WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:05.820 Father, we're thankful that we can count on you being here with us. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:12.800 Lord, as we open your word, you are ministering to our hearts and in our minds in ways that we don't even know. 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:18.460 And we ask that you would do your will at this time, that you would humble us before you, 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:25.740 so that we can have joy that is eternal, joy that is beyond what the world can give. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:29.120 So Lord, would you meet with us at this time, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.820 Amen. You may be seated. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:40.460 So if you're like me, you're on vacation, and it's great. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.820 You've probably been looking forward to this time for a very, very long time. 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:52.100 I know that I have. I know that the year was kind of difficult with studies and with work, 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:53.939 and I'm sure that you've felt that as well. 00:00:53.939 --> 00:01:00.059 Well, maybe I'm looking forward, maybe I was looking forward to this vacation because I was working too hard. 00:01:00.140 --> 00:01:01.500 I was overworked throughout the semester. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:04.459 I don't know. Maybe it's just because I'm a creature who loves to rest. 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:07.759 And so here we are, resting. 00:01:08.399 --> 00:01:12.859 And if you're like me, next week you're going to catch yourself looking at your schedule 00:01:12.859 --> 00:01:16.619 to see when is the next time you're going to have a break, next time that you're going to have a vacation, 00:01:16.839 --> 00:01:18.059 so you can start planning for it. 00:01:18.179 --> 00:01:19.259 We just love rest. 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:21.459 That's just the way that we are made. 00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:30.799 You probably heard when Matthew was reading the Bible that it talked about rest quite a bit. 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:37.759 And if you're not a Christian, you might be kind of uncomfortable with the notion that God gives rest. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:42.159 Maybe if you're not a Christian, you're thinking that God is a judge. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:46.399 God is a God who sees everything, and he is waiting to just snap on us. 00:01:46.639 --> 00:01:48.579 He's waiting to judge us and condemn us. 00:01:48.579 --> 00:01:51.739 How can somebody rest when there's a God like that? 00:01:52.539 --> 00:01:53.879 And so we're going to look at that today. 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:57.039 We're going to look at this passage in Hebrews, which talks about rest. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:00.120 So if you have your Bibles with you, you can turn with me. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:03.340 I would be a great help if you can turn to Hebrews chapter 4. 00:02:04.039 --> 00:02:05.280 We're going to start at verse 1. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:11.199 And while you're turning there, I'm just going to give a little bit of a background to the letter of Hebrews. 00:02:12.079 --> 00:02:14.919 Basically what's happening here, there's a lot of speculation. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:18.919 We don't know who the author is particularly, but there is... 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.939 So we kind of understand this letter to the Hebrews as a sermon. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:26.719 So basically what we're doing is we're reading somebody else's sermon. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:31.899 But we're at this part in the sermon where it's talking about rest, 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:38.099 and the threat is that the culture is putting a lot of pressure on the Christians to abandon Jesus, 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:41.779 to go back to maybe Judaism or go back to the ways of the culture. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:43.800 So let's look at that in verse 1. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:45.460 It says, 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:50.699 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:55.759 let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:57.860 So here it is. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.060 The promise of entering his rest. 00:03:00.219 --> 00:03:02.280 The promise of entering God's rest, that is. 00:03:03.139 --> 00:03:04.000 It still stands. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:09.300 And so it kind of seems like a shock that God would want rest for people 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:12.360 when he maybe is the God who is so demanding. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:13.379 So let's... 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.039 Andrew, if we can have our first point. 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:16.419 I think... 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:16.879 Or... 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.240 Yes, thank you. 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:21.520 That's the second point. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:26.680 So our first point is, 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:34.340 God loves rest and promised to share his rest with ordinary and extraordinary people alike. 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:40.219 God loves rest and promised to share his rest with ordinary and extraordinary people alike. 00:03:40.600 --> 00:03:43.320 We usually, in our points, we usually have ordinary people. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.759 I put extraordinary people, just in case you associate more with extraordinary, 00:03:48.459 --> 00:03:52.819 so that everyone here is in the picture. 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:58.019 So God loves rest and promised to share his rest with ordinary and extraordinary people alike. 00:03:58.959 --> 00:04:02.719 Now, doesn't the Bible care more about judging people and telling people what to do? 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.479 This is kind of the question that we were wondering at first. 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.139 We'll see later on as the theme of rest develops. 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:17.079 But just to give a small little picture of what it means for God to have a rest for us. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:19.500 When... 00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:20.180 Well, I'm a musician. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:20.959 Some of you know that. 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:23.560 I love playing music. 00:04:23.659 --> 00:04:24.459 I play the French horn. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:26.779 And I've recorded on some albums. 00:04:27.159 --> 00:04:29.860 And one of the most exciting things when we're recording, 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:31.560 we love to play music together. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:32.639 We love to do the process. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:34.399 But at the end, when we're done, 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:36.979 we love to listen to the music. 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:38.479 We love to see the final product. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:41.860 And I think this is the picture of rest that the Bible is trying to paint, 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.480 is that God creates everything, and now he dwells. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:50.439 His presence falls on creation so that he can appreciate all the work that he has done. 00:04:51.080 --> 00:04:52.259 And not just by himself. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:54.460 He created human beings to appreciate it with. 00:04:55.640 --> 00:04:58.560 And so this is the biblical picture of God's rest, 00:04:59.020 --> 00:05:02.720 that God dwells with his people in full delight, with them, 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.540 enjoying the creation and the benefits of the creation. 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:09.720 So let's read verse 1 again. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:14.819 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, 00:05:16.200 --> 00:05:20.120 let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:22.520 Now you're probably thinking, hold on a minute. 00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:25.300 Fear so that we can enter rest? 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:28.220 Like, fear, like, that's usually, like, 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:29.939 something that is completely contrary to rest. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.379 Like, when I fear, I'm restless. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:34.060 Like, I don't want to fear so that I can enter a rest. 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:35.939 Like, that doesn't really make sense. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:41.579 And maybe you're thinking of the old Lucasfilm proverb from a long time ago 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:43.399 in a galaxy far, far away, 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.180 where this little green guy said, 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:48.040 fear leads to anger, and anger leads to hate, 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:49.879 and hate leads to the dark side. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:52.439 Like, doesn't that seem more consistent with reality? 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.420 That fear leads to something like that. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:58.120 Fear leads to anger and hate and all those things. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:01.920 How can the Bible say that fear leads to rest? 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:05.319 Well, basically what's happening here is that 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.420 the writer is continuing an argument 00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:09.759 that started in the previous chapter. 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:14.240 He's saying, fear your sinful hearts. 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:17.980 Fear the ability of your heart to sin against God. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.280 See, fear is maybe not so much of a bad thing. 00:06:22.340 --> 00:06:23.699 The Bible talks about it in two ways. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:25.040 And you can read the blog. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.139 There's a lot more detail on that. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:29.479 I wrote a blog on fear and the fear of the Lord. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.879 And so you can refer to that. 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:36.579 But basically, fear here is not to paralyze us spiritually. 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.959 God doesn't want us to be paralyzed spiritually 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.959 so that we can enter rest. 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:43.120 That's not what it's talking about. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:48.019 It's talking about a fear that produces spiritual diligence, 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.979 that we are diligent in doing God's will. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:57.540 See, when I was young, I was taught to fear fire, 00:06:57.780 --> 00:07:00.340 fear the element on the stove, 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:01.759 because I would get burned. 