Sermon Title: THE COMMAND TO ENTER HIS REST
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Today, with Russia’s unprovoked and defiant invasion of Ukraine, human society has entered a new world order.
In Ukraine today, faced with a more urgent and existential threat, something like a mere global pandemic has been relegated into a non-existent issue, stored in the annals of medical history.
The rule of law is fragile at best, and insignificant to those who thirsts for more.
Even though the invasion of Ukraine is brutal and unjustified; other than mere supplies, no country has dared to physically come alongside the beleaguered country.
This is painful to watch.
It is like seeing a small boy beaten up by a much bigger bully at the playground and helping him by giving him a big stick to defend himself.
Canada’s freedom convoy is nothing compared to Russia’s war convoy.
The crisis just gets worse.
Till date, a wave of more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees have fled into surrounding countries.
With no clear end in sight, the escalation of chaos and violence seems set to extend beyond the boundaries of East Europe and permeate throughout the world.
Yet, even without war, this world is hurting, and fallen; far from God – and from His Rest.
God’s work in Creation is finished; Creation is perfected.
On the day of His Rest, He blessed the day and made it holy.
“2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3)
In a world so broken, what has God’s blessed day and state of rest have to do with us, His Children - ‘born-again’ believers redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus, His Son and our Saviour in the present day? (Ref: John 3:1-21)
Understand this well.
The brokenness of the world has nothing to do with the function of Creation - which remains perfect; but has everything to do with the fallenness and wickedness of humanity.
His Rest remains a blessed state that every believer may attain today; and has everything to do with His Kingdom – which is to say, if we are truly destined for His Kingdom, we must be found deep in His rest today.
That’s right.
Even when the world is on fire, we are commanded to enter God’s rest.
Hebrews 3:12-4:11 teaches us:
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
15 As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
17 And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies perished in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet His works have been finished since the Creation of the world.
4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words:
“On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.”
This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice ,do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” (Bold emphasis mine)
The letter of Hebrews was written in the latter part of the 1st Century, with the stated objective to especially encourage Christians who are faced with an overwhelming influence and increasing disdain of the Jews who sought to marginalize ‘born-again’ believers of Jesus Christ.
Needless to say, the world then, was in deep turmoil, war, famine and drought.
It was not an easy time; and it is something that we can readily identify today.
Our world today is at outright war against the God of Creation; and many ‘progressive’ societies actively seek to marginalize Christians, and even treating the Word of God and the Name of Jesus with contempt.
In the uncertain and volatile times then and now, the writer of Hebrews encourages the Christians to remain firm in their faith and in their conviction of the work of Christ and the Gospel of His Kingdom – and to live as God’s Kingdom People even in the present day.
We are warned to never be like Israel – who became “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13) and disobedient to God’s command to enter His Rest (Ref: Hebrews 4:11)
These was a nation not only invaded, but pursued all the way from Egypt to the shores of the Red Sea; they were not at war but under attack, with no military force whatsoever to defend themselves.
In their tribulation, they experienced God’s direct and divine deliverance and yet, they hardened their hearts toward God, rebelled against Him and utterly failed to enter His Rest through trusting and obeying Him.
Even though they had every reason to trust Him, Israel continued to defy God - choosing instead to live separate from His Will for them.
To this, we speak not only of Israel in the Bible; but also the Israel of present.
Church, do not be found to fall short of God’s glory; especially after Christ has been revealed to you.
For the likes of Joshua and Caleb who trusted God, they obeyed GOD and stepped into the Promised Land – God’s place of rest.
All their lives, they were constantly faithful and found on God’s Side, and by His Side.
Do you share their faith in God?
Have you come to share in Christ as did His Apostles?
Do you hold “our original conviction” and resolve to hold it “firmly to the very end”? (Ref: Hebrews 3:14)
God’s “promise of entering his rest still stands” (Hebrews 4:1) – we are to “make every effort to enter that rest.”
The alternative to God’s Rest is to perish. (Hebrews 4:11)
The obedience to enter God’s Rest today is the same obedience required to enter His Eternal Kingdom today.
In obedience and trust unto Him, we enter God’s rest; living as God’s Kingdom People today.
We must not wait for Christ’s return before entering God’s Rest.
