Text:
Hebrews 4:7-11:
7: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8: For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10: For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Theme:
When I Get Through
Introduction:
The old Gospel Song goes:
When I see Jesus…Amen.
When I see Jesus…Amen.
All of my troubles, all of my trials, they will be over.
When I see Jesus…Amen.
- When listening to my pastor, Rev. Dewitt Sherrer, come to a resounding close to his sermon one Sunday afternoon, he reflected upon the trials and tribulations of his life as pastor. He mentioned how he had expectations that drove him so much more than others in the church. Then he mentioned how others chastise him instead of lift or encourage him. As his voice bellowed louder and louder in his reveling, he suddenly came to a halt by saying, “Oh, but when I get through!”…. He stopped. The words echoed in the air. He slowly let his hands fall to the side. Then, he gathered his bible and went back to his seat.
- As black folk, so much of our strength/hope/power is built on “when”:
- “When I get to heaven”
- “When the Lord comes back”
- “When Jesus comes”
- “When Judgement Day comes”
- “When God calls me home”
- “When it’s all over”
- “When I get through”
- Eschatological perspective — eschata (last things) + logos (science) – the science of last things
- There’s something about the “end” that intrigues, excites, enlivens, strengthens, and encourages people…especially black folk!
Body:
- The Epistle to the Hebrews was best guessed to have been written by Paul although many of Paul’s counterparts, students and associates are also suspect. The letter was written to the Jewish Christians to hone in on both the doctrinal and practical approaches to serving God through Christianity.
- In the 4th chapter from which our text is derived the author focuses on the Promised reward awaiting the believer at the end of their life on this earth…REST. As it says in verse 9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
- Three key elements to understanding the reward of rest for the question:
- Rest after
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Admit
- Submit
- Transmit
- Rest occurs after this life.
- As it says in verse 8, “For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.”
- As it says in the Gospel song “Near the Cross” echoing this truth when he says, “In the cross be my glory ever until my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.”
- We are not supposed to have a comfort zone in this life.
- As it says in Psalms 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” We have a safe place, not a “comfort zone”!
- As the Gospel song says, “Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away!”
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Rest in
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Admit
- Submit
- Transmit
- Rest occurs only in Jesus during this life.
- This rest serves as the Foretaste of His Glory or of Heaven while we yet live in this world
- As Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
- The Jesus says in Matthew 11:29, “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.”
- Rest occurs in Heaven after this life.
- As it says in Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Rest after
Conclusion:
- Rest from
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Admit
- Submit
- Transmit
- Thank God for “rest from”
- As it says in Isaiah 14:3, “And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee REST from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,”
- As it says in Psalms 94:13, “That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity”
- Rest from frustrations
- Rest from trials
- Rest from tribulations
- Rest from worry
- Rest from labor
- As it says in the Gospel hymn, “Sit down, servant. Sit down. Sit down and rest a little while.”
- First you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to have a right to this rest.
- Rest is needed!
- Without rest, we can fall into unbelief. As it says in verse 11, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
- Without rest, our hearts can get “hard”. As it says in verse 7, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
- Without rest, we get fixed on our own works and abilities. As it says in verse 10, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works.”
- After understanding our struggles and then the consequent rest that we are promised during and after this life, every Christian can find solace for their situation, as Rev. Sherrer did, in the exclamation, “WHEN I GET THROUGH!”
- As I see the struggles on the horizon and fear begins to creep into my spirit, I can think of WHEN I GET THROUGH!
- As I am going through my struggles and there is no end in sight, I can affirm the promise that trouble don’t last always when I think of WHEN I GET THROUGH!
- When I look back over my life and I think things over, I can truly say that I’ve been blessed. I have a testimony. That testimony tells the story, “WHEN I GET THROUGH…
- I am gonna rest from all my life’s work.
- I am gonna look to see my Savior descending from Heaven.
- I am gonna listen to hear Jesus descend not quietly but with a SHOUT.
- I am gonna shout Hallelujah.
- I am gonna clap with my new hands.
- I am gonna run with my new feet.
- WHEN I GET THROUGH!!!
#43
