This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Last week I introduced you to a passage in Hebrews 4 (verses 1-11) and I started teaching you about God’s rest. We have almost worked out way through the passage. Today we will look at verse 10. The writer of Hebrews said:
God rested after he finished his work. So everyone who enters God’s place of rest will also have rest from their own work just as God did. (Heb 4:10 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. We have already covered the fact that God rested from Creation, not because He was tired, but because He was finished.
2. Jesus rested when He finished the work of making eternal life available to all men. He sat down at the right hand of the Father.
3. The Father expects Born-Again believers to enter into His rest and to release the pressure to perform for His approval.
4. After making peace with God the Father offers us the peace of God — a peace that far exceeds human understanding, reasoning or even explanation.
5. God does not just offer us a heavenly rest that will be experienced “some day”, but God offers us a present day rest that is appropriated by faith.
6. The Hebrew writer said, “everyone who enters God’s place of rest will also have rest from their own work”. Prior to Jesus, Jews attempted to receive atonement for sin through a series of rituals and routines under the Mosaic Law. Because the Law was cumbersome and taxing, it could never provide true rest; especially rest from our own works.
7. Believers before Christ were actually working for justification and intimacy with God. Believers today understand we could never work our way to heaven. No amount of labor could ever provide justification or righteousness. We have been declared righteous because of what Jesus did (2 Cor 5:21) and now we can rest in the salvation we have in Him.
8. I remember when I thought I had to basically “work” for my salvation. I was always apprehensive, timid, and somewhat weary. Whenever I sinned (which we all do by the way), I wearily asked for forgiveness and attempted my best to reconcile my wrongdoing with God. It was not until the Father revealed to me, through His Word and His Spirit, that my salvation has been purchased with the Blood of Jesus and that I was secure in Him, that I was able to truly rest from my own works. Today I serve God because I love Him, not because I am trying to earn my way to heaven or because I am afraid of going to hell. Now I can enter into God’s rest.
9. Not only does God want you to rest in the grace He has provided for your salvation, but He also wants you to rest in the grace He has provided for your success.
10. Earthly success today is available by grace. To access and enjoy this success we, as believers, must use our faith and not rely on our works. When you pursue success by faith, knowing it has already been provided for you by grace, you can rest from your own works (human ability). This does not mean you will not work. It actually means you will probably work harder, just not by your strength. You will work hard by God’s grace as His power flows through you. When you understand this you can WORK and REST at the same time.
Closing Confession: Father, I will never cease to thank You and give You praise for sending Your Son to die for me. You sent Jesus, who knew no sin, to be MADE sin FOR ME, that I might be MADE the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD by faith. For that I am eternally grateful. You declared me righteous because of what Jesus did for me when I accepted Him as Lord. I receive that righteousness by faith, knowing it was provided for me by grace. I did nothing to cause You to want to send Jesus to die in my place. I did nothing to earn Jesus’ sacrifice. You did it because You love me. I now access Your grace with my faith. I rest from my own works. I know I have been delivered from hell. Since I have been delivered from the worse possible thing that could ever happen to me, I have nothing to fear. Fear and satan have no power over me. Not only did You provide me grace for salvation, but You also provided me grace for earthly success. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world and You have already set up everything I need to fulfill those plans. Just like I used my faith to access Your grace for salvation, I use my faith to access Your grace for success. My earthly success will not come with more TRYING, it will come with more DYING. I die to self, I live by faith, and I access all You want me to have; determined to DO all You have called me to do. I do this with NO WORRY, NO FEAR and NO STRESS. I enter into Your divine rest and I do not rely on myself or my ability to maximize my purpose and potential. I rely on YOU! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
