Sermon Title: THE COMMAND TO ENTER HIS REST II
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
God’s command to enter His Rest today is His assurance that - in our utter obedience and trust to live under His Present Sovereign Reign - we have already become People of His Eternal Kingdom today.
Indeed, the very reason why we may, and must, trust in our Lord is because He remains actively engaged and present to every moment of our lives, and to every event in this world.
In His state of divine rest, God welcomes us to trust in His unfailing love and faithfulness, and to enter His Rest; by believing that He has all things in divine order, and in divine, secured process, of restoring His Perfect Cosmos – despite the present fallenness and wickedness of Man.
John H. Walton in his book, ‘Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament’ explains:
“The concept of divine rest can, therefore, be elucidated by ancient Near Eastern literature, which demonstrates that deity’s rest is achieved in a temple, generally as a result of order having been established. The Rest, while it represents disengagement from the process of establishing order, is more importantly, an expression of engagement as the deity takes his place at the helm to maintain an ordered, secure, and stable cosmos.”
God’s Rest becomes elusive to Man after the Fall.
In Genesis 2, God established the Garden in Eden - a paradise that He personally created and cultured into divine, perfect order.
Within the garden He placed and tasked a steward, Adam, to care for the Garden.
God would actually come to the Garden – and enjoy sweet communion with Adam.
The Garden of Eden represents God’s Rest; and humanity, at our beginning, is at rest with God, when we are found in His Place of Rest.
Now to be clear, Rest is not relaxation.
Adam had the divine job of caring for God’s Garden.
He fulfills his task of stewardship in God’s presence, in the Garden, where everything is in order and at peace as God had ordained.
He is experiencing God’s Rest; for He is placed there by God.
In Genesis 3, Adam, and the woman, rebelled against God and was cast from the Garden.
God’s Rest for Adam was over; and his work would now be hard, restless.
The divine goodness and orderliness that Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden is now replaced with a world that is characterised by fearful labour and wickedness.
It will require so much effort just to survive; anxiety and fear overtakes peace and confidence.
It is a world of disorder.
Just like Eden, God’s Rest is now forbidden to every human because of their sin against Him.
However, in Hebrews 4:1, 9-11, as His Children, we are given the present promise of His Sabbath-Rest:
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ... ...
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Entering the present Sabbath-Rest of God is most certainly a paradigm - a mindset of faithfulness, trust and obedience that informs and inspires the Christian life, but it is also a holy day of the week that we are commanded to observe.
Through the Sabbath, God is restoring His Rest in us.
From His Salvific work of restoring humanity, God calls Abraham and later delivers his descendants from slavery in Egypt. They would form a new nation, Israel, of whom God calls them – as He did Abraham – into a covenant relationship.
He gave them the Ten Commandments as part of this Covenant; and the 4th Commandment right after the first three that establishes His Relationship with Man, He commanded His Children in Exodus 20:8-11:
“8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.
On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
To remember the seventh day by keeping it holy was expressly connected to the day that God rested after His work of creating “the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them.”
To this, this Sabbath day is a time to cease from our own work; to rest, as God rested.
But more significantly, it is an invitation from God to participate in His own rest – to begin the process of re-entering the Garden of Eden, God’s place of rest.
Through Christ, the flaming sword that makes God’s Rest elusive to the rest of the world has now been lifted for those who believe in Jesus.
Through Christ, God invites us back into sweet communion with Him; leaving the chaos and worries of this world behind for a time; with a mind and heart set wholly on looking forward to a time when we can once again reside in the garden eternally, free from the labors of this world, and reveling in God’s Kingdom.
For the church of Christ, Sunday has been designated the holy Sabbath-day of rest.
What does it mean to keep our Sabbath-Rest day to God?
It is on this day that we – as Children of God’s Kingdom - must conscientiously keep ourselves, and our time, holy - a sabbath to the Lord our God.
It is the day of our week that we devote our time and thoughts on R.E.S.T.: Repentance; Eternal Living; Stewardship; and in wholly Trusting the Lord our God.
To “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” is by no means a time of relaxation.
The Sabbath day is still a day of activity, work and physical rest; but more deeply, it is the day that we re-calibrate and fully bring our realities to bear the Truth that God reigns over all Creation – which He actually does - and consciously enter a state of holiness, through R.E.S.T. , that is completely free from the chaos and disorder brought about by sin and rebellion.
It is to experience God’s Kingdom here on earth.
So, if God’s rules your heart, your heart becomes a place completely free from the chaos and disorder, anxiety and despair brought about by sin and rebellion.
You become a constituent, a citizen of God’s Kingdom.
Sabbath must become for every Child of God: the day that we intentionally set apart from the rest of the week by bringing all things under God’s Rule and Reign; in specifically and especially trusting God in everything – things within, or without, your control; and exercising your faith in Him as you would, when His Kingdom is fully established with the physical return of Christ.
