Latest / HBCWestminster / 11.3.21 Hebrews 3:15-4:13 Part 2 Tom Miller

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11.3.21 Hebrews 3:15-4:13 Part 2 Tom Miller · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  Let me just kind of start with a bit of a review. Remember that the letter to the Hebrews is a writer writing to Hebrew, or actually Jewish believers, relatively new Jewish believers who are being persecuted, they're being pressured, they're being pushed, they're just having a really, really hard time, and they're ready to give up.
• 0:30
  They're weary. They're tired. They're not sure it's worth the effort. And the writer's trying to say, no, it is worth the effort. And as we read it now, I would encourage you to put yourself in their place. And I know some of you are weary. You are going through some battles.
• 0:54
  Or you've been through it. Or your life is like that. We're going to go through some struggles. So I want to encourage you tonight is you are the recipient of this letter. So hear what God is saying to the church about resting. About being at peace. And that's the key for tonight. Is that we can keep going and
• 1:24
  And it's going to get better and better because of what God does for us. And let me just review a little bit about the setting of what this author is saying. It's from Psalms 85. And what he's talking about is the children of Israel, he's referring back to when they came out of Egypt. And they were in Egypt 400 years, much of that time as slaves.
• 1:54
  They come out with Moses. They have the miracle of walking on dry land across the Red Sea. Very shortly, suddenly manna every morning is there for them. Another miracle. And then they look up in the sky at night and here's millions of quail just flying right into their pots. And, you know, another miracle saying, Lord, thank you for that provision. And then...
• 2:23
  he's also giving them water supernaturally, not only for them, but for all their livestock. Can you imagine? All the livestock, three million people, how much water that's going to take? And they've been miraculously taken care of for weeks. And remember, we went back to Exodus, and it said, you know, God was leading them from place to place to place. And then he led them into this one place,
• 2:52
  What was unique about the place, remember? There was no water, right? God had led him to a place of no water. And remember I told you that God will mess with some of your religion, but God will lead us sometimes into places of no water. And he expected the children of Israel to stand there and wait upon God for another miracle. Because that's the way they had been living.
• 3:28
  And so they were intended to come in to a place called Raphadim, which meant what? Refreshment. Refreshment. And so here they expected to come into refreshment, and instead of being refreshed, they started what? To grumbling. They were griping to Moses. They were saying, why did you bring us out here? To kill us? Why would you do that?
• 3:58
  And the place now became the name of what? Remember? I'm a teacher. I can do these quizzes because it's legal, right? But Marah, right? Marah. How do you say that? Marah. It became a place of Marah, which means grumbling. So it changed from refreshment to grumbling. And that's where we pick it up tonight. Because the author is trying to say, you know, you've got to realize God leads us into places of...
• 4:30
  No water, but that's not where you're supposed to stay. You're going to be moving on. But while you're there, I'm going to be the rock of Jesus that what? Moses struck and water gushed out. That's what God intended. That's what he did. But the people didn't get the benefit and the joy of being able to just watch the God of the universe do another miracle. He did it.
• 5:00
  And he'll do it for you and me. But I want to live at Raphadim. Right? I want to live at grateful. I want to live at refreshment. So as we look at tonight, we're going to move into, he wants us to think about moving into what's called God's rest. And that's what we're going to look at tonight. Entering God's rest. So if you haven't already, turn over to Hebrews.
• 5:31
  chapter 3, Hebrews chapter 3. We're going to pick up on verse 15. Hebrews 3, 15. And if you can stand, we'll read what God has for us tonight. It's rather long. In fact, it is long. And it's almost repetitive. So don't fall asleep on me. All right? Jewish writing quite often is circular. Okay?
• 6:04
  So it's going to circle a little bit. You're going to wonder, didn't we just read that? All right, so stay with us. Verse 15, it says, As it is said today. Now he's talking about now, for you and me. Now, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as Israel did, as in the rebellion. And he's referring to Meribah. For who were those who heard and yet rebelled?
