"The Turning Sword"
Hebr 3:8
Gene 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
As a sword was placed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden, a sword stands in the entrance of what the book of Hebrews called THE REST.
· The writer said that there is a place of faith that we must enter into.
· It is NOW because we read in 4:16 that we can come boldly to the throne of grace.
· It is supposed to be our goal as much as entering the promised land was the goal of the Hebrew people when they left Egypt in the great Exodus.
· There are so many great parallels between the thought of entering our rest and entering the promised land.
The main point is that Israel did not enter into their Rest due to unbelief.
And Hebrews picks this up and gravely warns us....
Hebr 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Then we read of the sword.
Hebr 4:12-13 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
· After saying that we better ensure that we labour, we read that we must do so "lest we fall after the same example of unbelief".
· Israel entered not in because of what 3:19 said..... UNBELIEF.
Hebr 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
· And if we do not enter it will be because of what 4:11 said -- because of unbelief.
· 3:19 was Israel’s failure, and 4:11 will be our failure if we indeed do fail to enter.
· BOTH FAILURES to enter, then and now, are due to UNBELIEF.
If we are supposed to labour to enter our rest, "Lest we fall after the same example of unbelief", then clearly that labour is the labour of faith.
· The writer said, "Labour, so you will not fall in unbelief."
· He meant that we must FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.
· We must labour and exert effort to BELIEVE.
· So the issue is exerting faith instead of falling in unbelief.
· BELIEVE.
And after saying we must labour to believe, and not disbelieve, so that we might enter, we read that the reason is there is a SWORD sharper than any other sword.
· We read that we had better labour to enter by faith because a sword exists which can pierce to divide our very souls and spirits.
· This sword is a discerner of our very thoughts and intents.
· That sword is the WORD OF GOD.
· In other words, if we do not exert proper and true faith, God will know it.
· His Sword can cut right into our souls and spirits.
· Not a physical sword but a spiritual sword.
· It does not cut flesh and bone, but soul and spirit.
· This sword cutting describes how God can see right into your heart and tell whether you believe or whether you disbelieve.
· And those who do not believe will simply not enter in.
This is the very same picture we see when Adam was thrown from the Garden and God placed a FLAMING SWORD to protect the way to the tree of life.
· The Gospel is simply the GOOD NEWS explaining to us how we can enter into the REST that God created man to live in before God threw us out due to our sin in Adam.
· WE HAVE TO GET PAST THE SWORD.
· And Hebrews tells us that the way past and the way to enter our rest is BY FAITH.
· The sword determines who enters and who does not enter.
· It looks for faith or disbelief.
· We all have one of the two.
Let us read the last verse and the first few verses of Hebrews 4 so that we may get a good picture of the situation now that we understand the general idea.
Hebr 3:19-4:3 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The GOSPEL, then, is the information of how we can BELIEVE so that we will not be barred out of the rest as Israel was barred out of the promised land.
· Their promise was to enter Canaan.
· Our Promise is to enter Heaven and a Rest.
If we must have faith in order to pass the sword and enter our rest, we must discover exactly what faith this is speaking about.
Throughout the Gospel of the New Testament we read of the idea of ENTRANCE and PROPER FAITH that is required for it.
Luke 11:5-9 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
The person BELIEVES that if he truly asks properly he will receive, and though there is a DOOR blocking him from what he needs, he will see that door opened.
Luke 13:24-28 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.
At the door is the LORD.
· Hebrews said there is a sword called the WORD OF GOD at the door.
· We know from the Bible that JESUS is the WORD OF GOD.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
· There will be those who wish to ENTER THE DOOR, but will not be able to because they did not KNOW JESUS.
· Though they ate and rank in his presence, and he taught in their streets, He will say He did not know them.
· "Eating and drinking in his presence" is hearing the word of God and feasting on it.
· But Jesus said that is not enough!
· It is not KNOWING HIM to simply go to Church and feast on God’s word in His presence.
· And this takes us to Hebrews.
· Hebrews said that we must BELIEVE.
Notice that Jesus is THE DOOR.
· We must face Him at the ENTRANCE.
John 10:1-2 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
· I want to be a true sheep.
· I want to ENTER this door!
If you want get back to the tree of life, and live forever, and enter that rest, then you must get PAST THE SWORD.
· You must pass the test of having TRUE FAITH.
· Your Christianity must be based upon more than going to church and hearing the Word.
· YOU MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
· You must pass this grand test of Jesus who is at the door.
Jesus spoke about ENTRANCE in Matthew 7. And He said we must DO SOMETHING to enter.
Matt 7:21-24 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
· We must DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.
· We must hear Jesus’ sayings and DO THEM.
· Tying this with Hebrews 4 we understand that the DOING is BELIEVING.
So we find that doing the will of the Father is BELIEVING.
But exactly what must we believe?
ERROR 1 -- STRESS UPON SIGNS AND WONDERS
First of all, Jesus said that there will be MANY who make the mistake of thinking something else is their ticket inside.
· Matthew 7 said that many will think that having performed miracles, having cast out devils, and working many wonderful things in Jesus’ name tells if you will enter or not.
· Their foundation for their Christianity is miracles and healings.
· Jesus said they will not enter on that foundation.
· That foundation is like sand, He said.
· These people stress miracles and signs and wonders more than anything else.
· "Go to this Church and you will see miracles like in the Bible."
· We should have miracles, but THAT IS NOT WHAT WILL GET US PAST THE SWORD.
We must have the proper foundation if we wish to enter this Kingdom of Heaven.
What is your idea of what Christianity is based upon?
· If you were to explain to someone how to be saved, what would be your answer?
· If you were to help someone enter past the sword, what would you tell them.
ERROR 2 -- WITCH HUNTING
There are those who base their foundation on WITCH HUNTING.
· What I mean is that they stress their idea of getting saved by stressing how people must know what is evil in this world and avoid it.
· They stress how evil is everywhere and toys and books and cartoons are evil and have hidden satanic elements to them.
· Sinners do not need to know what is evil, they NEED TO KNOW JESUS.
· The sword will detect the lack of true faith and knowing Jesus, and find instead a great knowledge of the occult and nothing else.
· They will not enter inside.
They ride a BANDWAGON.
· Instead of doing the Lord’s will they look for evil all the time.
· Off on a tangent.
· No teaching the GOSPEL, but explaining details of the occult.
ERROR 3 -- SENSATIONAL AND MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
Many think Christianity depends upon whether or not they can feel the Spirit of God.
· Jesus did not say "he that feeleth God’s Spirit shall be saved," but "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16).
· Once we know the truth the truth shall make us free.
· The Father draws us to Jesus BY GIVING US CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT JESUS THROUGH A PREACHER and SHOWING US WHAT WE MUST BELIEVE.
Peter gave us a key.
Matt 16:15-18 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS is the Son of the Living God.
· He is exclusively worthy of praise.
· Jesus said THAT is the ROCK He will build His church upon.
· The foundation of the CHURCH is the truth about JESUS CHRIST.
1Cor 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
· We must have this foundation!
· There is no other one!
2Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
On the foundation of this KINGDOM that we must ENTER to be saved, there is a twofold inscription.
1. The Lord knoweth them that are his.
2. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Compare with Jesus’ words in Matthew
1. I never knew you.
2. Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.
The Kingdom is represented by the NEW JERUSALEM.
Look at its description.
Reve 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
What does this tell us?
It is symbolic
Ephe 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];
· The foundation is the TRUTH about Jesus.
Forget about feelings or miracles and witch hunts.
Simply obey the Bible.
Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine...
