Hebrews 4

Hebrews
{4:1} 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.
*We need to be concerned. A promise was left to us. The promise of eternal life for that is truly 'his rest'. We need to be concerned that we might come short of obtaining that promise. It's possible to come short we know it is. Time and again I've mentioned that particular Bible verse that states there will be a people at the end when Christ comes and He says to them, 'get away from me, I never knew you'. Those people REALLY THINK they're doing God's work, they really believe they know Christ and Christ knows them. It is possible to come short of the promise. We don't like to think that it is, who wants to believe that a 'loving God' would keep us from obtaining the promise. Well, a 'loving God' won't keep us from obtaining the promise only WE keep ourselves from doing so. How can we be sure we won't come short of entering into Christ's rest? We need FAITH.
{4:2} 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.
*Two types of people heard the same message.
A glass of water is held up and a person says- Is this glass half full or half empty.
People see things differently. They say if you see the glass as half full then you are an optimist, if you see if half empty you're a pessemist.
A group of people all hear the same message of the gospel preached to them, for some the word profited them and for others it didn't. What was the one thing those who profited from the message had the others didn't? FAITH.
{4:3} For we which have believed do enter into rest, 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.
The faithful will enter into Christ's rest. From the beginning of the world all that was created was finished on the sixth day and God rested the seventh. It was finished. FINISHED. Finished to the point God rested. Think about that. When you finish a task if it is something monumental what do you do next? You usually celebrate. God's rest is an amazing celebration of all that was created in six days. The work was finished. The wonder of it all, the majesty of creation was now to be enjoyed and a day of rest was created so that forever and ever no one would ever forgot the wonder of God's creation. Each seven days a reminder of the glorious creation would be made. God rested and that in itself is remarkable because if ever a person didn't have to rest it would be God. Yet he rested in honor of all that had been made it was that amazingly spectacular. That rest that mankind shared in, being part of the creation that God wrought was something so totally blissful and amazing its nearly incomprehensible.
{4:4} For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
{4:5} And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest.
*If they shall enter into my rest. By entering into God's rest by faith is believing in Him as our Creator, our redeemer. We can claim eternal life in Christ Jesus by His grace and mercy. We can enter into God's rest if we believe, only if we believe. There will not be a single person entering God's rest that does so without faith, without believing- it's impossible.
{4:6} Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief
*Unbelief will keep anyone out. There are commands we have been given by God from the foundation of the world one of the was to rest. It's because we believe in our Creator, the Father and the Son, that we enter into the rest of Jesus. We enter into it now through faith. We musn't harden our hearts but believe.
{4:7} Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
{4:8} For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
{4:9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
{4:10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
{4:11} Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
*Labour to enter into rest.
Is that contradictory? Work to enter into rest. Not to people who work five days a week to get two days off. The concept is understandable. Our labour to enter into God's rest is a labour of faith. We have to cease believing that we can work to our own salvation, we have to trust wholly in Christ, entering His rest, believing fully in His ability to save us. Our work is our faith. And our faith is what will allow us to enter into the rest of Christ.
{4:12} For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.
{4:13} Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
*We can hide nothing from God, nothing! God is quick, God is powerful, God is sharper than a twoedged sword. God can divide the soul from the spirit, the joint from the marrow, God is the discerner of our very thoughts and knows the intents of our hearts!
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.
Jesus Christ is our great high priest!
Jesus as our high priest has entered into heaven!
Jesus as our high priest the Son of God!
We have to hold fast to our belief in Jesus, we have to cling to Jesus.
{4:15} 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, yet] without sin.
*Jesus understands us! Jesus became man and He knows intimately how our infirmaties feel. Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, He understands the power of temptation yet Jesus chose NOT to fall into sin, He was able to keep the temptation from causing Him to sin. He knows the agony of temptation, he knows.
{4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
*We have to by faith and faith alone go boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
May God help us all, may we find mercy and grace, may we labour to enter into the rest promised, may our faith grow and grow. We believe Lord! We believe! Help us our unbelief!
Praise and glory to God now and always through the grace and mercy of his Son now and foreer.
Amen.