Resting in the Lord

We must enter into His Rest

Hebrews 4.9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Hebrews 4.11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.

Therefore, we must labour to enter into that rest.

Isaiah 30.15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:       15b and you would not.

Isaiah 30:15b and you would not.

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel knows that many of the called will not rest in Him, and so will not be among those chosen to salvation.

The many, who will not do it, will lean on their own understanding, and not trust in the Word of the Lord with all of their heart and turn their lives over to Him in spirit and in truth; but will believe that they have already done so by praying it, and saying it, and believing for it, coming into His presence for a time each day, rather than labouring to remain in Him at rest; and so are relying on dead or blind faith for their salvation; all the while trying to keep precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little (Isaiah 28:12,13); and so never coming to the saving rest in the Holy Spirit of the Son of God, the Christ Spirit that is the new life in us, the hope of glory. We must deny ourselves (completely); die to our life, in truth; and rest and abide in His Spiritual life, and let His life manifest in us. 

God has given us free will, and does not force anything upon us. It is completely up to us to let God magnify the new life of Christ in us. As John the baptist has said in 1John 3:30 He must increase, but  I must decrease. If we will not deny ourselves completely, and die to our life, and truly, through continuing labour (Gk. spou dad' zo; make an ernest, diligent effort), to rest in His Spiritual presence, He will not increase or mignify His life in us.

We must let His new spiritual life increase in us as we decrease our life.

Because the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has said, "In returning and rest shall you be saved"; we can be sure that we must return to Him, through Jesus, and rest in Him, to be saved.

Labouring to enter into His rest is part of working out our own salvation, through the living faith of obedience (see study on: 'How are we Saved?').

Isaiah 30:15b.......and you would not.

Many "believers" are not aware that our salvation depends upon grace through living faith; the work of faith: obedience to God. If we do not obey the Lord, He is not our Lord; and in vain will we call upon Him in that judgement day,"Lord, Lord". (see Matthew 7.13-29.)

James 1: 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selvres.

The Many called but not chosen, are deceived into believing that all they need to do to rest in the Lord, is to just "believe", and confess the promises, and "rest in the finished work of the cross"; not perceiving that the finished work of the cross is the victory of redemption, not salvation.

Redemption:

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Salvation:

IIThess.2:13b God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1Pet.1.2 Elect (Gk: eklektos; chosen) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Sanctification, belief (Gk; pistis: faith in) of the truth, Obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Phil.2;12 Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Mt.22.14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

God will choose Jesus' faithful followers unto salvation.

2Thess.2:13b because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Sanctification (Gk. hag i as mos'; purification, purity, holiness) and Living faith in the truth; not blind or dead faith in false doctrine.

 Many, who do not understand that salvation is of hope, and that we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, and that salvation is the end of our faith, are convinced that they are already saved, and have no need for labour or works of any kind; not even works of faith (see study on 'Faith toward God' in First Principles). They can not see any difference between works of the law and works of faith: to them, all works toward salvation are "legalism". Many are taught that all they need to do to be saved is to continue believing in Jesus, to keep going to church, and to try to live according to the Word of God; mistaking a deceptive false religeous spirit for the Holy Spirit; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; trying to follow the Lord in their own strength and understanding, instead of resting in the in-dwelling Spirit of Christ, and letting the Lord lead them. Except the Lord give them a full understanding of all that is required for salvation, they have no hope of salvation, and will be numbered among those many called but not chosen.

Many, with dead or blind faith, mistakenly believe that the statements made in the epistles are true for them, if they just "believe" and "receive" those statements. They fail to notice, for example, that the epistle to the Romans is written to a  congregation whose faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (Rom.12:8); the first epistle to the Corinthians is written to the church of God, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, and all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's. (this epistle is written to all believers who obey Jesus as their Lord); the second epistle to the Corinthians is written to the church of God with all the saints; (not to those who are seperated into man's denominational divisions, but to the church of God, built, into the unity of the one body, by the Lord Jesus Himself, of those living stones who follow Him in spirit and in truth; and to the saints; not to those who are deceived into believing that they are saints); the epistle to the Galatians was written to a congregation that had been removed from Jesus, unto another, perverted gospel; the epistle to the Ephesians was written to the saints and the faithful in the Lord Jesus Christ; and to the Philippians, saints in Christ Jesus; the Colossian  saints and faithful brethren in Christ; the first epistle to the Thessalonians, is to those elect of God, with works of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope; the second epistle to the Thessalonians to those whose faith grows exceedingly, who have patience and faith. James writes to the twelve tribes; first Peter to the elect strangers; second Peter to those with like precious faith; first John is written to the brethren who abide in Christ Jesus, to the Fathers who know God, young men who have overcome the wicked one, and to little children who know the Father; second and third John, to those who know, and walk in the truth; and Jude to them that are sanctified (Gk. Hagiasmos; made holy) by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.

