The rest of God is a realm where our hearts are at rest in the presence of God. It’s not that everything is solved, and there are no problems. No! It’s simply means that the heart knows the Lord, and knows that everything is taken care of in Him. The works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:3 (KJV)
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.
How could it be then (you may ask) that everything was taken care of at creation, and yet, the fight is so fierce in your life? Beloved, the fight is simply an indication that our lives were conceived in sin. Then once we arrived, we lived in sin until we came to Christ. Everything thus far has been done outside of the Will of God and contrary to the Divine plan. Once we are saved and we start learning the plans and purposes of God for our lives, a war ensues and satan and his demons begin their fierce opposition to our attempt to enter the glories of the plan that God had for us when He created us.
Don’t get intimidated by the fight. It is a good sign you are headed in the right direction. All heaven wants from you is to believe that it’s already done, and completely finished and settled. If you believe, you will find the rest of the Lord.
Remember from our text, that God had everything worked out before He delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. They were still required, however, to believe God through all the issues of the wilderness existence, with all its attending inconveniences and wars. They murmured constantly, and refused to believe that it was all finished as God said. They felt justified in their unbelief due to the realities of the struggle. The circumstances were indeed difficult, but faith was their answer, and they rejected it.
You and I are in exactly the same place. There are many fierce fights in our lives. Sometimes, the struggle has been so intense, we frowned at the suggestion that it was already solved, let alone being solved from the foundation of the world. If we are not careful, we will fall into the same tragic mistakes made by the children of Israel. The testimonies of Joshua and all the battles they fought and won, clearly show that all they had to do was to keep believing God, despite the circumstances and obey God’s instructions. The Lord was going to fight the battle for them anyway.
What then was the problem – enemies within! That was their problem, and that is our problem. It’s definitely easier to conquer the enemies without. The main battle is the enemy within. The ability to enter into the grace of the victories without, is the victory over pride and self determination – the war raging within. To bring oneself to submit to the ways of God that may seem foolish and ridiculous is the main fight of faith. The Scripture says:
Hebrews 4:11&10 (KJV)
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Beloved, you have to fight and labor vigorously to get yourself under the mighty hand of God. You have to discount your mind and believe the Word of God; otherwise, you become an unbeliever with your eyes wide open. This fight will bring you to the conviction that God’s way is the best one for you. You will stop doing things your way. You will experience the joy and the rest of being cared for by God.
I invite you to retire from fighting against God in your life. Instead, fight against yourself, until you are able to submit to the Word of God, which is His Will. You will know the peace that passeth understanding, and the rest of God will enter your life. I love you, and may the Lord our God bless you with His peace and rest today, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
I love you.
Apostle Chika
The struggle to overcome self-will and self- gratification is real but this Word encourages me to stay in the fight of faith. I want to enter into the rest of the Lord! Thank you for a powerful word!