In Christ, our lives are lived to the full when we enter God’s Rest through believing in Him - which is to be God’s Children; and live as His Kingdom people today; the essence of which is found in our prayers, “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
That is why, in Christ, there is absolutely no conflict.
We live solely for His Kingdom; just as we live wholly for His Will to be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.
Because we strive to only store up treasures in heaven, our lives are never governed by worldly kingdoms or human wills.
To this, we pray for the Church of Ukraine and Russia – that through their lives as God’s Kingdom People, living in the abundance of God’s Rest, the people of Ukraine and Russia would witness and experience the calm of Christ through His Church amidst the storms of war.
Our Lord Jesus Christ comforts us with His words:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
For us to enter God’s Rest, we must conscientiously adopt a posture of Repentance, Eternal Living, Stewardship and Trust; absolute trust in God and in His love, that is the bond amongst brothers and sisters in Christ.
REST in God comes from:
Repentance before Him;
Eternal Living - that is, living today in His Gift of Eternal Life through our faith in Christ;
Stewardship – that our lives and everything in it comes from Him, all of which we are devoted to divine stewardship of;
Trust – a life of utter trust and obedience unto Him.
To stand in the gap on behalf of the Church of Ukraine and Russia, we must enter that rest today, and pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that the Lord would strengthen our collective faith, and that we would all be found faithfully on His Side and by His Side; having entered into His Rest.
Every Christian must enter God’s Rest; and live in His Kingdom Reality; in spite of the reality that we are faced with.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine must be deeply troubling to us on many levels – but our main concern must be the rapid and seemingly unchecked use of such massive military force in unprovoked, and raw aggression.
Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin - and perhaps a very small handful of Russia’s elite - have sanctioned this act of war; autocratically bypassing the wills of 146 million Russian citizens; and plunged the world into war.
This is not new news though.
In many regards, the events that unfolded before 20th February 2022 draws a deep parallel with how World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.
The German invasion of Poland, was essentially, a continuation, after an uneasy 20-year break, of the disputes left unsettled by the first World War.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is, arguably, the result of disputes left unsettled after the fracture of the Soviet Union in 1991 on Christmas Day.
During the second World War, Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east.
The exact same thing can be said of what Russia is doing today.
And just as Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, Russia began their current assault in the region with an invasion and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in February and March of 2014.
A brief look at how Russia’s military prowess stacks against Ukraine is revealing of how serious and fragile this situation is.
Salvation belongs only to our God.
This war is by no means, an even match – for a super heavy weight boxer has entered the ring to fight an opponent of a far lighter class.
But of course, with experience, home-ground advantage, and home-made technology, Ukraine has what we would call a ‘fighting chance’.
Still, the odds are clear.
At over a million active troops, Russia’s military force is much larger than Ukraine’s at 255,000 troops.
Russian tanks number at 12,270 compared to Ukraine’s 2,105; Russian artillery at 18,497 compared to Ukraine’s 3,721; and Russian aircrafts at 5,552 compared to Ukraine’s 326.
You get the picture.
Every aspect of Ukraine’s military is outnumbered, embattled and weary; and the country is set to be engaged in urban warfare that features protracted street battles and deadly house to house fighting.
Innocents will suffer and die; all because of the insecurities, and greed of a handful of people.
While there are distinct cultural and ethnic differences, Russia and Ukraine do share a lot in common in that, they are both Slavic in origin, cultural background and history.
Ukraine became a part of the Russian State from the middle of the 17th century; thus, in terms of modern history, the two nations do share a lot.
Since the days of the Soviet Union, many Ukrainians are living in Russia; many Russians are living in Ukraine; and many have relatives across the border.
But just as many characteristics and cultures of Canadians differ from Americans, so do Ukrainians differ from Russians.
Since the onset of the invasion, we have received many reports from pastors from within the various cities of Ukraine.
A Ukrainian Pastor reported, “People don’t want to be under Russian control, but they feel helpless. What can ordinary people do?”
“Pray. And remain calm.”
This was the call of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), a day after their appeal to Putin was ignored.
Ukraine’s chief rabbi invited Christian leaders pray together using Psalm 31.
The Russian Evangelical Alliance (REA) conveyed its support for the UCCRO stating, “
“All evangelical Christians pray every day and ask the Almighty to give wisdom to all, to preserve the fragile peace and not to plunge our countries into fratricidal conflict.”
The European Evangelical Alliance shared, “The invasion of Ukraine is both unjustified and unprovoked. It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. These claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.”