Many of the called are deceived, by many, into thinking that all they need to do to receive the things written in the epistles is to believe that they have them. The many have not been taught, that they have to do the things required to receive them. 

 

Isaiah 30:15a For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall you be saved.   

Hebrews 4:11a Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,

Entering into this rest, is through labouring to remain in the ever-presence of the Holy Spirit of the Lord, to remain aware of His presence; abiding (remaining constantly) in the Vine, living in the Light, dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, fellowshiping with our Father, and His Son Jesus Christ; waiting upon the Lord, resting in Him, in Spirit and in Truth, and letting Him sanctify us, and conform us unto the image of His dear Son Jesus. It is not just "believing" that He will do it.

We can not sanctify ourselves nor conform ourselves unto the image of His Son; but He can, and will, if we rest in Him.

Many ignore the second edge of the two edged Sword of the Lord; eg.,

Philippians 2.12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Romans 8.24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?    25 But if we hope for what we see not, then we do with patience wait for it.

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;    9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1 Peter 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Matthew 24.13 But they that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (shall be; future tense).

Heb.5.8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;    9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Many concoct a doctrine based upon one edge of the Sword, eg.,

Acts 2.21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10.9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (future tense). (see study on 'How are we saved?').

 

If He is our Lord; we obey Him; if we do not obey Him, He is not our Lord. (Acts 2.21; Rom.10.9, and Heb.5.8 are clarified in the studies on "the Sinners prayer" and 'the Two-edged Sword').

Heb.5.8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;    9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

All them that obey Him; not all them that believe in Him. Many who "believe" in Him, do not obey Him.   Believe in the Greek is pist eu o; meaning to have faith. Faith has works. Faith works by love. The work of faith is to love God; and not only to love God, but we are commanded to love God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our mind and with all the strength of our will. When we love Him, we will obey His commandments. If we believe in Him, we should obey Him. If we do not obey Him, we do not truely believe that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and are foolish hearers and "believers" of the Word, but not doers of the Word, and have deceived ourselves, and He is not our Lord.

 

Jeremiah 6.16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.    

But they said, "We will not walk therein". Wow !  (or rather, Woe!)

Do not be one of the many deceived who will not walk in the Good Way: forsaking everything that we have, denying self, taking up our cross daily, loosing our life in the world, submitting ourselves unto God, walking in the Light, abiding in the Vine, waiting upon the Lord, dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, resting in the Lord and then ceasing from all our own works.

To stand in the ways, and see, is to stop......and examine all of the different ways that have been devised by man's theological doctrines, and understand that they have divided the believers into many denominations; to ask for the old paths, is to pray unto the Lord God, that He will show us the old paths, the unity of the old ways lived by the early Christians, in the book of Acts, the good way; and to walk therein, is to obediently remain in the presence of the Holy Spirit of our ever-present Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Way, to yoke ourselves to Him,  and to learn of His teachings, that we might find that promised rest for our souls, in Spirit and in Truth, and in living Faith.

Mt.11:28 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 for your souls.

All ye that labour; all who are honestly trying to live according to the Word, with varying successes and failures; and are heavy laden, preoccupied with cares of the world, and with our ministries; take My yoke upon you; bind yourself to Me, wait upon Me, abide in Me, and learn of and from Me, and you shall find rest for your souls. He will give us rest, If we will remain in His presence.

Many have come unto Jesus, but have not taken His yoke upon them. To take His yoke upon us is to bind ourselves to Him, and live constantly in His presence; to wait upon Him, and acknowledge that He is with us in everything that we do, letting Him direct our paths, all day, every day.

His yoke is easy; He does not force us to stay bound to Him; and we, who may remain still in His presence, knowing that He is God, will find ourselves soon thinking of other things, sometimes even after a matter of moments.