• 6:33
  Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? He's talking about that first generation. And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? That's a key word. Remember that word, disobedient. So we see that they were unable to enter because of, oh,
• 7:05
  No, unbelief. That's a key word. Chapter 4, verse 1. Therefore, the promise of entering His rest still stands for you and me. It hasn't changed. Let us fear, lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. I.e., failed to reach the promise. That's what he's talking about. Failed to reach the promise.
• 7:34
  Verse 2, for good news comes to us just as it did to them. That is to the Israelites. But the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed. Now he's talking about the Jewish believers now. He's talking about them. You guys and me, we who have believed.
• 8:00
  Enter into that rest. As he said, I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Although his, that's God's works, were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way. And God rested on the seventh day from all his work. And again, in this passage, he said, they shall not enter my rest. I think we read that sometime.
• 8:30
  Verse 6. Since, therefore, it remains for some to enter it. And that's talking about Caleb and Joshua. He's saying that some of them are going to enter the promised land. And those who formerly received the good news, that's the first generation, failed to enter because of what? There's that word again, disobedience. Verse 7. Again, he appoints a certain day. Today.
• 9:00
  saying through David. Let's skip down to verse 10. I'm sorry. Let's skip down to verse 10. For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living. It's alive.
• 9:29
  It's active, it's sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. That is, the word exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. In verse 13, and no creature is hidden from his sight. That is, there's not a thing hidden from God, but all things are naked,
• 9:59
  and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. Let me do a little Miller paraphrase of the last couple of verses from verse 12 down, or 11, because it tends to summarize what we just read. It's kind of all over the lot. So Miller paraphrase would say this, strive diligently to enter God's rest.
• 10:28
  so that you will not be kept out due to disobedience. Remember, the word of God exposes our inner thoughts and desires. There's nothing hidden from God. Let's pray. Father, I thank you for your word. I thank you that at first glance it may seem like it's a little bit convoluted, but Lord, you always make it simple. And I pray tonight you would make it very simple for us.
• 10:59
  That that word will be mighty. It would be powerful. It would accomplish that which you purpose. Lord, I thank you that there's nothing better than sharing the word. Nothing better than just seeing you work in our heart to open our eyes, open our understanding, Lord, tonight. And help us to see what you're wanting to say to us, Lord. Because, Father, I want us to be different when we go out than when we came in.
• 11:28
  Father, I don't want information. I want transformation. I want to see you in me more powerfully now than when I came in. So, Lord, use this time for your glory. We give you the honor and the praise. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. You may be seated. Thank you for your patience. That's a long, long set of verses. Let me start off with this.
• 12:02
  As I looked at different commentaries, as I looked at this passage, interesting to see how different commentaries, and we're talking about brilliant, sharp, biblical scholars, how differently they view this passage. And I'm supposed to figure out which one is right. And I'm going, Lord, I'm not a scholar, you know? And yet I have an opinion, so I'm going to give you my opinion.
• 12:33
  All right? But let God do the interpretation, okay? But I think there was three ways to look at how Israel is going to enter into the promised land. Three kind of ways of looking at this. And one of the ways is entering into Canaan represents entering into heaven.
• 13:00
  So they're coming out into the wilderness, wandering around. This is the world that you and I live in. And when we finally get to enter into our rest, it'll be heaven. Now, as if I know what I'm talking about. But I have a little trouble with that. Because the writer is trying to encourage his readers to enter Canaan now. He's saying today is the day. Now.
• 13:30
  And I would echo that and say, you and I, today is the day of our rest. I'm not going to wait until I get to heaven for rest. Now I don't want to be mean to these scholars. I don't want to say, excuse me, you should have come to, no, you need to realize that I'm not waiting. Neither is the writer of the Hebrews is saying, today, guys, I know you're going through.
• 13:57
  All kinds of trouble, but you can enter his rest today. You don't have to wait until you get to heaven. Well, a second way that scholars have looked at this is that the time in the wilderness represents the life of the unbeliever. So they come out of Egypt, and between that time and entering Canaan, they're just in the world. They're just unbelievers. And by entering into...