In spite of their hardship, this pastor sums up their prayer needs well, “Please pray for disciple-making in the country, safety for our people, and generosity in the midst of war. And also for discernment, as there is a lot of fake news.”
Fake news is truly one of the chief weapons of modern warfare; for it besieges the mind with deception, causing chaos to breed internally within every individual heart, before shattering the physical reality of the multitudes.
With the mass deployment of fake news, the world is truly at war.
As a nation, Canada is vulnerable.
Chaos is never far from home; and with that, we must be constantly prepared to boldly and faithfully live as the Children of God; praying and proclaiming the Gospel of His Kingdom – regardless of what our circumstances might be.
Despite our best efforts, or our vehement embrace of Canadian ideals, we are certainly not immune or protected from conflict and violence.
In terms of an invasion, Canada – as part of the British Colony - was actually invaded by America a few times in the 1800s.
Thus, it is safe to say that no living Canadian would be alive today to speak of that experience.
Singapore on the other hand, was invaded by Japan in February 1942, and as a child, I have heard accounts of the occupation from my relatives and seen photos of the invading tanks and troops against the backdrop of buildings that are still around today.
So for me, the idea of an invasion is real.
Christians, we are called to be on a war footing; where our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of darkness. (Ref: Ephesians 6:12)
Especially in the past decade, we have experienced the shortfall and failings of the democratic process. There is simply no guarantee that any certain kind of leader will be elected to keep the North American nations safe; much less a noble, and godly leader.
Increasingly, it seems to me that the paradigms of present day government is designed to keep Christians out of any political office.
So, our hope for a Joseph, Daniel or an Esther elected or selected to high office must come only from God – who is our ultimate help in times of need.
The American dream is really just a thin veil that conceals a universal nightmare that would definitely manifest chaos, violence and war - because the human heart at its core is broken and wicked, selfish, prideful and greedy.
Atomic bombs have been deployed before; and nothing’s to say, that nuclear weapons will not be used again.
The point is this.
Canada is a relatively small country (Population: ~ 38 million) living beside a super-power (U.S. Population ~ 332 million); amiable existence made possible only because rules are observed.
This peace is fragile; therefore, our national existence is in reality, fragile.
We live in very uncertain and volatile times; which is why our eyes must solely be on Jesus; for our peace, our rest comes only from Jesus.
Many of you would think that that would never happen. Canada is safe.
We are an ocean away from Russian and we are more than friendly with our brethren to the south.
But the very definition of uncertainty and volatility means that anything can happen.
It is important to note that any projectile aimed directly between Russia and the United States would fly over Canadian skies.
And when we look at how Canada stacks against our only, historic invader, the odds, and our vulnerability - are clear.
At about 1.4 million active troops, America’s military force is much larger than Canada’s at a mere 67,500 active troops.
American tanks number at 6,670, compared to Canada’s 146; American artillery at 4,243, compared to Canada’s 161; American aircrafts at 12,930 compared to Canada’s much publicised aging fleet of 405; and American military naval vessels at 460 (including 20 aircraft carriers), compared to Canada’s ‘sea to sea’ fleet of 62.
Given that no country would publicize accurate statistics regarding their military capabilities; and given the clear difference between the purposes of American and Canadian military forces, which is mainly for defence; it is clear how disproportional the two countries are in terms of mere might.
The prayer earlier mentioned for Ukraine and Russia that, “all evangelical Christians must pray every day and ask the Almighty to give wisdom to all, to preserve the fragile peace and not to plunge our countries into fratricidal conflict” can very well, and perhaps, must be the mutual prayer between Canada and America.
However, in fullest view of how rapidly the geopolitical climate is changing - which is, the real climate change we ought to be aware of - we must learn to accept the broken, painful, chaotic reality of the world that we live in; that all invasions are senseless, and unjustified and will result in death, destruction, chaos and misery.
As was also earlier mentioned, “It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. Of course, these claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.”
This could very well translate to our context in North America – that “an attack is necessary to protect ethnic “North Americans” within Canada and - perhaps due to the changing ethnic landscape of Canada... - stop Canada from threatening the United States.”
This may seem far-fetched to most; but as long as it is a deep belief held by someone in strategic power, it remains a possibility.