To labour to enter into His rest, is to continually keep trying to still our minds, to let our minds stop from our continually changing thoughts, knowing and understanding  that God is with us, and that this is exactly what He wants us to do; to rest in Him and cease from all of our own efforts, and to trust in Him with all of our hearts, to not lean on our own understanding, to acknowledge that He is with us in all of our ways, all of the time, and so, let Him direct our paths, unto the renewing of the spirit of our minds, unto the mind of Christ, unto the manifestation in us of His nature, the fruit of the Spirit, as He conformes us unto the image of His dear Son, our Lord, Redeemer, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! To wait upon Him unto the renewing of our strength; that we mount up with wings as an eagle. To rest, to stay, to remain, to abide, to wait, live in the Light of His presence, in His fellowship, to dwell in the secret, hidden, unseen, Spiritual place of Most High, in this life and forever. 

Our fellowship must be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

1John1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto  you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truely our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

The fellowship of believers is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, in unity, in the one Body of Christ, built by the Lord Himself of those comparative few living stones who worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

It is not fellowshipping around denominational diverse theological doctrines about the written word.

To worship Him in Spirit and in Truth:

The truth is, He  never leaves us; He never forsakes us; He is constantly with us in all of our ways, and wants us to stay constantly with Him, in His Holy Spirit. To do this, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, die to our life in the world; and trust in Him with all of our heart, instead of trusting in our own understanding; acknowledging, confessing, being aware that He is  with us in all of our ways; and so letting Him direct our paths.

It is not in just praying each morning that he will guide our steps throughout the day. He always guides our steps.

Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. 

It is not in praying each morning that He will be with us all of the day. He is always with us.

Hebrews 13:5b for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.    6a So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,

The Lord wants us to rest in Him, and let Him direct our way. From our way, to His Way; the Way.

 

 Moses asked God to show him His way.

Exodus 33.13 Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people.    14 And He said unto him, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Hebrews 13.5b for He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The Spiritual presence of the Lord is always with us; and He wants us to live in His presence. To remain aware of, and in, His presence. Not to trust in our own understanding of our different denominational doctrines and strength, but to rely completely upon Him in all things, all of the time.

Ph.4.13 I can do all things through (Gk.en:in) Christ which strengthens me.

Everything that we do, we can do it with our minds and hearts upon Christ, resting in the Lord, and this will strenghten us. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 30: 7b therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to  sit still.   8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

Godly, everlasting wisdom, written in stone, and noted in a book before us for the time to come for ever and ever. Our position of strength is to sit, having ceased from all our own works, with still minds upon the Lord, resting in, and trusting in Him. Hallelujah!

The many deceived think that they are already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, because of their misunderstanding of the scripture; Ephesians 2: 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: This scripture is written to the  saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Jesus Christ. It is not written to those who have been deceived into believing that they are saints; but unto those holy, faithful who are resting in Christ Jesus; who have ceased from all their own works and so are seated at rest in him.

He will give us rest, If we will enter into His rest; If we will take his yoke upon us, and rest in Him; If we abide in Him. It is not automatic. He does not force His rest upon us. He does not force anything upon us. It is up to us to obey and follow Him, and do His will, and to labour to enter into His rest as the scriptures tell us (Heb.3:7-4:11).

As the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has said, "In returning and rest shall you be saved". Those of us who have returned to Him through the percious blood sacrifice of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, and our baptism into His death, burial and resurrection,  must understand that our salvation now depends upon our resting in His presence, in Spirit and in Truth.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord God, they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God. We, the redeemed, have been given the authority and glorious privelege to return to and rest in the presence of the Lord God, as His children, and have continuous fellowship with Him.

There is nothing more important to us than to rest in the peace and victory of His Presence and Life. What a wonderful and very precious privilage, and honour, to be given the authority to live in the very presence of the Creator, as His children, in this life, and forever.

Do not make the terrible mistake of following religeon about Him, when He is ever-present with us, and in us. Follow Him. 