00:07:02.300 --> 00:07:04.259 But that doesn't mean that heat is evil, 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.300 that heat is bad to be avoided in all cases. 00:07:08.020 --> 00:07:09.400 We need to master it. 00:07:09.660 --> 00:07:12.560 We need to master heat so that we can use it for good purposes. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:17.879 And so here, the thread of the argument that it's trying to say 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.920 is that we need to fear our hearts 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:24.120 and the deception of sin that comes into our hearts. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:25.420 So if we can have our second point. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:41.720 One of the wisest things that a mentor told me once 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:43.360 is that he said, 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:45.819 Jonathan, one of the things that we don't fear 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:47.980 is our hearts, is our sin. 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:51.980 See, it's amazing that when we look here at verse 2, 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:53.020 let's read verse 2. 00:07:53.019 --> 00:08:06.240 It says here, 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:07.759 For good news came to them. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:09.819 Good news came to Israel, 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:11.699 that God would deliver them from slavery 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:14.259 and bring them to a land of prosperity and security. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:16.859 And now here, the good news is coming to us, 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.439 that Jesus, when he died on the cross and rose again 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.120 and ascended to heaven, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:25.899 he delivers us from the slavery of sin 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:30.280 to bring us into a heavenly rest now. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.899 And when we go to heaven to be in his presence, 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:34.100 we'll have rest for eternity. 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:36.240 And we can miss that. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:40.360 We can miss that because our hearts can deceive us. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:43.940 Our hearts can love sin more than loving the God 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:45.700 who has done everything for us 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:48.820 to enjoy eternal delight in his presence. 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.259 Our hearts are sinful and restless 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:57.620 until they find themselves in the God of purity and rest. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:01.799 One of the things that people critique about Christianity 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:05.700 is that, you know, in order to be a Christian, 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:09.740 you need to have those same kind of views on morality 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:12.419 and politics and all those things. 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:14.940 But it's actually, that's not really the case. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:16.960 That's not the case at all, actually. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:22.320 Let's look at verse 2 again. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:35.560 To be a Christian, it's not just kind of saying, 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:36.820 well, you're not at a buffet and saying, 00:09:36.900 --> 00:09:40.200 well, I associate more with this religion 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.259 or this spirituality or this Christianity. 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:46.559 When we come to Jesus, we come to the realization 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.259 that we are sinful beings 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:51.659 and that God paid for our sins to make us right with himself. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:54.659 We have nothing to boast about, only the cross. 00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:58.340 That God would so love the world, send his son for us. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:03.059 So looking at verse 2 again, 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:06.620 there's this thing here that it's talking about, 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:08.519 that though the good news came to them, 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:10.500 the message they heard did not benefit them 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:13.580 because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.340 Before I was a Christian, 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:18.899 I had all these strange ideas about God. 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.340 Even though I was kind of raised in the church 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:23.639 and I was taught certain things about the Bible, 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:28.440 I thought that by virtue of having, 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:31.639 you know, being raised in a maybe Catholic home 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.000 and having gone to a good school 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.779 and being part of a good family 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:38.460 and having, you know, a grandfather who was religious 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.700 and having friends that are religious, 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:43.060 I thought that somehow God would have mercy on me. 00:10:43.540 --> 00:10:45.060 Just for having those things, 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.060 being in the right circles, 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.280 being born of the right family 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:49.040 and all those things. 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:51.900 But what this is saying is that 00:10:51.900 --> 00:10:54.300 it's not about that. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:58.080 It's not about being part of the right family, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:00.160 being part of the right background 00:11:00.160 --> 00:11:02.100 or all those things. 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:05.620 What verse 2 is trying to tell us is that 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:07.080 it's not about our group, 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.300 not our social class, 00:11:08.540 --> 00:11:09.700 our religious experience, 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.540 our sexual orientation, 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:13.899 whether we're generous or whether we're frugal. 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:16.180 The fact that you've prayed before, 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:17.879 the fact that you've maybe thought 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:18.960 you never needed to pray. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:23.000 It's not those things that will bring 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.600 God's favor upon us. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.940 What it's saying is that salvation 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:28.800 is a free gift from God 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.919 that we simply receive by faith 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:33.179 and that we walk by faith. 00:11:35.339 --> 00:11:36.959 Salvation is a free gift from God 00:11:36.959 --> 00:11:38.819 that we receive by faith 00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:40.699 and we must walk in faith. 00:11:41.079 --> 00:11:43.599 So this verse here is kind of 00:11:43.599 --> 00:11:46.359 alluding to Numbers 14 in the Old Testament. 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.399 Numbers is one of the books in the Old Testament 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.979 and tells the story of Israel, 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:52.459 how there were people who were part of this community 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:56.519 who received salvation from God, 00:11:56.579 --> 00:11:58.399 who were taken out of the land of slavery 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.379 and they were walking with Moses 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:01.000 who believed, 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.039 they were walking with Joshua 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.039 and Caleb who believed, 00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:04.120 but they didn't benefit, 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.939 they didn't enter the promised land 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:07.360 because they didn't believe. 00:12:07.699 --> 00:12:10.120 So it's possible to be part of this group 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:11.299 of the church actually, 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:12.959 it's possible to be part of the church, 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.059 to go to the church on Sundays, 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:18.259 to even drive maybe an hour to get here 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:21.079 and to do your duty to be here 00:12:21.079 --> 00:12:22.819 and yet not believe. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.740 So this text is trying to move us 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.500 to the place of faith in the heart, 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.519 in the mind, 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.039 where do we actually believe? 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.879 Do we put our faith and trust in Jesus alone? 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.019 So let's, if we can have our next point. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.379 So God delivers sinners 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:44.519 and promises them rest 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:47.180 after faithfulness through the desert. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:49.199 So this is the picture 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:50.219 that it's trying to paint here. 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:52.979 So if you're a Christian 00:12:52.979 --> 00:12:54.179 and you've been wondering 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.079 why you feel like your faith 00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:58.299 is dry like the desert sand, 00:12:58.839 --> 00:13:01.079 maybe you're dissatisfied with Christianity. 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:04.139 You've walked as a Christian for some time 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.099 and now you're just struggling 00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:08.759 with not being content. 00:13:10.819 --> 00:13:13.039 This is actually a fairly common thing 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:15.039 and I think a lot of Christians 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.279 do experience that 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.799 and the reality is that 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:19.159 we don't know what to do about it. 00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:21.620 We don't know how to talk about it. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.399 We feel like if we're going to talk about it, 00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:24.219 people are going to think 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.319 we're lesser of a Christian. 