Entering God's REST

So in my last entry, i went into what were my revelations on the place of God's Rest but i didn't get the chance to discuss HOW to get to that place of God's REST. So...i guess we'll tackle that today.

Heb. 4:1-7 (NIV)

The first key to entering into God's rest is a very simple, familiar and fundamental issue to the Christian walk - FAITH. Heb. 4:2-3 clearly states that those of the people in the old testament did not inherit the promise of entering God's rest because the word that they heard, that is the promise that they received, was not received with faith.

It is very important to note that the whole point of God's demonstrations through out the Bible is so that people will BELIEVE in what He says. So that when He says, i'll set you free from bondage, you can go back to Exodus and say to yourself "if He was able to part the seas to bring His people out, He's definitely able to set me free from whatever bondage i'm in." The point of Christ dying on the Cross is so that we all can believe that God's love is true...

So then, Faith is the foremost key to entering God's rest.

Did He tell you that Jesus is the SON of God? Well, Believe Him! Did He say "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and ALL others will be added unto you"? Believe Him!! Did He say that He shall provide and supply ALL your needs? Believe HIM!!! DO NOT DOUBT! Believe that He will never break His word...that He means what He says and He says what He means...Believe that like Heb. 4:12 says, "The WORD of God is LIVING AND ACTIVE" and will never go unfulfilled. If He has said it, He's able to perform it!!!

The Second Key to entering God's Rest is OBEDIENCE!

Remember when the Children of Israel were coming out of Egypt and got into the wilderness and would not stop complaining even after God had provided water and food for them? Remember that at some point God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would flow from it....but in anger of all the people's murmuring and complaint, Moses struck the rock and in the end, he was not allowed to enter the promised land because of his disobedience...

Obedience is central to entering God's rest...In as much as you believe, you MUST also do. Jesus said "Be ye DOERS and not just hearers of the Word". So much lies on your decision to obey the voice of God. He said "If you hear..." meaning if you hear and believe, "...do not harden your heart!" There is nothing more that will bring you into God's rest than your obedience. When God says "speak to the rock", dont disobey Him and strike it because the more you disobey, the farther away you take yourself from your promise land and the longer you extend your wilderness experience. Of course it takes hearing to obey so be sensitive to the voice of God...Open your heart and ears to Him and He surely will speak but when He speaks, PLEASE obey.

God's REST

HEB. 4:10 (Amplified) For he who has entered into God's rest has also ceased from the weariness and pain of human labor, just as God rested from His own works. 11. Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest.

In the beginning, God made everything and then on the seventh day, He rested from all His works. In like manner, Jesus spoke about giving rest to the heavy laden and here again, in this verse, we hear about entering the Rest of God. Here is the bottom line, WE NEED THE REST OF GOD. If we continue to work outside of the grace of God given to us through the Holy Spirit, we will only burn ourselves out but when we make the goal of our labor to enter into God's rest, it becomes easy to begin to bare fruit.

When God saw the state of humanity and saw fit to send Jesus, what He saw was that people desired to do good but were unable to because the bridge was broken. Therefore, it didn't matter how hard the human race tried to be good, they would always fall short - NEVER BE PERFECT. When Christ came and repaired the bridge, He gave us the opportunity to work in the right direction, the opportunity to NOT work AMISS but to work with a focus. The focus is to enter God's rest.

Therefore, my mind frame when it comes to the things of God should not be to have an appearance of perfection but to BE perfect and out of the abundance of who i am, produce like-fruit. My focus should be to enter the REST of God so that i can not only know but also be, say and act like He wants me to. I should not be striving to be good but PRESSING INTO GOD'S REST. This was His plan from the beginning - to give REST to His people.

Today, i encourage and challenge you to follow the signs. Don't be driving toward Washington State when you should be going to New York and be expecting to see Ohio on your way. Stop driving South while expecting to see Northern culture there. Let your work be toward God's Rest so that you can begin to experience His LOVE in a newer dimension!