ENTERING INTO HIS REST
Monday – September 18, 2017
God is so good, He is great, He is faithful, He has given us authority and power to deal with all of the curse. We are not alone with only natural wisdom and strength, we have access to the very Wisdom and Power of God. Fear not the curse in any of its manifestations. Receive, believe, and act upon the Word of the Lord! This Word is for all the children of God, listen to the Prophets and live.
Psalm 91:7-10 (KJV)
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
2 Chronicles 20:20 (KJV)
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (Bold added)
Greetings and welcome back to our Bible Study of the wonderful Book of Hebrews. Now let’s turn to our primary text starting with Hebrews 4:1.
Hebrews 4:1-3 (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.
Let’s take a moment to recall how the third chapter of Hebrews ended. It ended with the ongoing discussion of the rest (provision) of God. God had provided the “Promised Land” for those that He brought out of Egypt. Moses sent twelve spies, leaders of the various tribes to spy out the Promised Land. Ten of the twelve spies returned with an evil report, a report contrary to the promise of God, the provision (rest) of God. Unfortunately, the people believed the evil report. The people murmured and complained and the judgment of God was according to their words. Those who were twenty years of age and above would die in the wilderness never entering into His rest. The only exception were Joshua and Caleb who brought a righteous report before the people. They were prevented from entering due to unbelief (faithless). I want to remind us once again that what happened to the Israelites was according to the words of their own mouths (Numbers 14). An interesting point from Numbers 14:22 is that the children of Israel had “tempted” God ten times. This word ‘tempted’ can mean to test or try. Have you ever had your patience tried, your goodness spurned? In Bible Numerology ten is the number of responsibility. God had given them ten opportunities (mercy on display) to repent and develop faith in Him and they failed. So, here they are wandering in the wilderness and dying in the wilderness. Does this describe the vast majority of the Church today? Have we entered into His rest? Let’s take a look at Hebrews 4:1 in the Amplified Translation.
Hebrews 4:1 (AMP)
1 THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it.
I suppose that we all have figured out that the rest (provision) of God does not just drop into our laps. Unfortunately, that reality has led to much false doctrine, the doctrine of devils. We develop doctrines that match our physical observations rather than the Word of God. Isn’t this what the children of Israel did? The spiritual realm is the predominate or superior realm so why are we not working day and night developing our faith in that realm specifically the Word of God? When the children of Israel said that God had brought them into the wilderness to die, guess what? they died in the wilderness. When we say that poverty, sickness and other manifestations of the curse are our “cross to bear” why are we surprised when that is our experience all of our lives? We like them are a rebellious people, can we learn anything and enter by faith (believing, thinking, talking, and doing the Word of God) into the rest (provision) of God. Sadly, today most have at salvation obtained the gift of eternal life and a ride to Heaven and left the remainder of His rest on the table. The children of Israel tempted (tested and tried) God and at a point His judgment was that this would be their fate. Repentance can change it all.
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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