Sermon in Phoenix 12.05.2013

I will read for our portion of God's Word this morning from the fourth chapter of the book of Hebrews, beginning with the ninth verse through the end of that chapter. The words are as follows in Jesus' name.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

For the Word of God is quick 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.

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.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Amen.

These words of the Apostle came to mind this morning when I was considering, as we've already heard through these beautiful voices in song and reading, the beauty and the joy of our mothers.

And on this Mother's Day, it is a special day of remembrance for you, dear sisters, who have been called into such a special calling in God's kingdom.

Our mothers are recognized as being a very important and a special occupation. It is ordained by God. God has given to us this kind of blessing.

And thank you, dear sisters, who have been called to be a mother. How He is so fit that you would be that one who would be given that responsibility to raise and to rear, along with your husband, one of God's own children.

It is a blessing. It is a great gift.

Even in our kingdom, we know that not all mothers, or rather, not all ladies, have been given this responsibility.

We know that some of our wives are without children. We recognize that this is also from the hand of the Heavenly Father.

To others, He's given a few, and to others, greater numbers.

When we look around in God's kingdom, we see and understand, by faith, that it is God who opens the way for us, the womb of a mother.

So, for His purpose, that a child would be given to rear and to nurture, as the Apostle Paul writes, in the love of God.

So, dear mothers, on this day, when we remember especially those great blessings that all of us have been given, to those ancient fathers and all that have been given to us, it is that one that is one giver, one healer, one restorer, that God has sent also need the prayers and support of all of us.

Husbands to love your wives, to support them; you children to honor your parents as God's word says.

This family unit that God has ordained is according to His will, according to His plan, and it is perfect because God has allowed it to be exactly as He wishes it to be.

Yet we know that as God's children, all of us, as we've embarked on this journey of living faith—mothers and fathers and children—we are journeying toward a final destination.

This is not our home. This is not our final home. This is not our final place of rest.

Here we have no rest; it is a toil. It is a journey. It is a journey of fiery trials.

The apostle Peter writes of this, doesn't he, when he says, brethren, think it not strange concerning that fiery trial as if some strange thing has happened.

God tests the hearts of His children.

We understand by faith that it is God's will that we have been given this life in which we can live, in which we can travel, in which we can dwell.

And He's provided for us a home here upon this earth as God's own.

He's given to us His kingdom, and this is into that kingdom where you mothers can also, as the 84th psalm says, place your children in the care of this congregation.

Mothers need fathers, need the support of the believers. We need the support of the believers. We need the support of God's kingdom.

We cannot journey alone; neither can we raise our children alone. We're not wise enough of ourselves.

So God has given us His kingdom where we can live and we can dwell personally, but then also we can lay our young into that care.

Even today God has given a special time of care and a special time of work in our midst.

Today there are many, many children. It is a great blessing.

And as I look around the room today, the church, many little faces, now I understand a little bit better.

When I was a young boy, I would hear the ministers say that in God's kingdom there's a good future.

I didn't know what that meant and I didn't know where it was going.

It felt like the future was so far away. It felt like to become a young man, an adult, was years and years away.

Now I've passed that young adult and that young man status, entering now into middle, perhaps older.

And when we look now, we look now to the congregations and we see those little ones that God has continued to bless into our care, we say that God's kingdom has a good future.

For you children will grow under the nurture and care of mother and father, and that you little children would listen to hear that which your mothers and fathers teach.

What is it that mothers and fathers teach? Are they hard things to bear? Are they difficult things to hear?

Or are you like I was and remain to this day that I need to hear especially the message of the Good Shepherd?

That message of Jesus, as the Apostle John has written about the Good Shepherd.

And he says that the sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd.

And the Good Shepherd is Jesus.

Jesus teaches His own. He instructs His own.

But yet Jesus is not here with us, is He? In person.

But He's with your mothers and fathers. He's with God's kingdom.

He is wherever God's word is heard and proclaimed.

God in the Spirit is the third person of God.

Our Heavenly Father was the Creator. His Son Jesus was the Redeemer.

Jesus came and lived His life.

When He was departing from this life, He promised to His children a Comforter, the Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

And that Holy Spirit now resides in the congregation of God.

It resides in the hearts of each of God's children.

And it teaches that which God wants to be taught.

The Holy Spirit does not have a mouth except through the mouths of you, my dear brothers and sisters.

So in the congregation, when we hear the voice of the Spirit, it is God speaking.

That is what we hear as God's children.

We hear the message and the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd speaking.

And what is that message, brothers and sisters?

It is the message that dear travel friend, dear believing child of God, you are on the way towards Heaven.

You are a believer and your sins are all forgiven in the name and precious blood of Jesus.