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.259 There was a time when I was going through that 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:31.539 and I went to go see a Christian counselor, 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:33.480 which was a very good thing for me to do. 00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:35.519 And what they did to help me 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.539 was that they used this imagery 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:39.939 that the text here is showing 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:42.660 that God saves us from slavery, 00:13:43.260 --> 00:13:44.160 that God saves us 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:47.420 and he prepares us for the promised land, 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.820 eternal rest in his presence. 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:53.400 And so I was in the desert season 00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:55.020 of my walk with the Lord. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.540 I was going through desert season 00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:59.360 and I could no longer remember 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.600 the salvation that he had given me. 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:04.580 I was thinking through how I've sinned 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.700 and my question was, 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.700 does God reject me 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:11.220 or is God finished with me? 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:14.000 So the question is, 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.840 is there hope if you're a Christian 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.100 and you've sinned 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:20.000 and now you feel restless over your sin? 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.860 Well, let's look at verse 3. 00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:25.780 We'll be able to find something here in verse 3 00:14:25.780 --> 00:14:27.420 that might be able to help us. 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.180 For we who have believed, 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:29.700 verse 3, 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.040 for we who have believed, 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:32.340 enter that rest. 00:14:32.780 --> 00:14:33.759 As he has said, 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.540 as I swore in my wrath, 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:37.399 they shall not enter my rest. 00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:39.339 And what the writer here is doing 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:40.779 is that he's using a negative 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.279 to prove a positive. 00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:43.719 He's saying, 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:44.919 they shall not enter my rest 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:46.899 as though there is still a rest 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.599 to be entered. 00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:49.899 And that's what we'll see here. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.819 That's what he's trying to say. 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.099 So we who have believed, 00:14:52.459 --> 00:14:53.219 enter that rest. 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:54.539 As he has said, 00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:56.000 as I swore in my wrath, 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.339 they shall not enter my rest, 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.159 although his works were finished 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.379 from the foundation of the world. 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:02.960 For he has somewhere spoken 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.259 of the seventh day 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:06.559 in this way. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.840 And God rested on the seventh day 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.840 from all his works. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.080 And again, 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.820 in this passage, 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.519 he said, 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.360 they shall not enter my rest. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.340 Since therefore, 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.200 it remains for some to enter, 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:20.019 and those who formerly received 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:21.639 the good news failed to enter 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.759 because of disobedience. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.080 Again, 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.100 he appoints a certain day, 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.139 today, 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.580 saying through David 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.620 so long afterward 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.139 in the words already quoted. 00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:34.700 So what this passage is saying 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.680 is that there is a theme 00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:36.940 in the Bible for rest. 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:37.759 That God, 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.180 when he created the world 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.060 in six days, 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.379 on the seventh day, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.560 he stopped his work 00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:43.500 to rest. 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.620 And it wasn't just 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.879 to stop doing work. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:48.080 It was to come into creation. 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.020 The word rest 00:15:49.020 --> 00:15:49.840 also implies 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.800 that God's presence 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:52.000 fell onto creation. 00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:53.900 It came down into creation 00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:55.220 to dwell with human beings, 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:57.000 to see what was going on there, 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.019 and to delight 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.659 in the presence 00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.379 of human beings. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.580 And now, 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.100 because of the fall, 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.860 human beings have sinned 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.519 against God. 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.759 And we can't experience 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.460 that rest anymore. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.940 We're separated from God, 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.320 or sin separates us from God. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.279 And now, 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.799 God is the God 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.919 who is calling a people 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.940 to himself 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:15.240 to save them, 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.299 to make them 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:18.320 experience that rest again, 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.519 to restore things, 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:21.360 so that things can be like 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.039 in the paradise 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.100 of Genesis 2. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:23.799 And now, 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:25.159 when Jesus comes into, 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.379 as an Israelite, 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.379 comes to live perfectly 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.059 under the law, 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:31.519 he comes to live 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.500 and die on the cross, 00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:34.019 and in doing so, 00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:35.000 he breaks the power 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.559 of the curse 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.599 so that we can 00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:37.539 experience rest. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.299 So that, 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:38.899 friends, 00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:39.799 when you put your faith 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.379 in Jesus, 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.819 the Holy Spirit 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:43.019 comes into our hearts. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.579 The Holy Spirit comes 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:46.479 and gives us 00:16:46.479 --> 00:16:47.039 the assurance 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.859 of God's love 00:16:47.859 --> 00:16:48.759 and gives us 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.620 this experience 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.799 of deep rest 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:52.179 in our hearts. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.739 and what is happening here 00:16:53.739 --> 00:16:54.639 is that it's eternity 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.579 breaking in 00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:57.419 to time and space 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.279 into our hearts. 00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.599 There's a rest 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:00.500 that's still to come, 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.479 a rest that is 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:03.459 at the end 00:17:03.459 --> 00:17:04.079 when we die 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.099 or when Jesus returns, 00:17:05.159 --> 00:17:06.019 there's a rest there 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.119 that is still to come. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.419 But when we believe 00:17:08.419 --> 00:17:08.839 in Jesus, 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.859 when we put our faith 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:10.859 and trust in Jesus, 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.119 there's the rest 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:12.619 that comes 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:14.220 and breaks into 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:17.399 this cursed creation, 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.299 this broken body 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:19.799 of ours. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.079 And so we get a glimpse 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.740 of what it means 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.619 to rest in God 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.460 even now. 