Hebrews
“Encouragement for a life of Faith”
Part 4
“Sharper than a 2 edged sword”
Today we will continue our study of Hebrews
We have seen over the last few weeks
Jesus as the one and only
As the real deal
We saw how the writer of Hebrews encouraged us to live the life of faith that we have found through a relationship with Jesus
We have seen him declare Christ’s superiority and supremacy over and over again
And we have heard a couple of toe stomping exhortations
That prayerfully has exposed some sore spots in your own Christian walks
I know they have exposed some of mine
Then we saw what it takes to get all that Jesus has for us
By means of keeping our hearts pure by using Jesus as the standard of purity in our lives
We studied how we must avoid evil and then took a look at looked at what that meant
We tend to think of evil as Old Slick himself or Freddy Kruger from the nightmare on Elm Street
But we saw how all sin is evil and how choosing to sin is allowing
Actually inviting evil into our lives
Which cause us to drift away from the righteousness of Jesus
We took a look at what the writer meant by unbelief and prayerfully learned that
It is not just belief that God exists
But believe that he rules our lives that make the difference in our lives
Our writer tells us to warn each other
That as believers we have the authority and responsibility to warn other believers about the price of sin and the price of unbelief ----what that means is we have the responsibility to hold each other accountable
‘And that we must guard our own hearts against hardening
I want to tell you again Hebrews is a very valuable book
It offers great wisdom and knowledge for the believer
And it offers some critical keys to understanding for the lost
Our writer in my opinion would have made a really good Cowboy Preacher
Why
Because he fully understands the concept of mashing on’
And He does not avoid the hard topics as many in today’s world are prone to do
( Shown pocket knife)
I as a man
As a cowboy
As do most men
And most cowboys and even cowgirls do
Love pocket knives
I have been carrying a pocket knife for as long as I can remember
Since I was a small child
Many knives have adorned my belt of had a place of honor in my front pocket
I can tell you as many of you know
I am never far from a pocket knife
I have 2 in my possession as we speak
I have knives in my vehicles
In my locker at the fire station
In all of my desk drawers
My night stand
In my saddle bags
To me not having access to a good knife it like trying to walk through a patch of bull nettle barefooted
Or pick dewberries in my underwear
Without a good knife I am just not comfortable
I know many of you feel the same way
As I am well aware there are enough pocket knives right here in this room today top stock a good sized sporting goods store
I can tell you for me
Style of knife is not the most important thing
I prefer a trapper or moose pattern
But own many others as well
It is not the size of the knife that matters
I own many different sizes of knives
It is not the type of steel that the blades are made- carbon- stainless ceramic or Damascus
Or the handle material, bone, wood. Synthetic
That gets my focus
It is
The knifes sharpness that matters to me
You see for me in order for a knife to be a valuable tool
In order for it to do it’s job
It must be sharp
When I get ready to castrate a calf
Cut a piece of rope of leather
Or even open a package of some sort – even a knife package that requires a knife to open- someday somebody really needs to explain that one to me
Knife sharpness is where I place its value
-----Pause-------
This thought of sharpness brings us back to God’s word
Back to the book of Hebrews
Let me read for you from God’s word
Hebrews 4:12-13
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 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.”
This one of a few places in scripture where the bible is referred to as a sword
The writer of Hebrews is using word pictures to show us the truth of Scripture
Paul in Ephesians 6
Also uses the sword as an illustration
Showing God’s word as the only defensive part of the armor of God
Let me read that for you
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Focus with me on verse 17
Take the sword of the spirit
Which is the word of God
Back to Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 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.
The apostle John uses them word image of a sword as well when he writes in
Revelation 1:16
16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
A sharp 2 edged sword
The words of Jesus
God’s word
Coming from our Saviors mouth
And again in
Revelation 19:15
From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
The very word of God is like a sharp sword
This word image that these writers use was a common picture for the audience of the day
The Roman soldiers
With whom everyone was familiar
Carried a short
Double edged sword as part of their uniform
Part of their offensive and defensive wardrobe
This short
Sharp sword was designed for close quarters
Hand to hand combat
And was used to take out the enemy – to separate flesh from bone
This is a good word picture for the type of combat we do with the powers of evil in this word
Old Slick likes to get in close and personal
He loves getting into our thoughts
Getting into our minds
And it is our sword of truth
God’s word
That will let us keep up our defenses and even take the fight to him?
Remember what Paul says about who we are fighting in the book of Ephesians
From Ephesians 6:12
For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Back to Hebrews
Let me read for you again what our writer says of God’s word
Then we will break it down and try and apply it to our lives
Hebrews 4:12a
“For the word of God is alive and powerful”
God’s word
This great book
This book filled with writings from 40 authors
66 separate books
Written over a time period of 1500 + years
With no contradictions
Is unlike any other book in the world
No other book is alive
No other book has this power
Only God’s word has the ability to change our eternity
Think about it
The words in this book are much more than just ink on paper
Guys
If you spend time in God’s word
You know what I am about to say is true
If you don’t spend time in the word and you are a believer
You are severely stunting your spiritual growth
His word is how he speaks to us
And if you don’t read it
“What we have here is failure to communicate” as the prison guard from Cool hand Luke says
Listen
Every time I open God’s word
God speaks to me differently
Do I mean I hear his voice?