That is the message that we hear in the message of God from God's Kingdom.

It is a simple message.

It needs to be a simple message.

It can't be complicated.

Because God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of children.

It is a Kingdom of simple childlike believers.

It is a Kingdom that needs to be led by the Spirit and the teaching of God that we hear in the congregation.

It is not with enticing words of man's wisdom that a child of God comes to the hearing of God's Word, but only to hear that simple message and voice of our Father calling, encouraging, uplifting.

So, today, as we consider even this text, these words came to mind, considering.

And they begin in this text in this way: That there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Why are these words spoken?

Do we not all tire in our everyday life?

God has ordained it that there is a 24-hour day, time of day and time of night.

He allows it so that we have those times of being awake and those times of sleep.

He knows we need rest and we need those times of recovery.

We are not built and created to go 24 hours a day without rest.

It is according to God's plan.

But this, in which the writer here writes, is more than this.

This rest of the evening or rest at night.

It speaks of a time that waits beyond this life.

It gives us hope as God's children that beyond this life there is a different kind of life waiting.

It is a time of rest.

And I thought especially on this Mother's Day.

You know, for us now, our family is growing and getting older.

We don't have those little babies waking up in the middle of the night for the dear mother to look after.

Those midnight feedings, those middle of the morning feedings, those are long gone.

But how is it for you mothers?

Are there those days that you tire?

Are there those moments when you wonder?

Are there those moments when you wonder whether or not this motherhood is something that you'll be able to endure and to endeavor?

Are those times when the enemy of souls might come and preach that sermon of unbelief that God has forgotten me?

God has not realized the trial that I've been facing.

In the midst of those difficulties and the tiredness of the day, is it always easy to remember that those little ones that God has placed into your care are blessings from heaven?

Or have there been those times when you've felt so tired and wondering whether or not you would be able to remain faithful to God and to endeavor in that which God has called?

But dear sisters, dear mothers, we only need to look in God's kingdom.

We can see from generation to generation how God has blessed.

How from generation to generation He's given strength to His children.

There are countless numbers and examples and stories in the Bible that God uses to give comfort to His children.

The book of Hebrews also speaks of those former travelers and those former saints who traveled under their own cross endeavoring towards heaven.

And how did they endeavor?

Was it by their own strength and wisdom and their own understanding?

Or rather, did they rely and trust in God's protection and God's care?

By faith, Moses.

By faith, Abraham.

By faith, Sarah.

And throughout those examples does God give that it is by faith that we journey home.

God has promised to carry us as He has promised them.

And in that portion of God's word He says they are examples for us.

They are those who trusted and believed in God's care and guidance.

They were able to see by faith that there was a home, a place of rest waiting for them beyond the toils of this life.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

And then he also speaks about Jesus.

For he that is entered into his rest is a state of the world.

He also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.

God did his creation work.

And there are some who believe even in our day, as it was during the time of the Acts of the Apostles.

When we read, for example, from the Acts of the Apostles and it talks about that discussion that Paul had with those philosophers of his day.

And there he debated—I don't know, debated is the right word—but he discussed with them about those situations that he faced.

He discussed with the Epicureans and the Stoic philosophers.

And they discussed around the existence of God.

We can read from the 17th chapter of Acts where he passed by that inscription.

It says, for then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.

For as I passed by and beheld your devotion, I found an altar with this inscription that said, To the unknown God, whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

And then he goes on to discuss with them those learned of his day, those Epicureans and the Stoic, about how it was that God sent into this world his Son.

And that this Son was that which we would believe upon, who knows all things.

But part of those philosophers, one group believed that God did create all things, but has no interest in the furthering creation work.

But God does, and continues as we see in the spring of the year, the renewal of his creation.

We see the renewal of his creation from generation to generation among us.

Children are born into our homes.

They grow.

They become parents.

They age and become gray-headed.

God takes them to their eternal rest.

This is God's plan.

And this is God's will.

This is that which God allows.

He sent his Son, Jesus.

Jesus finished his work.

He entered into his rest.

He is there at the right hand of his Father, watching over his flock, you and I, brother and sister.

Now the Holy Spirit directs the work.

We are not left without care.

We are not left without direction.

But this is God's kingdom.

This is that which God directs.

He has given to us strength of belief.

He has given us faith in our hearts.

And we have hope, brothers and sisters, of one day, at the end of this life, when your mothers are done mothering, which is the only way to do it.

I know you mothers never stop mothering.

I visited with my own mother this morning, and she was wondering how her son is doing.

Is this different for any of you mothers?

Even though you have grown old, gray-headed, don't you always remember and consider that of a lot of your children?

Not always can you be so intimately involved with their loved ones.

