What is rest and why is it equal to belief?
Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17)For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “the just shall live by faith.”
Hebrews 4:3 “For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘they shall not enter my rest” Hebrews 3:9 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
How often do we attempt to do something in our own power to have it disappoint? Rest equals faith when we are surrendered to God by putting our faith in him the rest becomes twofold.
First, when you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God through his death and resurrection you have eternal life in him for the now and later. This assurance produces rest.
The Israelites did not have confidence in the living God, they went back to what was familiar to them. Therefore, they disobeyed God in the wilderness and could not enter His rest. There is a place in God where you can release all aspects of your life. This does not mean you do not do anything because faith and actions go together. What it does mean is you are trusting in God and waiting on His guidance.
I trust God because of who He is and what He has done. As I trust God ‘the rest’ is a peace within me. I know what ever happens in life His promise to take care of me as well as lead me are truths I have witnessed in action.
One day in prayer I heard in my spirit ‘rest’ at first I thought it pertained to my physical body I had been pushing my ankle and experienced more swelling but a few days later I heard in my spirit ‘Rest equals faith.’ I have been pondering this for a few days.
When we naturally rest, we are at peace, we are relaxed (less tension and anxious), we are still (soothed) and we get rejuvenated (refreshed). As we can see rest is good for our natural bodies.
Just as rest in the natural environment is good for us ‘rest equals faith’ is even healthier for our spirit. Faith in God brings peace, tranquility and restoration.
Now if your belief in God does not give you rest then it is time to evaluate your faith. Ask yourself are you serving God out of obligations or because of love? Are you following religions rules or are you following the leading of the Holy Spirit? Are you doing works to earn from God or are you relying on His grace to do the work?
The Bible says, “Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God.” First, we must believe He is God the bible states. Second, that He is a rewarder of those who seek him. How do we build our faith?
This is how we go from faith to faith, through hearing the word of God. We also build our faith through reading the Word of God, I ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word to my understanding. We also build our faith by mediating on the Word of God. As our faith grows, we apply action to our faith.
The just shall live by faith the bible says, every believer is given a deposit of faith you increase by hearing the Word of God. And by doing the word of God. Enter His rest in the present and live by faith in God.