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.339 And so if we can 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.359 have our next point, 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.960 God's rest 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.659 in Messiah 00:17:32.659 --> 00:17:33.519 is for me 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.439 if I do not 00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:35.199 harden my heart 00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.539 to his voice. 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.240 So how do I enter 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.559 this rest 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.220 that the text 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.759 talks about? 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:44.879 How do I enter 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:46.299 this eternal rest 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.859 in the presence 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.319 of God? 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.519 Well, first of all, 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.460 let's look at verse 6. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:52.939 Since therefore 00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:53.700 it remains 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.000 for some to enter it 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.939 and those 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:56.579 who formerly 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.539 received the good news 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.359 failed to enter 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.519 because of disobedience, 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:00.500 again, 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.319 he appoints 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.319 a certain day 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.039 today, 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.000 saying through David 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.980 so long afterward 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.659 in the words 00:18:05.659 --> 00:18:06.639 already quoted, 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.159 today if you hear 00:18:08.159 --> 00:18:08.759 his voice, 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.859 do not harden 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.359 your hearts. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.019 So what do we do? 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:15.839 Well, this text 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.259 is saying 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.119 don't harden 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.599 your hearts. 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.220 And, 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.099 gosh, that's hard. 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.000 How do I not 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.779 harden my heart? 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.139 It starts with prayer. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.480 It starts with prayer. 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:26.859 God, 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.279 come into my heart. 00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:29.359 God, 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.079 make your dwelling 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.720 into my heart. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.680 Soften my heart 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.180 to your word. 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.420 And when we're 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.619 walking the Christian life, 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.859 same prayer. 00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:36.660 God, 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.059 have mercy on me. 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:38.859 God, 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.839 you know that I've sinned. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.039 Pour out your Holy Spirit. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:41.900 Soften my heart 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.460 to your voice. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:45.440 God wants you 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.400 to experience rest. 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.740 This text is saying 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.680 that rest is still 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.660 available to you. 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.639 Whether you've never 00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:52.700 given your life to Jesus 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.500 or whether you've given 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.220 your life to Jesus 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.220 this morning 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:57.079 or ten years ago 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.220 or whether you 00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:58.980 don't even know 00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.660 when you gave your life 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.000 to Jesus, 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:01.200 you've always known Jesus. 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.500 His rest is available 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.019 to you. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.319 So let's look at 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.819 verse 8. 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:11.279 For if Joshua 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.359 had given them rest, 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.079 God would not 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.639 have spoken 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.619 of another day 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.319 later on. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.119 There's something 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.859 really interesting 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.539 in this passage here. 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.480 Joshua brought 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.519 the people of Israel 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.779 into the promised land 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.579 and yet it's saying 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.420 that they did not 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.200 have rest. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.420 How is that possible? 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.639 How is it possible 00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:33.720 to go into 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.819 the promised land, 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.039 the land flowing 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.980 with milk 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.799 and honey, 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.400 the land of 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.940 economic prosperity, 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.400 of political 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.560 stability 00:19:44.560 --> 00:19:45.300 and security 00:19:45.300 --> 00:19:46.340 from all your enemies 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.720 and still not 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.340 have rest? 00:19:48.780 --> 00:19:49.759 How is that possible? 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.759 Well, again, 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.759 this text is saying 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.920 that it's about 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.820 softening our hearts 00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:58.080 before God 00:19:58.080 --> 00:19:58.820 to his voice 00:19:58.820 --> 00:19:59.759 and so we will 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.580 experience rest. 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.200 The people, 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:01.800 when they entered 00:20:01.800 --> 00:20:02.240 the land, 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:03.800 they did not 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:04.840 experience that rest 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:05.980 because they did not 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.120 obey the voice 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:07.679 of the Lord. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.459 See, 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.239 it's interesting 00:20:11.239 --> 00:20:12.639 that in our lives 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:14.299 we tend to pursue 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.639 things like, 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:17.000 you know, 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:19.099 maybe some form 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:19.679 of comfort. 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.419 We pursue rest. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.099 We pursue 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.559 partying 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.019 and just enjoying life 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.439 and yet 00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:27.879 we seem even more 00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.299 restless. 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.799 How is it possible? 00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:33.179 And it presents 00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:34.079 a human problem 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.939 that we can have 00:20:35.939 --> 00:20:36.500 prosperity 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.099 and we can have 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.500 security 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.200 in all these 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.900 earthly goods 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:41.039 and yet have 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.579 no rest. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.960 The problem is 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.460 that we try 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.019 to satisfy 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.579 our deepest 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.220 longings 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.359 in things 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.240 that are temporal 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.420 of no eternal 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.960 value. