40 Days of Prayer-Day 32

40 Days of Prayer-Day 32

“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 labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Heb 4:9-11.  When we enter into God’s rest, we cease our own efforts. In the creation story, God worked 6 days then He rested on the 7^th day,  blessed, set apart and made holy the 7^th day Sabbath. Gen 2:1-3, Exod. 20:11 . Adam did just the opposite. On his first full day of life, he rested on the 7^th day Sabbath, (Exod 20:8-11) then he worked on the 1^st  day through the 6^th days of the week (Exod. 20:9) This is the same sequence concerning man’s redemption. In Christ, God completed the work of redemption through His sinless life, death and resurrection.  Man begins experiencing this redemptive work by resting first in what God has already done for him. Man rests in the facts that (1) Jesus died for our sins and has given us eternal life as a free gift, (2) that Christ’s righteousness covers us, (3) that at the cross the power of our sinful nature was broken and we are now free to serve God, and (4) that Christ will live His life of perfect righteousness in us if we choose to let Him. We are therefore to rest in Christ’s completed work. Once we rest in these truths, we are able to faithfully serve and obey God in our lives and ministry. PRAYER: Father baptize us with your Holy Spirit and bring truth and revival into our lives and churches. Lead me to enter into the true meaning of Sabbath rest and cause us to seek you and forsake our wicked ways and turn to you with our whole hearts. Have mercy on us and pardon us.