Teaching summary
In this teaching, Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola share a powerful message about entering into God’s rest and ceasing from self-effort. They explain how unbelief and distorted self-image kept Israel wandering, while faith allows believers to enjoy what Christ has already finished. The message emphasizes that rest is not passivity but trusting fully in God’s completed work. Listeners are encouraged to stop striving, stop earning, and begin living from a place of rest, confidence, and union with Christ.
Bible verses referenced
Hebrews 4:1- 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.
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.
Hebrews 4:3- 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.
Numbers 13:33- And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which came of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
Romans 10:17- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20- all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:21- Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Corinthians 1:22- Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Opening Reflections on God’s Love and the Gift of Rest
- Learning to Rest: From Striving to Trust
- Hebrews 4 and the Warning Against Missing Rest
- The Wilderness Journey and Dwarfed Self-Perception
- Faith Mixed With the Word
- Immediate Access Into God’s Rest
- Finished Work and God’s Completed Provision
- Living From the Tree of Life
- Closing Encouragement: Rest Produces Life
- Opening Reflections on God’s Love and the Gift of Rest
Opening Reflections on God’s Love and the Gift of Rest
Pastor Leonard opens by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share God’s Word and reminds listeners that God’s love is the very source of life. He thanks the congregation for their support, letters, and generosity, noting that December is a season of giving and a celebration of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ. This sets the tone for the teaching, grounding it in love rather than obligation. He transitions into the theme of the day, noting that what will be shared connects with recent teachings and centers on a subject Pastor Lori has been emphasizing personally and spiritually: rest.
Learning to Rest: From Striving to Trust
Pastor Lori explains that although she may appear calm on the outside, the mind can often be busy and restless. She uses the image of a duck gliding peacefully on the water while paddling furiously underneath. She shares that learning to let the “feet” rest instead of striving has made a tremendous difference in her life. Rest, she explains, is not pretending everything is fine, but learning to truly trust God internally. She expresses hope that the scriptures shared will help others experience the same freedom and peace she has found.
Hebrews 4 and the Warning Against Missing Rest
Pastor Lori introduces Hebrews chapter 4, explaining that she is reading from another translation for study, but the truth aligns clearly with Scripture. The warning of Hebrews 4 is not about losing salvation but about failing to enjoy what has already been provided. The heart of the message is captured in Hebrews 4:1, which warns believers not to come short of entering God’s rest.
Hebrews 4:1: 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.
She reflects on how foolish it would be to be redeemed yet refuse to rest in the full consequences of redemption. This leads to a comparison with the Old Testament Israelites, who failed to enter the promised land due to unbelief.
The Wilderness Journey and Dwarfed Self-Perception
The pastors discuss how Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, even though the journey should have taken only eleven days. This delay was not God’s fault but the result of unbelief and fear. The Israelites saw themselves as inadequate and unworthy.
Numbers 13:33- And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which came of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
This verse highlights how self-perception shaped their experience. Pastor Lori connects this to Hebrews 4:2, explaining that the promise did not profit them because the Word was not mixed with faith.
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 emphasize that believing wrongly about oneself leads to missing what God has freely given.
Faith Mixed With the Word
The teaching continues by emphasizing the importance of faith being mixed with what is heard. Faith does not come from striving but from hearing.
Romans 10:17- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Pastor Leonard references Philippians 4:13 as a declaration that believers should never have a diminished view of themselves.
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
Faith is not something believers must generate; it is already present. The key is cooperating with faith by believing and speaking in alignment with the truth of Christ.
Immediate Access Into God’s Rest
Hebrews 4:3 is highlighted to show that rest is not future but immediate for those who believe.
Hebrews 4:3- 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.
Pastor Lori emphasizes that God’s work has been complete from the beginning. The call throughout history has been the same: to enter into rest. Rest celebrates perfection, not effort.
Finished Work and God’s Completed Provision
The pastors explain that entering rest means believing Jesus when He said, “It is finished.” There is no remaining work required from believers. They reference Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians to show that everything needed has already been provided by God.
2 Corinthians 1:20- For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:21- Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Corinthians 1:22- Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
God establishes, anoints, empowers, supplies, and seals believers. The only growth needed is in understanding and resting in these truths.
Living From the Tree of Life
The teaching connects rest with refusing to eat from the “do-it-yourself” tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That system of self-effort is gone. Believers are invited to live in union with the tree of life, which is Christ Himself. Resting means living from union rather than performance.
Closing Encouragement: Rest Produces Life
In closing, Pastor Lori shares how deeply she has experienced God’s love through rest, realizing that God does not want her to do anything to earn His favor, only to rest in Him. Pastor Leonard adds a personal illustration, noting how rest has had visible, life-giving effects, even physically. They affirm that rest produces life, peace, and renewal, and that it only continues to get better. They close by expressing love for the congregation and looking forward to the next gathering.
Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching. We hope this message encouraged you to rest more deeply in God’s finished work. If this blessed you, please consider sharing it with others so they, too, can experience the freedom of resting in Christ.