This hammock sure looks inviting

God's rest vs. 1 - is a reality today

It is a promise within our reach for today

His rest - as God defines it

a command - 10 commandments - Sabbath

Invitation from Jesus Mt 11:28-30

emphasis on the stopping of laborious activity that leads to our bodies and spirits getting some time to rest vs. 10

a personal issue - from his "own labor" - what does rest look like for you?

(Illus. The Rest of God - p. 3)

Place to Enter - as the promised land was a location for Israel, it remains a real place for us today vs. 3

God's version of rest is found in a relationship with God

- lots of other options and definitions vs. 9 -
- for the people of God

A deliberate priority

- To ignore rest is to act disobediently

- Make every effort
- rest takes planning and practice apparently

Promise still stands

Let's make sure we experience it

Hear the gospel - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Mix is the word picture - with a decision to trust God

some decided to enter

some decide not to enter

Hear the gospel Hear the gospel

Mix

Trust in God Trust in yourself


Enter God's rest Rest remains "just out of reach"

valuable No value

value - realize the advantage rest is intended to provide, profit, are better off......to provide assistance, accomplish a goal, be useful

no value - flows out of disobedience, hard calloused heart, no entry ever.......

rest remains just out of reach

and the benefits of such are never enjoyed......

Resting is a good example vs. 11

One that is worth looking at carefully, first, with some focus.....

Example - the positive side an be described like this.......

- model to follow, a picture to use as a guide

(ilIus. in the context the model can be a good one that submits to God and stands, enters rest, etc, or does not submit to God and falls.....fall being interpreted in various ways)

- God "paints us a picture"

- We copy that picture

- Other's copy us

- They learn to stand instead of fall

(Illus. think about the last time you took a hard fall........)

The Word of God - mentioned again see vs. 3:7

The importance of knowing what God has to say

It provides the reason we can trust the promise of Rest

because........

vs. 12-13

Alive versus dead

Working/active vs. dormant

develops faith - It is always impacting us as Romans 10:17 reminds us

helpful for living - 2 Tim 3:16-17

confident that God is using His Word all the time to impact people

Precise - like a good filet knife......

clarifies issues

spiritual or physical

spoken or unspoken


Judges - discerns -

helps us make decisions

assists in making value judgments

Psalm 1 for example

Proverbs 5

Extends an invitation - see next slide

To hear the gospel by faith


Enter God's rest


Give a good word


account


He knows if we are resting vs. 13