On Fear and Rest (Hebrews 4:1 - 11)

Hebrews 4:1 – 11 “On Fear and Rest”

How we understand God comes from Scripture. How we understand Scripture we often call “theology.” Theology is a “big” word that literally means “Theo” for God and “ology” for “study.” So theology is the study of God.

Theology is important because it determines how we interact with God, each other, and the world.

This section of Hebrews 4 cannot appropriately be isolated from the lesson of unbelief in Hebrews 3. After leaving Egypt the people missed out on God’s best blessing through unbelief.

In Hebrews 4, we are taught a link between Israel entering the Promised Land and the Christian entering heaven. Historically Israel is a picture of the church… the lessons are there, as Paul tells us in Corinthians, “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” [1 Corinthians 10:6]

I. A promise of a future.

A. There are two words that jump of the page in our text today.

1. The first word is “Fear”

a. In fact, it the Greek, the chapter (as we know it) starts with the words, “Let us fear.”

b. Fear is the cure for the caution of Hebrews 3 about drifting into unbelief.

2. The second word is “Rest.”

B Theology that is necessary to understand.

1. Our understanding is imperfect… it is fragmented…

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” [1 Corinthians 13:9 – 12]

a. We are expected to “grow up” like a child would grow up.

b. But we will always be handicapped with “seeing in a mirror dimly” because of our ability to only know in part.

[The story of the blind men describing an elephant: What they describe depends on what part they are holding. So it is with us theologically.]

2. What causes this blindness?

a. In some cases it is our natural temperament. We want something to be true, so we believe it to be…

[Like the person that said, “I’ll see it when I believe it.”]

b. Our theological blindness also comes from the conformity to the group we are in or what we thought we were taught.

c. Preconceived notions and the need to defend a theological tradition can lead us to have blind spots.

d. In some cases, sinful tendencies cause our blindness.

*****I grew up believing that God took away our sinful nature and it was no longer possible for the believer to sin. As a result I struggled with the assurance of salvation and lived in constant fear of losing my salvation.

When I went through the classes to be ordained in the Free Methodist Church… that was corrected. In fact, the teacher at Headquarters made it clear that Wesley and Free Methodist do not believe that…

Historically there are two sound bites every one of us should know. Wesley liked to condense his teaching into easy to understand sound bites to help people remember. So here they are:

1. “God does nothing to denature us.” In other words God never removes the sinful nature. We can never say we are without sin or without the ability to sin.

2. “Sin remains but does not reign.” Another way to say that is just because the sinful nature is still around does not mean I have to sin.

C. Let’s be courageous enough to admit we have an imperfect mind, influenced by our limited experience, and tainted by our flawed culture.

1. So we are given to one-sidedness and particular emphasis.

2. Forms of godliness and types of doctrines become substitutes for truth.

3. In the end, doctrines and systems that are imposed on the Scripture we don’t like become idols because they have become confused with truth.

II. The reality of the fight we are in: FEAR

A. What is fear?

1. Fear is commonly misunderstood.

a. Some people understand fear as distrust of God’s grace.

b. Some people feel fear is the absence of love.

c. Some people think fear is bondage.

2. The “fear of the Lord” is much different.

a. It is the beginning:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” [Proverbs 1:6]

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” [Proverbs 9:10]

***** Without the fear of God we will know Him nor will we understand how to live our lives.

b. The fear of the God guards against self-righteousness. (a.k.a. “overconfidence”)

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” [Proverbs 14:27]

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” [Proverbs 16:6]

B. “Fear” recognizes the reality of the fight we are in…

1. Reality... We need to dread:

a. We need to dread our sinfulness and sin.

b. We need to dread the pain of temptation and the cost of failing.

c. We need to dread the pressure of worldly influence (in us and our children).

2. This is a real fight (we cannot deny it).

a. There is a real enemy.

b. The wounds are real and the pain is real.

c. The attacks are real.

3. What we are talking about is exercising caution and care.

(Ill. Of passing a police car on the freeway: If you are in the speed limit, the police’s presence makes you secure knowing if something happens help is not far away. If you are speeding then there can be fear you will be punished.

III. A choice to move forward.

A. Definition of rest:

1. “Rest” is reflected in the Sabbath day of Creation… “God rested.”

a. …with God.

b. …following God’s example.

2. “Rest” is reflected in the Promised Land… “a land flowing with milk and honey.”

3. “Rest” may be reflected in the new birth one has when we initially humble ourselves at the point of “salvation.”

B. Why did Israel fail to enter the Promised Land?

1. Ideas:

a. They disobeyed after being delivered. (“unbelieving heart”)

1.) This is the “contingency” theory. (God’s promises are conditional.) (Fact: God want us to invest something… without investment, it’s not ours.)

2.) Reaching the goal is contingent on human faithfulness.

b. They never had an inward appropriation of God’s delivering work.

