Entering into rest. I know that I know that I know I’m free from the curse of the Law.  What is the curse?  Poverty, sickness and sin (spiritual death).  Because of Jesus, each of us is free from the curse.  

Today we are talking about entering into rest.  The rest of God is to cease from your own works to do the works of your Lord – Jesus.

Think of what Jesus said,

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19 KJV

We too are called to enter into the works we see our Lord Jesus do.  And Jesus himself said these things and greater things will you do because I go to my Father.  

Jesus ever lives to make intercession for you and for me.  

Our Text

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:10-11 KJV

What is “Rest”?

What is the rest that our text for today is talking about?  Jesus says, 

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 KJV

This rest comes from ceasing our own works and doing the will of our Lord Jesus.  Rest is the moment that you realize you are doing all that you know to do and your conscience is clean before God.  Everything that God is talking to you about doing – you’re doing.  

Jesus says that this is how you find rest for your souls (mind, will and emotions).  

The reason why so many people in society today have such anxiety is because they aren’t ceasing to do their own works!  It says so right here.  

We want to do our own thing and get God to hook up with it.  That won’t work!

God as our Example of Entering into Rest

We briefly talked about Jesus as he stopped his own works to do the will of His Father. Remember in the garden when He said, 

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luke 22:42 KJV

This is the example we are to follow.

Think even of God himself when He created the world.  It says on the seventh day that God rested and quit his own works (see our text for today).  

Labor to Rest

“Labor to Rest” sounds like an oxymoron, but what we are saying is the same thing that Deuteronomy talks about.

1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

Deuteronomy 8:1 KJV

When we “observe to do”, it means we are actively looking for ways to obey the voice of God and when we turn aside from our own wants and focus on the desires that He has, we can prosper.  

Truly this is what it means to “renew our mind”.