Hebrews 3 and 4 deal with entering God’s rest.  We can only enter his rest “today.”  It makes no difference what you intend to do tomorrow.  If you cannot walk in faith according to God’s Word today, then you have not entered his rest.

What do you continually set your mind upon?  The things of the flesh or of the Spirit?  He who sets his mind upon the flesh lives according to the flesh.  He who lives according to the flesh cannot please God.   He who sets his mind upon the Spirit lives according to the Spirit.  He can walk in Gods ways, thus obeying God and pleasing him.  This teaching culminates the first half of Paul’s book to the Romans in Romans 8.  The Book of Hebrews picks up where Paul stops in Romans 8.  It adds a new dimension to living according to the Spirit.

To live according to the Spirit means that we have entered God’s rest.  And how have we done that?

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  For we who have believed do enter that rest…. (Hebrews 4:1-3)

First notice that “the gospel” was preached to Israel under Moses.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The Rock and the Water accompanied Moses and Israel in their wilderness journey, just as He does in ours.  But, do we believe it?  Faith, faith, faith….  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Do you lack faith?  Then you lack the oil of the Holy Spirit.  Go and buy some, now!

Where can I buy?

From him who sells.

How can I find him?

Ask for him.

How much will it cost me?

Everything!  He who gains his soul in this life loses his soul in the age to come, but he loses his soul in this present darkness will gain his soul in the next age.

But, like the rich man, I can’t do that!

What is impossible with man is possible for God.  Trust him.

I can’t trust him!

Tell him so.

That didn’t help.

It will.  But, you must continue to do your part.

Do what?

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts! Hebrews 4:7

God will speak to you, just as any good father does to his children.  When you hear him, no matter how slightly, respond to him.  Do not harden your heart.  Let the Word of God, Jesus Himself, be revealed to you.

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Begin to know the Word.  Jesus reveals himself through his word which he wrote through his servants the prophets.  Let him wash you with his word, just as he washed his disciples feet so long ago.  Rest beside the still waters of this word.  Trust that this word will teach you even to the discernment of understanding the difference between your spirit and your soul.  This, ultimately, will free you from the flesh (joints) and bring you into the realm of the Spirit (marrow=blood=Spirit).

The Sword of the Spirit IS the Word of God.  He who lives (Spirit) by the sword, will die (flesh) by the sword.  This is the key to the salvation of our souls.  Notice that we have now progressed quite a way from our initial belief that Jesus died for our sins as the Son of God (the idea of our spiritual salvation).  But, we never leave this initial faith.  We find that it always grows larger and more important.