Rest

Hebrews 4:9-13: 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works also as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Let’s face it honestly… many of us are aware that everything has been done for us by God in His Son.

The works have been finished since the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3).  He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness in Jesus… and in Him, we are to partake of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).  Our calling is to have Christ formed in us (Galatians 4:19).

We should be able to humbly say, as Paul did, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Paul exhorts believers, in Colossians 2:6, to walk in Christ in the same manner (by faith) as we have received Him.  He also warns the Galatians about the foolishness of trying to bring about their own perfection by works of law, rather than by hearing and believing.

John says that those who say they abide in Him, should walk (live) just as Jesus did (1 John 2:6).

Yes, we are aware of these things.  Some of us could even get up in a “Church” and preach a good sermon about it.  There is a problem, though.

We have mental, academic knowledge, but little or no practical reality, and this glaring deficiency must be corrected, by the grace and Spirit of the Lord.  If we fail to come into true rest in His finished works, then we are in disobedience, according to Hebrews 4:11 above.

In this paper it is my desire to call attention to the reasons for the deficiency; and, far more importantly, call attention to the way out of the dilemma.  If even one person is truly helped or encouraged by this writing, then I will be satisfied.

I wish I could be writing this as someone who was living in the reality and fullness of genuine life in Christ.  Unfortunately, I can’t… but, until someone comes along who can genuinely teach and model these truths and realities, I don’t know what else to do but think, pray, look into the Word, and share and dialogue with others who are wrestling with the same issues.

I’ve surely had tastes of the realities I speak of, but certainly not in any kind of real, satisfying fullness.  I’ll speak a bit more about this at the end.

So, why do we have this huge gap between what we know, and what we experience?

I can think of several reasons.  Others can think of more, and perhaps post a comment.

• Biblical discipleship has been changed from being and doing into hearing, taking notes, debating and bible-studying.  Practical, living realities have been converted into “religion”.  We say things like, “Oh, Bessie; Pastor Feelgood preached a powerful, life-changing sermon today.  How awful that you missed it!”  Then we go out to lunch or go home to watch the football game on TV, sermon-notes in hand, ready to go on a shelf to collect dust.
• Instead of truth being pressed upon us by people who model it, and then teach and demand it, we “listen” to the marvelous “preaching” of people we barely know, and who don’t know us; and to deepen the problem, most of what they teach us is garbage.
• “The faith” began as something that was all about God; His purposes and agenda; His glory and honor; His awesomeness and worthiness of continual praise and exaltation… and was lived out by men and women who were, simply, full of Christ.  It has become something about us, in one form or another, being lived out primarily by phony “Church-goers”.
• I believe that for the most part, we don’t even want true biblical discipleship.  Deep down, or maybe not so deep down, we know how costly and painful it will be, and we’re really not all too interested. Don’t get me wrong… there will also be great victory and joy in real biblical discipleship, but it doesn’t come cheaply.

PLEASE, watch the video at the bottom of this page to get a good idea what I’m talking about.

• Last but not least, I believe we are not a broken, repentant people.  We barely see our sins of apathy, unbelief, self-centeredness and rebellion against God’s truth and ways, if we see them at all.  There is a great, great need for breaking.  Instead of discussing the latest, greatest message on prosperity or anointing, as we sit in a Starbucks sipping a latte, we should be sitting in sackcloth and ashes, tossing dust on our heads.

OK, so we’ve looked at some of the reasons for the horrific lack of the life and presence of Christ in our “Christian” lives.  I’m sure there are many more, but let’s try and take a real look now at the solution.

I mentioned earlier Paul’s warning to the Galatians about trying to perfect themselves through law-keeping, rather than by grace through faith.  I believe we have the same problem.

NO!, We’re not trying to keep the Hebrew law (most of us, anyway), or throwing out all our pork chops and bacon, but we are seeking maturity, or perfection, or godliness, or “a pleasing walk for the Lord” through our own efforts.  This is the long-lasting legacy of the religionizing (is that a word?) of the faith that happened a long, long time ago.

We “do our devotions” and follow five-step formulas and tithe and “witness for Christ” (well, a few do, anyway) and pound ourselves into submission in bible-study or prayer and volunteer for the “greeter” job that’s been long vacant… but mainly, we just go about our own agendas in life, because frankly, all that religious effort is tiring.

I say I believe the points that I started this paper with, those amazing truths about Christ and what God has done for me in Christ, but my life and prayers betray me.  I’ll give an example.

