The Searching Power of the Living Word

See Heb 4:9-16

Hebrews 4:9–16 NASB95

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:12–13 NASB95

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

INTRODUCTION

There is a great danger of falling short of the promised rest

I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James (Hebrews 4:1)

Ver. 1. Spiritual Shipwreck.—Henry Gill tells the tale of a ship that left the shores of England for a distant colony. The Ship had a valuable freight of emigrants, forced from their fatherland by the decrees of a bitter fate; among them were brides with the glorious enthusiasm of youthful love, children also returning to the loving arms of fond parents, whom long years had separated. The ship sailed majestically along, one could almost hear the music and the dancing on the decks during the calm moonlit evenings. After some time came the shout, “Land ahead! Their adopted country looms in the distance. They hasten to prepare for the landing. Only another night need be passed on the sea, but it is their last in this world. The thick darkness gathers around them like a funeral pall, the winds rise as if to sing their dying requiem, and in one fatal moment that noble vessel splits on the rocks! And now wild shrieks of despair struggle with the howl of the tempest, and soon all is over, as the whole of that ship’s company, save one, sink into a watery grave. The ship becomes a wreck in sight of port! A man may go very far towards religion and yet be lost.

This is the message that the text seeks to to teach us today: “unbelief will surely exclude from that rest”.

It must be obeyed because :

IT IS LIVING AND ACTIVE

SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD

PIERCING AND DIVIDING

SOUL AND SPIRIT

JOINTS AND MARROW

ABLE TO JUDGE

THE THOUGHTS

INTENTIONS OF THE HEART