Democracy, its ideals and process is by no means infallible; and one U.S. presidential election could unravel the very foundations of Canada’s existence.
The world is in certain uncertainty and total turmoil; we are all vulnerable to the onslaught of the evil forces that propagate chaos, destruction, and senseless violence – just as we have always been.
How much more must happen before the church in North America be awaken from our stupor?
Let us begin with ourselves here in this church family and be awaken by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:4-8:
“4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
We must beware of the devil's deceptions – patently evil, through the spread of misinformation and disinformation; and live solely in the Power and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and in the Word of God.
As God’s Children, we must live in His Peace, and Rest – absolutely confident of His Love and faithfulness – as People of His Kingdom today; because for us, there is more than merely wars, rumors, famines and earthquakes.
Our Lord Jesus warns and exhorts us in Matthew 24:9-14:
“9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
There’s lots of work yet to be done.
The blessed reality of persecution and death because of Christ faced by our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia must become our reality; that even in our perceived vulnerability and weakness, we must stand firm to the end in the Truth that our God – alone - is mighty to save!
Even in the gloom and doom of our present reality, may every believer enter God’s Rest; and may His Church boldly and faithfully preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the whole world – in blessed anticipation of Christ’s return; and in divine expectation that He will open the eyes of every child of God – that in His Rest – we would recognize one another through the divine allowance of His love and power to transcend our actions and over our present circumstances.
For indeed,
“He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:9-10)
Christians, together, let us be still; and enter God’s Eternal Rest today.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, create in me a clean heart; and renew a right spirit within me; that I may be found deep in Your Rest today, and be truly destined for Your Kingdom.
May I be found utterly obedient to Your command to remain in Your Rest; and may my life be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ to trust you more and more each day.
Help me hold firmly to the very end of Your holy conviction of God’s Salvation through Christ in my life.
Forgive my sin of disobedience in my doubts; when my heart was hardened toward You.
I receive the Promise of entering Your Rest; and resolve to make every effort to enter Your Rest – through daily living in a posture of utter repentance, eternal living, stewardship and trust.
Grant Your Church Power to live fully as Your Children; and as Your Kingdom People today.
We pray for our fellow believers in Ukraine and Russia; that through their lives as Your Children – living in the abundance of Your Rest – the people of Ukraine and Russia would witness and experience the calm of Christ through His Church amidst the storms of war.
Lord Jesus, may they come to You; and experience Your Rest!
Help us – as Your universal Church – to trust ever more deeply in You; that Your Love would be the bond between every believer.
Help us enter Your Rest in this enterprise of prayer over our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that You would strengthen our collective faith, and that we would all be found faithfully on Your Side and by Your Side.
That in spite of the overwhelming onslaught of darkness, death and chaos, we would stand resolutely at the gates of hell and frustrate the schemes of the evil one in inciting senseless destruction and the murder of the innocent.
Let us hear of Your angelic hosts filling the skies above Ukraine in miraculous testimony that You have enforced a no-fly zone over the nation; protecting Your Children from the devil’s work of stealing, killing and destroying.
Let us hear of bullets veering away from Your Children and rockets completely missing its targets.
And let us hear of Your Holy Spirit opening the eyes of faithful believers in recognition of Your Seal upon their lives; that they would not be deceived into taking the life of a brother or sister in Christ.
Fill the land with Your Peace, O God; make the invaders completely lose their appetite for war; and revive every Ukrainian and Russian heart for a fresh passion and deep desire for Peace – Your Peace.
Even in the midst of such tremendous hardship, we pray that Your Gospel will continue to be preached; that Your Spirit would empower every believer to be Christ’s supernatural witness; and that You would grant them wisdom to discern and declare only Your Truth.
May my brothers and sisters in Christ in both Ukraine and Russia, enter Your Rest; and establish themselves firmly in Your Love, Word and Power.
Even in the North American context, I recognize that we are vulnerable amidst volatile and uncertain circumstances, incited by dark forces whose sole mission is to propagate chaos, destruction, and senseless violence.
Prepare Your Church for beyond wars, and rumors of wars; famines and earthquakes; empower us to preach Your Gospel in spite of our imminent persecution and death – in the firm, unshakable conviction that we belong to You and Your Eternal Kingdom.
Lord, let it begin with me.
I am still right now, Lord; and I know that You are God.
