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INTRODUCTION

• HAVE YOU EVER REALLY BEEN TIRED?
• • Not just after a days work or physical exercise.
  • But tired after something that has gone on and on and on.
  • For example try 40 years of Wilderness Wandering.
• TERM "REST" IS USED 10 TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER. Referred to on several other occasions.
• • Tired as they were after 40 years wandering
  • How terrible to miss God's Rest.

C. ALTHOUGH THEY MISSED IT...THE "REST" IS STILL THERE.

TO ENTER ....

• MESSAGE MUST MEET WITH FAITH IN THE HEARER!
• • "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only....
  • Good example of this is the Book of James.
• PHYSICAL REST - DIVINE REST.
• • Joshua's "rest" was only physical, temporary and did not fully satisfy.
  • Jesus, however, it is implied, is able to lead His own to their eternal destination (rest).
  • • Thus we must strive, "to be zealous" "to exert oneself" "to make every effort" to enter.
    • **Can man really gain access to God?....Yes Because we have Jesus our High Priest.....THE SON OF GOD.
• TWO OBJECTIVES IN CHAPTER FOUR:
• • First, he proves that a rest does in fact remain for believers.
  • • It is God's Rest that He Himself enjoyed.
    • "For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his." v. 10.

• • Second, he warns his readers of the possibility of losing that rest.
  • • In Old Testament God's own people Failed.
    • The thought, so tragic and terrible, when he realizes the same fate can befall any Christian.

• SINCE IT COULD.....THEREFORE LET US.....

LET US "FEAR"

• MEANING OF "FEAR"
• • Terror, original meant caused to flee or flight.
  • Dread.
  • To be afraid.
• CAUSE OF THIS FEAR:
• • Left of entering into God's rest.
  • Come short of the promise.
• HAVING COME PART OF THE WAY - ONLY TO FAIL TO FINISH and thus to Miss Heaven.
• • Could there be anything worse than missing heaven.
  • Fear causes flight....action.

3. Fear causes us to take the action that leads us to God's Rest.

Let Us "GIVE DILIGENCE"

A. DILIGENCE v. 11.

1. Put forth every effort.

• Work toward an end or goal.

• TO ENTER...

1. See Matthew 7...narrow way....strive to enter.

• Rest.

• GIVE DILIGENCE TO KEEP FROM FALLING.

1. Again the example from OT journey from Egypt to Promised Land. 2. How many did not make it......how many did?

Let Us "HOLD FAST" A. OUR CONFESSION v. 14.

1. Our commitment in life.

• To be and live as a Christian.

• BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH....

1. Steadfast (I Corinthians 15:58).

2. "if we faint not"

• 'Fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4:7).

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Let Us "DRAW NEAR"

A. APPROACH THE VERY THRONE OF GRACE v. 16.

• • What a blessing that we can do this.
  • The very source of Grace...Blessings.

• WITH BOLDNESS
• • Christ - Our "High Priest" gives us this boldness and confidence.
  • Our Boldness, Confidence is not in ourselves, but is in our Savior...The Son Of God.
• THAT WE MAY RECEIVE...
• • Mercy
  • Find grace to help us in our time of need.

CONCLUSION

• Remember that this was written to those that had already begun the journey.
• 
  
  
• They knew the "Rest" was there and needed to know the danger of missing it.
• Let us press on through Jesus Christ our High Priest to the "Throne of Mercy"...to the DIVINE REST!