BEYOND THE SWORD IS PARADISE!

Mike Blume
February 2, 2003 am


Hebrews 4:1-13  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.  (2)  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 in them that heard it.  (3)  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.  (4)  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.  (5)  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.  (6)  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:  (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.  (12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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 unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.



In this teaching concerning the entrance into the REST, Hebrews makes a reference to the rest that was first introduced in the beginning.
  • The Garden of Eden and mankind.
  • God created all things by His word in Genesis 1.
  • He created the world, and the paradisical sanctuary where He placed man, providing Adam with food and all necessities of life.
  • Mark it down and know that God did the work.
  • By the time Adam was created, everything was already provided for Adam.
  • Adam did not have to work for his food.
  • The work was done.
  • Adam simply had to maintain it.
God's word created all.
  • He said, "Let there be..."
  • And the Garden was also created by God.
  • And that Garden would be the place of man's Rest.
God man mankind on the sixth day, and after God finished all the work, He rested the seventh day.
  • Hebrews 4 mentions this.
Hebrews 4:3-4  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.  (4)  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Hebrews quoted Genesis 2:2.

So we see that, according to Hebrews, God had provided a Rest for humanity form the very start.
  • In speaking of our need to enter a Rest, Hebrews resorts to Genesis 2:2.
  • In other words, man's rest was prepared from the very beginning of our creation.
  • But man did not enter into it!
If you read Hebrews 3 through 4, you will find that Israel's journey into Canaan was a sort of Rest into which God wanted them to enter.
  • But we read:
Hebrews 3:16-19  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Notice how God became enraged at Israel's failure to enter into what God gave them for a Rest.
  • Listen to His words.
  • Hebrews quotes the Psalm.
Psalms 95:11  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

God was enraged that they disbelieved His word to enter.
  • And their unbelief caused Him to swear, in His wrath, that they should not enter.
Let us ask ourselves, what is it that Israel disbelieved?
  • They did not believe God's Word!
Hebrews 4:2  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 in them that heard it.

They had the word about their "rest" so to speak.
  • But they did not mix that word with faith.
Hebrews 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, ...

When we take this back to the Garden story, we find the same picture.

Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

And then...

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

You could change that and say,

Genesis-paraphrased for Israel  3:1-7 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the ten spies, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall enter into the land that floweth with milk and honey?  (2)  And the ten spies said unto the serpent, We may enter into the land of Canaan that floweth with milk and honey.   (3)  But we must slay all the inhabitants of the land, and not hearken to their doctrines and gods of wood and stone, lest we die.  (4)  And the serpent said unto the ten spies, Ye shall not enter this land:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye enter therein, that the inhabitants of the land shall be as giants before you.  Wherefore hath the LORD brought you unto this land, to fall by the sword, that your wives and your children should be a prey?  Were it not better for you to return into Egypt?  (6)  And when the ten spies saw that the giants were there, and their cities were well-walled, and that they were as grasshoppers before the nations, they partook of the words of the serpent thereof, and did doubt, and gave also unto the children of Israel with them; and they did doubt.  (7)  And the eyes of all Israel were filled with guilt, and they knew that they had sinned; and they sought to enter the land again without the Lord, and Moses said, Numbers 14:42  Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. Numbers 14:44-45  But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.  (45)  Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.... Only Joshua and Caleb outlived the doubters and did enter the Promised Land.  Joshua 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Can you see how biblical stories and their lessons can be applied to OUR SITUATIONS, and help us?

THE WORD OF GOD was for them to LIVE.
  • To enter the rest and live forever.
  • They would DIE should they disobey the word.
When Israel finally did enter Canaan's rest, the older generation had died.
  • Only two men did not doubt God's word for them to enter into Canaan.
  • Joshua and Caleb.
  • The others doubted when they heard the ten spies' evil report of all the reasons why they could not enter the land.
  • And since Joshua and Caleb were in the same age group as the others who died in the wilderness, their entrance into the land represents people who enter into salvation and live forever.
  • Of course, these men did not live forever, but the idea of living past the lifespans of the doubters shows that we will live while the world passes away, due to our faith.
God wanted Adam to enter into that Rest with Himself.
  • According to Hebrews 4, the Rest that was referred to in the Beginning, when God rested the seventh day, was not supposed to be enjoyed solely by God.
  • We read about entering into HIS REST.
  • Watch how the Psalm worded it.
Psalms 95:11  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

GOD rested the seventh day.
  • And we were supposed to enter that Rest with Him!
But problems arose over the WORD OF GOD.

And just as a SWORD came into the scene in the Garden as blocking man who had been cast out due to disobedience...

Genesis 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

 Hebrews 4 says:

Hebrews 4:11-12  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  (12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.

A sword is mentioned with the thought of ENTRANCE.

Hebrews speaks like this to help us understand what is required for us to enter in the rest that God made since the beginning!

The sword of Genesis is still at the entrance of this rest!

