2. A THEOLOGY OF REST 1. Tracking the Development of ‘Rest’ in Scripture: 2. Understanding the Place of ‘Rest’ in Our lives:

3. 1. Tracking the Development of ‘Rest’ in Scripture: ‘Rest’ is a core Biblical concept and theme. It is introduced in the creation account, and developed throughout the rest of the unfolding narrative of Scripture. ‘Rest’ is a core Biblical concept and theme. It is introduced in the creation account, and developed throughout the rest of the unfolding narrative of Scripture. To understand the significance of ‘rest’ we must first attempt to track some of this Biblical development. To understand the significance of ‘rest’ we must first attempt to track some of this Biblical development.

4. A. THE PATTERN OF REST: Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Isaiah 40:28-29 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The L ORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

5. B. THE DAY OF REST: Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the L ORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the L ORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the L ORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

6. C. THE LAND OF REST: Rest Promised: Exodus 33:13-14 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Deuteronomy 12:9-10 for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the L ORD your God is giving you. But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the L ORD your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety,

7. C. THE LAND OF REST: Rest Promised: Deuteronomy 25:19 Therefore when the L ORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the L ORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget. Joshua 1:13 "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the L ORD commanded you, saying, 'The L ORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.'

8. C. THE LAND OF REST: Rest Given: Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the L ORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war. Joshua 21:44-45 And the L ORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the L ORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the L ORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

9. C. THE LAND OF REST: Rest Still Offered: 2 Samuel 7:1-2 Now when the king lived in his house and the L ORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.“ 2 Samuel 7:11-12 …And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the L ORD declares to you that the L ORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

10. C. THE LAND OF REST: Rest Still Offered: Psalm 95:7c-11 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways." Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."

11. D. THE GOSPEL OFFER OF REST: Heaven and hell can be defined in terms of rest: Heaven and hell can be defined in terms of rest: Revelation 14:9-13 …"If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night… And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

12. D. THE GOSPEL OFFER OF REST: Jesus offers to give rest to the weary soul: Jesus offers to give rest to the weary soul: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

13. D. THE GOSPEL OFFER OF REST: God Invites Us To Enter Into His rest. God Invites Us To Enter Into His rest.

14. Hebrews 4:1-5 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. 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. 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. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." And again in this passage he said, "They shall not enter my rest."

15. Hebrews 4:6-11 Hebrews 4:6-11 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 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." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 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.

17. A THEOLOGY OF REST 1. Tracking the Development of ‘Rest’ in Scripture: 2. Understanding the Place of ‘Rest’ in Our lives:

18. A. ENTER INTO GOD’S REST IN CHRIST: Hebrews 4:7-8, 9-11 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." …So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 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. When you hear His voice in the gospel do not harder your heart. When you hear His voice in the gospel do not harder your heart. Repent and believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Repent and believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Rest from working to try and earn God’s forgiveness and favor. Rest from working to try and earn God’s forgiveness and favor.

19. B. ABIDE IN GOD’S REST IN CHRIST: Hebrews 3:12-15 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 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. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.“ Each and every ‘today’ is an new opportunity to hear God’s Word and to respond in faith with a soft heart. Each and every ‘today’ is an new opportunity to hear God’s Word and to respond in faith with a soft heart. Daily encourage one another, and be encouraged, to ‘hear His voice.’ Daily encourage one another, and be encouraged, to ‘hear His voice.’

20. C. C.SEEK YOUR REFRESHMENT FIRSTLY IN THE LORD: Psalm 42:1-2 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

21. C. C.SEEK YOUR REFRESHMENT FIRSTLY IN THE LORD: Psalm 63:1-3 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

22. C. C.SEEK YOUR REFRESHMENT FIRSTLY IN THE LORD: Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the L ORD. Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the L ORD.

23. C. C.SEEK YOUR REFRESHMENT FIRSTLY IN THE LORD: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

24. D. D.ASK THE LORD FOR WISDOM. Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

25. D. D.ASK THE LORD FOR WISDOM. Psalm 90:10-12 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

26. E. E.ENJOY GOD’S CREATION WITH THANKSGIVING. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil-- this is God's gift to man.

27. E. E.ENJOY GOD’S CREATION WITH THANKSGIVING. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 6:17 …charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.