• 14:29
  Canaan, they what? They become believers. They're saved at that point. And again, I look at that and the letter is written to Jewish believers. Right? He's not writing to unbelievers. He's saying at this point, no, those folk wandering in the wilderness were still Israelites. They were still believers.
• 15:04
  So the third approach to this is that the exodus from Egypt became Israel's freedom from sin's domain and represents their salvation. So as they came out of Egypt, they were saved from Egypt. They were saved from the world. And their wanderings in the wilderness, these are a season of growing in their faith, which very few of them did.
• 15:34
  it became a time of living in a carnal, self-oriented lifestyle, which described most of them, unfortunately. Entering into Canaan then became a time of surrendering to the lordship of Christ and resting in his leading and provision, accepting by faith all of the promises he had for them. So the idea is, as believers,
• 16:02
  They're walking around in the wilderness. They're in the world. But God wants us to move into the promised land. He wants us to move into Canaan. He wants us into God's rest. And we do that by faith and saying, God, it's all yours. It's all yours. Do you see the transition? That's what I'm voting for. I feel like that one best seems to describe the passage that we're looking at.
• 16:32
  tonight, okay? If you can kind of flow with me, alright? Let's go back to verse 1 of chapter 4. Verse 1 of chapter 4. And see how the writer's encouraging his readers that it's not too late to enter God's rest. Verse 1 says this again. Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, that is, it hasn't changed.
• 16:59
  Let us fear or be careful as any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. Okay, I didn't get it either. Let me do a Miller paraphrase. Okay, a Miller paraphrase. Here we go. I think he's saying this. Don't worry about coming too late or missing the opportunity to enter God's rest because the promise of entering His rest is still wide open. You are not actually coming up short.
• 17:31
  But from your perspective, it may seem like that. Some of you may feel like I'm just not ever going to enter into God's rest. I'm not going to do it. It's too late. I'm too ugly. I'm too sinful. I don't read enough. I don't pray enough. No, that's what grace is all about, right? If I didn't have grace, I wouldn't have any of this. It's not too late. And that's what he's saying. It is not too late. Let's define rest. Okay, so we're going to talk about rest.
• 18:00
  Now, the world through, I looked up the dictionary. So the dictionary is describing rest. And this is the world's view of rest. It says sleep, inactivity, relief from troubles, and exertion. That's the world's view of rest. Basically, just cop out, kick it back, don't do nothing. Everything is nice and beautiful.
• 18:31
  Now, the Greek word for rest that we're using tonight means to rest, to settle down, to stop, desist, and come to an end. That's a little different. Stop, desist, settle down, come to an end. It has two parts to that word. It's two parts. The first part is referring to a standard, a norm, a gnome.
• 19:03
  A norm, if I can say that. A standard or a norm that is being set. The second part of the word is the concept of rest. When we put the two parts of that word together, it's referring to God's standard, the normative way we should live as we rest. It's God's rest. It's not man's rest. It's not the world's description of just doing nothing.
• 19:34
  It's God's rest. Now, the focus tonight is going to be entering into Canaan or entering into God's rest or our rest. And there's three how-tos to entering into Canaan. Three ways to do that. Okay? The first one is how not to enter Canaan. The second is how to enter Canaan. And the third one we're going to see is how to remain.
• 20:05
  In Canaan. So that's what we're going to look at tonight. Let's look at the first one. How not to enter Canaan. Now we've got four verses up there for you. Chapter 3 verse 18 says this. Those who were disobedient could not enter his rest. Chapter 3 verse 18. They were unable to enter because of unbelief. 4-2.
• 20:41
  They were not united by faith. And it's referring to they weren't united by faith to the two spies who came back with a positive view of taking the land. Who were they? Caleb and Joshua came back and we're more than able. And it's saying they didn't put their faith with Caleb and Joshua. And verse 6, they failed to enter because of disobedience.
