Hebrews 4:11-13 † God’s Living & Active Word OR; “The Path to Our Rest”

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 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.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE

The word of God is living and active. It is the path that connects God’s people to his path of salvation (the gospel). We should prioritize God’s word in our lives and submit to its activity in our lives.

INTRODUCTION

The problem of Finding a Path . GPS coordinates from the world.

God’s answer: his living and active word.

Three Reasons We Should Prioritize God’s Word in Our Lives:

Reason 1: The Living Word Connects Us to the Living God

Hebrews 3:12 ESV

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Reason 2: God’s Word is the Standard for Eternal Accountability

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

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.

Reason 3: God’s Word is the Path to Salvation and Life

Hebrews 2:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard…

We prioritize what we see as valuable; therefore, we must consider what path seems most valuable to us.

Luke 19:47–48 ESV

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Three Ways God’s Word is Active in Our Lives

Way 1: God’s word interrogates our hearts and exposes our weaknesses.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Way 2: God’s word comforts us with gospel truth.

Hebrews 2:9–12 ESV

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

Way 3: God’s word transforms us day by day.

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

In light of the beauty and power of God displayed to us in his word, will we submit to God’s path and “pay close attention” to God’s word?

Luther Verses

PASTORAL PRAYER

Father, you are good and it is by your grace that we have been given access to your word. We know that your word is good because it shows us who you are. We know that it is powerful because it changes us from the inside out. Lord, please work in us an even greater love for and desire for your word. Help us as we discover ways to prioritize your word and submit to its wonderful activity. Go with us now, by your grace, and in your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we ask all this. Amen.

NOTES

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