So when we think about Sunday as God’s Sabbath Rest; we may rightfully think of this day as God’s Kingdom Day.
A day where you refrain, and vehemently prevent, and disallow chaos, disorder, anxiety and despair from entering your headspace and your heart-space.
I am not saying to put your head in the sand; to ignore the world around you.
I am saying that even if something concerning is brought to your attention; you would immediately bring it, through prayer and woship, under God’s Sovereignty; and surrender the concern - as well as, control - to God.
In the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:6-7, it is to:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
To be willing to enter God’s Sabbath Rest is to - on this day – be willing to rest from your own work by bringing your own life and the world under God’s control.
This is what it takes to enter into God’s rest.
When you surrender your life to God; when you bring your life under God’s Mighty Hand and God’s control; we have experienced God’s Salvation from death unto eternal life in His Glorious Kingdom.
And that is why God’s Rest is equated to the Kingdom of God.
While this world is fallen and outside of God’s rest, God’s holy rest remains for us.
And this, along with the promise of entering into His Rest, means that God’s Rest is now in us - upon our hearts, minds and lives.
So, we must make every effort to enter into God’s Rest, to bring our entire lives utterly under God’s control; and never be found to have fallen short. (Ref: Hebrews 4:11)
This is important because when we bring everything under God’s control; we are literally declaring that that which would otherwise trouble us no longer have the power to paralyze us with fear and hopelessness.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that in spite of NATO’s rejection of Ukraine’s appeal to enforce a no-fly zone over the country; our God will hear our prayers and fill the sky above Ukraine with His angelic hosts - that every warplane crew that enters that space with ill-intent would be scared away by the angels that they would encounter.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that bullets will indeed veer away from their intended targets and cause lives to be preserved in order for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that fellow-believers who meet each other on the battle field will recognize one another through the seal of the Holy Spirit upon their foreheads; and instead of shooting at one another, would end up crying out to the Lord together for His Divine Help in this impossible situation.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that even though the supply of food and other essential items have been severely impaired within Ukraine; the kitchens operated by the churches or Christian missions in Ukraine will miraculously continue to serve the people with an abundance of food, shelter and comfort.
We must enter that rest today, and pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that the Lord will strengthen our collective faith, to enter His Rest and be found wholly by His Side.
And it must begin by remembering the Sabbath day – God’s Kingdom day – by keeping it, and yourself, holy; being willing to set aside this day out of the week to conscientiously bring your life and your world under God’s Sovereign Reign.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You, O Lord, for Your Presence and Rest in my life.
Teach me to trust and obey You even more!
I trust in Your unfailing love and faithfulness; and strive to enter Your Rest; believing that in spite of the brokenness and wickedness that surround me, I may continue to live fully in Your Sovereign Rule and Reign.
Lord, I will remember Your Sabbath; and participate in Your work in my life – of restoring me into Your Holy Place of Rest.
Thank You for welcoming me into sweet communion with You; leaving the chaos and worries of this world behind, and reveling in Your Presence that brings the Peace and Power to reveal Your Gospel and Glory to the world.
Lord, I declare that Sunday is designated my holy Sabbath-day of rest.
Help me to conscientiously keep myself, and my time holy before You; that on this day, I would adopt a posture of Repentance; Eternal Living; Stewardship; and in wholly Trusting You, the Lord my God.
On the day of Sabbath, help me re-calibrate and fully bring my reality to the Truth of Your Reign over all Creation – and consciously enter a state of holiness that is pleasing before You.
Let me miraculously experience Your Kingdom here, on earth.
May I truly be a citizen of Your Kingdom this day!
Reign in all of my life, Holy Spirit – that I would be completely free from chaos and disorder, anxiety and despair brought about by sin and rebellion.
Thank You for atoning for my sins at the Cross at Calvary.
Through You, Lord Jesus, I am profoundly blessed to be able to set the Sabbath apart from the rest of the week; bringing all things under Your Rule and Reign; in specifically and especially trusting You in everything – things within, or without, my control; have supernatural faith in You - as I would - when Your Kingdom is fully established upon Your physical return.
Grant me courage, strength, wisdom and resolve to refrain from, and reject, all things unholy from entering my mind and heart; that I may humbly, immediately bring everything - through prayer and worship - under Your Sovereign Will, and surrender all of my concerns - as well as, control - to You.
Lord, we pray for Your church in Ukraine, and Russia, that in Your supernatural intervention; Your Peace and Gospel will fill those lands – and bring all Glory to You alone!
