Keith Battle - God's Benefit Package - Part 4

This is my series; it's called "The Benefits Package." We have a video for you, so hit them with that video. Hey, I wrote this—psych! Woo! Please share this series with others. We have an app for this series: download the Design Church M Mile app. It provides Bible study tools throughout the week and allows you to take notes. Just go to the mobile app to check it out and share it with someone. We share stuff on social media—funny things, bad haircuts, weight loss journeys—we share all kinds of stuff, including pictures of people's booties. Some of y'all act like I just lied or something! Share something about the Lord sometimes, amen! Give people something to help them with their spiritual life, amen!

Now, before we dive into this series and today's message, I want to share something with you. It dawned on me that this series is what the Greek language calls "kairos." Kairos is a time word in Greek that differs from "chronos," which refers to general, linear time. Kairos signifies a moment in time. This series is kairotic in that it is timely and relevant. This is not a prophetic series where I'm discussing something that's coming; your healing is not coming—it's here! The forgiveness of all your sins is not pending—it's here, it's now! The provision of all your needs is not something you have to wait for; it's available now! Somebody say now!

The difference between those who walk in this reality and experience it in their lives and those who don't boils down to your faith. What do you have the faith capacity to receive? Somebody say, "Lord, increase my faith!" I'll prove it to you. There's a passage in Hebrews chapter 4 where people heard the same message from God. One group received it, while another group didn’t, and it all came down to faith—either the lack of it or its presence. Go to Hebrews chapter 4, and I'll show you. It says we still have the promise that God gave those people. The writer of Hebrews refers to the people of Israel who were walking out of Egypt towards the promised land and through the wilderness. He says we have the same promise God gave them: that we can enter into His place of rest. Everybody say rest!

There's a rest that comes from God that is attached to every benefit I'm preaching about. There's a rest that comes from not having to feel guilt and shame because you've already been forgiven—that's rest! There's a rest that comes from being healed of all your diseases, so you don't have to live your life accepting chronic illness and sickness all the time. There's a rest that comes from not being anxious and worried about money because you know all your needs have been met—because the supplier is greater than the need. He says we have the same promise they had to enter His rest, so we should be very careful that none of you fails to receive that promise.

Verse 2: Yes, the good news about it was told to us just as it was to them. But watch this: the message they heard did not help them. Why? They heard it but did not accept it with faith. Let's stop right there. It is possible to hear a message and have it not help you, right? The person right next to you might be soaking it up and using it in their life. The difference between those who benefit and those who don’t when it comes to these promises depends on your faith. Somebody say, "Lord, boost my faith!" Repeat this with me: "Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief. Please raise me up where my faith is lacking."

The difference between receiving the benefit and acting on it is your faith. Look at the rest of the passage. Verse 3 says only we who believe can enter God's place of rest. What I'm concerned about—and hopeful for, I should say—is that our faith rises to the level of these benefits so that we don't just hear about them and go back to the same old things, but that our whole level of life elevates with these principles. Now, I want you to stand because I'm going to talk about peace today. If you're able to stand, please do so as I read the focal verse from Isaiah chapter 26. I will discuss peace today, and I may circle back to talk about provisions as well as broaden that conversation. But I'm also going to emphasize peace today. The reason I had you stand is not just that it’s our custom to stand for the reading of the Word of God—even though it is—but it is also biblical. In the book of Nehemiah, when the people heard the Word of God read, they always stood in honor of it. So, it’s biblical.