But from afar, you recognize and know.

And what is often there is the prayers that go to the heart of the Heavenly Father.

This is that which the mothers, not only the mothers, but also the fathers, remember those of our children that God has given to us.

Not only our children, but our children's children.

And how many of our children are children's children.

From generation to generation, God is blessed.

So, then the writer says, let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

We know that we are the children of God.

We know that there have been those who have fallen away from God's Kingdom.

Some of you parents have today those kinds of children.

And it brings great sorrow into the hearts of the mothers and fathers who have unbelieving children.

And it brings great sorrow to the parents and the inability to teach correctly that this is the reason that your children have departed from living faith.

But, brothers and sisters, how has it been for each one of us?

It is only because of sin.

And sin is that which separates a person from God.

In our day, there are many kinds of sin.

You children, you young people, us older ones, grandmothers and grandfathers, we know the effects of sin, don't we?

We have felt those effects.

And when we feel the effects of sin, we are not in a state of sin.

When sin is forgiven, there is freedom and joy.

The Bible says that the Lord is the Redeemer.

When sin is forgiven, there is love and joy.

When sin is forgiven, there is joy and peace.

Have you experienced that with me, brothers and sisters?

Have you experienced that the journey of living faith is difficult when there's sin?

But when sin has been forgiven and the gospel has been heard, our footsteps of faith are light.

Isn't this then what the author of this book says?

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest.

The apostle writes in one of his epistles to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

He doesn't mean that we ourselves would work it out or figure it out.

We don't have to analyze and figure out, well, this is the direction that we're going to go.

The direction to heaven has already been paved.

The direction of heaven is very clearly assigned.

And it is following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Following after the merit work of Christ.

Putting away sin as it comes.

God has already allowed it to be so perfectly paved.

We make it difficult.

Our own minds can make it difficult.

And it's most difficult when we have sin burdening on our conscience.

Then we start to question and wonder what does God's Word really mean?

Or what does God's Word really say?

What does the teaching of God's kingdom really mean?

Does it really mean this? Or does it really mean that?

And we start with our own minds to go down those ways of justification.

But the pathway to heaven is right before us.

It is found here in the Bible.

It is found here in God's Word.

And it is found in the preaching of His Word.

And namely in this, that dear child of God, believe.

The disciples asked Jesus once, What must we do to work the works?

Of course, Jesus had told them that they're going to work.

Fathers have to work.

Mothers have to work.

Even your children have to work.

You have jobs.

You have responsibilities.

All of us have to do.

So what were the works that the disciples were asking about?

I think it was a fair question.

What must we do now as we go forward?

What is it that Jesus wants us to do?

They were told, This is the work that you believe upon Him whom I sent into this world.

Believe upon Jesus.

Believe upon Christ.

The author and finisher of our faith.

This is that work.

As the Apostle says, work out your salvation.

But he said in continuation to that thought that work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Not in a way that we would fear the powers of our time, society, laws, rules.

But rather that we would fear God.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

I fear God.

He is omnipotent.

He is everlasting.

He is all being.

Have you children ever wondered and pondered where is God?

Our children have argued, even in our home, that God is here, God is there.

Can we understand so easily with our own minds the power of God and where is God?

But God is all around us.

We believe this.

We know this.

We feel this.

It is according to His Word.

I think it's a good thing that we would fear God.

Because then we would rely upon His Word and the teaching of His Word and the teaching of His kingdom.

In that way, we can make it to heaven.

Therefore, as this text says, let us therefore labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

He says then the Word of God is quick, meaning it's alive.

It gives life.

It's an old English word, quick.

It doesn't mean real fast.

But to be quick is to be alive.

It's powerful.

It is so powerful that it is able to change someone from unbelief, from a heart that is going to everlasting damnation, to a heart that is going to be saved through God's Word.

When we think of the thief on the cross, what was used for that thief who asked Jesus that, Remember me.

Jesus says, Today thou wilt be with me in paradise.

With God's Word, this soul was added to the kingdom.

It remains the same.

Through the preaching of the Word, it gives life.

Do you, mothers and fathers, doubt this and question this in rearing your children?

Do you wonder the effect and the necessity of the Gospel?

Has the enemy been able to quieten your mouth as it has often been my case to freely preach that Gospel even in our homes?

Think what it was when the Apostle left that debate or that discussion that he had with those philosophers of his time.

He said, It was just a short trip from there to Corinth.

When he got to Corinth, he was greeted by brothers and sisters in faith.

It was a relief for him to be in the midst of his brethren.

And he said, I came not with excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God.

And he lamented and he said that the Gospel is a source of strength.

Today, brothers and sisters, it remains the source of our strength.

