BEING READ BY THE WORD
Heb. 4:12-13
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: A LAWYER GOES TO HEAVEN
1. A lawyer dies and goes to Heaven. “There must be some mistake,” the lawyer argues. “I’m too young to die. I’m only fifty five.”
2. “Fifty five?” says Saint Peter. “No, according to our calculations, you’re eighty two.” “How’d you get that?” the lawyer asks. Answers St. Peter: “We added up your time sheets.”
B. TEXT
“12 For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
C. THESIS
1. Woody Allen said, "I once took a course in speed reading and was able to read Tolstoy’s (1,392 pages) ‘War and Peace’ in twenty minutes.” When asked what it was about, he replied, “It’s about Russia."
2. My question for you today is “How do you read the Bible?” Like a novel? Like a magazine? Like an online news site? One guy read the N.T. in 2 weeks. When asked what it said, he replied, “It’s about God.” Hopefully we’re going to get more insight than that!
3. So today we’re going to look at Hebrews 4:12-13 and see what it says about how the Word of God ought to affect us! TITLE: “Being Read By The Word.”
I. THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE
“For the Word of God is living…”
A. UNIQUE: NOT A NORMAL BOOK
The Bible, the Word of God, is unlike any other book. The Library of Congress lays claims to being the largest library in the world, with 530 miles of bookshelves, 29 million books and 58 million manuscripts. Yet among all these volumes the only one can lay claim to being alive is the Bible! We're not supposed to think it's like other books and we should expect it to do things in our lives that no other book can do!
B. HOW IT’S DESCRIBED
1. The word “living” (zon(e)) means “alive!” -- “active, moving, accomplishing.” It’s not a dead letter, but living oracles (Acts 7:38).
2. It is described as:
a. A flowing river which waters its readers (Ps. 1:1-3),
b. A shining lamp which illumines our paths (Ps. 119:105),
c. A growing seed planted in our hearts which brings us life (Mt. 13:23).
3. “Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had “gone through it several times.” “Let it go through you once,” replied Smith, “then you will tell a different story!” [source unknown - www.bible.org]
II. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL
“For the word of God is living and powerful.”
A. IT HAS DIVINE ENERGY
1. The word translated “powerful” (energes) is the word from which we get energy and energetic. Energns means “full of power to achieve results.”
2. SCRIPTURAL USAGE:
a. Heb. 11:3, “… the worlds were framed by the Word of God.”
b. Mk. 4:39, “siopa, pephimoso”- “Peace, Be still!” means literally, “Shut up & stay shut up!” or “Put the muzzle on & keep it on!”
3. Charles Swindoll comments, “News articles may inform us. Novels may inspire us. Poetry may enrapture us. But only the living, active Word of God can transform us.” [Charles Swindoll, p. 73]
B. EXAMPLE OF ITS INFLUENCE
1. “One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible’s divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous “Mutiny on the Bounty,” a true story. Following their rebellion against the notorious Captain Bligh, nine mutineers, along with some Tahatian men and women, found their way to Pitcairn Island. After 10 years, only
one man, eleven women, and 23 children were left alive.
2. In time the man, John Adams, came across the “Bounty’s” Bible in the bottom of an old chest. He began to read it, and the divine power of God’s Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer and changed his life forever. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found. Today, with a population of slightly less than 100, nearly every person on Pitcairn Island is a Christian. [Signs of the Times, August, 1988, p. 5.]
III. THE WORD PENETRATES & DISCERNS
“…piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (12-13).
A. THE WORD’S ABILITY TO CUT/DISSECT
1. Like a sharp sword of the Scripture can open our inner life and expose it to ourselves and to others.
2. As Peter preached to the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:33, the Bible says they were “dieprionto”- “cut to the heart,” literally, “sawn in two.” It convicts sinners, converts their souls, enlightens their minds, and produces faith.
