Fight to enter the rest

It's official... I'm on a theme. REST. I was listening to Keith Moore from the Great Lakes Believers Conventions 2005 which was given to me as a partner gift a few years ago. He talked about REST, which has become a theme in my prayer and study.

The true fight of faith is not about struggling to get our confessions right, or battle doubt, or try to believe harder or better or more. It's not any of the things I so often make it about. It's not about me being a better christian or walking in more consistent faith so I can earn enough brownie points to get what I want. It's not a rewards card with points to redeem. There are aspects of some of these things involved in a life of faith. But the good fight of faith really is not any of these.

The good fight of faith is about me laying hold of eternal life. Eternal means without beginning and end, that which always was, is, and will be. Life means the absolute fullness of the life-force of God. We know Faith is the material substance of things hoped for (expected; not wished for). We know that faith is the substance that God used to create the worlds, heaven, earth, etc. He didn't create them out of nothing, he created them out of a substance that cannot be seen. Faith is that substance.

I am also to labor/be diligent to enter into the rest of God, ceasing from my own works. Unbelief keeps me from resting. I cannot rest if I have unbelief. Therefore in order to REST I must battle unbelief. Or rather I battle unbelief through REST! I am also to stand fast in faith. This standing is also resting. Much like the children of Israel sent their worshipers ahead in the battle and they didn't have to lift a finger to fight, but God fought for them, so it is through our praise that we enter into the rest of God.

It could literally be said that we fight not with swords or even lawsuits but with praise! It was praise that set Paul and Silas free of chains and saved the jailers family!

So I am to lay hold of the absolute fullness of the living force of God that is without beginning and end. I am to labor/be diligent to enter into that rest where I cease from MY works and let God fight my battles for me. 


This rest is not inactive. It may require that I praise when I don't feel like it. It may require I get up, get dressed, and face my enemies and start singing at them. It may require that I started singing God's praise in the middle of a horrible situation when it's the last things I "feel" like doing. But if I will do this; if I will enter the rest through praise, song, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in my heart to God, singing His Word... 


God Fights on my behalf. That is REST!

BACK GROUND:
Interlinear Studies:
Hebrews 4 
Timothy 6

Hebrews 4:10-16 (The Webster Bible)
10 For he that hath entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.) 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God [is] living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but who was in all points tempted as [we are], [yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (The Webster Bible)
11 But thou, O man of God, flee from these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Galatians 5:1 WBT
Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


Ephesians 6:14 WBT
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness;


Philippians 4:1 WBT
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved.


Darrell G. Wolfe

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Invitation to Apply... The Blood

COME:
1 Peter 4
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 

HEAR:
Jesus preached the Gospel to all those in Hades and in Abraham's Bosom before ascending from the dead to greet Mary at the tomb. I have become fully convinced, as I learn both the Mercy/Grace side of God and the Justice/Judgement side of God,  that there is not one human on earth past or present from Adam to the final man/woman/child that will spend an eternity separated from God without having a chance to accept His gift.

There are many who will become so hardened through life that they will reject it, which makes our influence in the World SO MUCH more important. However God is not sending people to hell because the post office lost/miss-delivered His invitation in the mail.

Everyone on earth has been forgiven of sin. You are not in need of forgiveness you have it. You've had it since before the foundation of the world. What you are in need of is the application of the blood to your life. If you fail to apply the blood, even though it's been provided, your house is not protected. That applies to this life and the life to come. You are in need of knowing about the forgiveness that was purchased and accept it.

The offer is a trade. You trade your life for His. He takes your sin and you take His righteousness.

It has been proved out over and over that seeing is not believing. Many people see "Evidence" and believe it when it was made up or false. Others see evidence of something true and choose not to believe. Just because you see something doesn't mean you will believe it. Just because something is offered doesn't mean you will accept it.

I know of a man who was offered birthday presents every year by his son. One year, he returned them all, years worth, unopened. He had taken them... but not received them. You can know about Jesus, without accepting Him. You can preach Him, but not KNOW Him.

Contrarily, you can NOT know of Him, but be introduced to him and accept. Paul prayed a SHORT salvation prayer... "LORD, what do you want me to do?!". I don't know how many times I've heard of near death experiences, but one bears mentioning here.

A young lady was living in sin, she'd heard of Jesus in a cursory manner like most Americans, but was not church-ed. She was living in sin, drugs, etc. She was stabbed one night by a man who just wanted to use her. As she lay there on the ground she suddenly felt light. She stood up and looked down to see her body laying there. She was fully aware of everything around her. It was just as though she wasn't dead but the pain was gone. A door opened up in front of her and a bright light streamed in. Jesus stepped through the door and began to talk with her. He told her about His blood and her choice. She chose Him. He then gave her the choice of coming back to heaven with Him or staying on earth to complete His real calling for her. She chose to stay. Since then she has had a ministry of healing and bringing deliverance to hospitals and churches to the sick and dying.

What happened here? We failed to reach that young woman, so Jesus stepped in and did it. He will NOT let anyone go without the choice. He said he'd leave the 99 and go out to get the 1. He does it time and again. But we, the church, could have reached her before that stabbing. I know, because I know His heart, that people were called to reach out before and didn't.

DO:
I must begin to work on having HIS heart for people and loving with HIS love. Seeing people for who they are in Him. Praying for them actively, not passively. Asking the Holy Spirit, how can I assist you today, in this situation?

PRAYER:
Father, make me more like you. Show me, day by day, how to walk out YOUR love for people. Starting at home.

Reference:
Ephesians 2:13-21 (New King James Version)
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Colossians 1:19-21 (New King James Version)
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (New King James Version)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Exodus 12:22 NAS
"You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts ; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

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