Rest doesn't necessarily mean inaction as you'll find out. Now read about "the rest" God wants us to enter into in "the rest" of Ben's article! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Please forward this word to your friends! Encourage them to subscribe to the Elijah List right here: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe.
The Spirit of God is hovering over His Church, powerfully and graciously wooing her and leading her into the place of rest, which Hebrews 4 declares is available to all of His children. This invitation to this seemingly mystical rest is increasing in its intensity.
The phrase "the rest" can be defined by two different meanings: That which remains (as in the rest of the story), and stopping our work and getting refreshed. But "the rest" of Hebrews 4 involves both. Hebrews 4:9 declares, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." Thus, Scripture is telling us that there is more of "the rest" God has given us that we need to possess. In other words, WE NEED TO POSSESS "THE REST" OF WHAT GOD HAS FOR US, WHICH IS "THE REST."
Israel had some amazing blessings in the wilderness which followed an amazing victory over Egypt, but the greatest blessings had not yet been claimed and the rest of their blessings were still waiting for them.
Entering into God's Rest - Our Abode
The word "REST" in both Hebrew and Greek actually means, "ABODE" which I believe has huge significance for the Church today. This rest is more than just stopping work, it's also the ability to fully enjoy possessions. Israel did not enter into their abode because of unbelief. The Promised Land was their abode.
It's like getting to go home when you've been on a long trip. You don't really rest until you get to your own house and your own bed, etc. We've stayed in some nice motels and hotels, as well as some very nice homes on the road, but we don't completely rest until we get back to our own home, as humble as it may be. Our soul longs for that complete emotional rest that only comes when we are where we feel we can be totally ourselves.
Our rest in God is something like that. We may know we have eternal life, but still not fully possessing what He has provided for us. He wants us to be led into the fullness of His promises and go in to possess the land that has been waiting for us.
The King James version translates Hebrews 4:11 this way: "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." The word "labor" actually means "to make haste, hence to give diligence." Israel's sin of unbelief caused them to delay action, which led them to wander in the wilderness without entering their rest for forty years. When God is ready to bless you, take quick action and trust Him completely.
Israel had possession of their freedom from slavery. It was much better than slavery, but God wanted to give them the fullness of His blessing in their own land. They missed out because of fear and unbelief. Fear and unbelief always partner to rob us and to rob God.
Our Promised Land
What we may miss when we read Hebrews 4 is the application for the Church. Even as Israel, under Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, had possessed the land of Canaan for three generations, so the Church was in possession of its territory in the early days of their history. Whereas "Natural Israel" was given a natural piece of land to possess, Spiritual Israel, the Church, was given a spiritual territory to possess.
That wonderful gift was the fullness of the manifested presence of God which produced incredible fruit and power after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. The spiritual fruit was the amazing level of unselfishness and generosity. The power was miracles of healing, deliverance and raising the dead, resulting in thousands of souls saved.
This was the Promised Land of the early Church. Jesus gave them the promise repeatedly in John 14-17 and then again in Acts 1:8, when He told them they would receive power after the Holy Spirit had come upon them, causing them to be witnesses at home and abroad.
Israel had lost their possessions for over 400 years before they were able to reclaim it through many battles in their Promised Land. In like manner, the Church had lost its possessions for over a thousand years, and it has taken several hundred years, beginning with the Reformation, to get to where we are today in reclaiming our spiritual possessions.
It's Time to Possess the Rest...the Land!
Like Joshua before his death, I believe Jesus, who's name is actually a variant of the name Joshua, is calling the Church to finish taking back their possessions from the enemy. He wants to strike a death blow to false doctrines such as Cessationism (which claims that miracles are not for today) by demonstrating His power and might to the nations.
Are we, His Church, ready to go in and possess our inherited abode?
I hear the voice of God exhorting us:
"Go in and possess the land. I gave it to you 2000 years ago. Don't fear the giants in the land, whether they be religious, political or leaders from any mountain of society. I have given them into your hands. Just listen and obey. When I tell you to march around Jericho seven times, do it. Trust Me and I will show you My right hand of power.
"Did I not instruct Joshua to be strong and of a good courage? So now, I am instructing My Church. Rise up and possess your possessions, so you can truly enter into your perfect rest. Only then can I demonstrate to the lost how much I love them and how mighty a God I AM. Listen and obey, and I will use you to build My Kingdom." (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Ben R. Peters
Kingdom Sending Center
Email: ohmint@gmail.com
Website: www.kingdomsendingcenter.org
Ben and Brenda Peters have said "YES" to the call of God to challenge, equip, and send dedicated lovers of Jesus into the harvest fields of the earth, including the seven mountains of society. Together they have ministered to tens of thousands of individuals in several countries of the world. After establishing and serving churches and Christian schools for almost thirty years, they began a traveling ministry in September 1999 under the name Open Heart Ministries. This ministry consisted mainly of speaking, teaching, preaching, and prophesying in conferences, camps, retreats, churches, ministry schools, and homes. More recently, they also founded an Illinois-based ministry called Kingdom Sending Center. Ben began writing revelatory books in 2000, and has published 23 of them since then. Ben and Brenda now live near Sacramento, California, close to most of their five children and twelve grandchildren.
*************************************
Visit our webstore and check out Alveda King's book by Elijah List Publications: America Return to God: www.americareturntogod.com
This is quite an impressive read about "the rest" God has for us...and you'll find out that it has a double meaning in Ben Peter's article.
