(Heb 4:6,7 NLT) So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."
This morning we are walking through our final passage in this series and the Hebrew writer talks to us this morning about a rest that is available to us TODAY! The writer has already made it explicitly clear that God's rest was offered to the Israelites when they, by the grace of God, were made free from the bondage of Egypt. However, because of disobedience and unbelief they missed out and over a thousand years later the writer of Hebrews tells us that rest is still available.
The actual Greek language used gives us the understanding that what is being offered actually "remains over from a past time." It's almost as if this is a blessing that is just out there waiting for whomever has the faith to appropriate it. The Father has done His part by making the rest available and those who originally received the offer failed to accept and appropriate it because of unbelief.
Wouldn't be a shame if you and I did the same thing? Wouldn't it be sad if we did not learn from the mistakes of those that have gone before us? The writer even gives us additional motivation by quoting David when he said, "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."
Did you get that? Did you understand the point the Hebrew writer is driving home? He is saying that the offer still stands, divine rest is available, you tap into it by faith, and the time is NOW! TODAY divine rest is available to you. TODAY you can enter into a rest that will give you peace from the inside out. TODAY the Father can deliver you from negative stress. TODAY anxiety can fall off of you like water falling off of a ducks back. TODAY supernatural peace can flood your heart and your mind. Yes, TODAY is the day! The time is NOW! Will you do it? Will you tap into divine rest? Will you appropriate the rest that remains from time past? Will you take God up on His offer? Don't keep waiting on God to give you rest when He has already made it available. He is now waiting on you to make a demand for it. You have not because you ask not. Will you ask (in faith) today?
When I teach I talk about the voice behind the voice, the word behind the word. What I mean by this is that while I am teaching the logos (written Word) the Holy Spirit, at the same time, is teaching rhema (living words). The written word (logos) that I teach may cut and make an incision, but the living words (rhema) that the Holy Spirit preaches, while I am teaching, cuts with precision, causing those that receive the Word to make a decision. The same thing happens while you are reading Today's Word. You are reading what I wrote and that has the ability to bless you to one level, but while you are reading it the Holy Sprit Himself is speaking to you and what He says to you will be far more impactful in your life. Understanding that, I will also quote David and say, "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."
Now that you know that divine rest is available to you, you must do something about it. The Holy Spirit will attempting to get you over into His rest, but you must respond in faith when you hear His voice. If you resist His urging He won't force you into His blessing. God makes His best available to you, but you must take hold of it BY FAITH. Will you?
Father, I thank You for this Word. This is a life-changing Word and I receive it by faith. I also thank You for the Word behind the Word, the voice behind the voice, the rhema behind the logos! In addition to reading the Word I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to me behind it. I hear the Holy Spirit telling me that divine rest is available to me TODAY and I will not harden my heart towards it. My ears are anointed to hear what the Holy Spirit is telling me, my heart is anointed to receive it, and I declare that I will respond IN FAITH. I take hold of the divine rest that is available for me and I take hold of it TODAY! TODAY I enter into Your rest, by faith, and my life will never be the same! In Jesus' name. Amen!
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