Thank You for allowing me to enter Your Eternal Rest, today.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Today, with Russia’s unprovoked and defiant invasion of Ukraine, human society has entered a new world order.
In Ukraine today, faced with a more urgent and existential threat, something like a mere global pandemic has been relegated into a non-existent issue, stored in the annals of medical history.
The rule of law is fragile at best, and insignificant to those who thirsts for more.
Even though the invasion of Ukraine is brutal and unjustified; other than mere supplies, no country has dared to physically come alongside the beleaguered country.
This is painful to watch.
It is like seeing a small boy beaten up by a much bigger bully at the playground and helping him by giving him a big stick to defend himself.
Canada’s freedom convoy is nothing compared to Russia’s war convoy.
The crisis just gets worse.
Till date, a wave of more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees have fled into surrounding countries.
With no clear end in sight, the escalation of chaos and violence seems set to extend beyond the boundaries of East Europe and permeate throughout the world.
Yet, even without war, this world is hurting, and fallen; far from God – and from His Rest.
God’s work in Creation is finished; Creation is perfected.
On the day of His Rest, He blessed the day and made it holy.
“2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3)
In a world so broken, what has God’s blessed day and state of rest have to do with us, His Children - ‘born-again’ believers redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus, His Son and our Saviour in the present day? (Ref: John 3:1-21)
Understand this well.
The brokenness of the world has nothing to do with the function of Creation - which remains perfect; but has everything to do with the fallenness and wickedness of humanity.
His Rest remains a blessed state that every believer may attain today; and has everything to do with His Kingdom – which is to say, if we are truly destined for His Kingdom, we must be found deep in His rest today.
That’s right.
Even when the world is on fire, we are commanded to enter God’s rest.
Hebrews 3:12-4:11 teaches us:
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
15 As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
17 And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies perished in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet His works have been finished since the Creation of the world.
4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words:
“On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.”
This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice ,do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” (Bold emphasis mine)
The letter of Hebrews was written in the latter part of the 1st Century, with the stated objective to especially encourage Christians who are faced with an overwhelming influence and increasing disdain of the Jews who sought to marginalize ‘born-again’ believers of Jesus Christ.
Needless to say, the world then, was in deep turmoil, war, famine and drought.
It was not an easy time; and it is something that we can readily identify today.
Our world today is at outright war against the God of Creation; and many ‘progressive’ societies actively seek to marginalize Christians, and even treating the Word of God and the Name of Jesus with contempt.
In the uncertain and volatile times then and now, the writer of Hebrews encourages the Christians to remain firm in their faith and in their conviction of the work of Christ and the Gospel of His Kingdom – and to live as God’s Kingdom People even in the present day.
We are warned to never be like Israel – who became “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13) and disobedient to God’s command to enter His Rest (Ref: Hebrews 4:11)
These was a nation not only invaded, but pursued all the way from Egypt to the shores of the Red Sea; they were not at war but under attack, with no military force whatsoever to defend themselves.
In their tribulation, they experienced God’s direct and divine deliverance and yet, they hardened their hearts toward God, rebelled against Him and utterly failed to enter His Rest through trusting and obeying Him.
Even though they had every reason to trust Him, Israel continued to defy God - choosing instead to live separate from His Will for them.
To this, we speak not only of Israel in the Bible; but also the Israel of present.
Church, do not be found to fall short of God’s glory; especially after Christ has been revealed to you.
For the likes of Joshua and Caleb who trusted God, they obeyed GOD and stepped into the Promised Land – God’s place of rest.
All their lives, they were constantly faithful and found on God’s Side, and by His Side.
Do you share their faith in God?
Have you come to share in Christ as did His Apostles?
Do you hold “our original conviction” and resolve to hold it “firmly to the very end”? (Ref: Hebrews 3:14)
God’s “promise of entering his rest still stands” (Hebrews 4:1) – we are to “make every effort to enter that rest.”
The alternative to God’s Rest is to perish. (Hebrews 4:11)
The obedience to enter God’s Rest today is the same obedience required to enter His Eternal Kingdom today.
In obedience and trust unto Him, we enter God’s rest; living as God’s Kingdom People today.
We must not wait for Christ’s return before entering God’s Rest.
In Christ, our lives are lived to the full when we enter God’s Rest through believing in Him - which is to be God’s Children; and live as His Kingdom people today; the essence of which is found in our prayers, “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
That is why, in Christ, there is absolutely no conflict.
