The Faith-rest Technique

Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest… (Heb 4:1-3)

The Exodus generation was not able to enter the promised land because of unbelief (Heb 3:19). Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey where the children of Israel were to face and conquer many enemies. God had proven Himself to the people in the Passover and in the Exodus; they had been required to do nothing but stand still and see His salvation.

He intended for them to take these lessons to heart and to conquer Canaan by resting on His power, but—except for Joshua and Caleb—they all failed because they did not believe His word to them. They did not rest in the promise by faith; they did not have “faith-rest.”

Heb 4:3-8 tells us that this life of rest is still available. The promised land in Scripture is not a picture of heaven, but of spiritual maturity. The rest that God wants His people to enter is a rest of maximum production and blessing. We cannot enter that rest until we learn to have faith in the promises of God. But because faith is a learned response, we need a technique for learning it. The faith-rest technique is simply the process of claiming biblical promises. As we do this day after day after day, we are pumping spiritual iron and our faith is growing stronger.

So, for example, tomorrow morning we might start the day by saying something like this: “God has promised to supply my needs (Phi 4:19) and I know He is able to do so (2Co 9:8). After all, if He gave His own Son for me, He will not withhold from me other things (Rom 8:32). Therefore, I should not be anxious, but instead, I should allow His peace to guard my thinking (Phi 4:6-7) and cast my cares on Him (1Pe 5:7), as I wait on the Lord (Isa 40:31), for He is faithful (1Co 1:9), and I know that if I seek first His kingdom and righteousness, all other things will be provided (Mat 6:33).”

  • Promises for fellowship and spirituality: Joh 15:7-8; Eph 2:10; Phi 1:6; Col 2:10; 2Ti 2:15; 2Ti 2:21-22; 2Ti 3:16; Heb 10:23-25.
  • Promises for trial: Exo 14:13-14; 1Sa 17:47; Psa 4:8; Psa 56:3; Isa 41:10; Rom 8:28, 31; 1Co 10:13; Jam 1:2-3; Jam 1:12; 1Pe 1:7; 1Pe 5:7.
  • Promises for needs: Mat 6:33; Rom 8:32; 1Co 1:9; 2Co 9:8; Phi 4:6-7; Phi 4:19; 1Ti 6:6-8.
  • Promises when discouraged: Isa 40:31; Phi 1:6; Phi 3:13-14; Phi 4:6-7, 13; 2Ti 1:7; Heb 4:15-16; Heb 13:5.
  • Prayer promises: Mat 21:22; Joh 15:7; 1Th 5:18; Jam 1:5-6; 1Jo 3:22; 1Jo 5:14-15.
  • Promises regarding unbelievers: Rom 1:16-17; 1Ti 2:3-4; 1Pe 3:1-2; 2Pe 3:9; 1Jo 2:2.
  • Promises for the future: Joh 10:28-29; Joh 14:1-3; Eph 3:20-21; Phi 3:20-21; 1Th 5:9-10; 1Pe 1:3-5; 1Jo 3:1-2; Rev 20:6; Rev 21:3-4.


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