The Living Word

Why should we be diligently in the word?

Why should we be diligently in the word?

Let’s begin by looking at the context of

Observation - “Rest” is found in chapter 4; verse 1 - 11; 15 times it’s in these first 11 verses; I’d say there seems to be a theme here.

Verse 11 says, So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

What is the rest? It’s prepared by God; It’s promised by God; Ready since the foundation of the world; Believers can enter it by obeying; Those who disobey will fail to enter it; There’s a connection between the rest & the “good news”

The link between these first 11 verses and verse 12 seems to be found in the connection between verses 2 & 11; (11) So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. (2) For this good news - that God has prepared this rest - has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.

Greek word for “good news” is logos or message

What verse 11 urges, when it says, "So let us do our best to enter that rest," is to,

Be diligent to hear the word

Be diligent to believe in the word

Be diligent to trust the word

Be diligent to embrace it, hold to it and be satisfied by it, so we don’t find ourselves disobeying as the people of Israel did

Why...

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

What is meant by the word of God?

It’s not a book; it’s not words on a page; it’s not a list of dos & don’ts

It’s God’s message to you & me; It’s what He wants us to know about Him, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit; It’s God’s collective voice for His creation

It’s not one word, right; It’s God’s collective voice

Why is it so vitally important?

The Word is...

Alive

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The word is not dead! It has life & because it has life it produces things; the word gives birth to new life

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Because it has life it produces things

I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

The word has life inherent in and of itself to produce the desired results that God wants

and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Jesus’ shares a parable about a farmer scattering seed

footpath - birds ate them

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

shallow soil - sprouted quick but didn’t have deep roots

thorns - grew up and got chocked out

good soil - produced a crop 30, 60, 100 times as had been planted

the seed represents the shared, preached, taught word of God

Seeds produce things

The word of God is alive

Powerful

The Greek word here is where we get energy - Active

I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

says, And this word continues to work in you who believe

The word is active in helping people come to know Jesus; The word is active in the process of sanctification; The word of God is active in our spiritual growth; The word is active

Why should we be diligent to hear, believe, trust, & embrace the word?

“The word of God” is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.

Sharp

I love the word watershed; not sure I always live by the principle, but I love the word; watershed is a crucial dividing line separating one side from the other; when water falls on it, it rolls to one side or the next; there’s no fence sitting; it’s like the word resolve - you’ve made a firm decision and sticking with it. I probably say it once a week if not more - we need balance...

I probably say it once a week if not more - we need balance...

If the word of God is sharper than the sharpest sword it clearly can cut and divide

John Piper said, “The writer gives an analogy: it's like dividing joints and marrow. Joints are the thick, hard, outer part of the bone. Marrow is the soft, tender, living, inner part of the bone. That is an analogy of "soul and spirit." The word of God is like a sword that is sharp enough to cut right through the outer, hard, tough part of a bone to the inner, soft, living part of the bone. Some swords, less sharp, may strike a bone and glance off and not penetrate. Some swords may penetrate part way through the tough, thick joint of a bone. But a very sharp, powerful double-edged sword (sharp on each side of the point) will penetrate the joint all the way to the marrow.

"Soul and spirit" are like "bone joint and bone marrow." "Soul" is that invisible dimension of our life that we are by nature. "Spirit" is what we are by supernatural rebirth. Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" ().

Point being... The word of God will reveal our true nature

“The word of God” exposes out innermost thoughts and desires.

Exposes kritikos

Carefully evaluates and judges our innermost thoughts and desires

One Bible dictionary says, “This is an adjective and has the sense of one who has the manner of a judge, who is capable of judging, who has the right to judge, & who is engaged in judging.”

The word not only exposes what we are thinking, but it’s described as judging our innermost thoughts

The word not only exposes our innermost thoughts, but it also can judge our desires, intentions, motivations - answers the question of why we think, say, or do the things we do.

It’s not everything, but the “why” is so very important.

Here’s how I want to wrap up… It’s with this thought… You can fool a lot of people - me; your church family; your friends; even your best friend; your family; even close family;

But you can’t fool God… Verse 13 says, Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

So as we sing this last song, man if there’s something that you need to bring before the Lord, I encourage you to come forward and give it to Him!

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Offertory

Dr. Dave Smith; Saturday Oct 27; 9am-2pm; Sunday morning

Family Fall Festival; Wednesday Oct 31 6-8pm; Candy,volunteers,invites