• 21:14
  Disobedience. Israel believed the ten spies that didn't trust God enough to believe that God would help them become victors and conquerors of the land. Israel could not enter Canaan because of disobedience and unbelief. Note how the author interchanges disobedience and unbelief. Now listen carefully to this next sentence. I believe
• 21:48
  The cause of Israel's failure to enter Canaan was disobedience that arised out of unbelief. Did you guess that? They couldn't enter because of disobedience that was a result of their unbelief. See, unbelief can cause us to make poor choices, which result in wrong decisions, wrong actions.
• 22:23
  Unbelief, I think, and sometimes unbelief is not necessarily the sin. It may be the problem that creates it, but the sin is the choices and the actions that are a result of the unbelief. That unbelief causes me to move in a direction away from God where faith gives me the choices that do what? Have me move towards God.
• 22:56
  What did the children of Israel do? They moved away from God's favor and what God intended for them to do. See, our faith and trust in God helps us obey and do God's will. It's simple. How many times do we choose not to follow God's directions because we just don't have the faith? For me, part of it is
• 23:32
  just don't believe I can do it or that God will do it. That in and of itself isn't necessarily the sin, but then what I do after that, usually what I do after that is I move away from the very God I need the most as opposed to saying, Lord, I believe, but what did that father say? Help my unbelief. God, Jesus never,
• 24:03
  dealt with his unbelief. He didn't smack him. He didn't go after him. He healed his son. He said, it's okay. That's all right. I am going to help your unbelief. And I'm going to say, God, you know where I stumble. Help my unbelief. Because that's not where I'm sinning. I just don't want to move away from God. That's the issue. See, too often,
• 24:36
  pain and looks too hard, too high a price to pay. I'm not willing to make the effort, God. It's just too hard. We fear the sacrifice. Lord, is it really worth it? I mean, they were looking at the giants and they had to sit there and go, God, is it worth it to go in there? Are you aware they're bigger and meaner and everything else than we are? Hello?
• 25:11
  Have you looked over the... And I just back off. And of course God knows I'm at a no water situation. What am I going to do in that situation? Am I going to look for his miracle, the rock of the water, or I'm going to grumble back off and leave? See, that's the situation the author's trying to tell his readers, don't do that.
• 25:42
  It is worth it. Let me ask you another question. Try to ask me first, right? Where in my life have I not entered Canaan? What areas in my life have I not surrendered to God? Now, I think I've done a pretty good job in 70 years of following my Jesus. He's had a lot of time to work on me. And I'll tell you, he's had to work on me.
• 26:16
  But there's, he's not done with me yet. Part of me says, thank God. Thank God. I still got a lot of stuff to get out of me. But what areas in your life do you want to say, God, keep working, Lord. Keep working. Don't let me back away. See, what part of my life am I still trying to control? I got to release it. So, so, unbelief.
• 26:49
  That results in disobedience. Is not how we entertain. Number two. All right. How do we entertain? Four steps. One. Follow God's example. In verse 10. For whoever has entered God's rest. Has also rested from his works. As God did from his. God did it first. He's our example.
• 27:19
  The great secret, this is a key, this is a key, listen. The great secret to this rest is ceasing from our own works as God did from his. When he created the universe on the seventh day, God what? He rested. And we can rest too. So number one, follow God's example. Number two, believe with your whole heart.
• 27:49
  that there is a place of rest for you. If we don't believe there's a place of rest, we got nothing. You got to sit there and believe that there is, Lord, there is a place of rest. I am going to find that place where Canaan is. It doesn't mean that the giants won't be there. It doesn't mean I won't have a battle or two to fight. But it means you're going to be there because that's where you are. That's your kingdom. That's where I want to be.
• 28:18
  I want to be at rest with you, God. And I believe that I can. There is a place of rest for me. By simply believing God's leading, we allow God to take us into the promised land. By just believing, God will take us. Another second key point then, another key point is this. Living in God's rest.
• 28:53
  requires a trusting attitude toward a faithful God. I loved what we prayed earlier about the faithfulness of God. If you don't believe God's character, we're in trouble. He is a faithful, loving God we can trust to take us into our rest. Number three, we've got to cease from our own works. It can't be us. I can't enter His rest.