1.) This is the “security” theory. (Emphasis on the word “seem” to fall short.)

2.) Reaching the goal has nothing to do with human faithfulness.

2. The dark side of theology:

a. Contingency: How good do you have to be to enter heaven?

b. Security: How bad can you be and enter heaven?

IV. The balanced skills for promise fulfillment. (Normal behavior for God’s people.)

A. Faithful listening as opposed to an unbelieving heart.

1. Israel’s problems:

a. They needed sight… golden calf. (“walk by faith not by sight”)

b. They missed Egypt… veggies (Forgot the tyranny of slavery.)

c. They were easily bored… demanded meat (rather than God’s provision of manna).

d. They lacked trust… complained

e. They reached a critical point… rebelled by refusing to take the land God gave them.

2. Faithful means to look past ourselves and circumstances and believe God can and will take care of the situation.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." [Daniel 3:16 – 18]

B. Obedience as opposed to rebellion.

1. At the critical point of entering the Promised Land… the people rebelled.

2. Here at the critical moment, they refused to put the effort God required of them.

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” [Hebrews 4:11]

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” [John 10:9]

a. “Strive” carries the idea of being eager and alert (Robertson).

b. “Already but not yet” principle.

1.) We already have this rest by trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice, His broken body and shed blood provided for us but the grace and love of God.

2.) But we are not yet in the final rest heaven.

c. Obedience is the basic mark of those who are saved.

C. Balanced discipline as opposed to stubborn blindness.

1. Some of us need to learn to “fear the Lord.”

a. We take God lightly.

b. We misunderstand our true spiritual condition.

c. We have a form of godliness but no power.

2. Some of us need to enter God’s rest.

a. We can enter that rest only in and through Jesus.

b. Which means we will have to surrender our efforts, our religion, our righteousness.

D. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine…”

1. Do you know God has a tattoo?

“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” [Isaiah 49:16]

2. Is your name written there?

3. Are you acting like it?

Father's Day, "the blessing"

Genesis 28:3 – 4

“The blessing”

 

Abraham may have been the “father of faith” but he left behind a conflicted family.  Even today, the world’s oldest civil war (Israel v Palestinians) comes from this conflict.  Isaac seeks to preserve the spiritual heritage of Abraham by passing on his blessing.

 

Between Isaac’s sons looms a dark sibling rivalry that has deepened from the one he’s experienced from his brother.  Even before birth the brothers have competed.  At one point the elder brother has sold his birthright to the younger brother.  This resulted in bitterness between them.

 

Isaac remembers the hostility from his family.  As his days near an end, he decides to settle the matter between his sons and pass on to them his blessing.  Unfortunately for him and his family, he as played favorites (which is a family curse), and intends to give his blessing according to his desires.

 

Into this father son conflict, comes a word of wisdom from the son’s mother.  It may seem like she is scheming but she does have a prophecy from the Lord that the older would serve the younger.

 

What is happening and why?  Let’s take a look at the story…

 

I.          God blessed Abraham.

 

A.        God intended something special to happen through Abraham.

 

1.         “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, [18] and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” [Genesis 22:17 – 18]

 

2.         This was to be a generational promise.  That would be the foundation for salvation offered through Jesus.

 

B.        This blessing is inherited spiritually.

 

1.         “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” [Galatians 3:14]

 

2.         The Bible does not record Abraham personally handing this down to Isaac.  (It doesn’t mean he did not, but the omission is glaring.)

 

3.         Isaac’s blessing is handed down personally… (it’s different than Abraham’s blessing)

 

II.        God blessed Isaac.

 

            A.        “After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac…” [Genesis 25:11a]

 

1.         God is said to have blessed people regularly. (Adam and Eve, Noah and his sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… it’s a running thread in Genesis)

 

2.         This one is special because it distinguished between Ishmael and Isaac.

 

            B.         It may have been the regular practice of families to bless their children.

 

1.         “And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” [Genesis 24:60]  (Laben blessed his daughters and grandchildren in Genesis 31:55)

 

2.         Notice the “formula” used in this family: many children and victory over enemies.

 

III.       The conflict between Jacob and Esau comes to an ugly episode.  [Genesis 27]

 

            A.        Isaac creates the confusion with his request.

 

1.         “Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." [5] Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, [6] Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau.” [27:4 – 6]

 

a.         Certainly Isaac knew what God had told Rebekah about the two.

 

“The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.  [23] The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” [Genesis 25:23]

 

b.         It seemed like Isaac was not listening to God… and had determined to bless Esau.

 

However, God had another idea: “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand: [12] not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger." [13] Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” [Romans 9:11 – 13]

 

2.         Rebekah gives Jacob this advice: “Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: [9] Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. [10] Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.” [27:8 – 10]

 

a.         Rebekah has a plan.  (It is AMAZING she would think of this so quickly or stick so close to Isaac to know the exact moment he intended to pass down the blessing!)

