This teaching on Hebrews chapter 4, was given by pastor Barry Forder at Calvary Chapel Portsmouth on the 9th of February 2020.
The writer to the Hebrews starts this chapter by telling his hearers that they should be terrified at the thought of not entering into the relationship with Jesus that God intends for us. It is such a shame to think that many Christians are content to be saved, but then miss out on God’s best for them – the peace, the security, the excitement, the wonder, the joy of living a life abandoned to Him, completely trusting Him.
If you’ve ever learned to ride a bike you may remember the rush of emotions when the one teaching you lets go and you realise you are actually now making this thing move and stay upright yourself! Everything tells you that gravity is going to take a hold of you and pull you to the ground, but somehow, as you pedal, although there may be a few wobbles to begin with, you actually start to ride!
Stepping out and trusting God’s grace is a little like that. He will never fail or forsake us, and He longs to do wonderful things with us and for us, but we have to have the faith (which comes from His Word) to start peddling, believing that we are not going to come crashing down! Remember that He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything!
It might be something simple or something huge, but it doesn’t make a difference to God. We need to trust Him with everything!
Someone once said they try to trust God with the big problems. A pastor replied, which problems do you think are big to God?!
Israel had seen God do incredible miracles, yet they failed to trust Him and enter the Promised Land when they had opportunity, simply because the did not believe. God didn’t refuse them entry because they weren’t holy enough, or because they didn’t pray enough, or because they had built a golden calf, or because they had lusted after meat, or because they murmured about going back to Egypt! All of those you would think would be good reasons to not let them into the Promised Land! But the reason why God did not let any of that generation into the Land (except Joshua and Caleb) was because they didn’t trust Him to deliver them! They looked from a natural perspective and reasoned that they were not strong enough (which they weren’t) and that their enemy was much bigger than they were (which was true), but they didn’t calculate with God at the centre of the equation!
All sin will be subject to God’s wrath, but unbelief – particularly from those who should know better – must be a real grief to the Father-heart of God!
Let us be terrified of missing out on the incredible rest that God has promised us and wants us to know, simply because we choose not to trust Him and instead become anxious with our finances, our job, our families, our children, our schedule, our health, our unsaved loved ones etc.
Remember that He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”!
Let’s come boldly before His throne – which is overflowing with grace – and ask for the grace to trust Him more!
You can know the rest you were created to enjoy – in Christ!
May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.
