life complete.

II.         THE SAVIOR (VV.14-16)
In these verses, Paul returns to the subject of the priestly ministry of Christ, a subject which will be the focus of the better part of the next six chapters. In these verses, we see three aspects of Jesus as our great High Priest which makes it possible for us to "rest" in His finished work.

A.        His Compassion – he can be touched with the feeling of our infirmity.

Again, the author points us to the humanity of Christ, reminding us that Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are. Christ experienced life as we have to live it and knows the day by day struggles we face – temptation, loss, rejection, hardship, pain …everything.

B.           His Perfection – he remained without sin.

C.        His Deity - Our High Priest is referred to as "Jesus the Son of God."

This points us to His deity. Because Christ prevailed where you and I fail – in the temptations of life – we can rest with confidence in His finished work.

Conclusion:       Because Christ is compassionate and sinless, we may boldly go to God with our needs, as often as our lives demands it, with the assurance that we will be met with mercy and grace. To do any less is to be guilty of unbelief and to miss the rest that God has promised the Christian.