Few of us know the reality of the rest mentioned in Hebrews 4:1: “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it”.
Rest (katapausis) is a place of quiet habitation. A state free from the disturbance or inter-warfare; a state of total reconciliation to God. It is a permanent habitation.
The rest of God is the place where God has separated our spirit and soul and reintegrate them so that we are a whole person. It is the place where we receive our total inheritance.
Deuteronomy 12:9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you.
11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.
This is Mount Zion and to the city of the living God
When Jesus had finished His work, He sat down, this speaks of the rest of redemption.
Hebrews 1:3 when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 8: Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
Hebrews 10: 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
Jesus had finished His work. His work was performed for us, not for Himself.
He entered His rest. Now it is time to enter ours’
Hebrews 4:3: “For we which have believed do enter into rest.”
Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent (the root of the word is to use speed) to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (willful unbelief). 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
That is the rest of faith. It is the end of worry and struggle.
You no longer seek faith or power.
You have become one with Him.
You have come to recognize the value of the work that Jesus did for you (you value it to such a degree, that you are will to suffer in the flesh, if necessary to cease form any form of sin in your life).
You rejoice in the work that the Holy Spirit, through the Word, has done in your life.
You have come to know that vitally on this earth you are what He says you are in Him.
You know that you are a new creation not just legally in heaven, but through your experience, the way you live here on earth.
You know that you have passed from death unto life.
You know that you have the very life and nature of the Father in you.
You know that, as He is now at the right hand of the Father, so are you down here on earth.
You know that you are a part of the many member body of Christ on the earth.
You know that you were raised together with Him and seated in the heavenly places in Christ in order to help rule over planet earth, your job is to manifest as it is in heaven, here on the earth.
You know that no matter whatever may come against you that, you are more than a conqueror.
These are facts that you know.
Now you can enter His rest, the rest that He purchased for you.
You have reached the end of the I’m worried path.
You are now so completely identified with Him, so utterly one with Him, that the Father looks upon you as He looks upon His first begotten, and because of that, peace that “passeth all understanding” fills your very being.
You memorize Philippians 4:6–7. We become thorough masters of that Scripture.
Philippians 4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Notice what it says: “Be anxious for nothing.” You see, you are in a place of rest.
“But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Why are you full of thanksgiving? Why is your heart filled with peace and rest? Why are you so joyful?
Because you know that whatsoever you ask the Father in Jesus’s name He will give it you.
You memorize Philippians 4: 8-9 And become thorough masters of that Scripture.
Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
True (alēthēs) real, conformed to the nature and reality of things. Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated or false. Not false or pretended; real; as, Christ was the true Messiah.
Nobel (semnos) Respected, worthy, trustworthy, dignified. There lies something of majestic and awe–inspiring qualities in semnós which does not repel but rather invites and attracts. Excellent; renowned; celebrated; illustrious; very honorable.
Just (díkaios) righteous. means that one conforms in his actions to his constitutionally just character. Full; complete to the common standard. Impartial; allowing what is due; giving fair representation of character, merit or demerit.
Pure (hagnos) Freedom from defilements or impurities. Innocent, pure, blameless. Free from sin. No mixture. Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; as purity of heart or life.
Lovely (prosphilēs) used of things, acceptable, pleasing. In a manner to please or give satisfaction. It is a compound word- friendly towards, “in other words” acceptable.
Good report (euphēmos) well-spoken of, “in other words” reputable. praiseworthy, commendable.
Virtue (aretē) excellence, being pleasing to God. What gives a person worth. moral excellency, perfection, goodness of action. A virtuous course of thought, feeling and action.
Praiseworthy (epaino) The object of praise, something praiseworthy. A commendable thing. Deserving of praise or applause.
Even to Israel, He said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).
You are not under the law; you are a son. You are an heir; you are a member of the body of Christ, and He has invited you to come boldly to the throne of grace, and you have familiarized yourself to standing in His presence.
So now you are not anxious; you have believed.
You have entered your rest.
You know that no word from God is void of fulfillment, and that in every word there is ability to make good.
You have prayed and you thank Him for the answer. The answer is just as sure as the sun is to shine in the morning. You have made your requests known unto the Father and now the miracle happens. The peace of God which passeth all understanding has taken possession of your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. You don’t have a thought of worry or care.
1 Peter 5:7 illustrates this perfectly: “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
You are not interested in the roaring of the adversary nor the questioning of your friends or the doubts of other people. You know that your expectation is from Him. You rest on His Word. You have entered His rest.
When Jesus prayed, that settled it. There was no more talk about it. The answer had to come.
“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23).
That settles it.
You asked, didn’t you? Well, the answer is on the way. You are careful for nothing now.
You know that you and the Father are working together. Circumstances do not bother you anymore.
Philippians 4: 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
You see, you have come into the place where circumstances no longer terrify you, where the word of man is but the word of man to you.
The word of a doctor is only the word based on physical sense evidence.
The Word of God liveth and abideth, The Word of God is speaking to you. To you, the Word and God are one.
We no longer separate Jesus from His words.