Proverbs 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.   6 In all your ways acknowledge (Heb: yada: to know; recognize, to be aware of) Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Much of the time, if not most of the time, we follow our own different and differing understanding of the written word; and the spoken word of pastors and teachers; pursueing our own worldly peroccupations; and even our ministries, forgetting that the living Word is with us, and in us.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Not trusting God enough to let Him lead us through each day in His way; and in so doing, we are constantly breaking the first commandment; putting ourselves before God, and following ourselves and our own understanding, rather than living in constant awareness of the Spiritual presence and power and victory of the ever-present living God, and letting Him guide us throughout each and every day.

Not, as many do, in merely praying at the start of each day that He will lead and guide us; but in actually labouring to remain aware of, and in His ever-presence and fellowship, and walking with Him throughout the day.

Those who pray that the Lord will guide their foot steps throughout the day, do not understand that the Lord already does this very thing.    Proverbs 16: 9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Each and every step that we take is directed by the Lord. Our prayer should be that He will help us to rest in His presence so that He will devise our way.

We must understand that the Lord does not force anything upon us, it is up to us to let God do unto us what He wills for us. As the High Priest Eli said unto young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:18b, "It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good." The Lord does not take our free will from us, but awaits our giving of our free will unto Him, that His will may be done unto us. It is those that do the will of our Father in heaven, who will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mt.7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

The written Word, and the spoken Word, should lead us to understand that we are to follow the ever present Living Word; the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus, the Spirit of truth, Who is in us, Who never leaves us nor forsakes us, so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper".

The Lord Jesus said on many occasions,"Follow Me".

John14:6b I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

We are not to follow religion and doctrine about Him, but to follow Him; the actual ever-present, in-dwelling, living Word of God, Who lives in us. We are to rest in His presence, cease from all our own works, wait upon Him, abide in Him, be still, still our minds, and let the mind of Christ manifest in us, to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, to set our heart upon Him, and love Him with all of our heart, and all of our soul, and all of our mind, with all of our strength, and to rest in Him, and to abide in the Vine, and let God manifest His nature  in us, and so put on the new man. 

Eph.4:22 That you put off concerning the former conversation (Gk. an as troph e; behaviour) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;    23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;     24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

John 15.5 I Am the Vine, you are the branches: They that abide in Me, and I in them, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.  Nothing! 

We must remain in His presence, for in His presence is the Rest; in Him is the Peace; in Him is all the fruit of the Spirit, all the fruit of righteousness; in Him is everything we need in this life and forever.

All the fruit of the Spirit; all the fruit of righteousness, is  manifested only by those that abide in Him.

(Abide: Gk: meno: to stay, to settle down and dwell; to continue, endure, remain, stand, be present, wait for).

John 15.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me.   
5  I am the vine, you are the branches: They that abide in Me, and I in them, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.

Nothing:  All things done when we are not resting in the Lord are vanity and dead works; and the first of the first principles of the doctrine of Jesus Christ tells us that we are to repent from dead works (see 'Repentance from Dead Works' in 'First Principles' on this website).

James 3.18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Matthew 5.9 Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Hebrews 4.9 there remains therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 3.7 Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, Today, if you will hear His voice,    8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:    9 When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.    10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways.    11 So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.)    12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.    14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.    15 While it is said, To day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.    16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.    17 But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned (their sin was unbelief; lack of faith in God; they trusted in their own mis-understanding, instead of trusting in God), whose carcases fell in the wilderness?    18 And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?    19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It should be noted that all who came out of Egypt by Moses, believed there is a God; for they had seen the mighty works that God did on the Egyptians: they had come through the Red sea on dry land, they had been led in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, they had drunk water out of the rock in Horeb, they had seen the lightnings and the thick cloud upon mount Sinai, they had heard the thunderings and the voice of God.

Ps.106.24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:    25 But murmered in their tents, and harkened not unto the voice of the Lord.    26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness.

Their unbelief was lack of faith in God; they did not obey God.  They did not trust God to lead them to victory in the promised land, but allowed their own understanding and fearfulness to sway them; and so breaking the first commandment:- following themselves, instead of following God.

Their knowledge of God was not mixed with faith.

Deut.29.2 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;    3 The great temptations which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:    4 Yet the Lord has not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Deuteronomy 1.21 Behold, the Lord thy God has set the land before you: go up and posess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has said unto you; fear not, neither be discouraged.