We live solely for His Kingdom; just as we live wholly for His Will to be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.
Because we strive to only store up treasures in heaven, our lives are never governed by worldly kingdoms or human wills.
To this, we pray for the Church of Ukraine and Russia – that through their lives as God’s Kingdom People, living in the abundance of God’s Rest, the people of Ukraine and Russia would witness and experience the calm of Christ through His Church amidst the storms of war.
Our Lord Jesus Christ comforts us with His words:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
For us to enter God’s Rest, we must conscientiously adopt a posture of Repentance, Eternal Living, Stewardship and Trust; absolute trust in God and in His love, that is the bond amongst brothers and sisters in Christ.
REST in God comes from:
Repentance before Him;
Eternal Living - that is, living today in His Gift of Eternal Life through our faith in Christ;
Stewardship – that our lives and everything in it comes from Him, all of which we are devoted to divine stewardship of;
Trust – a life of utter trust and obedience unto Him.
To stand in the gap on behalf of the Church of Ukraine and Russia, we must enter that rest today, and pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that the Lord would strengthen our collective faith, and that we would all be found faithfully on His Side and by His Side; having entered into His Rest.
Every Christian must enter God’s Rest; and live in His Kingdom Reality; in spite of the reality that we are faced with.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine must be deeply troubling to us on many levels – but our main concern must be the rapid and seemingly unchecked use of such massive military force in unprovoked, and raw aggression.
Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin - and perhaps a very small handful of Russia’s elite - have sanctioned this act of war; autocratically bypassing the wills of 146 million Russian citizens; and plunged the world into war.
This is not new news though.
In many regards, the events that unfolded before 20th February 2022 draws a deep parallel with how World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.
The German invasion of Poland, was essentially, a continuation, after an uneasy 20-year break, of the disputes left unsettled by the first World War.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is, arguably, the result of disputes left unsettled after the fracture of the Soviet Union in 1991 on Christmas Day.
During the second World War, Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east.
The exact same thing can be said of what Russia is doing today.
And just as Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, Russia began their current assault in the region with an invasion and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in February and March of 2014.
A brief look at how Russia’s military prowess stacks against Ukraine is revealing of how serious and fragile this situation is.
Salvation belongs only to our God.
This war is by no means, an even match – for a super heavy weight boxer has entered the ring to fight an opponent of a far lighter class.
But of course, with experience, home-ground advantage, and home-made technology, Ukraine has what we would call a ‘fighting chance’.
Still, the odds are clear.
At over a million active troops, Russia’s military force is much larger than Ukraine’s at 255,000 troops.
Russian tanks number at 12,270 compared to Ukraine’s 2,105; Russian artillery at 18,497 compared to Ukraine’s 3,721; and Russian aircrafts at 5,552 compared to Ukraine’s 326.
You get the picture.
Every aspect of Ukraine’s military is outnumbered, embattled and weary; and the country is set to be engaged in urban warfare that features protracted street battles and deadly house to house fighting.
Innocents will suffer and die; all because of the insecurities, and greed of a handful of people.
While there are distinct cultural and ethnic differences, Russia and Ukraine do share a lot in common in that, they are both Slavic in origin, cultural background and history.
Ukraine became a part of the Russian State from the middle of the 17th century; thus, in terms of modern history, the two nations do share a lot.
Since the days of the Soviet Union, many Ukrainians are living in Russia; many Russians are living in Ukraine; and many have relatives across the border.
But just as many characteristics and cultures of Canadians differ from Americans, so do Ukrainians differ from Russians.
Since the onset of the invasion, we have received many reports from pastors from within the various cities of Ukraine.
A Ukrainian Pastor reported, “People don’t want to be under Russian control, but they feel helpless. What can ordinary people do?”
“Pray. And remain calm.”
This was the call of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), a day after their appeal to Putin was ignored.
Ukraine’s chief rabbi invited Christian leaders pray together using Psalm 31.
The Russian Evangelical Alliance (REA) conveyed its support for the UCCRO stating, “
“All evangelical Christians pray every day and ask the Almighty to give wisdom to all, to preserve the fragile peace and not to plunge our countries into fratricidal conflict.”
The European Evangelical Alliance shared, “The invasion of Ukraine is both unjustified and unprovoked. It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. These claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.”