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.640 Now, 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.059 whether you're 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.500 a millennial 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.619 and searching 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.619 to make a difference 00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:54.079 in life 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.839 and that's 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.500 your life goal 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.440 or whether 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.059 you're a professional 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.619 trying to earn 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:57.980 a living 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.740 or whether 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.799 you are retired 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.220 and hoping 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.940 to find rest 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.619 from your labors, 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.259 now these are 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.720 all good pursuits 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.900 but if that's 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.759 your only pursuit 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.720 you will not 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.379 find rest. 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.920 There is no rest 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.440 in these things 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:09.920 because they're 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.559 not meant 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.619 to satisfy. 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.500 I like to share 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.180 the story 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.200 of when I was 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.599 a child 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.279 and I used 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.660 to play 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.200 in the basement 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.819 with my brother 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.859 and we had 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.379 this big, 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.200 big metal 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.019 treasure chest 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:22.920 just where we 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.359 were playing 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:23.920 hide and seek 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.619 and I used 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.359 to walk by 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.819 and think 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.200 like wow 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.660 my parents 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.099 have this 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.039 huge inheritance 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.500 for me 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.420 like they have 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.220 gold in there 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.759 and diamonds 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.200 and I'm going 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.680 to inherit that 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.019 one day 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:34.879 and one day 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.519 I found out 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.139 when they opened 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:36.920 the treasure chest 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.879 that it was only 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:39.519 linens and covers 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.819 and all that 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.379 and I was so 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.920 disappointed. 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.539 Can you blame me? 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.180 I was so disappointed. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.500 Why is that? 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.240 Because in a treasure chest 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.359 we don't put linens 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:52.039 we put treasures. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.220 It's a treasure chest. 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:57.039 And so we go 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.500 through life 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.200 disappointed. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.579 We walk the 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.240 Christian life 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.960 disappointed. 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.240 Why? 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.279 Because we feed 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.779 our hearts 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:07.019 with things 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.500 that aren't 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.420 supposed to go there. 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.079 With treasures 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.400 that aren't 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.000 supposed to fill 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.600 our longings. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.279 It's God 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.700 who fulfills 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.220 our hearts. 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.500 It's to be 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.259 known by God 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.019 and to know him 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.299 that fulfills 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.299 our deepest longings. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.000 Now I wanted 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.539 to make sure 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.299 that it's not 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.480 only Christians 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.339 who feel that way. 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.259 So I looked up 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.799 this song 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.119 by Mick Jagger 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.759 who sang 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.799 the song 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.960 I Can't Get 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.019 No Satisfaction 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.559 and he repeats it 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.419 for minutes and minutes 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:35.079 and apparently 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.919 this song resonated 00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:38.000 with a lot of people. 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:38.899 A lot of people 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:40.039 don't get satisfaction 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:42.639 no matter how many times 00:22:42.639 --> 00:22:43.240 that they try 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.039 and they try 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.960 and they try. 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.500 See he tells 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.960 in this song 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.799 how entertainment 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.559 how riches 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.859 how relationships 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.299 and even sexual relationships 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.759 cannot satisfy him. 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:56.159 they cannot satisfy him. 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.819 That's because 00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.740 our only rest 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.680 and satisfaction 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.399 is in knowing God 00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:03.059 and being known 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.539 by him. 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.819 So you're probably 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.200 thinking 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.180 boy that's the 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.899 most depressing 00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.460 New Year's sermon 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.480 I've ever heard. 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.059 We're not done. 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.319 So let's turn 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.599 to verse 9. 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.460 To verse 9. 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.400 So then 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.240 there remains 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.180 a Sabbath rest 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.160 for the people of God 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.920 for whoever 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.519 has entered 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.200 God's rest 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.819 has also 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.220 rested 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.279 from his works 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.460 as God did 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.079 from his. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.640 So here 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.100 it's talking 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:33.079 about a Sabbath rest 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.620 and you might have 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.140 noticed that 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.079 a few other times 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.840 that I talked about rest 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.299 it didn't talk 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.100 about Sabbath rest. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.180 Now it's talking 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.160 about Sabbath rest 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.579 and even the Greek word 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:40.960 is different. 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.380 Here it's 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.299 sabbatismos. 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.019 Don't ask me 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.700 what that means. 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.160 Well actually 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.640 you can ask me 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:45.900 what that means. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.440 I looked it up. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.120 I did my homework. 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.900 It means Sabbath rest. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.360 Okay. 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.820 So the implication here 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.460 it's actually 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.840 it's from a Jewish 00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:57.000 word that says 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:58.140 that is 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.120 when we say it 00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.259 it's Shabbat Shabbat. