John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (undeserved, unearned favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it. For indeed, we have the glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old) did when the Good News of deliverance from bondage came to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith, with the learning of the entire Personality of God in absolute trust and confidence in His Power, Wisdom and Goodness, by those who heard it. Neither were they united in faith with the ones, Joshua and Caleb who heard and did believe."
Psalm 78:41-42 (Amplified) says, "And time and again [the Israelites] turned back and tempted God, provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not, seriously the miracles of the working of His hands, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy."
The King James Version says, "They limited the Holy One of Israel." After witnessing and benefiting from everything God had done for them, what more would God have given, if they hadn't limited Him? If they had removed limits from God, then what and would He have done for them? Hebrews 4:1-2,3 says there is still, "The fulfillment of His Promise to those who do not limit God." Listen to what the Holy Spirit says in Verse 3, "For we who have believed, adhered to, and trusted in and relied on God do enter that Rest, in accordance with His declaration that those who did not believe should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My Rest; and this He said although His works had been completed and prepared and waiting for all who would believe, from the foundation of the world."
Have we today, limited God in His Plan for our deliverance, like those in the wilderness did? Hebrews 4:1 said, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it." 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency to the Glory of God."
The Promise of Rest that is being offered today, comes by Grace and must be received by faith. Hebrews 4:2 told us, "But the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith." Has today's Church limited God, by not mixing faith with the Promises He has given us? What would God do for believers, who would mix faith with His Promises of healing, peace, deliverance, and Grace?
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified), "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to Rest, I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I Am gentle, meek and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find Rest, relief, and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome, useful, Good-not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant, And My burden is light and easy to be borne."
Jesus is our Rest and Promise, and when we entered into Him, the Promise of Rest is became assured through Him. The only thing required of us, is the same requirement of those in the Wilderness, that we mix the Promise with faith. All of God's Promises are after all, Yes and Amen in Jesus, so why do we limit our Father from His fulfillment, with our unbelief?
Like the Israelites in the Wilderness were free from the Egyptian bondage, we are free from the bondage the world held us under. The Father brought us out from under that bondage and He wants to take us into His Rest. The only thing limiting Him, is our not putting faith in His Promises. The Israelites couldn't enter into the Promised Land and God's Rest, because of their unbelief. Hebrews 4:1 told us, "Therefore, While the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it, lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it."
Many in today's Church say, "God's Promises were only for the early Church" or "God's Promises aren't for everyone." We haven't come too late and we haven't missed God's Promise of Resting. God prepared these for us, before the foundation of the world. God would never had prepared His Rest for us, if He had never intended that we enter into it.
Many believe that the things God did in the old covenant, are greater than what He wishes to do in the new covenant. Don't be deceived into distrusting His Promises, given through Jesus. God delivered those in the old covenant from plagues and slavery. He delivered us by His Own Blood and has raised us higher than those who were held by Pharaoh. Pharaoh was only a man who was in charge and satan was really the one holding them. We've been delivered from satan. Don't limit God in His deliverance from all that satan tries doing. Don't believe his lies that, "God's Promises and Rest are for another people and another time."
The Lord was angry with those in the Wilderness, because they limited Him. God couldn't do the things He wanted for them, because they didn't believe Him and thus limited His Grace. We've yet to see the delivering hand of God on our behalf, because of our unbelief. Let's take the limits off of God and let Him be God.
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