I’m tired… frustrated… wanting real life in the Lord… needing and wanting genuine fellowship… yearning to see the life and presence of the Lord among and through His people.  So I pray something like this:

“Lord, I’m so needy of you.  I need to be walking in the Spirit, and to be full of your Spirit.  I want to see you honored and glorified.  I need a breakthrough, Lord, like Hudson Taylor, and many others in the past have had.  You know, Lord, the exchanged life breakthrough.  Lord, please bring that breakthrough.  I’m calling upon your name.”

“So, what’s wrong with prayers like that?” you may be asking.  Here’s what’s wrong with it:

Has God given me everything I need for life and godliness; or not?  Is Christ in me, and I in Him; or not?  Have I taken part in the death, burial, resurrection, ascension and enthronement of Jesus in the heavenlies; or not?  Are the works of God finished from the foundation of the world; or not?  Am I walking by faith, and not by sight; or not?

OK, that’s prayer.  What about life?  Here’s a practical illustration of my stupidity in life:

I may have just finished a great, inspiring time of prayer and communing with the Lord.  I’m feeling good.  I go downstairs in my Hotel, order some food, and go back upstairs.  I’m hummin’ and praisin’.  Life in Him is good.

They bring the food up and they have gotten it wrong… again, for crying out loud.  Displeasure creeps in.  As I eat, I may be stewing about how they always (OK, often) mess things up.  The “feel-good” edge of my time with the Lord is disappearing quick.

What’s my point about my prayers, and my practical, life example?  My point is this:

I have been called to put off the old man and put on Christ, by grace through faith… called to reckon the old, corrupt nature dead, and myself as being alive again in Christ, by grace through faith… called to take hold of His word and promises, by grace through faith… called to walk as He walked, by grace through faith…called to live out these realities and truths, instead of living out the reality of fallen, rotten Gene, by grace through faith, not by sight.

If we base our beliefs on what we see in our life and ways, will will never apprehend the reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory.  We’ll only remain pathetic Christians “trying” to do better, or perhaps not even that.

If I’m begging and pleading with God for what He’s already given, is that faith?  If fallen, rotten Gene presents himself in a multitude of situations, is that faith?  If I’m “trying” to do and be what God says I can’t possibly do or be, is that faith?

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

I don’t want this writing to be just another pile of words heaped onto the limitless pile of more words out on the information superhighway.  We have to break it down and begin, truly begin by God’s grace, to live in truth, and not be like Pilate, who sneered, “What is truth?”

We are called to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  We can only do that by taking hold of God’s truth, not by studying it, or debating it, or preaching it, or twisting it for our own purposes, or ignoring it.  Overcoming is mandatory, by the way; not optional.

God has done everything for us.  It’s finished.  There’s nothing we have to do, except trust it, take hold of it and rest in it.  Then we will see the reality of it spring forth.

If I’m begging God for realities He’s already given, or giving place to my old, corrupt nature (or my corrupt religious nature) to constantly come up from the grave and show how wonderful he is, then I’m surely not trusting, taking hold or resting; am I?

Are you?

We need to be broken and truly repent.  May God grant repentance to us.  We can’t even do that right, without Him.

Now, I will give one practical example of walking in truth, rather than in stupidity.  You were waiting for that; right?

One day, not too long age in Sai Gon, I found myself frustrated and hacked off about something.  I don’t even recall what it was, but I do recall that it had me very unpeaceful and in turmoil.  After a while, I turned my heart to the Lord, and started to say, “The man who gets frustrated and bent out of shape by circumstances died two thousand years ago in Christ.  There’s no longer any need or reason to get all messed up over this, because the person who reacts stupidly and sinfully to unpleasant circumstances is dead and gone, and I’m not going to allow him to come up from the grave.  Thank you, Lord, that you killed that man off.”

I was shocked and amazed, as you may soon be, to discover that everything became peaceful and calm.  The emotional storm was over, and I moved on with my day in peace and rest.  This is what taking hold of God’s truth is all about.  Unfortunately, I don’t operate like that very often because  I’m too busy doing my job of being stupid and getting myself screwed up.

Sound familiar, perchance?

One final point (wipe that grin off your face):

It will be much better, nicer, cooler, happier, groovier, neater, more beneficial, more fruitful, and lots of other good stuff, if you pursue these truths and realities with at least one other person who, like you, wants to get real with God and move on with Him unto His praise and glory. If you seek to do this alone, you’re going to have a very rough path to walk.  It won’t be easy with others, but it will be much better.

Find at least one other.  You will need to spend real time with each other; and be very real with one another; and speak truth instead of religious cliches; and probe in the Word; and most importantly, get on your faces together before God… without the need for someone to “open” and someone to “close” the time of prayer.

I know this is a lot to ask. Your religious flesh will recoil in horror, but there’s no way round it.  Trust me on that.