Text:
Hebrews 4:11-16:
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Theme:
The Revealing Word
Introduction:
- The Epistle to the Hebrews is a book whose authorship has been disputed over the years it was first believed the Paul was the writer of the epistle. Although the epistle is largely written in the style and diction typical of Paul, Luke, Barnabas, and Apollos have also been put forth as possible authors also.
- The epistle was written for the Judaic religious community of new converts around Jerusalem and Palestine.
- The epistle takes a doctrinal and practical (all for clarity) approach to teach the new convert that our life in Christ is a blessed one that we did not deserve.
- Hebrews lays the foundation!
- The epistle was written for the Judaic religious community of new converts around Jerusalem and Palestine.
- In this 4th chapter of this doctrinal chapter, the author ventures to expound upon the “rest” that is of God and how it is our ultimate goal throughout all of our trials and tribulations.
- Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
- Those who do not believe on Him and accept God into their lives are not given this “rest”
- Our text comes in to explain to us that we cannot hide our unbelief. We can’t “play it off”, and be saved anyway based on our “acting” saved!
- God requires that we come to Him REAL!!
- Psalms 51:17 explains the surety of God when we are REAL to Him, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
- As the hymn says, “Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me”
- As our text explains, the truth will come out! Revelation will be provided!
- Verse 13 states, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
- Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
- Other verses in the Bible give more understanding and confirmation.
- Our wrongdoings will be revealed!
- Job 20:27, “The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.”
- Our good works will be revealed!
- John 3:21, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
- God’s blessings will be revealed!
- Jeremiah 33:6, “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.”
- The truth of the world around us will be revealed!
- Philippians 3:15, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
- Our wrongdoings will be revealed!
- Verse 13 states, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Body:
- The Word of God is what brings revelation!!!!!!
- The Word of God is GOOD and PURE!
- The goodness and purity of God’s Word gives it the authenticity and authority to provide divine revelation!
- Hebrews 6:5, “And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,”
- Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
- The Word of God is SEED!
- In the only other comparison of the Word of God in the Bible, the Word of God is the “seed” that is planted in the good soil of our lives to develop, build, and enhance God’s Church, the Kingdom of God, through divine revelation!
- Luke 8:11, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
- The Word of God is BREAD!
- The provisioning power of the Word of God sustains the child of God so that the revelations of God can infuse the life and augment the glory of God in the testimony.
- Luke 4:4, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
- The Word of God is GOOD and PURE!
Our text in Hebrews focuses on one attribute of the Word of God à its ability to reveal our true SELVES.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Word of God provides the revelation of our lives to the one who wants to know it the least à US
- Are you in need of revelation or already enlightened?
- We would rather not know than know because of our SIN!
- John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
- Because we don’t want to stop committing SIN!
- John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
- We are either all LIGHT or all DARKNESS! There’s no “kinda” or “pretty much” in God
- Luke 11:34, “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.”
- Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
- We would rather not know than know because of our SIN!
- The first revelation should be our selves!
- 2 Timothy 2:6, “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” è “Just as I am without one plea….”
- The Word of God does the work of this revelation!
- The 12th verse of our text gives the attributes of the Word of God that empower it to wrought this revelation.
- The Word of God is “quick”
- When chopping wood the axe must be moved quickly to the wood.
- Momentum applied to the axe converts to power when it hits the wood.
- When chopping wood the axe must be moved quickly to the wood.
- The Word of God is “powerful”
- When chopping wood the axe must be applied to the wood with power.
- Powerful impact gives the pressure needed to move the axe through the wood.
- When chopping wood the axe must be applied to the wood with power.
- The Word of God is “sharp”
- When chopping wood the axe must be sharp so as to pierce even the tightest grain of wood.
- The sharper the axe swung with the most power and momentum provides the deepest cut.
- When chopping wood the axe must be sharp so as to pierce even the tightest grain of wood.
- Our Trials and Tribulations:
- We have nothing that is quick enough, powerful enough, and sharp enough to get us THROUGH our challenges or obstacles. We often get TO them and stop in frustration and depression.
- Moses witnessed this when they stood on the banks of the Red Sea with Pharoah on their tracks:
- Exodus 14:15-16, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
- Moses witnessed this when they stood on the banks of the Red Sea with Pharoah on their tracks:
- We have nothing that is quick enough, powerful enough, and sharp enough to get us THROUGH our challenges or obstacles. We often get TO them and stop in frustration and depression.
- Our Inner Selves:
- Therefore, in our lives, the Word of God is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”
- The Word of God gets to realness of our being –> exposes the TRUTH
- Daniel 2:22, “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
- John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
- Therefore, in our lives, the Word of God is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”
Conclusion:
- Through the Revealing Word of God, our lives are laid completely bare before God.
- We have sin — Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
- We must receive God’s revealing Word — Psalms 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”
- The Word of God exposes our shortcomings and needs to God — Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
- FACT: We can’t fix ourselves!
- Proverbs 4:19, “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
- The Word of God illuminates our lives before God so that He can RESTORE US!!!
- Psalms 112:4, “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”
- David cried out like we should!!
- Psalms 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
- The Revealing Word of God facilitates my RESTORATION!!!
- Restores my peace
- Restores my joy
- Restores my love
- Restores my power
- Restores my favor
- Restores my perfectedness
- Restores my relationship!!!!!
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