But it's not a physical sword that you can see.
  • God's WORD is a sword.
To enter into the Rest, we have to get through the sword.

Beyond the sword is PARADISE!
  •  Mixing the word with faith is letting the sword work in us.
  • The sword goes to work...
  • The Word goes to work...
  • ...When we BELIEVE IT!
  • It cuts away unbelief and frees you from all that keeps you out of the Garden.
  • It frees you of Adam and of your sins.
Whenever we go through a depressing time, we can get hold of the WORD OF GOD and let that sword cut away all the unbelief and negative things in our hearts that hamper us down.
  • And we will enter a paradise right then and there!
  • Beyond the sword is paradise!
  • In life we go through many trials.
  • But thank God we have the sword.
  • But let us ensure we do not neglect the sword when we are stressed out, or depressed.
  • Take it and labour the labour of mixing the word with your faith, and enter into the rest.
  • You have the provision for leaving your troubles anytime and anywhere -- THE SWORD!
  • God's Word!
  • We need to learn to resort to the Sword when we go through hardships!
  • Beyond the sword there is always Paradise.
  • When you apply the sword to your life, no matter what situation you require it, you will gain victory by the sword cutting away things in your soul, and freeing you from burdens and doubts and all else that is negative in our own lives.... attitudes, etc.
  • And we enter into a spiritual rest!
  • We experience relief!
  • THAT IS VICTORY!
Its like taking all the "Let there be's...." and getting them to CHANGE OUR PERSONAL WORLDS!
  • The work is finished.
  • The words are there.
  • Take them and believe them.
John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The WORD did a work through the cross for our salvation.
  • Jesus was the WORD MADE FLESH.
  • And the work of the cross is the FINISHED WORK we need to apply to our lives.
  • There is a Rest.
Genesis 2:2  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.

It was finished!

The cross is NEW CREATION.
  • Watch the flow of thought here:
1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

We get into Him by being baptized into His death.

Check out this sermon: http://mikeblume.com/7sayings.htm

And note that we can apply the seven things Jesus said in the new creation work of the cross, while He was crucified, to our lives and see those words make us new creatures.,
  • His seven WORDS spoken on the cross correspond to seven words God spoke in each day of the Genesis 1 account.
  • Until finally we are in the image of God again.
  • Please refer to this sermon for further thoughts on that issue.
THE SEVEN SAYINGS FROM THE CROSS -- http://mikeblume.com/7sayings.htm

Notice how 2 Cor 5:17 refers to creation.
  • Old things.
  • Creation from Genesis.
  • That is the reason that John's Gospel is speaking about Jesus using words from Genesis.. IN THE BEGINNING...
A NEW GENESIS!

God finished the work, but we must BELIEVE it now.

Hebrews 4:2-3  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 in them that heard it.  (3)  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.

THE GOSPEL!
  • The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
  • See 1 Cor 15:1-4.
  • And its connected with the FINISHED WORK and a REST.
  • He took the actual suffering.
  • But we nonetheless experience His death THROUGH FAITH.
  • And we give up the ghost and commend our spirits into the Father's hands.
He gave up His Ghost.
  • That was the HOLY GHOST.
  • And we RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST!
  • He gave it up so we could receive it!
Isaiah 28:11-12  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  (12)  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Acts 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Not only was there a sword at the entrance, but there were also "cherubims."
  • A barrier with cherubims.
  • You see the same picture in the temple most holy place blocked by a VEIL with images of CHERUBIMS sewn into it.
  • And when Jesus said it is finished...
Matthew 27:50-51  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  (51)  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

This represents that when He said it is finished, THE BARRIER TO THE REST WAS OPENED.

He did the work and He is the Word made flesh.
  • The WORD did the work.
  • You have to MIX THAT WORD WITH FAITH.
  • What Word?
  • Jesus died AS YOU on the cross.
  • Adam cannot get back into the Garden.
  • And when you were born from Adam's family, that shut you out.
  • So you are buried with Jesus by baptism into His death.
  • And the old Adam is gone and you are a new creature IN CHRIST.
  • Acts 2:38 obedience changes you from one creature to another.
  • His flesh is the veil you must pass through (Heb 10:20).
  • His WORD is the SWORD you must pass through.
  • That happens through the Acts 2:38 experience.
It's finished.
  • A rest is there for us, reopened!
  • God's work is finished, and we must labour to enter into that rest.
  • What is the labour noted in Hebrews 4:9?
  • It's not a labour in which we save ourselves.
  • It's mixing the word with faith.
  • Taking the word of the work of the cross and mixing it with faith.
  • Put yourself into the equation.
His work on the cross CREATES A NEW RACE OF CREATURES.

It's all depending upon your DEATH with Christ that gets everything removed from your life that hinders you from entering into the Rest of the Garden.

Mix that WORD with YOUR FAITH, and see yourself involved in a NEW CREATION RACE!