• 29:24
  Out of determination. I'm going to do it. I'm going to learn the rest. It's kind of like going to sleep. You ever have insomnia? And you sit there and I'm going to go to sleep. I'm going to go to sleep. It's probably not the way to go to sleep, right? You've got to fall asleep. Same way here. You've got to fall into God's rest. Relax and let God take you. Cease from my own works.
• 29:55
  Seize from my own works. See, there's two parts to entering God's rest. One is, it's a place where we actually enter. I think the way to look at it, we've got to enter God's rest. We've got to go someplace from where we are. We can't enter God's rest from where you are. You can't stay in the same spot. You've got to move with God. When God says to children in Israel, you've got to move to the promised land. If they would have just said, no.
• 30:24
  I'm moving. I'm sitting right here. I like it right here. We're by a stream. We got the manna. The quail's coming tonight. Why do I want to leave? Because there's a promised land out there. Nope, I'm going to stay right here. Me and Mama, we're going to stay right here. My cow, they're happy out there. But the promised land is over there, Tom.
• 30:54
  That means I've got to move, I've got to change. Something's going to change. And it's going to be a good change. And then the second part of rest is the fact that it's a mindset. It's an attitude where we live. Where God's presence can impact our life. We live in Canaan. We live in our rest. It means to be inwardly quiet, composed.
• 31:26
  Even in the midst of the battle. Canaan wasn't just sweet, wonderful grapes and time and life. It was a battleground. It was ugly for a while. But it was where God wanted them to be. And they could do that and rest in God. Number four. It's always in God's time. And that's simple. Right? We know that. God's timing is always right.
• 31:57
  And it's never my time. Never. Why do you always have to be the God of 1159? Hello? Don't you see I need you now? You know, we need water now, Lord. We're in this no water place. There's no water. Where's the water, God? Come on, water. And God said, I'm still teaching you something, Tom. I'm still teaching you something. Will you just relax and let me teach you?
• 32:29
  what you need to learn here at Raphadim. See, I got a purpose for you to be here. I know some of you are going through just really ugly stuff. So are we a little bit. But God, I'm at Raphadim. I want to learn what you want me to learn. I don't want to move beyond you, and I don't want to linger. I want to go with you to Canaan. And on the way, I want to learn everything you want to teach me.
• 33:03
  Everything. Everything, God. It's your timing. Well, the third how-to is how to remain in Canaan. How to remain. And the question is, how do we rest in the midst of the struggle? How do we rest in the midst of the struggle? Well, two things we got to remember. One is who we are. And the second, who is God?
• 33:35
  Who we are and who is God. Let me talk about who we are first. Let me tell you a little story about me. This freed my life. This changed my life. See, after almost 70 years of walking with God, I've developed a relationship with Him that I don't want to offend anybody tonight. But me and Him, we argue. Oh, no, no, we talk. I argue, He talks.
• 34:10
  And he puts up with me. And so a couple, three years ago, I needed new brakes on my car. And we didn't have a lot of money. At that point in time, it was tight. And so I'm driving to the shop, had an appointment, and I'm not happy. I am grumbling. No, I was whining. I was mad. The last thing I wanted to do was spend.
• 34:40
  money for other things that I had in mind for on stupid brakes. And I was just whining all the way. I was mad. And God all of a sudden said, what are you doing, son? I'm mad. About what? Stupid brakes. Stupid car. And I remember he says, it's my car. What do you mean it's your car? It's my car and the stupid brakes. It's my car. Those are my brakes.
• 35:15
  You got a problem with that? I'm not sure I understand. He says, you're a steward of my car. You don't own my car. In fact, you don't own anything, Tom. You don't own your refrigerator. You don't own your house. You don't own your clothes. You're just a steward. And it hit me. So it's your car, yeah? It's your brakes, yeah? Why don't you fix them? And by the way,
• 35:56
  Okay, so we get them fixed. But it's my money that's got to pay for it. I mean, we're just driving. I'm sorry. It's kind of the way it went. And he says, and you know where this is going now? It's my money. Really? It's your money? Well, but I had other plans for it. Don't you believe me for those? It's my money, Tom. It's my car. Can you just believe me for it and release?
