WE WHO BELIEVE ENTER INTO REST
Thursday – September 21, 2017
Have I, have you, chosen to enter into the rest (provision) of God. Entering the Kingdom of God is a little like entering a restaurant with an unlimited gift certificate. Eternal life is a gift of God we have only to accept it. Once we make Jesus Lord we are in the Kingdom of God; however, all of the possibilities of the Kingdom must be appropriated into our lives by faith, in love, led of the Spirit of God. Likewise, in this imaginary restaurant we have entered we can have anything they serve but if we never order it we never get it. We have faith in the restaurant that if it is on the menu, they have it, and we can have it. In the case of our imaginary restaurant it is paid for, our ability to pay is not a consideration, likewise in the Kingdom of God. Let’s review our Bible text from the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:1-4 (KJV)
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Holy Spirit reminds us through the earthly writer that this ‘rest of God’, this abundant overflowing provision from God to whoever will believe was established long ago. From the very conception of the idea for this creation in Yahweh (Jehovah) the works were finished, the rest (provision) was available. God, Elohim, is three persons as a unified force. I have spoken of this before but let me once again direct our attention to Hebrews 4:3 and the phrase; “the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” The word ‘foundation’ can not only mean the underpinning of a structure or the basis of an idea but also the root word can mean ‘casting down’. It seems that God is tying together what we might see as two separate events. The first being the sin and casting down of Lucifer bringing about the chaos found in Genesis 1:2 and the consummation of the idea for this current creation. Remember with God time is inconsequential. One might be tempted to say: Yeah but God had not brought about the creation of Genesis 1:3 and following when he cast Lucifer down or at Genesis 1:3 until the end of Genesis chapter two”. When God has an idea, it is done. Jehovah is the idea man so to speak, the Word is the voice, and the Holy Spirit is the power or performer. They operate as One with no time or space separating. When it finally dawns on us that we need something, the provision for that took place millennia ago. Just like in our imaginary restaurant we just have to order it.
Hebrews 4:4 (faith [19], authority and power in the double portion in Christ Jesus) tells us that it is written in a certain place that God rested or that His provision for mankind was complete on the seventh (spiritual completion) of creation. All of the spiritual tools were in place including the Cross if needed on the seventh day however there was much work for man to do in the physical realm, and without breaking a sweat. Let’s move forward some before we finish today.
Hebrews 4:4-9 (KJV)
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.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
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.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Our Lord, the Holy Spirit, keeps pounding away at the idea that we are to do all that is needful to enter the rest of God. He is pleading with us not to perish due to unbelief as they (Israel) did all those years ago. The day of entering the rest of God is not passed it is a real for us today as it was for them when they rebelled on the other side of the Jordan. Yes, unbelief is rebellion, it is adultery, fornication, intercourse with other gods. As we meditate the preceding Scripture, the eighth verse can be a little confusing in the King James Version so I have given us the Amplified to consider.
Hebrews 4:8 (AMP)
8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day.
Let us all today repent and choose to enter the rest of God. The rest available to us in Christ Jesus is so much better than the rest the Israelites of old were afforded. Enter in by faith, rooted and grounded in love!
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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