This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. For the last few days we have been looking at a passage in Hebrews 4. Let’s continue.
(Heb 4:3-7 ERV) Only we who believe it are able to enter God’s place of rest. As God said, “I was angry and made a promise: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’” But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world. Yes, somewhere in the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week. He said, “So on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” But in the Scripture above God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.” So the opportunity is still there for some to enter and enjoy God’s rest. But those who first heard the good news about it did not enter, because they did not obey. So God planned another special day. It is called “today.”
The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee said the following when commenting on this passage: “This is the Sabbath. God rested on the seventh day, and that was the Sabbath day. However, the Sabbath today is not a day you keep or observe. Have you entered into the real Sabbath today? Do you know what it is to trust Christ and Christ alone for your salvation? Are you trusting anything else? Is He it? Have you entered into rest? I had a good friend who was a doctor and who observed Saturday as the Sabbath. We used to play tennis together, and we got pretty well acquainted with one another. One day after we had played three sets of tennis, we sat down on the bench, and we began to have what you would call a religious argument. He looked at me and said, “McGee, do you keep the Sabbath day?” “Yes, I keep the Sabbath.” He looked at me real hard and said, “What day?” I said to him, “Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then I start all over again on Saturday.” He said to me, “What in the world do you mean?” “Well, the way I understand the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Sabbath day is now this day of grace in which we live, and Christ, after He died on the Cross and came back to life, went back to the right hand of the Father and sat down. He sat down, not because He was tired, but because He had finished your redemption and mine. So now He tells me, ‘You rest in Me.’ I have a Sabbath day every day—I rest in Christ.” That doctor friend looked at me in amazement. “Well,” he said, “that’s better than having just one day, isn’t it?” I said, “It sure is. Seven days a week is a sabbath of resting in Christ.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. I am not looking to start a debate over the observance of the Sabbath on Saturday, Sunday or any other day. I will stay away from that. My point, and the point of Hebrews 4, is that there is a supernatural rest available for believers today. God freely offers this rest to us by His grace and He expects us to access it with our faith. This rest is a rest of grace, comfort and supernatural peace. When you are resting in God you can be at peace internally, even when things are going haywire externally.
2. The Father rested when He was done with creation and Jesus rested when He was done with salvation. God now gives you the opportunity to rest in what He has already done for you. Rest in the finished work of the Father in creation — you were created in His image and likeness. Rest in the finished work of Jesus the Christ on the cross — you are saved from the power and penalty of sin. Rest in the grace God has given for your divine assignment — you are here for a reason and everything you need to accomplish your assignment has already been prepared for you.
3. While you are resting in the hope you have for eternal life and the grace you have to fulfill your divine purpose, also rest in the fact that satan is a defeated foe. Rest in the fact that Christ Jesus died to make you free from the power of sin and satan. Jesus took the keys to the Kingdom back from satan, He took the sting out of death, and He robbed the grave of its victory. If you know you are going to heaven, and you know the Father wants you to enjoy the ride, then what do you have to worry about? Enter into God’s Rest!!!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for taking the time to teach me about Your amazing grace. The more I study Your grace, the more I realize how much You have already done for me. It’s not that You are going to make plans for me… You already made plans. It’s not that You are going to do something to deal with my sin… Jesus already dealt with it. Your Son Jesus died in my place. He paid my penalty. He willingly accepted crucifixion on Calvary’s cross, He was buried in a borrowed tomb, He went down to hell to take captivity captive, and He ascended from the dead with all power in His hand! Jesus then ascended into heaven and took a seat next to You Father, signifying that His work in the earth was complete (at least for now). I declare that I rest in Jesus’ finished work. I rest in the grace by which I am saved from my sin. I rest in the grace that is on my life for earthly success. I enter into Your rest and I release the pressure to perform. I don’t have to earn Your assignment, You gave it to me by grace. I don’t have to earn eternal life, You offered it to me by grace. And I won’t have to earn my success, because Your grace is already on me to WIN in life. I rest in fact that You have planned out an awesome future for me by grace and I will LIVE IT OUT by faith. I rest in YOU! I enter this day and this weekend by entering into Your rest! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