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.299 Sabbath Sabbath. 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.799 And when we repeat it 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.680 twice it means 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.680 ultimate Sabbath. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.779 This is not just 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.840 any type of Sabbath. 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.100 This is a celebration. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.340 It's an eternal 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:10.740 celebration. 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.960 A festive celebration 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.620 with God. 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.080 See the Jewish people 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.799 used to celebrate 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.080 the 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.360 well they still do actually 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:16.779 to this day. 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.759 They celebrate the Sabbath 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.039 on the Sabbath day 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.439 which starts 00:24:20.439 --> 00:24:22.000 Friday at sundown 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.359 and goes all the way 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.039 through Saturday. 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.199 And some of you 00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:26.459 have been to a Sabbath dinner. 00:24:26.719 --> 00:24:27.879 We've done that 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.459 over the years. 00:24:28.959 --> 00:24:29.539 And what happens 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.319 at the Sabbath dinner 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.259 is that we have 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:33.839 the company of our friends. 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.039 We have wine. 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:36.959 We have fresh bread. 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.399 And we have a meal together. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.339 We sing songs. 00:24:39.459 --> 00:24:40.039 We pray. 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.519 We do all these great things 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.539 and it's so much fun. 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:45.639 And here the text 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.240 is saying that there 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.859 remains a Sabbath celebration 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:49.519 for the people of God. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.940 That God's intention 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.000 is that we would 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.759 experience the eternal 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.920 delight of his presence 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.819 now and forever. 00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.299 That when we put our 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.240 faith and trust in Jesus 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.379 we can experience 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:03.759 his Sabbath rest. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.879 That's what awaits us. 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.599 See in a world 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.420 that is so hopeless 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.379 and so restless 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:12.620 Christians can have hope. 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.220 Christians can have rest. 00:25:15.760 --> 00:25:16.540 Christians can know 00:25:16.540 --> 00:25:17.040 for sure 00:25:17.040 --> 00:25:18.720 that because Jesus died 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.640 and rose again 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:21.920 and promised us rest 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:23.120 that we will have rest. 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.580 There's not many people 00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:26.020 who die and rise 00:25:26.020 --> 00:25:26.500 from the dead. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.080 But when somebody does 00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:29.780 you better listen. 00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.920 So maybe some of you 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.000 are looking forward 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.500 to tonight. 00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:36.400 You're looking forward 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:38.200 to your New Year's celebration. 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:38.980 It's going to be fun. 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.080 There's going to be 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:41.300 friends, family, 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:43.380 maybe pop a bottle of champagne 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.100 and there's going to be 00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.840 a warm fire, 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:45.900 nice dinner 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:47.380 and maybe even fireworks. 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.720 And this is great. 00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.900 But tomorrow morning 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:53.420 if you party a lot, 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.420 if you party enough 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.120 you'll realize 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:57.320 that there's only so much 00:25:57.320 --> 00:25:59.300 that these earthly rests 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:00.260 and earthly parties 00:26:00.260 --> 00:26:00.880 and celebrations 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.880 can do. 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:02.820 There's only so much 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.620 that they can satisfy. 00:26:04.260 --> 00:26:04.980 You might feel really, 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.560 really tired 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:06.960 and it might be hard 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.920 to get out of bed tomorrow 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.800 depending on how much 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.259 you party. 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.079 And that's just going 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.940 to prove to us 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.899 that these things 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.960 only point to 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.720 these parties, 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.259 these celebrations 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.460 only point forward 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.779 to God's rest. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.000 Only point forward 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.940 to this eternal rest 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.720 where we will never 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.379 be tired of celebrating 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:24.319 in God's presence. 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.319 So if we can have 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.220 our next point. 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:33.380 God's rest is eternal 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.839 in quality and length 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:36.279 for us now 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.700 by faith in the 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.680 crucified Messiah. 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:42.120 Now what this point 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.759 is trying to say 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.160 is that 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:45.720 the quality of the rest 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.500 is eternal. 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.100 We don't understand that. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.759 We're so stuck 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.000 in time and space 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.180 but it's when 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:53.319 eternity breaks in 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.899 and it's available 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:56.279 to us now 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.299 by faith 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.439 in the crucified Messiah. 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.619 So God is inviting you 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.259 to this rest. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.399 Now let's read 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:07.099 verse 10 again. 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:10.859 For whoever has 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:11.839 entered God's rest 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.819 has also rested 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:14.019 from his works 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.939 as God did 00:27:14.939 --> 00:27:15.459 from his. 00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:17.679 Now there's an 00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:18.659 interesting parallel here 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.619 that's trying to show 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.859 that there's a future 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.539 rest for Christians 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.659 in the presence of God 00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:24.899 in the new creation 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.959 where there will be 00:27:25.959 --> 00:27:26.740 no more toil 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:29.099 or anxious work 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.839 trying to make a living 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.339 nor will we need 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.980 to strive 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.899 anxiously for holiness. 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:37.019 All we'll know 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.680 is holiness. 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.360 All we'll know 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:38.980 is the delight 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.600 of purity 00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.800 in our hearts. 