Turn, if you would, to Hebrews
chapter 4. And while you're turning there,
let me read from Philippians 2 verse 12. It says in Philippians
2 verse 12, Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
he says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not
as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling. Look at Hebrews chapter 1. I've
been called a fear monger, as some of you know, The weakness of our flesh and
the weakness of our flesh is something to fear. We should
fear. Our Lord tells us to fear. He
inspired Paul to tell us to fear. Examine ourselves. Are we in
the faith? In Hebrews 1, 4 verse 1, we read
these words, Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left
us of entering into His rest Any of you should seem to come
short of it. Folks, it's like I said a moment
ago in my prayer. Looking unto Christ. Looking unto Him is not just
a one-time thing. It's over and over and over again.
It's the same thing as coming to the table of remembrance.
To remember what our Savior has done for us. To remember who
it is that our faith is in. It's in Him. Because of His graciousness,
He has given us the gift to believe His Word. And we know that that
is a gift because we all know what it was once to not believe,
don't we? We didn't know it then. Many
of us thought we believed a lot of things, didn't we? But it
wasn't until through the preaching of His Word, through the preaching
of His truth, The truth of who He is. God in the flesh. And what He's done. He saved
His people. He saved you and I. Those for
whom His love from before the world was. And where He is right
now. Sitting on His throne. He's God. Death couldn't hold
Him. Absolutely not. Fear. Let us therefore fear, lest a
promise being left us of entering into His rest. Examine yourselves. Are you in the faith? The Lord
is telling us that we are to fear lest we also, after hearing
the gospel and professing to believe it, should fall short
of eternal life, just like those Jews who perished in the wilderness. That's what the Lord is telling
us here. Lord, is it I? Am I one? And we've seen, you
and I have seen those who come so close to the gospel, declaring
that they believe the gospel, then they turn around and walk
out those doors and never come back. And never go anywhere else as
far as we know. And I'm not talking about just one man and his family.
Some of you were here during a split and saw the very thing
that I'm talking about. Witnessed it. Witnessed it. People that you thought, Oh my
goodness! How could that person leave the
Gospel? Our Lord tells us it's as simple
as this. They went out from us because they were never of us.
Folks, if we're kept, we're only kept by one thing, and it's not
by what we do. We're kept by the power of God
and Him alone. Listen to 1 Corinthians 10-12, Take heed, John Reeves. I was
talking with Kathy this morning. I'm your pastor. You're my brothers
and sisters in Christ. I'm not ashamed to tell you that
I am so weak in the faith at times. I wonder what am I doing
right here in this pulpit. And I've searched after men.
I've searched to men. Gone to them in tears with who
John Reeves is. I'm not a Don Fortner. I don't
come to that office and study seven days a week. I wish I did,
but I don't. That's not who I am. And I'm
wondering to myself, what am I doing in the pulpit? I've read
articles from men who I esteem with great... I put them up on
a pedestal, even though I know I shouldn't. And they tell...
You should never, if you don't go to that office and study the
way a minister should, you shouldn't even be in the pulpit. And they're
right. But I'm looking to the wrong
place. Folks, God put me here. I didn't want this. And if he
doesn't want me anymore, he'll take me out. I don't have to
sit here and wonder whether I need to leave or not. He will take
me out, which is the way it should be. Folks, we can fall into such
easy, easy confidence in this flesh that
we have and that we stand in. I know! I'm one! Let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall. That's what that says. Let us
not come short of the promise of eternal life, like those foolish
virgins described by our Lord. Rather, let us run. Let us ever
run with the patience, the race that is set before us. This is
what God has for us. It's our next step. Well, what
is that? I don't know, but God will light and God will guide
us. Mike would say, you know, we were talking about that. Yeah,
we can make choices, and that's the sin within us, as Mike said.
He's absolutely right about that. But in the end of it, after it's
all done, I assure you this, I assure you this, it was the
purpose of God for it to be done that way. He's God. Let us never, ever
forget that He's the one who's working this all out. He's the
one who's purposing it good for you, Mike. No matter what it
is you're going through right now. You ready to go home? God's
not ready for you yet. Or at least not as of this moment,
right now, thank goodness. You never know, maybe this afternoon,
could be the time. Pastor Gene has started saying
that a lot lately. You never know, John. Today could
be the day. Say goodbye like it's my last.
Okay, Pastor. Have a great day. I love you.
