Sha-bat, Shevat 15, 6001 – January 14, 2017

Source Of Rest

According to scripture, we are to rest on the Sabbath.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

The word “rest” here in verse nine is the word in Greek for Sabbath, and it is so translated elsewhere. the point I am referring to is found verse two. Those that fell in the wilderness were preached the same good news (gospel). But there was not a death and resurrection at that point, right? The good news is that God is on our side. That is further supported by the “not mixed with faith” comment. To see this, we need to see a couple more verses, in the same letter.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Here we see that faith is not just believing that God is, but that He is a rewarder of those that seek Him. My friend recently had what some might call a negative experience. But He had prayed diligently for years that God would be close to him and to be used of God. My friend told me that the hard things that came His way were actually the reward for diligently seeking the Father. God was actually cleaning up his life. Back to the title of this writing.

So then, our Father is the source of the rest, when we add the belief that He is and that He will reward us. We have this part in rest, namely our faith that God is on our side.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King! Praise the name Yahuah! Cleanse us that we might be Your lights in this earth. Send us now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal our hearts and minds. Restore unto Your people one hundred times one hundred times one hundred times one hundredfold all that has been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides. We ask these things in the name of our Messiah Yeshuah (Jesus). Amen.