June 12, 2016
Evening Service

This morning we learned that entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ is the same as entering into His rest.  The Israelites were not allowed to enter the Promised Land (God’s rest) because of unbelief or a lack of faith.  The opposite is true for us in that it is by believing (our faith) that we do enter into our salvation (God’s rest). 

 Hebrews 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.

·         We are encouraged to take action (be diligent) to enter into our rest (salvation).  This does not mean we can “earn it” in any way but he is asking us to examine ourselves and the scriptures to be sure our experience with God lines up with His Word.  Peter encouraged us to:

 

2 Peter 1:10-12  Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you shall never fall.  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (12)  Therefore I will not neglect to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth.

·         Christianity has a “know so” salvation.  If your answer to the question “are you saved” is “I hope so” you need to be diligent and make sure your salvation is real.

·         It is like checking a map and looking at the path you have chosen to take is leading to where you need to go.  We can be sure that we are in a right relationship with Jesus.  What is our map?

 

Hebrews 4:12  For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

·         It is by looking into the Word of God as a mirror.  Are the things we are seeing in our lives lining up with what we see in the Word.  Many people who are not sure of their salvation even actually fool themselves into believing their salvation is sure.  They judge themselves according some other source rather than the Word.

·         The living Word of God is not fooled as easily as we are.  It is able to “pierce even to the dividing apart of the soul and spirit.”  It can not only discern if “what” you are doing is right but also “why” you are doing it.  It is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  God is after your heart.

 

Hebrews 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

·         We cannot fool God or hide anything from Him.  We are an open book to Him.  He created us just as we are and knows our faults and struggles.  We may try to do the right things and give the appearance that all is well, but God knows our hearts.  So why not just be truthful with Him?

Hebrews 4:14-15  Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin.

·         This is one of the greatest parts of being a Jesus follower.  Our God and Savior truly know the struggles we are faced with because He faced with them as well yet came away without sin.

·         When we were young we loved to play army.  My older brother was always the sergeant.  He loved to give us orders to do things, like jump out of the barn window, that he would not do himself.

·         Jesus is not that kind of leader.  He has been where we are and experienced life just as we do.  He knows it hurts when you cut your finger, or when a friend betrays you, or how hard it is to forgive those who harm you.  He knows what it is like to be tempted by Satan.  So when we come to Him with any of our struggles He can identify with us because He has been there.

·         How could anyone ask someone else to die to themselves and follow Him even to death?  The fact that He has set the example for us.  He has given His all holding nothing back and simply asks the same from us. Paul gave this challenge:

 

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

·         Jesus asks us to walk a path of righteousness that He paved.  He does not point us to road and say “Go that way.”  He takes our hand and says “Come with Me I know the way, because I have been here before.”  He walked it and made it without sin (Verse 15).  That is the leader I will follow.

 

Jesus knows everything about us.  He has walked the road we are currently are on.  When we struggle, should we try to hide it from Him and pretend all is well?  Why would we do that?  Look how the writer closes this chapter.

 

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

·         He did not go to all the trouble of being our great High Priest to ignore us when we need Him.  We are to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace.  He desires us to approach Him and pour out our hearts to Him.  He already knows we are struggling so it is not for His sake, but for ours. 

·         Here is a scenario we all have lived out.  We have sinned.  As we are reading the Word, the Spirit within in us points that out to us.  We are now faced with a choice on what to do.  If we choose to be diligent about our faith we again turn to the scriptures for an answer and find:

 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

·         As we confess our sins to Him and trust Him to forgive them, according to this scripture, He cleanses us.  We can KNOW that our salvation is sure and we can rest and have peace in that fact.  The Word defines to us our sin and defines to us how to be forgiven for it.

·         All this occurs by faith.  We must believe with our hearts that His Word is true and act upon it.  In so doing our relationship with God is restored and our faith is increased.

 

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.  We are complete in Him.  We can know beyond a doubt that we are His child when we look into His Word and are able to say “Amen” instead of “Oh my.” 

 

2 Timothy 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

·         You are often encouraged from this pulpit to study your Bible.  It is the road map in keeping you in a right relationship with God.  It is far better to be the obedient child than the rebellious one.  God will bless your obedience.

 

Lord may we always be drawn to Your Word and grant us a yielded heart to allow it to mold us into the person that is pleasing in Your sight.