1. Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People! Hebrews 3:16 – 4:13

2. But in todays society, so much emphasis is put on busyness and work, that it seemsrest is hard to come by.

3. How can we really experience REST in spite of ALL our busyness? How can we really experience REST in spite of ALL our busyness? We need it God designs it We need it God designs it

4. The Bible speaks of in a couple of different ways.

5. REST that is given to us from the Lord when we come to Him in faith.

6. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [TNIV] Matthew 11:28….

7. This is a rest that Jesus gives as a gift. …. given through and by Jesus Christ when we come to Him in faith.

8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God …. [NIV] Ephesians 2:8….

9. Romans 5:1…. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [NIV]

11. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [NIV] Matthew 11:29….

12. This rest for your souls … submission rest

13. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [NIV] Philippians 4:6,7….

15. 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. [NIV] Hebrews 3:18-19….

16. Who was not able to enter that rest?

17. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. …. Deuteronomy 32:50-52….

18. …. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. ….

19. …. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel. [NIV]

20. What was Moses problem here? He struck the rock instead of speaking to it!

21. You can still feel and experience it no matter what the circumstance or situation is.

22. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. [NIV] Hebrews 4:1….

23. can only be entered by faith!

24. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. [NIV] Hebrews 4:2,3….

25. Did the Israelites enter the that God promised?

26. 43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. …. Joshua 21:43 – 45….

27. …. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45 Not one of all the LORDs good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. [NIV]

29. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. [NIV] Hebrews 4:8….

30. The rest that Joshua led them into was only a shadow and type of the true rest God wanted to give.

31. Hebrews 4:7-11…. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

32. …. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

33. …. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. [NIV]

34. Though many kept the Sabbath, and might have had some physical rest from taking a day off, but they never got to experience the fullness of what God intended for a

35. To experience we must make a conscious effort to purposefully set time aside for God, self and family. Jesus fulfilled Gods promise of SABBATH REST! Jesus fulfilled Gods promise of SABBATH REST!

36. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters Gods rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. [NIV] Hebrews 4:9,10….

37. 8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant…. Exodus 20:8-11….

38. …. or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. [NIV]

39. What is the command here regarding the Sabbath? That is to….

40. Jesus IS the Lord of the Sabbath, the fulfillment of the law. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [NIV]

41. The Sabbath Rest for our physical bodies is important. We keep the Sabbath holy by honoring Christ with our body as we take time to REST in Christ and with our family.

42. Need Experience