This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. I trust you had a good Labor Day weekend. Labor Day in the United States is a holiday that celebrates the American labor movement and it is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. Labor Day is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
While Labor Day celebrates the productive, industrious and tireless work ethic of mankind, the topic we have been studying in this series gives us a different perspective on work. I have been teaching you that God has (already) given you the grace to operate in your divine purpose. When you pursue your purpose in faith, you access God’s grace, and you are able to work with the benefit of God’s supernatural power and favor.
It is almost like you are resting in God while you are working the earth. While part of you is working hard, another part of you is resting in peace. Living and working this way does not mean your work will be effortless, but it surely can be sweatless.
Over the next few days we will look at the following passage in Hebrews that teaches us to enter into God’s rest:
“God’s promise that we may enter his place of rest still stands. We are afraid that some of you think you won’t enter his place of rest. We have heard the same Good News that your ancestors heard. But the message didn’t help those who heard it in the past because they didn’t believe.
We who believe are entering that place of rest… Those who heard the Good News in the past did not enter God’s place of rest because they did not obey God. So God set another day. That day is called “today”… If Joshua had given the people rest, God would not have spoken about another day. Therefore, a time of rest and worship exists for God’s people. Those who entered his place of rest also rested from their work as God did from his.
So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.” (Hebrews 4:1-11)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. You are called to live by faith. True faith has a rest component to it. When you are in-faith you are also in-rest, knowing God did whatever He promised by His grace, from the foundations of the world, and the manifestation of His promise in the earth is merely a matter of time.
2. Receiving God’s peace is great, but entering into God’s rest is another level altogether. When you enter into God’s rest concerning something, then that’s it! As far as you are concerned, it’s a done deal — no matter how long it actually takes to manifest here in the earth.
3. Sometimes your victory does not require more trying, but rather more dying. The more you die to self and the more you rely on God, the easier it will be for you to enter into God’s rest.
4. Once you enter into God’s rest the pressure of the situation has no power over you.
5. Once you enter into God’s rest you feel no pressure to “perform” to earn it or deserve it. You simply believe for it.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Word. Your Word is the foundation for my life. You made plans for me by Your unearned grace and You have called me to live by faith in order to access, experience and enjoy those plans. As I read and meditate this passage, I declare by faith that it gets down in my spirit. Your rest is possible for me and from this day forward it shall become a reality in my life. I learn to enter into Your rest concerning situations and once I do, the enemy’s attempts to get me into fear, worry, doubt, and unbelief will all fail. Not only do I receive deliverance from the enemy, but I also receive deliverance from self and self-effort. Human effort is not enough. I need Your power to do what You have called me to do. Therefore, I enter into Your rest. No more sleepless nights for me! I seek to DO what You have called me to do, by faith, with Your strength, with Your super on my natural; and as I do, I enter into Your rest every step of the way. You have shown me several things about my life that have not happened yet. For You, because You are in eternity, they are already done. For me, because I live in time, they have not happened yet. But I believe You. I trust that everything You promised me shall come to pass in the earth. While it is just a matter of time, I will not wait in stress, fear, doubt or unbelief. I will wait in faith and faith requires rest. I enter into Your rest, I rely on Your grace, and I enjoy a stress-free life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