25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, it is a good land which the Lord our God does give us.    26 Notwithstanding you would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God: 

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.    30 The Lord your God which goes before you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes;    31 And in the wilderness, where you have seen how that the Lord your God bare you, as a man does bare his son, in all the way that you went, until you came into this place.    32 Yet in this thing you did not believe the Lord your God,    33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in a fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in a cloud by day.   34 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,    35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,    36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he has trodden upon, and to his children, because he has wholly followed the Lord.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

They looked to their own strength and understanding, and would not give it up and trust in the Lord, and so perished in the wilderness. As many today, under the new covenant, insist in clinging to their own understanding and strength, and refuse to forsake everything that they have and take up their cross daily, denying themselves, dying to their life in the world, and trusting their life unto the Lord; by resting in His presence, ceasing from their own efforts, and letting Him lead them, in His way, every moment of the day; by living in His presence, in Spirit and in truth; and in His victory and power.

It is truth that the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus is always with us; and if we are baptized into His death, burial and resurrection, we are already living in resurrected life, His life is in us, His Holy Spirit is in us; and when we live, stay, remain, dwell, abide, endure, be present, stand and tarry in continuous awareness of the presence of His Holy Spirit, we are worshiping in Spirit and in Truth; we are waiting on the Lord; we are dwelling in the secret place of the most high; we are abiding in the Vine; we are walking in the Light; we are trusting in the Lord with all of our heart; we are resting in Him. 

 

 Hebrews 4.1 Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.    2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.    3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.    4 For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day this way, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works.    5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest.    6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:    7 Again, He limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.    8 For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would He not have spoken of another day.    9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.    10 For he that is entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.    11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any one fall after the same example of unbelief (Gk. apista: faithlessness, disobedience).

We will go a long way toward entering into His rest, if we will still our minds, and rest our minds upon Him, knowing that He is God, and speak to Him in our hearts, if we will sing to Him in our hearts; "Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus....", if we will pray to Him, if we will speak to Him in Spiritual language, if we will just be still, and settle our hearts upon Him, and understand that He is God, and wait............

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.     14a And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:

 

What does it mean, "labour to enter into that rest?

Many of us, perhaps most of us these days, after we are baptized into Jesus Christ, do not, in truth, stay in Him; we do not forsake everything that we have, do not deny self, do not take up our cross daily and lose our life in the world; do not walk in newness of life; do not put off the old man and put on the new man (although we may think that we do); but, to a certain extent follow after self and go back to some of the things of the world and of the flesh, and follow our particular denominational doctrine, deceived into thinking that all we have to do to receive the promises of God is to "believe"; much of the time, if not most of the time, and with some; all of the time, forgetting the ever-presence of the living God, and following our own understanding; rather than resting in and living in His presence in Spirit and in Truth, and letting Him lead us.

Jn.4.23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.    24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Unlike the Lord Himself, who, after His baptism, withstood the temptations of the enemy; many of us succumb to temptation, and, although we are forgiven, (if we confess our sins [1Jn.1.6-10], and forgive others); it thereafter becomes a labour to enter back into His rest.

The Lord alluded to this labour (Gk: spou da dzo: to use speed: to make an effort, be prompt or ernest, be diligent, endeavour, labour), in Lu. 13.23,24: Mt.7.13,14.

Luke13.23 Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them,   24 Strive (Gk: ag o ni dzo mai: to struggle. lit. to compete for a prize. fig. to contend with an adversary; fight, labour, strive) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.        (and shall not be able.)

Matthew 7.13 Enter you in at the strait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:    14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Most are not even looking for it.

Many shall not be able to enter in because the gate is strait (Gk: stenos; compassed about with obstacles, hinderances); many stumble at the things that they will not give up; such as the things of the self, and the things of the world.

Most "believers" are not striving to enter in, because they mistakenly believe they have stayed in Him. 

There is a crucial difference between being baptized into Him, and resting, or abiding in Him.

Now we are baptized into Him. Ro.6.3,4.

 Romans 6.3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?    4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Many are deceived by many into believing that they are walking in newness of life; even though they are not walking according to the Word of God.

Jesus spoke these words unto all who are baptized into Him;

 John 15.1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.    2 Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.    3 Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.           4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me.    5 I am the vine, you are the branches: They that abide in Me, and I in them, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.    6 If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.    7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.    8 Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. Christians.

