Ultra High Definition
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good Morning Church! I hope you all are doing great today. Right before the holidays were coming to a close, you might remember there was a stimulus that was released to some folks. Shortly after the deposits were being made, I can remember seeing an array of televisions on sale that were priced just under the forecast amount people were to get. Well I recall seeing some HD televisions. In addition to that, there were some TV’s advertised as UHD (or ultra high definition). At the time, I didn’t know what the difference between HD and UHD were. After someone explained the difference, UHD is able to provide more detail, especially in the finer spectrum.
I thought — OK, still not sure if it warrants the cost of upgrade. To some yes. When the person explaining the difference, I couldn’t help but to think about the Word of God, in how it shares many of the same characteristic.
I began to think about how the Word of God has worked in my life. Perhaps you have a similar story. I can remember how, in the beginning, the Word of God was simply the Word of God. I mean I could easily read the words on the page. The more I began to read and study, the Word of God was meaning more in my life. Some of you are too young now, but, back in the day there use to be these TV’s that just showed the picture in gray scale (black and white). Sometimes the picture would come in clear. Other times not so much. Well to improve the picture quality, most would crunch up a wad of aluminum foil at put it on these two extending metal rods that came from the back of the TV.
As study and reading progressed, the Word of God became like a color TV. Then over the years the color TV enhanced, resolution became much better, color and vibrancy popped. Till God’s Word was like HD then UHD.
That’s on the unique features of the Word of God. It does not change, yet as we continue to change and transform, the Word of God is right there with us. Some things become crisper. We begin to see different aspects in new enhanced perspective.
Our passage comes to us this morning from the book of Hebrews. This morning we’re going to talk about the Word of God, it’s nature of begin alive and its power. We’re going to see how the Word of God can give us an Ultra High Definition resolution on our lives. I’d like to invite you open your Bibles with me to the book of Hebrews. Let’s open in Chapter 4, starting in verse number 12.
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
[Display Verse 12]
Let me talk to you for just a moment about tools. Can you think of at least three different types of tools in your home? These *quote* tools can be anything from your typical things we call tools to kitchen utensils. Since kitchen utensils were mentioned — lets go with that for now. Who like to eat cereal? Ok — we have a few takers out there. Yeah, Fruity Pebbles is one of my favorites. So the next time you’re enjoy a bowl of your favorite cereal, do you typically go for the spoon? Why do you go for the spoon? Do you go for the spoon because it’s what you’ve always done. Or do you go for the spoon because it’s the best for the job. Why wouldn’t you grab a fork the next time you’re chowing down on those Fruity Pebbles? Well for one, the fork is just weird. The fork doesn't cup the cereal. And thirdly, who doesn't appropriate a little milk with that bite of cereal? This all shows why the spoon is superior over the fork.
The Word of God is similar in that, why would we choose something else when concerning matters of the heart and life? The Word of God is much like a marriage — it’s meant for life. It’s a tool God has provided. It’s a tool that;s used to help guard our hearts.
Does it mean we’ll understand it all the time — NO.
Does it mean it will challenge and push us — YES.
Does it mean we’ll have study then study some more when we’re wrestling or going MMA style (that’s mixed martial arts) with the Word of God — Yes.
The point here is, at one time or another many of us have been within anyone of these questions. Perhaps you were at one question then moved to the next. Perhaps you were standing over the fence with a foot at each question. Think about at that time how God pushed you, challenged you to grow in a new way. Sometimes that growth was easy, other times that growth came with cost. But you grew. You’ve been growing at all the different stages of your life. Everything you know at this point did not come in one huge horse pill. It was given gradually, at the different stages life live. As you were growing and developing the Word of God remained “living and active.”
In fact, that’s what our massage says (“the Word of God is living and active”). Another way to say it is “alive and powerful,” “alive and full of power,” “living and effective.” These phrases highlight the vitality of Scripture. We have to remember we serve and love a living God, and that means the Scripture we have are not words in some-kind-of a dead book — they’re living! When God speaks, God acts. This is what is meant by the adjective effective. Take for example what we’ve can learn from Genesis. When God spoke, the known universe responded. Things happened.