On each Sabbath-Rest day, help me bring all of my life and my world under Your Rule and Reign; and through my devotion to remembering the Sabbath, bring me into a supernatural experience of Your Kingdom here on earth.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
God’s command to enter His Rest today is His assurance that - in our utter obedience and trust to live under His Present Sovereign Reign - we have already become People of His Eternal Kingdom today.
Indeed, the very reason why we may, and must, trust in our Lord is because He remains actively engaged and present to every moment of our lives, and to every event in this world.
In His state of divine rest, God welcomes us to trust in His unfailing love and faithfulness, and to enter His Rest; by believing that He has all things in divine order, and in divine, secured process, of restoring His Perfect Cosmos – despite the present fallenness and wickedness of Man.
John H. Walton in his book, ‘Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament’ explains:
“The concept of divine rest can, therefore, be elucidated by ancient Near Eastern literature, which demonstrates that deity’s rest is achieved in a temple, generally as a result of order having been established. The Rest, while it represents disengagement from the process of establishing order, is more importantly, an expression of engagement as the deity takes his place at the helm to maintain an ordered, secure, and stable cosmos.”
God’s Rest becomes elusive to Man after the Fall.
In Genesis 2, God established the Garden in Eden - a paradise that He personally created and cultured into divine, perfect order.
Within the garden He placed and tasked a steward, Adam, to care for the Garden.
God would actually come to the Garden – and enjoy sweet communion with Adam.
The Garden of Eden represents God’s Rest; and humanity, at our beginning, is at rest with God, when we are found in His Place of Rest.
Now to be clear, Rest is not relaxation.
Adam had the divine job of caring for God’s Garden.
He fulfills his task of stewardship in God’s presence, in the Garden, where everything is in order and at peace as God had ordained.
He is experiencing God’s Rest; for He is placed there by God.
In Genesis 3, Adam, and the woman, rebelled against God and was cast from the Garden.
God’s Rest for Adam was over; and his work would now be hard, restless.
The divine goodness and orderliness that Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden is now replaced with a world that is characterised by fearful labour and wickedness.
It will require so much effort just to survive; anxiety and fear overtakes peace and confidence.
It is a world of disorder.
Just like Eden, God’s Rest is now forbidden to every human because of their sin against Him.
However, in Hebrews 4:1, 9-11, as His Children, we are given the present promise of His Sabbath-Rest:
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ... ...
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Entering the present Sabbath-Rest of God is most certainly a paradigm - a mindset of faithfulness, trust and obedience that informs and inspires the Christian life, but it is also a holy day of the week that we are commanded to observe.
Through the Sabbath, God is restoring His Rest in us.
From His Salvific work of restoring humanity, God calls Abraham and later delivers his descendants from slavery in Egypt. They would form a new nation, Israel, of whom God calls them – as He did Abraham – into a covenant relationship.
He gave them the Ten Commandments as part of this Covenant; and the 4th Commandment right after the first three that establishes His Relationship with Man, He commanded His Children in Exodus 20:8-11:
“8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.
On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
To remember the seventh day by keeping it holy was expressly connected to the day that God rested after His work of creating “the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them.”
To this, this Sabbath day is a time to cease from our own work; to rest, as God rested.
But more significantly, it is an invitation from God to participate in His own rest – to begin the process of re-entering the Garden of Eden, God’s place of rest.
Through Christ, the flaming sword that makes God’s Rest elusive to the rest of the world has now been lifted for those who believe in Jesus.
Through Christ, God invites us back into sweet communion with Him; leaving the chaos and worries of this world behind for a time; with a mind and heart set wholly on looking forward to a time when we can once again reside in the garden eternally, free from the labors of this world, and reveling in God’s Kingdom.
For the church of Christ, Sunday has been designated the holy Sabbath-day of rest.
What does it mean to keep our Sabbath-Rest day to God?
It is on this day that we – as Children of God’s Kingdom - must conscientiously keep ourselves, and our time, holy - a sabbath to the Lord our God.
It is the day of our week that we devote our time and thoughts on R.E.S.T.: Repentance; Eternal Living; Stewardship; and in wholly Trusting the Lord our God.
To “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” is by no means a time of relaxation.
The Sabbath day is still a day of activity, work and physical rest; but more deeply, it is the day that we re-calibrate and fully bring our realities to bear the Truth that God reigns over all Creation – which He actually does - and consciously enter a state of holiness, through R.E.S.T. , that is completely free from the chaos and disorder brought about by sin and rebellion.
It is to experience God’s Kingdom here on earth.
So, if God’s rules your heart, your heart becomes a place completely free from the chaos and disorder, anxiety and despair brought about by sin and rebellion.
You become a constituent, a citizen of God’s Kingdom.
Sabbath must become for every Child of God: the day that we intentionally set apart from the rest of the week by bringing all things under God’s Rule and Reign; in specifically and especially trusting God in everything – things within, or without, your control; and exercising your faith in Him as you would, when His Kingdom is fully established with the physical return of Christ.