 To be a disciple of Jesus Christ; to be a Christian; is to follow the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, to live according to the truth (Jesus Christ) of the Word of God (Jesus Christ), to abide in the Vine (Jesus Christ), to walk in the Light (Jesus Christ), to dwell in the secret place of the Most High ( the Holy Spirit ofJesus Christ), to wait upon the Lord (Jesus Christ), to follow the Way (Jesus Christ), the Truth (Jesus Christ), and The Life (Jesus Christ), to walk with the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Spirit and in Truth,  and not according to our own understanding of our varying denominational doctrines about the written word of God.

John 8.31 Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue (Gk:meno: to stay; abide, dwell, remain, endure) in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed;   32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 In John 15.2a, Jesus speaks of every branch in Me: He is not speaking of unbelievers, He is referring to those in Him, those baptized into Him.

We are in Him, we are baptized into Him; but except we abide in Him, except we stay in His presence, we can not bring forth any fruit. If we bring forth no fruit we will be cast forth as a branch, and withered. So to be baptized into Him, and to abide in Him are different things.

Many do not understand nor obey these precepts, and have for years, sung to Jesus the hymn, "Abide with me", when all the while the Lord is with us, and is asking us to abide in Him.

To labour to enter into His rest, is to strive constantly to remain aware of, and in, His presence.

The Lord is at hand.

Hebrews 13.5b for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Philippians 4.5b The Lord is at hand.

Matthew 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

As the Lord is with us, then the kingdom of heaven is at hand .

We must stop forgetting this truth, and labour to remain aware of it.

We have been given the mind of Christ: but much of the time we are not aware of His presence, and lead our lives following our own minds, our own understanding, and religious beliefs, instead of denying self, dying to our life in the world, and trusting in the Lord with all of our hearts, and letting Him direct  our paths.

Proverbs 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 6 In all of your ways acknowledge (Heb: yada: to know, to be aware of) Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Philippians 4.4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice,    5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.    6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and suplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.    7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through (Gk:en: in) Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4.13 I can do all things through (Gk:en: in) Christ which strengthens me.

We can do everything that we do in our lives with our hearts and minds stayed on, or in Christ; and so trusting in Him for gudiance. In stillness and quiteness of mind, and confidence in Him. This is resting in Him. This is the peace which He has given to His people.

John 14.27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When the world gives us something, we've got it: Jesus did not give His peace the way the world gives: We have to labour to enter into His peace; His rest: and cease from all our own works; to deny self, submit ourselves unto God, and turn everything in our lives over to His control: not in saying it, or praying it, or "believing for" it; but in doing it, in Spirit and in Truth.

As we rest in Him, He does the work to us and through us.

1Thessalonians 5.24 Faithful is He that called you, Who also will do it.

We cannot, without Him, bring forth the fruit of His nature, renew our minds, nor make ourselves holy; but He can, and will, if we rest in Him: cease from all our own works (efforts), and let Him.

It is the God of peace which sanctifies us; which defeats Satan for us; and which makes us perfect.

1Thessalonians 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.    24 Faithful is He that calls you, Who also will do it. (if we let Him).

Romans 16.20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Hebrews 13.20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,    21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Colossians 3.15 And let the peace of God rule in your in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.

If we miss this need to rest in Him, we miss the point of the gospel of peace.

Many will not hear; and many will not do it.

Isaiah 28.12 To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.    13 But the Word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

 

Isaiah 30.15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and you would not.

Jeremiah 6.16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

I pray in the wonderful name of our Lord, and Redeemer, and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever, that you will not be one of those who will continue to follow man's religious denominationally diverse doctrines unto destruction, and choose to ignore God's Way and refuse to live in the presence of God, but that you will hear, and do and walk in His Way, and be chosen, and written among those who live with and follow the ever-present living Word of God, Jesus Christ, unto everlasting life as His brethren.       Amen! Amen?

  

Jesus is the Prince of peace, His priesthood is the priesthood of peace, the gospel is the gospel of peace.

Luke 2.14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Matthew 11.28 Come unto Me all you 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 you shall find rest for your souls.    30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

To take His yoke upon us, is to tie ourselves to Him and go where and when He leads.

To learn of Him, is to live according to the truth of His Word, to follow Him, and have the truth revealed to us by His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.

Jn.8.31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue (Gk: meno: to stay in, abide in, dwell in; live according to) my word, then are you my disciples indeed;    32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 12.26 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him shall My Father honour.

