Sunday Words of Encouragement March 17, 2019

Our Sunday School teacher continued a good morning lesson from 1 Corinthians 12. The message was that spiritual gifting is beyond natural gifts. Many are unaware or ignorant (as in ignoring) of the gifts. The spiritual gifts are powered by the Holy Spirit and given for the common good.

Our church service opened with praise and worship led by the youth. Then pastor continued his messages on The Bridge, reminding us that Jesus is the Bridge. Today’s message was based on Hebrews Chapter 4, starting with 4:1-11. The Bible emphasizes “rest” but often rest is hard to come by in our busy world.
Some people don't rest until it comes for them. Others rest until they almost feel guilty and others are able to prioritize rest properly.
Our society tends to have an unhealthy view about rest, thinking it means the person is lazy, or the time is wasted,
God established that rest is an important event. God created the world and on the seventh day He rested. When he was angry with Moses and the Israelites he declared in anger ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ Psalm 95:11.
Only those who believe can enter God's rest. Hebrews 4:10.
The Israelites had a promise of rest, but rebellion left them outside.
God promises a reward of special rest… for eternity.

Point: The promised rest we find in God's presence cannot be replaced with a cheap imitation found in the ideas and devices of the world.

Rev 3:15-19 Tells us that God doesn’t want us to be lukewarm...
Continuing with Hebrews 4:12-16 we learn that we may come boldly to the throne...to receive mercy and Grace.
You have been invited to God's throne, His presence.
Instead of pushing away from the Lord, run to Him.

I set out to find a specific song but didn’t find it. I found this one instead.

Verses for Today:
Hebrews 4:3-5 and 9-10
3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

God, I thank you that I can run to you and find peaceful rest … as well as mercy and grace!