“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
That is, they deal with your spirit nature, and they give life and victory and peace and rest to your soul.
You are resting in the Word.
Once you rested in the word of man, but you found that there was no rest for you in man’s word.
Now you are resting in His rest.
You see, it is the end of the fear of Satan for he has been defeated.
It is the end of the fear of sickness, for by His stripes you are healed.
It is the end of lack; you fear it no longer. “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32).
Want and fear have stopped being as far as you are concerned. You never think of your weakness, for Jesus has become your ability.
The greater One is living in you.
It is the end of ignorance. You have studied the Pauline revelation until it has become a part of your knowledge, of your very life.
Colossians 1:9 you know the Lord is praying for you because of Paul’s inspired prayer.
We also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
You are filled with exact “knowledge” of the Father’s will in all your life.
You are filled with wisdom to use the knowledge that you have gained in your meditating upon the Word.
That wisdom has enabled you to walk worthy unto the Lord in all pleasing.
You have reached the place where you are bearing fruit in every good work.
It is the fruit of righteousness. You have become skilled in the Word of righteousness.
You know your rights and privileges before the throne of God, and you have faith’s fearlessness to enter the Father’s presence—anytime, anywhere—and make your requests known.
You abide around the throne room visiting with the Father and Jesus.
You are more familiar with your Father and Jesus than you are with those with whom you have associated with for years.
Your confession is, “I know Him in whom I have believed.” Now you are walking worthy of the Lord, and you are pleasing Him.
You have become a Father-pleaser, as Jesus was. “I do always those things that please [the Father],” (John 8:29).
You are increasing, as you study the Word, in that exact knowledge of the Father.
It is a wonderful life you are living because the Wonderful One is in you.
The Wonderful One is your teacher.
Colossians 1:11: “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power.”
This verse has given you steadfastness.
Where other people are breaking down and going to pieces, you are steadfast; you are immovable. You are always abounding in the work of the Lord.
You are strengthened for long-suffering and patience.
People can’t understand how you put up with things.
But you know that, “All things work together for good to me, because I am in His will (see Romans 8:28), and the very circumstances that would rob you of your rest, increase your rest.
The very opposition that use to destroy your faith, now builds it; and you can’t understand why you are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
It is because you are a co-laborer with the Lord, you are no longer doing your own will, but the will of the Father. You are a partaker of His faith. I breathe in and out His very life or name.” “Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey” (YHVH).
I guess the correct pronunciation in the Ancient Hebrew is “Yod-Hey-Waw-Hey” (YHWH). But I have a hard time trying to understand Hebrew and my Strongs talking dictionary’s pronouncing of it does not sound like breathing, so I do not use it, I am not under Law but under Grace, So God will communicate with me in my own language, And I am learning how to pronounce key Greek words which are becoming part of my vocabulary now. Right now, the Holy Spirit is teaching me Rest. It changes every week or so. Rest in not inactivity. It is walking everyday with the Lord. And every time I think I am going to do something in the future, it changes so I just focus on what I am led to do today, so that nothing interferes with my rest in the Lord, the Lordship of Jesus over my life is a government of Rest.
There were a steadfastness and a quietness about Jesus that I am appropriating.
I am increasing continually in this exact knowledge of my rights and privileges in Christ.
This is the reason that I am “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Colossians 1:12.)
Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding.
“The full assurance”-isn’t that amazing.Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete (legal redemption) in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
You are complete, this is the result of the finished work of Christ.
He takes us over and He forms His fullness, His completeness into us.
Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Proverbs 20: 27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
The Holy Spirit reveals who we are in Christ, and what are our legal rights and inheritance.
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and love and grace are hidden treasure chambers of Christ. I receive revelation in my spirit that becomes a lamp to my soul, that I may understand the hidden treasures concealed in the Bible so that they become vital in my life.
When you search the word for treasure like you would for gold you begin to understand the mysteries of God hidden in plain sight.
Once they are revealed to me and I practice them as a way of life, the become mine in a vital sense and I live in the fullness of my riches in Christ.
See, they belong to us. There is no place for poverty in Him.
The Father never made a weak Christian. He has no pleasure in our weakness, except that he might show his strength through us.
Some of us have thought that all the trials that come to us are God-sent. And some of them are. God tests us for our good, and the devil tempts us with the bad.
But what Satan-inspires, and God has given us ability to know this now, we appropriate another attribute of God, and take our authority over the enemy and command him to leave us alone.
When we have found an untroubled soul, we have entered the rest of God, and we can drink of the quite waters and eat of the green pastures and experience the Love God has for us and live in the new Jerusalem, and become the Authority of Zion, changing the earth.
There is no more “unpersuadableness” in our hearts.
No matter how big the thing, how difficult to human reasoning it may be, even though physical sense knowledge rejects it, We are persuaded by the very living Word of God that He may be able to lead us into all the riches of the finished work of Christ, and because I know this, I have yielded my spirit to the lordship of love.
I have allowed the Word to dwell in me richly, and I have come to know the reality of these mighty truths of redemption.