I love you, too. Let us ever run, folks, the race
that God has before us. Let us ever run the race that
He has before us, that is set before us, ever looking, always
looking to Christ, trusting His blood, seeking His righteousness,
and seeking to know Him better. Turn over to Philippians chapter
3. Paul is talking about the things that we have that he had
in this world. The confidence in the flesh that
he had, as it says in verse 4. He was circumcised, as it says
in verse 3. Circumcised in verse 5, it says
in verse 5, the 8th day of the stock of Israel. He had so much
of what we see in God's Word that he could have felt like
there was confidence in, but here's what he says about those
things, verse 7. But what things were gained to me, those I counted
loss for Christ. Aren't you thankful that we're
weak in faith? The more I read God's Word, the more I'm thankful
that if I started getting real strong in faith, And if I ever
do, I pray the Lord will cut my feet out from underneath me
in a hurry and put me right back where I need to be, and that's
in the dust. Giving Him the praise for my faith. Giving Him the
praise and the glory for everything about me. Paul said there, he says, those
things I counted as loss for Christ. Verse 8, yea doubtless. Philippians 3 verse 8. He said,
yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency,
for the perfection, for the precious, precious knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things
and do count them but done that I may win Christ. Verse 9, Philippians
chapter 3, verse 9, and be found in Him." Here's that looking
to Christ again. Here's that looking to Christ.
Be found in Him. He says, Paul writes, Peter,
I think it's Peter, it says, grow in grace and in what? And in the knowledge. in the
knowledge of who Christ is, in the knowledge of what He's done,
in the knowledge of where He is right now, and be found in
Him, in verse 9 it says, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God. by faith, verse 10,
that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His
death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead, not as though I had already attained it, neither
had I already perfected it, but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which I also apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this
one thing I do. Forgetting those things which
are behind. Forgetting those things. Those
things that he now counts as done. Those weaknesses in the
flesh. Those sinful things that we used
to think. Forgetting those things which were behind and reaching
forth. Do you catch that? It's telling
us to do this. To reach forth. unto those things
which are before." Christ Jesus, He's the one before us now. That's
where our faith is. My faith is found in a resting
place. It's in Him. It's in Him. Go on, read verse
14 with me. I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We're to look to Him always. But even when we don't, He's
got a hold of us. When we don't have a hold of
Him, when we don't have our eyes turned towards Him, it don't
take long for Him to bring our eyes right back to Him, showing
us how weak, how weak we are in the flesh. I realized something this morning,
my desperation, my Depression, if you want to call
it that. It's because I quit looking to
Christ. I quit looking to my Savior. I started talking to
men, other pastors, about what do I do. I hate the fact that
I'm a slacker. But when it comes down to it,
I really am. I'm not looking to Christ who's
holding me up every time I stand here before you. I see it's Him. We went to dinner with Mike and
Becky Gelati after we went to the bank on Friday. And I don't
say this to puff myself up or to do any of that. I say this
because some of you say the same thing and this is why John is
here. This is why the Lord hasn't removed
me from this place and put somebody else in it because you folks
need to hear the Gospel as much as I do. The Gospel is as important
and precious to you as it is to me. And the Lord needs somebody
here to preach it. And He's... You know what I mean, don't you?
May our gracious God make our hearts packed for Him. Packed
for His Son. The Gospel of Christ and Him
crucified like David did as hit the heart pants after the water
broke. Listen to the Psalms 27-4. The psalmist David was writing
these words. He says, One thing have I desired
of the Lord that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty
of the Lord and to inquire into His temple. Also in Philippians
3.10, we read these words, that I may know Him, and the power
of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings
being made conformable unto His death. Back in our text, in Hebrews
4.2, we read these words, for unto us was the gospel preached,
as well as unto them. But the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith, and then they heard
it. There is such a divine authority
which attends the preaching of His Gospel, that the most solemn
business of this earth, of this world, is the business of preaching
it, and the business of hearing it. Look with me if you would
again, mark your spots in Hebrews and turn over to Romans chapter
10. In Romans chapter 10, We read in verse 13, For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then
shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard? And
how shall they hear without a preacher? This is how important the Gospel
message is to go out. This is how important it is for
the man standing before you in the pulpit that you're sitting
under to be preaching Christ and Him crucified because that's
the only message God used to save His people. How are you
going to call upon one who you've never heard of? Folks, there's
billions of people in the world right now sitting under false
Gospels. Gospels of a God who can't do
anything unless you let Him. Do you understand the grace of
God's love and loving you to put you under the sound of the
true gospel? Do I understand it? Maybe. Maybe. Yeah, I don't even know
if it's that much. But it's true. His Word just
told us that. Didn't His Word just said? How
then shall you call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach
except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings. Look at Romans 10 verse 16. But
they have not all obeyed. They have not all obeyed the
gospel, for Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by what? By the word of God. But I say,
they have not all heard. Yes, verily their sound went
forth into all the earth, and their words into the ends of
the world. But I say, did not all Israel know? First Moses
saith, I will provoke you to jealousy. By them that are no
people, by a foolish nation, I will anger you. But Isaiah
is very bold and saith, I was found of them that sought me
not. I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Let's look at one more if we
would. We've got some time here. Would you turn over to Proverbs
chapter 1? Beginning at verse 23, Turn you at My reproof, behold,
I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words
unto you. Because I have called and ye
refused, I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded.