• 36:32
  Release it. It's not yours. Get out of it. Stay out of control for once in your life. And it's okay. And I'll tell you, by the time I got to that shop, it was like, fix him, boy. If there's anything else wrong with that car, it's God's car. Fix it. I want to be a good steward. It was so freeing for me to sit there and say, God, it's not your car. I mean, it's not my car. It's not my house.
• 37:02
  And a little later, of course, he's going to test you again, right? So the refrigerator goes out right at Christmas time when we're having people over for Christmas. We're taking a stupid cooler, putting stuff in the cooler, putting it outside in the snow. But of course, at night, I've got to bring this stupid cooler back in because it's going to freeze the stuff.
• 37:31
  And I'm not happy. And God taps me on the shoulder and says, it's my refrigerator. Okay, okay. So freeing, people. It's not me, but it's God. Number two, remember, it's God and we're almost done. See, we need to have total abandonment that it's always God. Totally trust Him.
• 38:02
  And we need to learn to be content with where we are. See, that's the whole idea. Am I content at Rothendom when there's no water? Can I sit there and say, God, I can't wait to see what you're going to do. Not my problem. When they get to Canaan, Lord, I hope when I get there I can say, those giants are your problem, God. Not my problem. You take care of Jericho. Lord, you take care of my family.
• 38:38
  You take care of tomorrow because I trust you. See, it's a character issue. Do I trust God or don't I? See, it's an attitude of commitment, contentment in every situation. Let me give you a quick illustration and then we're done. The Apostle Paul, I mean, I don't think you could have more issues in his life as Apostle Paul had. And in Philippians,
• 39:10
  He had learned to be content. Because Philippians 4.11, he said, he is able to write, I have learned in whatever situation I'm in to be content. That's what I want to learn. I'm not there yet. Not every situation. God's working on me. But there's, I get in some situations and I'm still not content. I'm a mess. But bless God, I'm coming. I'm getting there. See, now.
• 39:40
  The example is, remember, Paul was told after several trials to go to Rome, right? Supposed to go to Rome. So he gets aboard ship, and what happens on that ship? Huge storm comes up, right? But we got to remember that in Acts 23, 11, he was told to testify of God in Rome. He was told to go to Rome and testify of God.
• 40:11
  So he's on this ship, and everything's breaking loose. It doesn't look good at all. And an angel comes to him, and he says, Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you. Then Paul told the men on board, Take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. Do we have that kind of faith?
• 40:40
  Throughout all of these situations, Paul remained at rest because he knew his Lord and he heard the promise that he would stand before Caesar. We have all kinds of promises in the word. And God's given some of you your special promise. Stand on that promise. Don't let it go. Don't let it go. We can rest.
• 41:13
  at our no water situation because we know the God of the universe is in control. And that's what we want tonight. That's what I want to view as the Lord. Show me how to enter my rest. Show me how to stay rest no matter what's happening because I serve a faithful God. I love that song, Lord.
• 41:43
  serve a faithful God. And he'll keep me until that time. Let's pray. Father, I thank you so much for your word. I thank you that, Lord, it will not return void. It will accomplish that which you purpose. And that, Lord, you'll help us to understand the words. Lord, you said in Acts, when the Holy Spirit came, that each person heard it in their own language.
• 42:16
  Father, I pray that everybody here will hear what you've said tonight in their own language, in their own way, so they can understand it and they can hold on to it. Lord, you'll accomplish that which you want in each one of us now. Show us how to enter in your rest, how to be your people that know you, that'll walk with you right on in to that promised land, right on in to that land of rest.
• 42:50
  So Lord, I thank you for that. I thank you that you bless us as we come in and bless us as we go out. And I commend them in your hands now in Jesus' name. Amen.