In this teaching we will see that the rest is also the sabbath and God began his rest after the six days of Creation in Genesis and his rest has continued on down to today. Genesis 2:2-3 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. {3} 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.

The lessons that we learn from the condition of the rest the children of Israel enjoyed will help us to understand what it means to us now and what we have to do to stay in this state with God. The children of Israel were invited to enter a temporary rest just as we enjoy temporary rest now when God's spirit resides with us. Numbers 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.

This signifies that they lived in this state of being in transition before God for Forty years meaning the different stages that you will go through in your walk to the Promised state of being in God. Numbers 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

They learned early on that they moved only when God moved and they rested when God was still and with them and this is what we are learning now. As long as you believe that entering his rest is after your physical death or sometime in the future then you are putting off until tomorrow what you can enjoy today. Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

When you are told to walk in your land this is symbolic of your ministry and from a position of rest you can flow in the anointing. There is no warring with yourself because your land is then occupied by the Holy Spirit.

Your inheritance is God. Numbers 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Deuteronomy 12:9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.

Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

The rest and the inheritance are two different things. You receive God and in the fullness of time you enter his rest....

1 Chronicles 23:25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

He gives rest unto his people that they may (if they choose) live in Jerusalem FOREVER that is telling you that you can enter and never come out, never have to leave God's presence.

This is not a physical labor as much as a spiritual labor in the ministry. God has not at any time said that physical labour was bad. 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.

Here He identifies where the rest applies. Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

When they rested in the Lord they were walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and received many more people.

Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

These are robes of righteousness that are being given in the spirit and have been so since Jesus walked on the earth. Note that this is a past tense verb GIVEN that dates as having already happened when John saw it.

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. From the point of resting in the spirit their ministry follows them.

So we see that entering His rest happens in a person's life when his walk is pure and holy before the Lord, when you can walk as the Patriarchs walked, but it is manifested first in the spirit, then in the flesh and it is open now.

Is this not something that sets your spirit to singing, and rejoicing? Hallelujah!

| | | |