No
I mean I can read scripture over and over again
And God though his living word will show me though my study and my prayers
What he has for me – Today
What he has for me-- tomorrow
And What he has for me for -----eternity
No other book can do this
Why
Because all other books were written by men
God’s word
Is Just that
God’s word penned by men who were used by God to write HIS words
It is Alive and powerful
It is Life changing and world shaking
It is Inerrant
It is Infallible
Verse 12b brings us back to today’s focus
“It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. “
You prayerfully understood the word pictures that the writer of Hebrews, Paul and John painter
A short
Sharp
Sword
Designed for close combat
Here our writer says
God’s word is sharper than that
Cutting between soul and spirit
Between joint and bone
Hang on tight
Guard your shins
Tuck in your toes
God’s word is designed to show us our sin
Show us our weaknesses
And designed to cause us to make a change n our lives
These powerful
Living words
Are designed by God Almighty
To separate us from the sin in our lives that causes us to drift away
That cause us to back slide
That causes us to lose blessings
That cause us---- if we are lost to ignore the chance of salvation
Redemption
Deliverance
Listen to me
In this book are clear teachings on right and wrong
I you have questions about what God thinks about your relationships
Open God’s word
He is clear on sexual immorality
He is clear on Adultery
He is clear on homosexuality
He is clear on living together as husband and wife without being married
He is clear on same sex marriage
What about issues about character and integrity
God’s word is clear on honesty
His word is clear on theft and gossip and deceit
Manipulation- dissension- disunity- complacency
All you have to do to see these sins and the fact that they are wrong
Is to look at the sword
Look into God’s word
There are no gray areas
And God’s word
Like a sharp knife is there to separate a believer from those evil things
From those evil desires
It is designed to move us towards purity
And to keep us from drifting
Guys if you don’t like what I’m saying
Take it up with God
These are his words
Not mine
-----Pause-----
Like a sharp knife
The sharpest double edged sword
A surgeon’s scalpel
God’s word
When read
Studied
And applied to our lives
Will cut away the sin that holds us back and keeps us from being all we can be in Christ
Guy’s you can refuse to read it
You can ignore it
You can even try to make up your own rules
Try justifying your sin
But none of that changes the fact of the truth
---Pause--
Let me just go ahead and stomp a bit harder
If you are a believer
And you a choosing to live with sin in your life
And you feel no need to change
You need to check your heart for hardening
You need to open your eyes
Open your ears
And see what God is trying to tell you
Or you may need to make sure you have what you think you have
The bible says those who love Jesus will do what he says
It also says those who blatantly refuse to do what he says
May not be children of God
Actually I was being kind
It says “they are not Children of God”
Then
Our writer goes on to get personal
Imagine if the world around you could see your thoughts your innermost desires your darkest secrets
That scares the heck out of me
I try hard to keep my mind pure
But Old Slick loves to get into my head
And cause me to let down my guard
To think about wrong stuff if only for a moment
Our writer says that’s what God’s word does
Verse 12c
“It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
What this says is that God’s living; live changing word has the power to see us
Behind the curtain like the Wizard of Oz if you want to think of it that way
We can all put on a front
Appear to be one thing
But our thoughts often expose us because our thoughts come out in our words and more importantly our actions
I Thank God
That the world around me can’t see my thoughts
But Make no mistake
God does
He goes onto to say
In verse 13 a
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.”
God sees all
And all means all
You can’t hide from God
You can’t hide from God’s word
He and It has the ability to expose our thoughts
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 139:1-4
O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.
And then in verses 7-12
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you
Skipping to verses 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
The Psalmist as does the writer of Hebrews says
In real simple terms
Guys you can’t hide from God
You can’t hide your sins from God
His word will expose them
And then he says we should be begging God to show us where we fall short
We should be crying out as David does
Show me God--- through your word and the working of the Holy Spirit
The sore spots in my Christian life
And then use your sword Lord
Use your Holy word to cut this junk- this evil- this sin- out of my life
So that I can work towards being pure
That is spiritual growth----
The writer of Hebrews continues with his shin kicking
Verse 13b
“Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
When we stand before God we are naked and exposed and he sees us as we are
And we are accountable to him and him alone
We will all stand before him
But if we stand before him without Jesus
We will suffer the full penalty of our sin
Without Jesus will pay the debt we owe – ourselves
No payment plan- no layaway- no deferred adjudication- no bail
Payment is due at the time of death
No exceptions
That’s without Jesus
But with Jesus
We still stand naked and exposed
But when God looks at us through the blood of Christ
What he sees is his perfect Son
The sinless spotless Lamb of God
Who takes away the sins of the world
The sins of all who accept him
Listen to me
Listen carefully as the write of Hebrews says from last week
Make no mistake
God’s word
Is a sword
And it will divide good from evil
Flesh from spirit
Sin from righteousness
And
We will stand before God
How do you want to face him?
Naked and exposed
Or covered by his Grace?
His sword will expose us
George Jones sings a song called “Choices”
“I've had choices since the day that I was born
There were voices that told me right from wrong”
“If I had listened, no I wouldn't be here today
Living and dying with the choices I've made
You must make a choice?
Are you listening to God?
Are you listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
Are you choosing to
Live right
Or
Live wrong
Are you choosing
Sinfulness
Or
Righteousness
Are you choosing
Heaven
Hell
One more question as I close
Are you wilingl to live with your choices?
Or better yet are you willing to die with your choices?
Close from the heart
Pray