God's Word is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.

It divides asunder the soul and spirit and the joints and marrow.

And it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is how powerful God's Word is.

It discerns the ideas and thoughts of our own hearts.

Have any of you thought when you come to services, I hope it's been your prayer that when you come that you would pray that God would give words to the minister.

Because we come to this place feeling very small and empty, so lacking in understanding and wisdom.

Yet, when God gives words, we preach.

When He doesn't give words, we don't.

But have you ever wondered as you're sitting in services how does this sermon affect others?

Does it affect them the same as it does me?

I've marveled how one sermon that is kept can serve every congregation member that listens to it.

God knows the intents, the desires of the heart.

It may not be exactly the same part of the sermon, but during that sermon, something always touches and brings to remembrance something of how good and gracious God has been.

Or how important it is to remain watchful and obedient to God's Word.

Or how sometimes we hear much about the hope of heaven.

In those sermons God gives, it is that which discerns the hearts of the children.

We don't know when we preach from here what the heart of each one of the listeners is.

But God knows.

Can we so simply today believe that God knows us so well even as His Word proclaims that not one hair falls from our head without our Father knowing it?

So today we have great joy as God's own.

We can say, we can travel as His child.

Even if we're an old person, 70, 80, 90 years old, we're still a child.

We're in the care of our Good Shepherd.

We are in the care of our Father in heaven.

He's promised to carry us all the way to the glory of heaven.

At the end of this text, it speaks of this importance of boldly coming unto the throne of grace in that time of need.

Our strength is in the hearing of God's Word and the power of the Gospel.

Today, dear travel friends, this is what God has left for us.

He's left for us a way that leads to heaven.

He's left for us His Word.

He's left us in His care.

And we are on our way towards heaven.

Remain, therefore, obedient in faith and in trust in God's rich care and goodness.

A special prayer and blessings, especially today for you, dear mothers.

May it be that God would give you strength first to remain believing, that you would always remain as one of God's people.

And that you would always remain as one of God's own.

But then also to accept from His hand all of the blessings that He wants to afford into your life.

Not only does this mean blessings of goodness, but also blessings of trial.

Blessings are a trial.

It keeps us mindful of this, that we are not only in the midst of the world, but we are going to our final and our eternal place of rest that waits beyond this life.

May God bless you and keep you in His care.

I remember not only my own mother, my dear wife, but the mothers in God's kingdom often.

The world doesn't look at motherhood in the same way as motherhood that God's kingdom looks at motherhood.

Therefore, I know that you, dear sisters, often face those kinds of trials in your life and even temptations.

And so can you simply today believe and trust and remain believing that even today your own sins and doubts are forgiven in Jesus' name and precious atoning blood.

God has promised for all of us His care.

But also for all of us that today it's the same gospel.

And I wonder if I can also hear that same gospel from my own sins and doubts today.

I want to one day attain that final place of rest with you.

And each one of you, brothers and sisters, young and old, you children, you can go home and now celebrate Mother's Day.

Maybe you'll even do the dishes, clean the house, maybe even fix lunch.

Some of you probably fix breakfast for your mothers.

Treat her like a queen today.

Promise.

She deserves it.

Think of all those days that she woke up with you as a little baby.

Think of all those days that she cared so well for you.

One day, one day a year, we can show them a little extra respect, can't we?

It is such a blessing that God has given to us.

We can even thank God today for that kind of blessing that He's given us a believing mother.

That kind of mother who has been able to teach us.

You remember when Mom or Dad would come to your bedroom and say, I'm going to go to bed, and she would say prayers.

She would preach the gospel.

We could go to rest with such a peaceful feeling in our hearts.

This is that which is so special about our believing mothers.

We thank God for these blessings and gifts.

So you children also, I'm sure with me as a little boy, I wasn't always obedient and often was disobedient.

I wasn't always a very good little boy.

So I needed to hear the gospel often.

So you children can also today believe your own sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

That's the same gospel that carries all of us home.

Brothers and sisters, remain believing in Jesus' name.

All of your sins forgiven.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Let us quieten in the closing prayer and benediction.

Holy and righteous God, beloved Heavenly Father, as we close these services, we thank you for all blessings and gifts.

We thank you for your word.

We thank you for keeping us as your own.

We thank you even for that gift that waits for us there in heaven.

But we pray, dear Father, that you would lead us there.

That you would take us one day when this life is over there to be with you and your Son and with all of those other brothers and sisters of ours who are journeying towards heaven.

But today, dear Father, we also ask, protect and bless our mothers.

Protect them in their place of watching.

Give them strength and courage to do that which you've allowed.

We ask it all in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And we yet say, The Lord bless us and keep us.

The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.