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Pastor Wade Burleson
God and I at Rest
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Genesis 2:1-3 (KJV)
- Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
- And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the
seventh day from all his work which he had made.
- And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all
his work which God created and made.
"God and I at Rest"
Genesis 2:1-3
The chapter divisions of the Bible are not inspired, and these three verses should be the
conclusion of chapter 1, not the beginning of chapter 2. The seventh day is the end of creation
week and the Bible says that "God rested" (v.2) and declared the day "holy."
- The Meaning of the Sabbath Rest of God . . .
God accomplished a work in six days that he called "very good" (1:21). On the next day
God was not tired. He didn't take a nap. He wasn't indifferent to His creation. On the seventh
day God rested with the enjoyment that comes from a finished work. This "rest"
is a type -- or a shadow, of the ultimate work of God through Jesus Christ. "The Sabbath is a
shadow of things to come; but the body is Christ" (Colossians 2:17).
- The Mistakes Made Regarding the Sabbath . . .
Entire denominations are built upon these verses and Exodus 20:10-11. You have the "Seventh
Day Adventists," "The Seventh Day Baptists," etc. . . . who say, "God has declared that no man
work on the Sabbath (Saturday), and we should worship Him on that day. Jews themselves set
aside the "Shabbat" as their "holy day" in Israel. I believe there are two fundamental mistakes
that people make regarding the Sabbath.
- Rest is defined "externally" rather than "internally."
The rest of God on day seven was a rest of joy and satisfaction. It was the enjoyment of all that
which was "finished." The emphasis was not on the "ceasing from work" as much as it
was on "the enjoyment of the finished work."
- Keeping the "Sabbath" becomes a measure on one's
"spirituality."
However, the Bible is explicit regarding any special observances of the Sabbath. "Let no man
judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath
days; which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (substance) is of Christ"
(Colossians 2:16-17). The Sabbath is a type. All mistakes regarding the Sabbath are like a person
falling in love with a picture.
- The Message of the Sabbath Rest for Christians . . .
The writer of Hebrews takes from the creation account of Genesis to speak of the rest that is
available for the believer. Creation rest points to this ultimate rest. This ultimate rest is the
enjoyment of the finished work of Jesus Christ for me.
- Faith in Christ should bring the joy and satisfaction of a finished work.
"For we which have believed do enter into rest" (Hebrews 4:9).
- Faith in Christ's finished work does not come without difficulties.
"Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest" (Hebrews 4:11). The only way you enter
into this soul rest is through faith (in fact, the Hebrews of Joshua's day could not enter into their
rest "Because of unbelief" - Hebrews 3:19). Faith is a gift, but the enemy seeks to steal
your faith (Matthew 13:4). One of the names of Satan is "diabolos" (dia -- through; ballos --
throw). Satan throws a monkey wrench into your ability to rest in what Christ has done for you.
- Every day should be a day of rest for the New Covenant believer.
I live by the law of faith -- faith in God's work on my behalf. I am at rest.
Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade
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