00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:46.019 See, 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.440 we spend so much time 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.780 working 00:27:48.780 --> 00:27:49.759 and doing all 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.580 these activities 00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:51.780 that are fun 00:27:51.780 --> 00:27:53.240 whether you're an artist 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.180 you love to make music 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.080 or paint 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.880 or these things 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.860 and these are great things 00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.680 but the problem 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.480 is that we lash 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.240 onto it. 00:27:59.340 --> 00:28:00.400 We put our identity 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.040 in them 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:03.360 and the cross 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.959 severs that. 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:06.479 The cross helps us 00:28:06.479 --> 00:28:07.599 to find our identity 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.179 in God. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.219 As we conclude 00:28:11.219 --> 00:28:11.879 let's look at 00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:12.939 verse 11 00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:15.139 with a final exhortation. 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:18.000 Verse 11 reads 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.740 Let us therefore strive 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.960 to enter that rest 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.279 so that no one 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.119 may fall 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.019 by the same sort 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.759 of disobedience 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:26.339 for the word of God 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.559 is alive and active 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.799 sharper than any 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.700 two-edged sword 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:31.440 piercing to the division 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.299 of soul 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.960 and of spirit 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.960 of joints 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.539 and of marrow 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.640 and discerning 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.299 the thoughts 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.180 and intentions 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.240 of the heart 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:40.140 and no creature 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.640 is hidden 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.779 from his sight 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.160 but all are naked 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.759 and exposed 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.980 to the eyes of him 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.420 to whom we must 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.660 give account. 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.700 Now before 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.660 anyone goes out 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.000 of here 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.920 to try to make 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.400 things right 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:53.980 so they can have 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.640 good rest 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.619 before anyone 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.039 goes out 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:57.640 to find a new job 00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.359 or quit their job 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.500 or find new friends 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.000 and all that 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.480 what the text here 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.079 is trying to say 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.079 this exhortation 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.460 is saying 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.779 is moving us 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.619 to strive 00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.559 to enter that rest 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.380 is saying 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.660 go to God's word 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:11.640 go to God's word 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:13.140 and let God's word 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.759 go to your heart 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:17.240 go to God's word 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.220 and let his word 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.819 go to your heart. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.559 See verse 13 says 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.640 no creature 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.160 is hidden 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.960 from his sight 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.220 but all are naked 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.000 and exposed 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.680 to his eyes 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.920 to the eyes 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.279 of him 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.779 to whom 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.599 we must give 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.160 account. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.140 See if you're not 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.620 a Christian 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.220 here today 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.279 and you read 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.019 something like this 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.599 it might be 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.420 frightening to you 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:42.039 and 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:44.620 you know 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.140 reading that 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.960 I would be 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.500 frightened too 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.740 but when you're 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.100 a Christian 00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:48.480 when you put 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.960 your faith 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.400 in Jesus 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:52.100 this verse 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.820 brings comfort 00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:54.060 that you are 00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:55.039 completely known 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.160 by the God 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.180 who created 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.720 all things 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.440 and created 00:29:59.440 --> 00:29:59.880 all things 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.400 for rest 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.240 that you can be 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.960 in his presence 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.039 fully seen 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.800 fully known 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.680 your heart 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.220 your mind 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.200 your thoughts 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.820 everything 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:08.500 known to God 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.740 yet loved 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.539 and cherished. 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:16.119 See since the fall 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.799 this picture 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.720 is of the fall 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.740 in the garden 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.659 where Adam and Eve 00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:22.279 walked before God 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:24.059 naked and unashamed 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.759 and when they 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.679 sinned 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:28.099 they became ashamed 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.379 they saw their nakedness 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.179 and they wanted 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:31.139 to hide from God 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:32.200 so what they did 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.679 is that they put 00:30:32.679 --> 00:30:33.759 fig leaves on them 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.759 on themselves 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.519 to hide them 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.740 to hide their bodies 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.640 to hide their shame 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.299 before God 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:41.059 and humanity 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.079 has been doing that 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.620 ever since 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.380 that we've been trying 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.380 to hide our shame 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.880 from God 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.700 that we're trying 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.359 to get rest 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:46.900 from God 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.920 because we know 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.680 that he sees us 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.660 we know that he sees 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.599 our hearts 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.680 we know that he sees 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.299 our thoughts 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.839 and it's led us 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.640 to do stupid things 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.279 really 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.660 we try to hide 00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.079 from God 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.079 and we try to 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.559 start all sorts 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.460 of weird religions 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.779 that are causing 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.599 more anxiety 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.420 spiritualities 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.779 that are 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.880 that are just 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:07.039 causing more 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:08.519 restlessness 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.900 and we see 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.740 the culmination 