Jesus is our true rest. Let’s not allow anyone or anything take His place. Here’s how…
Hebrews 3: Jesus Greater Than Moses
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.
3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses---as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honour than the house itself.
4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,
6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
A Rest for the People of God
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.'
11 As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'"
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."
5 And again in this passage he said, "They shall not enter my rest."
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,
7 again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and active, 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.
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Things to think about…
1. Moses was a mighty man of faith in the household of God, but Christ builds and holds the house together, Heb 3:1-6. The Jews exalt Moses but neglect the One whom Moses spoke about. May we never exalt a faithful man or woman above measure. Like Moses, we are servants to the Master Builder – He is our boast and our hope, vs 6.
2. Do you see the point of Heb 3:7-19. Just because someone has left Egypt does not mean they have entered Canaan. Rebellion can still rule in the hearts of those who claim to be the Lord’s people. God knows those who are His and who will enter into His rest. Belief means we act in obedience. What we see a number of times is the word “harden”, specifically applied to the heart. This manifests in unbelief and disobedience, Heb 3:18, 19. Allowing God’s love in Christ to rule our hearts we are then able to love each other enough to stir one another up to love and obey His word. His commandments are not burdensome, 1Jn 5:3. If they are, the diagnoses isobvious, you have hardening in your heart. The writer encourages you to enter into true rest, Heb 4.
3. There is a heathy fear for the believer – the fear that some who name Christ should not enter into Christ’s rest, Heb 4:1. As a pastor I confess I have this as my constant companion, both for my family and my church. While it should never overtake us, it is healthy to have a godly concern for those we love that all have Christ as our only hope of eternal rest. The point in Heb 4:2 is that good news had come to the Israelites in Egypt, just as the good news of Christ had come to the early church – but some did not combine the news with faith.
4. Do you sometimes forget where you read something in the bible? You can’t remember chapter and verse. That’s ok, neither could the writer to the Hebrews, in Heb 4:4 he says that it is ‘somewhere spoken’. I find great encouragement in this verse. While memorising scripture is important – faith in Christ trumps it all. As a point of interest, Gen 2:2 was the verse he was after.
5. True rest is found in Christ, He is our Sabbath – not Saturday or Sunday as some cults or even Christians believe. Christ is our Sabbath rest, which will be completed when we enter our eternal rest with Him. God rested from His works, as such we should rest from ours, Heb 4:10. In what ways are you still trying to work for your salvation? Stop! Isaiah calls these works filthy rags, Isa 64:6 – I agree.
6. This is why it is vital to read, hear and study the Word of God, Heb 4:12 – it is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword… When we are brought to an understanding of sin it is because the Lord awakens our soul to the Word of God that we have not aligned with it. This is an act of mercy and grace. Though it may not feel good when there is a dividing between the thoughts and intents of the heart it draws us closer to God.
7. When we feel the need to strive – when we are tempted to do things in our own strength or feel the pull of sin, let’s take the advice found in Heb 4:16 and ‘draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’. Amen.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “The humble will be exalted” – Reading Esther 8.
1. The pastor mentioned the loss of his first job and the events that followed. What has been the most humiliating time or low point in your life? What were the circumstances that led you out of it? Were you a Christian did your faith play a part?
2. Recall what you remember of the story of Esther and Mordecai and what led to the ascension of Mordecai to be second in charge of the empire. God is not mentioned at all in the book but is clearly orchestrating events in the background. How would you describe coincidences?
3. We are called to follow Christ, to take up our cross and follow Him. After the suffering of the cross Acts 5:31 says “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins”. What does this mean for you, your faith and your future?
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the 2 families that received CBC’s flood relief in Queensborough parade in Karalee.
2. Safety for those travelling over the school holidays coming up.
3. Peace to rest over Ukraine.
4. Folk sick with Flu A and Covid – relief and healing.
5. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. More new folk came to CBC on Sunday.
2. Worship on Sunday – thankyou and technical team.
3. Café helpers on Sunday – thanks Melinda and Maddison.
4. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Remember to check your duty rosters.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for June...
Q. 4. What becomes of men when they die? A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes back to God to be judged.
