Hebrews 4:6-10 (KJV) says, "Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief. Again, He limited a certain day, saying in David, Today after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear His Voice harden not your hearts For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a Rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His Rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His."
The Amplified Bible says it like this, "Seeing then that the Promise remains over from past times for some to enter that Rest, and that those who formerly were given the Good News about it and the opportunity, failed to appropreate it and did not enter because of disobedience. Again He sets a definite day, a new today, and gives another opportunity of securing that Rest saying through David after so long a time in the Words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts. This mention of a Rest was not a reference to their entering Canaan. For if Joshua had given them Rest, He (God), would not speak afterward about another day. So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the true people of God For he who has once entered God's Rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own."
The names, Joshua and Jesus, are spelled the same way in the Hebrew language. They're spelled yes-shu-a in Hebrew. Jesus has opened the way into this day of Rest, for all who will believe and follow Him. The Holy Spirit and God's Word, offers the day of Rest to us, again today. Like those in the Wilderness, we have the same Promise placed before us. Do we believe God's Word and His Promises, ceasing from our good works, rituals, traditions, fear and unbelief? Or, do we stay in the same place, until a new generation dares to enter in?
Many of the old Generals, like Billy Graham and Oral Roberts, have gone onto to be with the Lord, like Moses did in the Wilderness. They taught and revealed new leaders, like Jesus did, placing the mantle on them. God has raised up men and women like Oral Roberts, in order to reestablish His Word of healing to the people. God raised up such men as Kenneth Hagin, to reestablish faith in His Word. God has raised men like Charles Capps, in order to bring back the integrity of the words we speak. He has raised people to go into the mission fields, as apostles to the nations. God is raising up Joshuas and Calebs from this generation, who will listen to His leading and enter into His Rest.
Those who simply believe God and step out on His Word of Truth, are looked upon as being, "fools, extremists and false prophets." We've become comfortable in traditions and rituals and choose to remain where we are. The Promise of God's Rest is still being offered today, like it was in the Wilderness. The people in the Wilderness waited for 40 years, to enter into God's Promised Land, but they didn't lose sight of the Promise. They waited for God's new generation to enter in, like Joshua and Caleb did.
Joshua and Caleb waited 40 years to enter in and lead new people of God into His Rest, because the old generation men had passed. I've been looking for and waiting for this generation for 40 years and I still have my eyes on the mountain that was Promised, just like Joshua and Caleb did. Some have given up on the Promises and turned back, while other have patiently waited until now, for the new generations to come.
I look around and see both generations together. I see Bible schools and teaching centers being filled with young people, who have broken free from the old traditions and rituals of religious institutions. These young people are going all out for God, in faith. Many have stood paralyzed, like those in the Wilderness. I many draw back from other tongues, healing, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking Words of faith and trusting in the Promise of God's Blessing. I see some who deny the Righteousness that God ascribes to His children and are laboring to obtain Righteousness by works of the flesh. People who don't dare to believe what God says about them, are still trying to measure up on their own.
This is God's Rest...Jesus has done it all and He has done it all for us. When we believe this, we cease from our own labors and rest in Him. Jesus has become our Righteousness and He has become our Sanctification and Justification, Jesus has become our Healer and we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us. Jesus has become the Seed of Abraham by Promise, and we have inherited this Seed, by faith in Him. There is nothing left for the child of God to do, but to rest in Him, by faith.
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