Hebrews 4

4:1- God wants to give us rest just like He wanted to give it to the Israelites. May we not come short of having any unbelief. "A promise being left us of entering into his rest". Most of their children went into the land. 

4:2- Faith is a intricate part of the gospel. Hebrews 11:6; Romans 9:31-32; 10:16-17; when we hear truth our faith exercise will increase. We must apply it and share it. We have to take God at His Word. 

4:3- God is showing that those who don’t believe will not enter into rest, just like the Israelites did not enter the promise the land. He repeats 3:11. Then a comparison is made to the creation week. At the end of creation on day six God saw all that He has made and it was very good Genesis 1:31 and on the seventh day He rested Genesis 2:1-3. So we shall not enter until we know the Sabbath. Paul says in verse 4 that God did rest the seventh day from all His works. 

4:4-6- God wanted the Israelites to experience this rest but they couldn’t because they did not believe, so they could not enter it because of their unbelief. The Lord wanted to give them rest. He has also promised it. Joshua 1:13,15; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:10; 25:19; 1 Kings 5:4; 2 Samuel 7:10,11; 1 Kings 8:54-61; Joshua 11:23; 21:43-45; 22:1-5; Isaiah 32:18

4:7- We need to take heed and surrender and accept the invitation and harden not our hearts. UL 283.6

4:8- The comparison between our time (as SDA) and the children of Israel are very similar base on 1 Corinthians 10:11. God had showed them the Sabbath based on Exodus 16 , 31, and Numbers 15:32-36. The verse says Jesus which is also Joshua both meaning "Savior" Jesus will save you from your unrest of sin. This why the third angel says " they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image." Rev 14:11. Deut 12:9,10. There is a connection with rest and inheritance. God has not changed the day of the Sabbath. There is no mentioned in scripture of any change of the Sabbath day. 

4:9- We are still needing that rest (keeping of a Sabbath). There are a lot of people that’s keep Sunday as the day of worship because of Jesus resurrected on that day. But that does not make it Holy. The rest that is needed is labor that is pleasurable as Adam and Eve enjoyed their labor. ML 358.6; OHC 223.3-4. The rest that remaineth is the prayer that Jesus Prayed for in John 17:24. TMK 371.4. When you are joyful, is that rest? Psalm 16:9; 37:7; 94:12-13; 116:7-8; 132:8; 132:13-14; John 16:20.

4:10-11- 2 Chronicles 15:1-15

4:12-13- God’s Word is alive "quick" means alive or living. Ephesians 2:4-6 The word of God is the sword of Spirit Ephesians 6:17; ML 315. John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 15:45; John 5:21; Luke 8:50-55 first Jesus spoke the word and the spirit gave her life or made her "quick" we should always allow the truth to cut. We have to be careful with our attitudes and deportment. The word of God can heal Psalm 107:20; 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25; John 15:3; the Holy Spirit is the one that inspired the word. 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16 we need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to cut its way through unbelief. ML 61.2. Our God is an ever-present help in every time of need. OHC 316.4. We are living in perilous Times. In the fear of God I tell you that the true exposition of the scriptures is necessary for the correct moral development of our characters. RC 111.6; 5BC 1147.1; OHC 129.4; ...pierces the heart of the sinner and cuts it in pieces. 4T 441.1; TM 414.2; 1 Kings 3:24-26. Solomon allowed the sword (Bible) to tell who is telling the truth. It was able to read the intent s and thoughts of the heart. Saul in 1 Chronicles 10:4, 13-14 also took a sword and fell on it. Saul did not want to submit or allow God to save him. So he killed himself because he was so afraid of dying by the hands of man. 1 Samuel 28:5-6. Dividing asunder of soul and sword. Proverbs 20:27. Why is it two edged? The word of God has the Old and New Testament. 

 

Psalm 44:21; 90:8; Proverbs 15:11; Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Job 26:6; 34:21; 38:17; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; an example of this is Balaam in Numbers 22:22-29, 31, 34. Balaam tried to change God’s Word because of selfishness. Because he is a (backsliding) prophet the Lord said you can only say what I put in your mouth. The donkey responded to the angel with sword but Balaam tried to change the donkeys direction. He even said if I had a sword I would kill you. Trying to use the (symbolic) Bible as a way to get his own way. Until the angel open his eyes. Also prophets speak for God Hosea 6:4-6. God will judge us accordingly to our works and even our motives. We are judge by the law of liberty. James 1:25; 2:8-10, 12. All things are naked and opened... We cannot hide anything before God. 2 Chronicles 6:30; Psalm 33:13-15; 44:21; 90:8; Jeremiah 17:10, 23; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; Acts 10:42; 17:31

 

4:14-16- The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross...AG 69.4. Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-51. How do you become high priest? Leviticus 21:10-12; Leviticus 8:10-12; Exodus 29:1,4-7; Leviticus 16:32-34; So the question would be, when did Jesus get anointed for priesthood? Revelation 5:6; The year 31 A.D. after His crucifixion. Daniel 9:25, 27 anoint the most Holy. Psalm 133:2; Acts 2:1-4. Exodus 30:30; AA 38.3. Phases of Christ’s Priesthood 7BC 929.1; SR 155.3. We must come and present our case to the Father. 2T 591.1. We would have acted the same way as the Jews did of that time to chose Barabbas instead of Christ. Satan stands to resist Jesus who is our great High Priest TM 38.1-2; intemperance lies at the foundation of all the moral evils known to man. AG 164.6; HP 252.2

 

We can’t even fathom the strength of Satan’s temptations to the Son of God. Con 31.1. Jesus is the Elder Brother of our race. DA 329.1. John 6:57; DA 479.3. Esther appeared before the king to intercede for her people. Esther 4:15-26-5:1-3-6; 7:1-6

 

We have a Friend who can fully understand what we are going through. May I always bring all my cares and troubles to Jesus. TDG 42; 315.2