Spiritual Surgery by a Sympathetic Surgeon
Notes
Transcript
Over the last few weeks, we have discussed some warnings the author of Hebrews has issued to us. First, we discussed the Jewish Christians temptation to drift from the their devotion to the Messiah. Next, we addressed the dangers of developing hard hearts. In fact, we identified 2 symptoms which were?
Pride and Panic
These prevent believers from entering God’s rest that he offers to his children. Hardness of heart is an acute condition that robs believers of faith, love and hope-the essentials of a healthy Christian life.
There is no medication that can be taken to mend a hard heart. No physical therapy can reverse a person’s pride. From a strictly human perspective, there is no treatment for the tendency toward hard-heartedness which is inherited from our fallen ancestors.
We shouldn’t lose hope!! We have a sympathetic, divine surgeon who uses a spiritual scalpel. The surgeon, Jesus Christ, uses the scalpel, the Word of God, to perform a heart transplant, removing the heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh.
I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh,
What is the cost of this procedure? An earnest desire to sing with King David, a man after God’s own heart, and say these words:
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
In these next verses, we’ll see that the truth of God’s word, in the hands of the Master Surgeon, has the ability to cut into our hearts and minds to heal the damage done from hard heartedness.
Although this spiritual journey can be painful as we face our sin and the giants in our way, this is vital to the process of finding rest.
We can place ourselves on the operating table with full confidence, knowing that the hands of the surgeon are guided by love.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
There is some confusion as to why we would be discussing entering God’s rest and entering it through faith and obedience then stop to discuss God’s Word. How do these work together?
However, when we look at the context of hard-heartedness, we understand that unbelief, rebellion, pride and fear flow from our natural, sinful condition. These are major handicaps that tend to slow us down during our journey to the rest we have been discussing. Verses 12 and 13 gives us a chance to address the issues that are setting us back and preventing us from making progress.
The writer turns our attention to God’s Word, examines its identity, characteristics, abilities and its implication for us.
The identity is the Word of God
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
When you read scripture what are the 3 references to the word of God?
First, it refers to scripture itself
We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,
Second, it refers to the incarnate word of God, Jesus Christ.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Third, it refers to the message of God or the spoken word of God.
Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.
In this 3 fold sense, the word of God includes anything that communicates God’s revealed truth. Regardless of how God communicates his word, it nourishes, heals and refreshes those who hear it in faith.
With this in mind, when the author refers to the “word of God”, we should think anyway he chooses to deliver it. In the strictest sense, it comes from the prophets and apostles. Obviously this can be amplified by pastors, authors etc.
Let’s consider the characteristics of God’s revealed truth.
Let’s look at 4:12 again.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
There are 3 words that describe what God’s word is like:
living, active and sharp.
It’s alive!
God’s word is alive; the Bible is not a dead book. We don’t believe in a dead mantra and Jesus is no mere figure of history personified by myths and legends. He is alive!! The gospel saves and the Bible is relevant to everyday life.
It’s active!
God’s word is active. In the Greek, this word is “energes” which is where we get the word? Energy. God’s word is effective and powerful. It accomplishes what it sets put to do. Isaiah speaks about the power of God’s word:
Isaiah 55:10–11 (CSB)
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
His word does what nothing else can do. No poem, however beautiful; no song, however moving; and no book, however inspiring can accomplish what God’s word can. His word is a creative word, as seen in Genesis, it’s a sustaining word
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
and it’s a regenerating word.
For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
It’s sharp!
Finally, it’s sharp. The metaphor is a double edged sword helps to show it’s abilities. The greek word machaira is a short sword or dagger. If you can imagine the sharpest blade, God’s would be sharper. In today’s terms, maybe he would have said a scalpel or other surgery tool to cut.
In other words, his word isn’t blunt like a hammer or club used to beat someone down. It is a razor-thin edge that can cut through whatever it penetrates.
What does the living, powerful, sharp word of God do? Let’s look at the two abilities:
piercing and judging.”to pierce” (diikneomi) means “to move through a three-dimensional space.”
His word penetrates deeply into the innermost life. In fact, it cuts so deeply that it separates soul and spirit and joints and marrow. The fact that this points to the immaterial and material means that God’s word affects the whole person.
It also has the uncanny ability to judge. This word is kritikos which is where we get what word? Critical, criticize and critique. It is able to sift through the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It’s like a high-res body scanner that shows us all the details. It exposes all our deepest feelings, desires, instincts, passions and motives.
This razor-sharp instrument in the hands of the master surgeon can accomplish much, which is the thought of the author in 4:13
No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
How many people or stories of people who suspected there was something wrong with them but put off going to the doctor? They don’t do this because they are fearful of the report. They don’t want a painful procedure or they think they can treat the symptoms on their own. Whatever the reason is, these people resist putting themselves under the care of the very person who can care for them the best.
This is the same in the spiritual realm. If you want a spiritual health, we shouldn’t fear the word of God and applying it to our lives.
Verse 4:13 sums up the teaching of Psalm 139. This chapter discusses God’s omnipresence and omniscience.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways.
Psalm 139:12 (CSB)
even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.
Nothing can be hidden from such an almighty God, not even our thoughts.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
Who is the great physician who holds the powerful word of God and who qualifies to bring healing to our souls? The answer is in these verses. He has been the theme of the entire letter to the Hebrews.
Jesus Christ, the word incarnate, is the one who bears the blade of the inspired word of God. Not as a sword to punish, but a scalpel to heal.
The two natures of Christ- His full deity and full humanity-are clearly revealed for us in these verses.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.
We are reminded that he is the son of God who has passed through the heavens. This emphasizes his divine nature. The other two verses show his humanity.
As we discussed before, Jesus was tempted in every way. The same circumstances, situations and allurements that we have today are the same ones that he faced. He didn’t live with ear plugs and a blind fold. But unlike us, he didn’t sin-neither in thought or deed.
Because of his genuine experience, he can sympathize with our weaknesses.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
He was tested like we are. He has been weak like we are weak. He has suffered like we do. But, he has come out on the other side victoriously. Because of this, he offers grace-if we draw near to him.
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
He is the God-man who is willing and able to give us mercy in time of need.
end (length)
Submitting to the Surgeon
Some people have imagined that when Jesus died, rose again and ascended to the right hand of God on his throne, he put his feet up and retired.
This is not true, he intercedes for us,
Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.
He is our high priest and stands ready to hear our pleas and petitions. He can also empathize with out pains and problems. How does he provide us with the healing we need?
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
First, we need to submit to His healing touch.
This means we don’t fight against the physician. We stop self-diagnosing our woes and treating our worries. We surrender our sins to him. We do this through prayer. We ask him to do his work and trust him as we would a dentist or surgeon. He may cut where it hurts, especially as he treats the hard heart, but remember, he’s not harming you; he’s healing you.
Second, we draw near to him.
Christ has invited us near to him so he can give us rest from our weariness and heavy burdens. So do it! Sho up to the physician’s appointments and allow him to pierce you with his powerful word. Practically speaking, this means reading your Bible for daily nourishment-not to check a box or achieve a goal, but to let God use the truth of his word to discern our thoughts and intentions.
Another way is by drawing near the church. The body of Christ is where he dwells through the spirit.
By obediently submitting and actively drawing near, we allow the heavenly Surgeon to do the work only he can do by his word.