In spite of their hardship, this pastor sums up their prayer needs well, “Please pray for disciple-making in the country, safety for our people, and generosity in the midst of war. And also for discernment, as there is a lot of fake news.”
Fake news is truly one of the chief weapons of modern warfare; for it besieges the mind with deception, causing chaos to breed internally within every individual heart, before shattering the physical reality of the multitudes.
With the mass deployment of fake news, the world is truly at war.
As a nation, Canada is vulnerable.
Chaos is never far from home; and with that, we must be constantly prepared to boldly and faithfully live as the Children of God; praying and proclaiming the Gospel of His Kingdom – regardless of what our circumstances might be.
Despite our best efforts, or our vehement embrace of Canadian ideals, we are certainly not immune or protected from conflict and violence.
In terms of an invasion, Canada – as part of the British Colony - was actually invaded by America a few times in the 1800s.
Thus, it is safe to say that no living Canadian would be alive today to speak of that experience.
Singapore on the other hand, was invaded by Japan in February 1942, and as a child, I have heard accounts of the occupation from my relatives and seen photos of the invading tanks and troops against the backdrop of buildings that are still around today.
So for me, the idea of an invasion is real.
Christians, we are called to be on a war footing; where our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of darkness. (Ref: Ephesians 6:12)
Especially in the past decade, we have experienced the shortfall and failings of the democratic process. There is simply no guarantee that any certain kind of leader will be elected to keep the North American nations safe; much less a noble, and godly leader.
Increasingly, it seems to me that the paradigms of present day government is designed to keep Christians out of any political office.
So, our hope for a Joseph, Daniel or an Esther elected or selected to high office must come only from God – who is our ultimate help in times of need.
The American dream is really just a thin veil that conceals a universal nightmare that would definitely manifest chaos, violence and war - because the human heart at its core is broken and wicked, selfish, prideful and greedy.
Atomic bombs have been deployed before; and nothing’s to say, that nuclear weapons will not be used again.
The point is this.
Canada is a relatively small country (Population: ~ 38 million) living beside a super-power (U.S. Population ~ 332 million); amiable existence made possible only because rules are observed.
This peace is fragile; therefore, our national existence is in reality, fragile.
We live in very uncertain and volatile times; which is why our eyes must solely be on Jesus; for our peace, our rest comes only from Jesus.
Many of you would think that that would never happen. Canada is safe.
We are an ocean away from Russian and we are more than friendly with our brethren to the south.
But the very definition of uncertainty and volatility means that anything can happen.
It is important to note that any projectile aimed directly between Russia and the United States would fly over Canadian skies.
And when we look at how Canada stacks against our only, historic invader, the odds, and our vulnerability - are clear.
At about 1.4 million active troops, America’s military force is much larger than Canada’s at a mere 67,500 active troops.
American tanks number at 6,670, compared to Canada’s 146; American artillery at 4,243, compared to Canada’s 161; American aircrafts at 12,930 compared to Canada’s much publicised aging fleet of 405; and American military naval vessels at 460 (including 20 aircraft carriers), compared to Canada’s ‘sea to sea’ fleet of 62.
Given that no country would publicize accurate statistics regarding their military capabilities; and given the clear difference between the purposes of American and Canadian military forces, which is mainly for defence; it is clear how disproportional the two countries are in terms of mere might.
The prayer earlier mentioned for Ukraine and Russia that, “all evangelical Christians must pray every day and ask the Almighty to give wisdom to all, to preserve the fragile peace and not to plunge our countries into fratricidal conflict” can very well, and perhaps, must be the mutual prayer between Canada and America.
However, in fullest view of how rapidly the geopolitical climate is changing - which is, the real climate change we ought to be aware of - we must learn to accept the broken, painful, chaotic reality of the world that we live in; that all invasions are senseless, and unjustified and will result in death, destruction, chaos and misery.
As was also earlier mentioned, “It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. Of course, these claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.”
This could very well translate to our context in North America – that “an attack is necessary to protect ethnic “North Americans” within Canada and - perhaps due to the changing ethnic landscape of Canada... - stop Canada from threatening the United States.”
This may seem far-fetched to most; but as long as it is a deep belief held by someone in strategic power, it remains a possibility.
Democracy, its ideals and process is by no means infallible; and one U.S. presidential election could unravel the very foundations of Canada’s existence.
