Study Through Hebrews

Hebrews 4:12-13

I want to welcome everyone here and those tuning in online.

I hope you’ve found the time to read ahead in our study of Hebrews.

We will pick up where we left off last week in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12.

Up to this point, the Author is addressing this small group of believers because some were on the verge of going back to their old ways due to persecution.

The Author makes the point that Jesus is Greater than All, then his warnings against Unbelief. How many of Israel didn’t enter the promised rest, due to Unbelief which led to Disobedience.

Last week we talked about how we can Believe in something or someone. But if our Actions do not match our words. then no one profits from that kind of Belief.

Real Belief requires Trust in Who you are Believing In. By believing and Trusting in Christ alone, we get to experience rest in Him.

This brings us to our text, Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12. If you’re able please stand with me while we read God’s Holy and Living Word. Read verses 12-13. Pray, Seat.

Look with me at verse 11, again. It says Let us then, make every effort to enter His rest, so that No One will Fall into the same pattern of Disobedience. This verse is telling us, In light of everything we’ve just heard and know, We Must Strive to Enter God’s Rest.

Let us Then or Therefore let us, make every effort to enter His Rest. A good translation of this is to “Give Diligence”. Diligence is the opposite of Drifting. How do we Give Diligence??? By paying Close Attention to God’s Word.

Look with me at Verse (12). For the “Word of God” is Living and Effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, Penetrating as far as the separation of Soul, Spirit, Joints and Marrow. It is able to Judge the Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart. (A lot of us have heard this verse before)

The Author is explaining to them how important and Vital God’s Word is in their Lives. The Word of God points to both the Son of God and the Written Word of God.

We live in a World that wants to separate Jesus from the Bible. Many who claim to be Christians, think they don’t need the Bible, because they have Jesus. This just isn’t the case. Christ cannot be separate from God’s Word. Because He is the Word of God.

Everything we know of Christ as the Son of God, and everything he has done for us to redeem us to the Father. Has been brought to us through His Word, through the Scriptures.

Verse 12, also says the Word of God is Living and Effective. Since God is the Author of Scripture, it is not a Dead Book. As God Lives, Scripture Lives. The Word is Living or is Alive.

The Word is also Effective or Active. God’s Word is Active, It’s Effectual Power goes to fulfill the Purpose for which it is Spoken. Isaiah 55:11 says “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.

The Word is Alive and Active, and sharper than any double-edged sword, Piercing to the division of Soul, Spirit, Joint and Marrow. (Sharper than any double-edged sword) The Greek word translated “Sword” means a “ Short Sword or Dagger.” Just so you know.

But the Emphasis here is on the Power of the Word, to Pierce or Penetrate and Expose the inner Heart of man. God’s Word has the Power to Pierce through anything on or within the body. The Soul, Spirit, Bone or Marrow. God’s Word can Penetrate anyone’s Heart if he wills it.

There’s this story about George Whitefield, who was among the Greatest Evangelist in the 18th Century. He was being hounded by this group that called themselves the Hellfire Club. They mocked Him and His Work. On one occasion one of them, a man named Thorpe, was mimicking Whitefield in front of the group. They say he was spot on, tone, facial expressions, When all of a sudden he himself was so Pierced, that he sat down and was converted on the Spot!!! Thorpe went on to become a prominent Christian leader in the city of Bristol.

Thorpe was a bad man doing a bad thing. But he was still closer to salvation than many others because he was Hearing and Interacting with God’s Word. That’s the Power of the Gospel.

My commentary says, the Soul safest from God’s penetrating Word is Never the Unhappy Hearer. But those who hear the Word over and over and choose not to Listen and truly hear.

God’s Word is Alive, it’s Active, It’s Penetrating, and His Word is Discerning. the end of verse 12, says it is able to Judge the Thoughts and the Intentions of the Heart. Our Hearts are hidden from each other, But God’s Word is able to sift through our thoughts and intentions.

When you and I approach God’s Word with a Humble Heart and not a prideful one, then it’s not we who read the Scripture, but the Scripture that reads us. Albert Mohler says that Scripture untangles the Heart and unearth’s Sin like no other Book. No other Book can Discern the Thoughts and Intentions of our Hearts. Only God’s Word can do that.

For the Believer the Word, along with the Holy Spirit can cut through the sin and darkness of our hearts and restore our Spiritual health. His Word breathes Life where once there was only Death in our Hearts.

Verse (13.) Shifts from the Word of God to God Himself. (13) says-”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.

Just as God’s Word Graciously reveals himself to Us. It also makes Us accountable before Him as Our Judge.

This verse has come to life to those who have been Born Again. We’ve realized that we are naked and exposed before the eyes of Him who we will give account. We lay bare before ourselves and the Lord.

The Word reveals our Sin and Our Unbelief within our Hearts. Through it we see ourselves as we really are, this enables us to be Honest before God, Fully Trusting in Him.

The rest we went over last week, The rest that Only Jesus can give us through us Trusting and Obeying in Him Alone.

Before Joshua conquered Jericho, he went out to survey, and the Lord met Him. Joshua discovered he was second in command! The Lord stood with a sword in His hand, Joshua removed his sandals and fell in Complete submission to the Lord. And he went on to follow God’s Directions. He Submitted, he Trusted and He Obeyed all to the Lord.

Church for us to not have this evil heart of Unbelief, you and I must surrender to Him, we must trust and Obey the Lord and his Word.

As our team comes, Where do you stand before God this morning? Do you know him, but you haven’t sought after Him? If this is you, he calls us to a relationship with Him, to study and Know His Word, Meditate on it, Pray on it. Will you seek the Lord this Morning and ask for His Help to do this better.

Maybe your here and God’s Word had Pierced your Heart and you know you need Him. Will you Come and Surrender to Him? As they sing, you come, you need prayer come, you need to pray for others, however the Lord is Leading you, Listen.