Righteousness, Peace and Joy!
Newness of Life:
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
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that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, |
even so we also should walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE.
The Path of Life:
Psalms 16:11
Thou wilt show me THE PATH OF LIFE:
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in thy presence is fulness of joy; |
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Reign in Life:
Romans 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one;
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much more they which receive abundance of grace |
and of the gift of righteousness shall REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ.
The Hidden Manna
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
hidden manna...THE REST OF HIS FAITHJanuary 24, 2012 |
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Before we can look into "The Rest of His Faith" we must understand "The Rest", or in other words the Sabbath Day Rest that is for all who have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is recorded in the scriptures that God had desired that the children of Israel would enter into the Sabbath Rest that He had prepared for them, yet they did not mix the word that they heard with faith, but rather they remained in unbelief. Therefore, and though the gospel was preached unto them also, because of their unbelief they did not enter into His rest.
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but
to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it.
Now understand that His Sabbath Day Rest is not a calendar day selected out of our 7 day week (or a day in the Jewish calendar) but it is His Day. In fact it has nothing to do with time, days or years. His Day is eternal and it is an eternal rest for His people. It is the rest that God Himself dwells in. For out of eternity and by the word of His faith (and in 6 calendar days) God created, purposed and finished the heavens and the earth and then reposed Himself in the 7th day of His eternal rest having ceased from His works which He had prepared for man. God had created the heavens and the earth for man whom He had created in the image of God, and had also foreordained from the conception and foundation of the world that man would be re-created in Christ and be restored by faith in Jesus to God's original intent and that this new man would enter into His Sabbath Rest.
Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made
for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the
sabbath.
we have entered into His rest
Now then, we that have believed the gospel have entered into His rest and His finished work through the faith of Jesus Christ Who declared from the cross, "It is finished".
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh
day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and
they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long
a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have
spoken of another day.
Now someone will surely ask, "If we have entered into His rest then why don't I feel like it?" The answer is found in the words of the Master, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls".
Rest is not for our spirit. Rest is for our souls; our hearts, our minds, our understanding, our emotions and our will. Rest is from the supply of the Spirit and the faith of Jesus that is in us. Rest is a Person and we which have believed have been re-created in Christ Jesus, restored unto God's original intent for man and have already entered into the Father's rest, for rest is found in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ, Whose Spirit is in us and is now our spirit and our life. Remember, not only does He give us rest, He is also Lord of the Sabbath and is our rest. His rest will reign in our souls.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
it is finished
The faith of Jesus declares, "It is finished". Yet our natural senses deny that it is finished because we do not see the manifestation of what we believe. Herein lies the issue. Its not about what we believe, its about the faith of Jesus, what He believes. We did not save ourselves by our own faith, it was a gift, it was the faith of Jesus, and we are alive in Christ and live this life by His faith, by what He believes. The just shall live by His faith.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
His faith is dwelling on the inside of us, in Christ, and He is reposed in His rest. And we are not trying to get things done by faith, for it is a finished work already. God never starts any work in us, or by us, that He hasn't already finished in Christ. Therefore He that started the good work in you will also be faithful to complete it.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ...
the labour of faith
It is because Salvation is finished, and is now, that when we believed we were saved and therefore we also entered into His rest. Yet in no way am I suggesting that we just wait for things to happen for us since it is finished, for there is still a labour of faith.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man
fall after the same example of unbelief.
As we
continually come unto Jesus, learning of Him, being yoked together in His faith, there is an
unfolding rest in our souls. All we will say or do will be out of His faith that
is dwelling in us. It is a labour of faith, but it is by the faith of Jesus. We
will cease from labouring under the burden our own believing and enter into our
rest... Jesus. There remains a rest for the people of God. Praise the Lord!
the sacrifice of praise
So (because we have entered into His rest and it is finished) from our position of rest and in His faith we now reciprocate back unto God the sacrifice of praise, thanking Him for what He has done, not for what He will do. For His promises are upon us, and all the promises of God are in Christ, and they are yes and amen. Remember that it is through faith and patience that we receive the promises of God. So we must let patience have her complete work in us, knowing also that His timing is always perfect.
Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving (the sacrifice of praise); and pay (reciprocate) thy vows (the promises that are upon you) unto the most High:
Heb 13:15 By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
