God's Powerful Word

Notes
Transcript
TEXT: Hebrews 4:12-13
Hebrews 4:12–13 (NLT)
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.
INTRODUCTION:
While reading her Bible on a public bus, a bashful Christian was confronted by a belligerent man. He boldly asked if she believed everything in the Bible. She affirmed she did. He then said, "If you believe everything, then explain to me how Jonah lived for three days in the belly of a whale!" The unassuming woman answered, "I don't know, but I believe he did." The man became more agitated. "Lady, you should be able to explain what you believe!" She quietly repeated her inability to know exactly how Jonah survived but noted she would ask him once she got to heaven. Sarcastically, the rude guy queried, "And what if Jonah didn't make it to heaven?" She replied, "Then you ask him."
God’s Word is true and it is special. Note three things that make it special.

I. ITS SPECIAL TRAITS MAKE IT SPECIAL (Hebrews 4:12a).

Hebrews 4:12a (NLT)
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.

A. It is personal.

1. ζάω = to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead), powerful, efficacious.
2. It is alive and gives life.
3. Hymn “Wonderful Words of Life”

B. It is powerful.

1. ἐναργής = effectual, powerful, active. (We get our word “energy” from this word.).
2. It is full of the “energy” and power of God (Romans 1:16).
Romans 1:16 (NLT)
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
3. Illustration: God’s Word spoken through Peter and the witnesses on Pentecost was powerful (Acts 2:37)
Acts 2:37 NLT
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

C. It is penetrating.

1. τομός = to cut, as if by a single stroke.
2. Illustration: People were “cut to the heart” by the words Jesus’ followers spoke (Acts 5:32).
3. God’s Word still “Cuts to the heart” those who are lost.
a. This work is done by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-9).

II. ITS SUPERNATURAL WORK MAKES IT SPECIAL (Hebrews 4:12).

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
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.

A. It pierces in to the depths of our being.

1. διϊκνέομαι = to go through, penetrate, pierce.
2.

B. It presides in judgment over those who are stubborn.

1. μερισμός = a separation. So far as to cleave asunder or separate.
2. It presides in judging the emotions and the mind.
a. The “soul” is the seat of the emotions. The real you, the eternal part of you.
b. ψυχή = that in which there is life. The soul. The seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life. The soul is an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death
1) The word of God reveals when our “feelings” are out of line with God’s will.
c. “Spirit” here refers to your mind or intellect.
1) πνεῦμα = the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides.
2) The word of God reveals when our thoughts are out of line with God’s will.
3. It presides in judging the physical life.
a. The “Bone and marrow” represent the physical life, the way we live.
1) The Word of God convicts us of wrong living. It convicts us of our sins.

C. It purposefully discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart, soul, and mind.

1. The Word of God is the one agent qualified to open up our innermost self and expose it.
a. κριτικός = discerner (relating to judging, fit for judging, skilled in judging.)
2. The Word of God discerns (opens up, exposes) our thoughts.
a. ἐνθύμησις = thought, thinking, consideration, thoughts.
3. The Word of God discerns (opens up, exposes) our real intentions and our stubborn will.
a. ἔννοια = intent, the act of thinking, consideration, meditation. a thought, notion, conception. mind, understanding, will, manner of feeling, and thinking.

III. ITS SIMPLE JUDGMENT MAKES IT SPECIAL (Hebrews 4:13).

Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)
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.

A. It judges universally.

1. There is no one who will escape being judged (Heb. 9:27; 2 Tim. 4:1).
Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
2 Timothy 4:1 (NLT)
1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:
a. The rich and the poor will be judged.
b. The prominent and the unknown will be judged.
c. The religious and irreligious will be judged.

B. It judges completely.

1. Through His Word we are made totally vulnerable and exposed to God. Nothing is hidden from Him (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Corinthians 4:5).
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT)
9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT)
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
a. “Γυμνός καί τραχηλίζω” = Naked and open. Word picture is of a soldier who was striped of his clothing and his neck stretched back and revealed, ready for the executioner’s ax or sword.
b. There will be no secrets in judgment.
c. There are no secrets that God’s word will not uncover.
d. God’s word is now and will be the final authority!
(Romans 2:16 ; Revelation 20:12).
Romans 2:16 (NLT)
16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
Revelation 20:12 (NLT)
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
2. We must receive God’s Word for what it is.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13)
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)
13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
a. This means more than mental assent. It means acting on it!
CONCLUSION:
The Wild West of yesteryear was full of illusions on distant horizons. One of George Custer's young officers was sure he saw a party of Indians a mile away. As the soldier charged, the Indians looked plainer each moment. But arriving at the point, there were no Indians at all--only some buffalo carcasses. Other travelers saw ships skimming across the desert sand in full sail, railroad tracks elevated on pilings, or water birds with brilliant plumage. All of these illusions occur when light rays pass through the atmosphere bent and distorted.
But no optical illusions in nature exceed the illusions that can be left by our own hearts. By diagnosis, the human spiritual heart is "beyond cure." Unaided by God, the response of each of us toward knowing his or her heart must be despair: "Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). No one can fathom the secrets or pierce the darkness of his or her own heart. This is especially true at the point of the question about whom we trust--here again, our hearts can fool us.
But there is hope. It rests in this: God knows your heart (v. 10). He sifts, searches, explores, and probes the human heart. He tests and examines human emotions. This is our hope. When we get to know God, we get to know our own heart. You do not know your heart by looking into it yourself. You know your heart by getting to know God through our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. When His Word uncovers a problem, sin, or need, we must respond in repentance, faith and obedience.
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