But ye have set at nought all My counsel, and with none of
My reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity,
I will mock when your fear cometh as a desolation, and your destruction
cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer. They shall
seek me early, but they shall not find me. For that they have
hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel,
they despise all my reproof, there shall they eat the fruit
of their own way, therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their
own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning
away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools
shall destroy them, but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell
safely. and shall be quiet from fear
and evil. Go back to our text, if you would,
in Hebrews chapter 4. The word preached must be mixed
with faith. It must be received by faith. It must be embraced in the arms
of faith, or the word preached is of no profit to our souls.
The gospel now preached to us, was preached to the Jews by Moses
and Aaron. It had been preached by Enoch,
Noah, and Abraham. It was preached to them by the
types and the promises, the sacrifices, and examples constantly held
before them, but it did them no good, it did not save them,
nor profit them, because they did not believe God. Look at
verse 3. Verse 3 of our text of Hebrews
4. 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."
Now what we see here is plain and simple. The rest spoken of
here is the rest of faith in Christ. It is the rest of salvation
by works, the rest from the yoke, and the burden of the law. gain God's favor. Believers have
an ease of heart is what it's saying. Peace of conscience and
comforting assurance as we look to Christ and look to Him alone
as the author and the finisher of our salvation. This is rest
indeed. God has sworn to those who believe
that they shall not perish. To see that, again, hold your
place there in Hebrews chapter 4 and turn over to Matthew 11
for just a moment. Turn over to Matthew 11. Look
with me at verse 28. The last three verses of Matthew
chapter 11. Come unto me all ye that labor
and are heavy laden. This is talking about looking
to Christ. Not look to Christ, but looking. Come unto me, all
ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in
heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light. Turn now to the right over to
Romans chapter 5. In Romans chapter 5, verse 1,
We read these words, therefore being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. One more, if you would, over
to Romans chapter 8, verse 1. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them. This is our peace. This is the
peace that we have within us when Christ takes up residence
in the hearts of His people. There is therefore now no condemnation. Our condemnation was laid upon
Him. It says, to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. One more verse back in our text,
and we'll wrap it up there. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 4. For
he spake in certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
and God did rest the seventh day from all of his works. Believers
do not keep a seventh-day Sabbath. I want to say something about
that, just quickly. I know of some who say they do
not rest in the Sabbath spiritually, but they do physically. because it's good for their body.
And it may be. Our Lord tells us, and He gives
us plenty of examples throughout His Word, that on the seventh
year, you should rush your crops. So it may be that they're correct
about that, but they worship with those who do worship the
day, the seventh day, as a spiritual rest. And they call it good for
their souls. They'll turn away from hearing
the gospel, the truth of the gospel, who Christ is, what He's
done, where He is now, so that they can hang out with those
that they don't believe their gospel, but they worship on the
Saturday, on the seventh day. It's good for their body. Folks,
you can take whatever day... You know, we in this country,
we actually... Man, we just... Folks, we live in the greatest
country on earth that ever has been on earth. You work five
days a week? You work five days a week and
you get two days off? You get seven days vacation every
year? Some more? I'm not saying resting
your body is not good for you. But giving up the truth of the
gospel to save your body is giving up salvation to save something
of this world. Plain and simple. That's all
there is to it. You're not going to hear the truth of the gospel
in a church that preaches you've got to do something to be saved.
That's all there is to it. If you're not hearing a message
of true and sovereign grace, you're not hearing the gospel.
Believers do not keep the Sabbath Day Sabbath as they did in the
Old Testament or the First Day Sabbath as religious legalists
would like us to do today. No, we keep the Gospel Sabbath,
the Sabbath of rest in our Savior. He is our Sabbath. He is our rest. As God ceased
from His own works on the end of His first week, so we cease
from our works when we trust in Christ. As God rests in His
love, as we read in Zephaniah 3, verses 14-17, seeing, O daughter
of Zion, shout, O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all the
heart. O daughter of Jerusalem, the
Lord hath taken away thy judgments. He hath cast out thine enemy,
the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee.
Thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said
to Jerusalem, Fear thou not, and to Zion let not thine hands
be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst
of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee, with
joy he will rest in his love. He will joy over thee with singing. So we rest. We sweetly rest in
our Savior, resting in his blood, the blood of God. We sweetly
rest in His righteousness, the perfect righteousness of Jesus
Christ. We sweetly rest in His goodness,
in His grace, in His power, in His providence, as Mike and I
were talking about. His promise and His person. The
Lord Jesus is our Sabbath. Period. Hebrews 12, verse 2,
we read these words. looking unto Jesus, the author
and the finisher of our faith. Folks, listen to these next words.
For who for the joy, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross. despising the shame and is set
down at the right hand of the throne our God. Amen.