3. THE DISSECTION OF MR. THORPE
a. In 18th century Bristol, England, was a band of men who called themselves, the ‘Hell Fire Club.’ Their reason for existence was to mock and ridicule the work of evangelist, George Whitefield.
b. On one occasion, the ‘Hell-Fire Club’ gathered at a pub for such mockery. Mr. Thorpe acted out an entire
sermon of George Whitefield, with brilliant accuracy. Suddenly amidst the laughter he had to sit down for he was pierced through and was converted on the spot.
c. Thorpe went on to be a prominent Christian leader in the city of Bristol” [C. H. Spurgeon. The Metropolitan Pulpit. Vol. 34. (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Pub, 1974) p. 115]
B. THE WORD OF GOD DISCERNS
1. As the word of God penetrates into the innermost recesses of man’s being it does so as his critic or judge; “discerner” (kritikos)
2. The Word of God possesses the diagnostic function that exposes inconsistency, even in motivation. God sees
the real intentions of our hearts. We may appear to be sincere to others but God knows if there is an ulterior motive.
3. This verse plainly tells us that there is a coming day of reckoning upon which we will each give an account for our lives. The day of excuses will be over, “when every mouth will be stopped” (Rom 3:19), there will be no more excuses. The Apostle Paul warns in 2 Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
4. POLICEMAN. Our reason for driving fast seems pretty good until the policeman pulls us over; then it sounds hollow and flimsy. We’re embarrassed and ashamed. So will it be at the judgment bar of God.
IV. ARE WE LETTING THE WORD READ US?
A. TWO APPROACHES TO READING THE WORD
1. First is INFORMATIONAL reading; approaching Scripture for information, to solve our problems, to master its content, and to understand what it’s saying.
2. Second is FORMATIONAL reading. This focuses on us seeking to be shaped by Scripture. Seeking to be shaped by God’s Word, we are more interested in depth, than distance. Reading for formation suggests that Someone is on the other side of those words – waiting, watching, and inviting us.
3. Kierkegaard once said, "When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ‘It is talking to me, and about me.’”
B. OUR TRANSFORMATION IS EXPECTED & COMMANDED
1. When we hear the words of the Bible, we are hearing the VOICE OF GOD. The voice of the Spirit is saying, “This is the way: walk ye therein.”
2. God says, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. WALK IN OBEDIENCE to all I command you, that it may go well with you” Jer. 7:23.
3. “Be ye TRANSFORMED, by the renewing of your minds.” Rom. 12:2. God expects OUR LIVES TO BE CONFORMED to the life & person of Jesus (Rom. 8:29; 12:2).
4. Once we open our lives to God’s living Word, we will ourselves be read. We will be asked to live life differently.
Though God’s Word sometimes cuts or pierces us, yet that Word points us to the way of life. The Word brings our lives into alignment with God’s will and nature.
5. SUMMARY: Both approaches are necessary in balance. If we use too much informational reading, we can fall into cold intellectualism. On the other extreme, we don’t want to fall into mindless enthusiasm. Together, however, they help us understand Scripture and put it into practice! Let’s Read, Reflect, then Respond!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage.
2. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible.
B. ALTAR CALL The challenge for us is always 2-fold.
1. First, we must ask ourselves if we are being challenged by the Word of God to take some action before we leave this place. If the Word of God has convicted you of sin or the need for a course correction, then you need to do something about it. I want to invite you to settle the matter tonight, before you leave.
2. Second, in many areas of sanctification/ perfecting in Christ, the Holy Spirit has to correct and heal some areas of our lives -- but he can’t do it alone, He needs your cooperation, submission, and obedience.
C. SUBMIT TO THE WORD!
1. If you’re dealing with: A broken heart, Confusion, Anger…Submit to the Word!
2. If you’re dealing with: A Low self Esteem, Family Drama, Messed Up marriage… Submit to the Word!
3. If you’re dealing with: Childhood Emotional Scars, Financial Problems, Health Issues…Submit to the Word!
[This message contains some of the thoughts of Thomas Hall & Ken Boa.]
