It Is Written

Opening

What a joy it is to be in the this place with you all... singing songs of worship together, praying together and diving into God’s Word together this morning… As we have seen in our country, and certainly around the world, recently this opportunity that we have today is being challenged by corrupted ideologies and human desires… Thus, as we sit here today, we should not take this opportunity for granted nor receive it with a hardness of heart. It is easy to be tempted by the news and world events in ways that lead us to feel like there is no hope for a better tomorrow… That the symptoms of a fallen world are too much to handle… But we must take heart… and in faith, allow those feelings to be put on the yoke of Christ… We are not left alone or forsaken in this moment…

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I want to thank Pastor Dave for his work in leading us trough our current sermon series, “God has spoken!”… In the weeks leading up to today… He has encouraged us to “Pay Attention to Scripture”, reminded us to to remain rooted in the law of the Lord, challenged us to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, and last week helped us to see that all of scripture points to Jesus the Messiah and God’s plan of redemption for His people… Like the men on the road to Emmaus, may our hurts burn with the reality of who God is and the understanding of the complete revelation of His will for salvation that is spoken throughout the scriptures.

Like each of these messages in our “God has spoken” series, today’s message is tied together with others through the understanding of

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

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.

In this quote from Hebrews, why was a two-edged sword mentioned? A two-edge sword was a weapon designed for maximum efficiency in close combat situations. The sharp edge on both sides of this blade allowed this style of sword to cut flesh easily in many directions… Push, pull, slash up, slash down, and slash diagonally in both directions without resetting the blade angle in your hand - unlike a single edged sword… Roman Soldiers in the first century were very skilled with style of weapon and could inflict much damage to their opponent in a quick and lethal manner… It is with this image in mind that we are taught that “the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword.” As efficient as this sword is in close combat - it pales in comparison to the effectiveness of God’s Word as it relates to the lives of God’s people… you and me… The Bible meets us where we are at in our brokenness and separates our prideful desires, thoughts, and intentions from His. It cuts down the walls that we have built around our heart and reveals to us His truth - opening our eyes to His will for our lives all for His glory.

Matthew 4:1–11 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”