Hebrews 4:11-16 The Living Word

Intro: Surgical Precision

The world’s sharpest blades are made out of Obsidian

Obsidian is made of volcanic glass

The main factor that impacts the sharpness of a blade is its thickness.

The thinner the blade, the less force is needed for it to cut food – or anything for that matter – effectively.

A good analogy to use is to imagine diving into a pool of water.

If you ‘belly flop’ into the water, you’re going to have a much harder time actually penetrating its surface

The thinnest blades are three nanometres wide at the edge –

They are 10 times sharper than a razor blade.

These are made by flaking a long, thin sliver from a core of obsidian

Obsidian knives have been tested for use as surgical scalpels but aren’t currently licensed for use on humans, since they could leave glass fragments in the wound.

The interesting fact about Obsidian blades is that aren’t used for today because they are so brittle

Today we are going to look at a different kind of blade

This one is able to cut to the heart

We are going to look at the Living Word

It is a spiritual blade that gets to the heart of the matter

God’s Word diagnoses the condition of man with a surgeon’s precision.

It lays open the heart and accurately discerns spiritual health.

Read Hebrews 4:11-13

Transition:

Hebrews 4:12, 13 is the classic text on the power of God’s Word.

Interestingly, though the text has broad positive application, the text in its context is negative, a warning to those who disregard God’s Word.

An extended warning began twenty-five verses earlier in 3:7, where Psalm 95:7–11 is first quoted as the hearers are repeatedly exhorted with phrases from the Psalm not to repeat the mistake Israel made at Kadesh-Barnea—disobeying God’s word and missing God’s rest

In fact, the warning against disobedience builds throughout this section and is summarized in verse 11, which introduces our text: “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience [i.e., to God’s word].

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…

A double edged sword cuts both ways

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

A Piercing Word vs. 11-13

A living word is a piercing word

In the case of those the writer to the Hebrews first addressed, they were too ready to follow in the failure of the children of Israel and to give up strong, living faith.

vs. 11 Be Diligent

Be diligent to enter that rest:

The rest is there, but God does not force it upon us.

We must enter that rest.

Clearly, the rest is entered by faith; but it takes diligent faith.

This shows us that faith is not passive; it takes diligence to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus and His work for us.

The readers who are hesitating in trusting Christ, who are even considering falling back into Judaism, had better be urgent and diligent in seeking to enter God’s rest, because the Word of God is alive.

It is not static, but active—constantly active.

It can pierce right down into the innermost part of the heart to see if belief is real or not.

Lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience:

If we are not diligent to enter that rest, the result can be a disaster.

We may fall according to the same example of disobedience.

We may fall, even as the children of Israel did in the wilderness.

vs. 12a Living & Powerful Word

God’s Word diagnoses the condition of man with a surgeon’s precision.

It lays open the heart and accurately discerns spiritual health.

My Wife has a super-power

When we were first married and before kids Jen would say lets go lay in bed and talk

Being the eager husband I said ok, then I realized she really wanted to talk

Isaiah 49:2 ESV

He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.

The Bible isn’t a collection of merely old stories and myths. It has inherent life and power.

The preacher doesn’t make the Bible come alive. The Bible is alive, and gives life to the preacher and anyone else who will receive it with faith.

Psalm 119:9 ESV

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Hebrews —An Anchor for the Soul (2 vols.) The Living Word

When Luther stood contra mundum, he said, “I am bound in conscience and hold fast to the Word of God.” And so the power of the Word began the Reformation. As Luther later said:

I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word: otherwise I did nothing. And when, while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip and my Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a Prince or Emperor inflicted such damage upon it, I did nothing. The Word did it all.

God’s Word is effectual—“living and active” It does what it promises to do. It regards neither age nor education.

That is why I take seriously every child who sits under God’s Word.

If you will listen to God’s Word, it will change your life.

This truth is both a promise and a warning to all of us—so “no one will fall by following their [Israel’s] example of disobedience”

vs. 12b Pierces thoughts and intentions

The bone marrow is the spongy tissue on the inside of your bones.

It produces blood cells and later becomes responsible for storing fat and certain stem cells.

vs. 13 There is no Hiding

The writer finishes his warning by telling us there is no hiding

Psalm 90:8 ESV

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

A Compassionate Priest vs. 14-16

The idea that Jesus is our High Priest was mentioned before

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

But now the idea will be developed more extensively.

vs. 14 Passed thru Heavens

The writer to the Hebrews calls attention to the specific, unique character of Jesus as our High Priest.

No other High Priest was called great.

No other High Priest… passed through the heavens.

No other High Priest is the Son of God.

Let us hold fast our confession:

It is wonderful to know we have a High Priest, and how unique and glorious He is.

It is even greater to know He passed through the heavens, that He ascended into heaven, and now ministers there for our sake.

Both these truths should encourage us to hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

vs. 15 Sympathize with Our Weakness

Hebrews 7:26 ESV

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

vs. 16 Come Boldly to the Throne

Hebrews 10:19 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

Confidence = freedom in speaking all that one thinks

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.