The world is in certain uncertainty and total turmoil; we are all vulnerable to the onslaught of the evil forces that propagate chaos, destruction, and senseless violence – just as we have always been.
How much more must happen before the church in North America be awaken from our stupor?
Let us begin with ourselves here in this church family and be awaken by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:4-8:
“4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
We must beware of the devil's deceptions – patently evil, through the spread of misinformation and disinformation; and live solely in the Power and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and in the Word of God.
As God’s Children, we must live in His Peace, and Rest – absolutely confident of His Love and faithfulness – as People of His Kingdom today; because for us, there is more than merely wars, rumors, famines and earthquakes.
Our Lord Jesus warns and exhorts us in Matthew 24:9-14:
“9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
There’s lots of work yet to be done.
The blessed reality of persecution and death because of Christ faced by our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia must become our reality; that even in our perceived vulnerability and weakness, we must stand firm to the end in the Truth that our God – alone - is mighty to save!
Even in the gloom and doom of our present reality, may every believer enter God’s Rest; and may His Church boldly and faithfully preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the whole world – in blessed anticipation of Christ’s return; and in divine expectation that He will open the eyes of every child of God – that in His Rest – we would recognize one another through the divine allowance of His love and power to transcend our actions and over our present circumstances.
For indeed,
“He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:9-10)
Christians, together, let us be still; and enter God’s Eternal Rest today.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, create in me a clean heart; and renew a right spirit within me; that I may be found deep in Your Rest today, and be truly destined for Your Kingdom.
May I be found utterly obedient to Your command to remain in Your Rest; and may my life be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ to trust you more and more each day.
Help me hold firmly to the very end of Your holy conviction of God’s Salvation through Christ in my life.
Forgive my sin of disobedience in my doubts; when my heart was hardened toward You.
I receive the Promise of entering Your Rest; and resolve to make every effort to enter Your Rest – through daily living in a posture of utter repentance, eternal living, stewardship and trust.
Grant Your Church Power to live fully as Your Children; and as Your Kingdom People today.
We pray for our fellow believers in Ukraine and Russia; that through their lives as Your Children – living in the abundance of Your Rest – the people of Ukraine and Russia would witness and experience the calm of Christ through His Church amidst the storms of war.
Lord Jesus, may they come to You; and experience Your Rest!
Help us – as Your universal Church – to trust ever more deeply in You; that Your Love would be the bond between every believer.
Help us enter Your Rest in this enterprise of prayer over our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – in Ukraine and Russia, and all around the world – that You would strengthen our collective faith, and that we would all be found faithfully on Your Side and by Your Side.
That in spite of the overwhelming onslaught of darkness, death and chaos, we would stand resolutely at the gates of hell and frustrate the schemes of the evil one in inciting senseless destruction and the murder of the innocent.
Let us hear of Your angelic hosts filling the skies above Ukraine in miraculous testimony that You have enforced a no-fly zone over the nation; protecting Your Children from the devil’s work of stealing, killing and destroying.
Let us hear of bullets veering away from Your Children and rockets completely missing its targets.
And let us hear of Your Holy Spirit opening the eyes of faithful believers in recognition of Your Seal upon their lives; that they would not be deceived into taking the life of a brother or sister in Christ.
Fill the land with Your Peace, O God; make the invaders completely lose their appetite for war; and revive every Ukrainian and Russian heart for a fresh passion and deep desire for Peace – Your Peace.
Even in the midst of such tremendous hardship, we pray that Your Gospel will continue to be preached; that Your Spirit would empower every believer to be Christ’s supernatural witness; and that You would grant them wisdom to discern and declare only Your Truth.
May my brothers and sisters in Christ in both Ukraine and Russia, enter Your Rest; and establish themselves firmly in Your Love, Word and Power.
Even in the North American context, I recognize that we are vulnerable amidst volatile and uncertain circumstances, incited by dark forces whose sole mission is to propagate chaos, destruction, and senseless violence.
Prepare Your Church for beyond wars, and rumors of wars; famines and earthquakes; empower us to preach Your Gospel in spite of our imminent persecution and death – in the firm, unshakable conviction that we belong to You and Your Eternal Kingdom.
Lord, let it begin with me.
I am still right now, Lord; and I know that You are God.
Thank You for allowing me to enter Your Eternal Rest, today.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.