1John2.3 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.    4 He that says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.    5 But whoso keeps His word, in him is the love of God perfected: Hereby we know we are in Him.

           (See Study on 'Law and the Commandments').

James 3.18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Matthew 5.9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Hebrews 12.14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

1Ch.16.11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face (His presence) continuously.

It is only as we rest in His presence (John15:1-8), abiding in the Vine, that we can bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of His nature, and be conformed unto His image; which is God's purpose for us (Rom.8:28,29). It is only as we decrease, and die to self and our life in the world, and forsake everything that we have, and let Him be magnified in us that we are walking in His Light and His way.(see 'Lord be Magnified' on www.gospel-songs.info).

Jesus has won the victory! Walk in His Presence. 

Psalm 46.10a Be still and know that I am God.

Is.30.7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.     8 Now go, write it before them in a table (in stone), and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

John 4.23 But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.      24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Please help us Lord Jesus to remain present in the Presence of the ever-present living Word of God;

In Christ Jesus.

Amen! Amen?

 Thank You Lord Jesus, thank You Heavenly Father .

To God be the glory!

 

 When many of us were babies, we were sprinkled with water at our christening, and our parents were led to believe that we were baptized, and would go to Heaven when we died. Many went on to become denominational believers; Roman Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Prespbyterians, Congregationalists, Calvinists, Evangelicals, Orthaodox, Episcopalians, et.al.. Many, if we were called by God, were drawn by God the Father and were led to hear the gospel preached. At which time, if we believed, and received Jesus as our Redeemer, and repented, and confessed, and chose to follow Him, and went on to be baptized by full immersion, as He was (see study on 'the Doctrine of Baptisms' in First Principles), and we were baptized by Him into the Holy Spirit, we became Pentecostals of various denominations or Charismatics or Baptists, Jehovah Witnesses, or Mormons.    Now, if we will stop following our own understanding of differing denominational doctrines, and live in the light of the truth of His ever-present Holy Spirit, and rest in Him, and let Him sanctify us, we are Christians.

1Jn.2.28 And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

Jn.15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.    2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purges it, that it may bring  forth more fruit.

Jn15.6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Ro.11.20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:    21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not you.    22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.

 

 Whosoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

Fear God.

Rest in Him.

Live forever,

as His people.

To God be the glory.

Hallelujah!

What of John 6:53-57?

Jn.6:53 Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.    54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.    55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.    56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Are all those who have taken the bread and blood of communion, resting in the Lord?

It is truely the life of Jesus Christ that is in us since we were baptized into Him; and it is His life that is in us who have taken communion; and in Him we live and have our being; and have eternal life; and will be raised up at the last day; for the judgement.

But where will we be in the next life?   with Him as His family, because we have returned to God the Father through Him, and have rested in Him, unto salvation; or will we be tied hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness? (see studies on:'Eternal Judgement' and 'Wedding Garments'). For once we are baptized, we have His eternal life in us, and will live forever, and so will not be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death; but if we are not chosen to salvation, we will be cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

To rest in Him; to abide in Him; to walk in the Light with Him; we must submit ourselves unto Him, and remain constantly aware of, and in, His presence, and let Him manifest the new man in us.  Although His life is in us, much of the time we are not aware of this truth, and follow our own understanding, forgetting that the Living Word is in us and we are in Him.

When we forget His presence; He is still in us, and we are still in Him; but we are not following Him, but following our own understanding. He is then patiently awaiting the next time that we remember that He is with us and we walk again with Him.

Except we follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we can not come unto the Father.

Except we abide in Him, we can do nothing.

We must labour to remain aware of His presence, and remain in His presence, and rest in Him, and then cease from all our own works, and let Him sanctify us, and make us perfect.

We must consider the whole council of Scripture, and not form doctrine from one edge only of the two edged Sword of the Lord (see study on 'the Two Edged Sword').

Isaiah 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.    3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,  because he trusteth in thee.    4 Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, please reveal to all of your people the understanding of resting in the Lord; and help us to continue labouring to enter into that rest; to keep striving to enter in at the strait gate, until we are walking in the narrow way continually; until we are abiding in You. Help us to realise that our salvation depends upon our returning to You, and resting in You; in Christ Jesus,

Thank You Lord Jesus, thank you heavenly Father, Amen!

Amen?