 

b.         Rebekah’s details include her fixing the food the way Isaac liked, taking Esau’s best clothing, and covering his hands and neck with goat skin.  (Notice this meal included bread. Esau’s did not…)

 

            B.        Esau regrets his previous actions.

 

1.         “After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. . . . When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me--me too, my father!" [35] But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." [36] Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?” [27:30, 34 – 36]

 

                                    a.         It sounds like Isaac can not change his mind, once given.

 

b.         However, the New Testament tells another story: “Afterward, as you know, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.” [Hebrews 12:17]  (In other words, Isaac COULD have changed his mind, but did not…)

 

                        2.         Regret is not repentance or change and the sibling feud deepens.

 

a.         “Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” [27:41]

 

b.         Esau becomes the ultimate illustration of “godless,” because he threw away something of eternal value (blessing) for something of this world (food).

 

“See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” [Hebrews 12:16]

 

IV.       Ultimately Jacob ends up with Abraham’s blessing as well.

 

A.        Not only does Jacob have Isaac’s blessing but he is also officially given Abraham’s blessing as well.

 

                        1.         That makes him the “heir” of the promise.

 

2.         While Esau ended up with the family fortune, Jacob becomes “Israel.”

 

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? [37] Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Mark 8:36 – 37]

 

B.        The bottom line is that the blessing comes from and through a life of faith well lived before our children.

 

                        1.         You might think you have not accomplished much. 

 

2.         You feel you are just one link in the chain or a brink in the foundation.

 

Isaac did not accomplish “much.”  He was not the main character in great faith quests like Abraham, Jacob, or Joseph. 

 

However, Jacob did do ONE thing that earned him a spot on the list of those who did great things through faith.

 

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.” [Hebrews 11:20]

 

Fathers, if it is the last thing you do… make sure you do this one thing and do it well.  Bless your children.  Point them to faith in Jesus, bless them with the indwelling presence of Jesus, Son of God, Savior!  Very possibly their future and eternal destiny depends on your blessing.

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The day everything changed

1 Corinthians 15:1 – 22

“The day everything changed”

 

The resurrection of Jesus is THE single most important event… ever.  The resurrection proved who Jesus is, it provided focus for the disciples’ preaching, it is the power of God to transform daily life.

 

 

I.          Why is the resurrection so influential?

 

            A.        The resurrection’s impact.

 

                        1.         PAST: as an historical event it shows us God did something great.

 

“And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4]

 

                        2.         PRESENT: the power is available for us today.

 

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” [Philippians 3:10]

 

                        3.         FUTURE: God will do something greater in the future!

 

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.” [1 Corinthians 15:42]

 

            B.        The resurrection’s importance.

 

                        1.         The resurrection is the foundational Christian belief.

 

                        2.         The resurrection is the ultimate source of hope.

 

3.         The resurrection is the guarantee for power in our current life and our future resurrection.

 

II.        Why is the resurrection so critical?

 

            A.        If no resurrection then faith is useless.

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” [v 14]

 

1.         The resurrection separates Christianity from every other religion.  You can go to their founders’ occupied graves.

 

2.         Christianity celebrates life, not death.

 

            B.        If no resurrection then we are false witnesses.

 

“More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.” [v 15]

 

                        1.         The core of being a follower of Jesus is to continue the witness.

 

                        2.         The witness is of the living Jesus.

 

            C.        If no resurrection then there is no salvation.

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” [v 17]

 

1.         “Faith” as a general thing is pointless.  People can believe in anything but that does not make it real.

 

2.         “Faith” must be specific and life changing for it to have any effect.  Otherwise it is “futile.”

 

            D.        If no resurrection the “lost” is forever.

 

“Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” [v 18]

 

1.         “Lost” is a technical word that means separated from God, like a lost sheep.

 

2.         The state of being “lost” is permanent unless something more powerful than death intervenes… the resurrection!

 

            E.         If no resurrection then we are pitiful.

 

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” [v 19]

 

                        1.         Without the reality of what is promised then everything is empty.

 

                        2.         So Christians would deserve contempt for holding to empty myths.

 

III.       How can we be so sure?

 

            A.        Scripture.  (Prophecy: Predicted before it happened.)

 

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” [vv 3 – 4]

 

            B.        Eye witnesses. (Legal “proof”)

 

“… He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” [vv 5 – 7]

 

            C.        Paul. (Personal experience)

 

“And last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” [v 8]

 

IV.       What should be our response?

 

            A.        Hope.  (NOT wishful thinking… confident expectation.)

 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” [vv 20 – 21]

 

            B.        Celebrate life, both spiritual and eternal.

 

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” [v 22]

 

            C.        Be transformed.

 

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” [vv 9 – 10]

 

1.         God took someone who was actively seeking to destroy Christianity and transformed him into an apostle!

 

2.         God can take you, from whatever place you find yourself and transform you.

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