So when we think about Sunday as God’s Sabbath Rest; we may rightfully think of this day as God’s Kingdom Day.
A day where you refrain, and vehemently prevent, and disallow chaos, disorder, anxiety and despair from entering your headspace and your heart-space.
I am not saying to put your head in the sand; to ignore the world around you.
I am saying that even if something concerning is brought to your attention; you would immediately bring it, through prayer and woship, under God’s Sovereignty; and surrender the concern - as well as, control - to God.
In the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:6-7, it is to:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
To be willing to enter God’s Sabbath Rest is to - on this day – be willing to rest from your own work by bringing your own life and the world under God’s control.
This is what it takes to enter into God’s rest.
When you surrender your life to God; when you bring your life under God’s Mighty Hand and God’s control; we have experienced God’s Salvation from death unto eternal life in His Glorious Kingdom.
And that is why God’s Rest is equated to the Kingdom of God.
While this world is fallen and outside of God’s rest, God’s holy rest remains for us.
And this, along with the promise of entering into His Rest, means that God’s Rest is now in us - upon our hearts, minds and lives.
So, we must make every effort to enter into God’s Rest, to bring our entire lives utterly under God’s control; and never be found to have fallen short. (Ref: Hebrews 4:11)
This is important because when we bring everything under God’s control; we are literally declaring that that which would otherwise trouble us no longer have the power to paralyze us with fear and hopelessness.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that in spite of NATO’s rejection of Ukraine’s appeal to enforce a no-fly zone over the country; our God will hear our prayers and fill the sky above Ukraine with His angelic hosts - that every warplane crew that enters that space with ill-intent would be scared away by the angels that they would encounter.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that bullets will indeed veer away from their intended targets and cause lives to be preserved in order for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that fellow-believers who meet each other on the battle field will recognize one another through the seal of the Holy Spirit upon their foreheads; and instead of shooting at one another, would end up crying out to the Lord together for His Divine Help in this impossible situation.
God’s Rest allows us to believe that even though the supply of food and other essential items have been severely impaired within Ukraine; the kitchens operated by the churches or Christian missions in Ukraine will miraculously continue to serve the people with an abundance of food, shelter and comfort.
We must enter that rest today, and pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that the Lord will strengthen our collective faith, to enter His Rest and be found wholly by His Side.
And it must begin by remembering the Sabbath day – God’s Kingdom day – by keeping it, and yourself, holy; being willing to set aside this day out of the week to conscientiously bring your life and your world under God’s Sovereign Reign.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You, O Lord, for Your Presence and Rest in my life.
Teach me to trust and obey You even more!
I trust in Your unfailing love and faithfulness; and strive to enter Your Rest; believing that in spite of the brokenness and wickedness that surround me, I may continue to live fully in Your Sovereign Rule and Reign.
Lord, I will remember Your Sabbath; and participate in Your work in my life – of restoring me into Your Holy Place of Rest.
Thank You for welcoming me into sweet communion with You; leaving the chaos and worries of this world behind, and reveling in Your Presence that brings the Peace and Power to reveal Your Gospel and Glory to the world.
Lord, I declare that Sunday is designated my holy Sabbath-day of rest.
Help me to conscientiously keep myself, and my time holy before You; that on this day, I would adopt a posture of Repentance; Eternal Living; Stewardship; and in wholly Trusting You, the Lord my God.
On the day of Sabbath, help me re-calibrate and fully bring my reality to the Truth of Your Reign over all Creation – and consciously enter a state of holiness that is pleasing before You.
Let me miraculously experience Your Kingdom here, on earth.
May I truly be a citizen of Your Kingdom this day!
Reign in all of my life, Holy Spirit – that I would be completely free from chaos and disorder, anxiety and despair brought about by sin and rebellion.
Thank You for atoning for my sins at the Cross at Calvary.
Through You, Lord Jesus, I am profoundly blessed to be able to set the Sabbath apart from the rest of the week; bringing all things under Your Rule and Reign; in specifically and especially trusting You in everything – things within, or without, my control; have supernatural faith in You - as I would - when Your Kingdom is fully established upon Your physical return.
Grant me courage, strength, wisdom and resolve to refrain from, and reject, all things unholy from entering my mind and heart; that I may humbly, immediately bring everything - through prayer and worship - under Your Sovereign Will, and surrender all of my concerns - as well as, control - to You.
Lord, we pray for Your church in Ukraine, and Russia, that in Your supernatural intervention; Your Peace and Gospel will fill those lands – and bring all Glory to You alone!
On each Sabbath-Rest day, help me bring all of my life and my world under Your Rule and Reign; and through my devotion to remembering the Sabbath, bring me into a supernatural experience of Your Kingdom here on earth.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.