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.180 of that 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.600 that when we 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.380 don't allow God 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.920 to expose 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:15.400 to come into our hearts 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:16.279 when we don't expose 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.019 ourselves to God 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.860 we see the culmination 00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:19.200 of that 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.420 when Jesus 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.140 came 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.380 and he was crucified 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.920 by the religious leaders 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:26.279 in Israel 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.880 and the Roman soldiers 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.900 they crucified him 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:30.340 they crucified 00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.519 the son of God 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:33.859 they tried to get rest 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:35.099 from the son of God 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.099 so they killed him 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.900 on the cross 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:40.779 what they didn't know 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.599 what they did not know 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.799 is that Jesus 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:45.299 is the great high priest 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.940 who entered heaven 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:51.039 what they did not know 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.599 is that Jesus 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.539 is the one who came 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:54.400 to fix them 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.639 to fix their problem 00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.839 to clothe them 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.440 with righteousness 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:59.059 and that's what he does 00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.599 at the cross 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.740 is that he died 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.619 for those people 00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:03.159 who killed him 00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.819 and he died 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.779 for you and me today 00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:10.319 see when Jesus 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.939 as the great high priest 00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:13.119 the priest is the one 00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:14.439 who immediates 00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:15.339 the presence of God 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.259 and humanity 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.279 and when Jesus 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.959 was crucified 00:32:17.959 --> 00:32:19.539 he didn't shed 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.299 the blood of an animal 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.279 he shed his own blood 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.740 his sinless blood 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:24.379 so that by his blood 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:25.359 we can be forgiven 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.899 completely 00:32:26.899 --> 00:32:28.419 and we can experience 00:32:28.419 --> 00:32:29.439 that rest of God 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.420 that rest 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.759 that eternal quality 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.279 of rest 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:35.500 see in 2018 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:37.259 the year that's coming ahead 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.160 we're going to have 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.840 a lot of pressure 00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.500 as Christians 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:41.400 to turn away 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.000 from the faith 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.900 to walk away 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:44.620 and to try to find rest 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.299 in things that 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.240 do not give rest 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.279 the things of the world 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:49.220 maybe passions 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.259 and riches 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:51.080 and all those things 00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:53.860 and it's going to 00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:55.039 even use force 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.500 it's going to 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.779 maybe 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:57.160 people are going to try 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.160 to push you away 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.660 from your jobs 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.340 and going to try 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.140 to put pressure on you 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:01.840 to abandon that 00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:03.080 but what this is saying 00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:03.840 is that you're going to 00:33:03.840 --> 00:33:04.840 if you give up Jesus 00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:06.080 you're going to give up rest 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:07.060 eternal rest 00:33:07.060 --> 00:33:08.759 now and forever 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:12.980 so please stand 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:18.460 just to conclude here 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:20.259 I'm going to read 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.279 the next 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:22.559 three verses 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.539 that follow the text 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.220 that we've looked at 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:27.140 and it's going to help us 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:28.339 to understand the gospel 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:31.099 so at verse 14 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.279 since then 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:32.980 we have a great 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.659 high priest 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.699 who has passed 00:33:34.699 --> 00:33:35.399 through the heavens 00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:36.179 Jesus 00:33:36.179 --> 00:33:37.119 the son of God 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:38.699 let us hold fast 00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:39.279 our confession 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:41.099 for we do not have 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.719 a high priest 00:33:41.719 --> 00:33:42.439 who is unable 00:33:42.439 --> 00:33:43.279 to sympathize 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.000 with our weakness 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.159 but one who 00:33:45.159 --> 00:33:46.039 in every respect 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:47.119 has been tempted 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:47.779 as we are 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.799 yet without sin 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.599 let us then 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.319 with confidence 00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.079 draw near 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:53.419 to the throne of grace 00:33:53.419 --> 00:33:55.139 that we may receive mercy 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.839 and find grace 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.359 to help 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.619 in time of need 00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.699 let us pray 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:02.519 Father thank you 00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.559 that you have done 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.640 everything for us 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:06.100 to come into your rest 00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:07.900 that Lord 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:09.119 when we try to find rest 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.460 in things that don't satisfy 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:12.039 you come 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.380 and you 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:14.220 you've done everything 00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.780 for us 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:16.360 to be in a right 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.320 relationship with you 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.900 so that we can 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.940 experience that rest 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.900 and so that we can 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.539 look forward 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:22.019 to being in an eternal 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.019 rest with you 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.400 Lord would you 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:26.820 lighten our eyes 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.420 and our hearts 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.260 to that reality 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:29.800 help us to 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:31.020 to be more 00:34:31.020 --> 00:34:32.000 affectionate with Jesus 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.720 to be faithful to Jesus 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:35.020 to persevere to the end 00:34:35.020 --> 00:34:36.620 Lord give us grace 00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:37.280 give us mercy 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.260 we come to your throne 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.160 in the name of Jesus 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:41.100 with that 00:34:41.100 --> 00:34:42.560 the plea Lord 00:34:42.560 --> 00:34:43.360 in Jesus name 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.520 Amen 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:46.139 Amen 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:46.579 Amen 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:46.639 Amen 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:49.519 Amen 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.420 Amen 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.400 Amen 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:51.500 Amen 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:55.599 Amen 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.079 Amen