That’s the thing about God’s Word. A time back we talked about some of the earlier verses in Isaiah Chapter 55. If we read a bit deeper into the Chapter, we see where the Word of God tells us:
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
I remember reading a story once of a person describing God’s Word in how it impacted their life. This person said, and I quote, “the penetrating power of God’s word has cut me an untold number of times. But each pain responded to, has brought a fresh satisfying healing.” Perhaps you share a similar thought?
[Display Verse 12]
Considering the rest of verse 14 in the context of the earlier verses of Chapter 4, the Bible tells us the Word of God "is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Have you ever been in trouble with mom, grandma or your favorite teacher? I can remember back to some of my favorite teachers. I can remember Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Ramsey. Now, these two teachers knew me better than I knew myself. I lost count of how many times I was told ‘no’. I mean they knew what I was going to do before I knew it. If I was caught red-handed, perhaps you’ve been there, sometimes the answer was ‘I don’t know’, or we try and back-peddle our way out. What about if you’ve done something bad and you hear the person of authority coming around the corner. What does everyone usually do when that happens — everyone hides. Then there’s the finder of come here. Oh yeah now we’re busted. When we’re summoned, have you ever noticed how well some of us can turn into good lawyers for our mistakes.
This reminds me of The Fall, when Adam and Eve ate “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Do you remember when God called to the man. Where was he? He was hiding. I love how when God asked Adam if he had eaten of the three he was commanded not to eat? Adam defended his position by saying, “the woman who you ave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Aside from throwing Eve under the bus, God exposed what happened.
God’s Word is similar today in that it continues to expose things in our life, both good and things the Spirit is leading us to work on. The Word of God is sharp, “cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.” This can mean the Word of God is able to judge our thoughts and our intentions. We can say the Word of God can go places deeper than blood can go. It reaches our soul.
If we return back to Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Ramsey, who knew me and could read my intentions. Scripture can do the same thing. When we approach Scripture with a humble nature, the table begins to turn. Soon, it’s not us we are reading, it’s Scripture that reads us. Have you been there? Where you were reading the Word of God, and the Words on the page just came alive. Things you might have learned about the author, the context of the book, life challenges of the community went out the window, where it was just you and the Word of God, and that verse, or passage was simple taken at face value, where at that moment you ‘heard’ the voice of God speaking to your heart, speaking to your circumstance. It’s at moments like that when we can realize the sharpness of God’s Word. There’s a second characteristic we can realize. We realize how far the Word of God can reach. If might feel like Scripture just went deeper than the oceans are deep.
That brings us right to how the writer of Hebrews expresses the conclusion (in verse 13):
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
This is a unique like we have here. Verse 13 makes a shift from the Word of God to God himself. We see the link between Scripture and God. There’s another link established here. With “no creature is hidden from his sight,” this gives us insight to how God is present everywhere at once.
Now here’s where Ultra High Definition comes in. “All are naked and exposed to the eyes of him who we must give account.” Scripture strips us bare before our eyes and the eyes of God.
Application
Application
To some being completely expose could be challenging. There could be thing in our past we don’t want getting out. With God, we don’t need to be concerned with that. God has given us the beautiful gift of Scripture. This gift allows us to know our Lord better, but it’s there to help us and guide us.
God’s Word also helps us to know the truth about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is one reason why we must be students of God’s Word. As we learn more about God and more about Jesus, Scripture begins to reveal things about us. I don’t know how you all feel, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s like going to your doctor. When you’er there, generally the conversation is detailed. We aim give this person truth and detail of what we’er facing. We’re seeking after help, and value this persons input. After all that’s why we’re there.
It ought to be no different approaching Jesus. Jesus is our Great Physician. We can come before him naked and exposed, afraid, wounded and hurt, upset and mad, sad. There could even be questions we have. It really doesn't matter what we have. We can bring anything to Him.
We can bear it all to the cross:
Perhaps there’s something you’ve kept hidden from God. Is today the day you finally talk to God about it?
Perhaps there’s something you’re dealing with that’s exposed the underbelly, leaving you exposed?
Could it be something that is frightening you?
Is it something that’s caused hurt?
Could this thing be keeping you up at night?
Why not bring that to the cross today? What do you need help with? This is your time.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer