January 4, 2004
Morning Worship
Text: Hebrews 4:12
Subject: The Word of God
Title: Getting the Word Out
There is nothing in this world anymore important than the Word of God. The word is life giving, life changing, and life blessing. The word of God is law. Nothing can undo what the word says. Even though Paul says that we are under grace and no longer under the law, the law of God is still valid to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. It is of the utmost importance that we know the word and endeavor to get the word out to the entire world. Often we get so caught up in our own little world of grace that we fail to understand the significance of the command of God to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” We simply get so caught up in our own relationship Jesus that we don’t hear what He is saying.
A man and his lawyer squared off in court against his opponent and two lawyers. "I want you to hire another attorney to help with my case," he told his sole counselor. "The other fellow has two." "That’s not necessary," replied his attorney. "I can defend you by myself." "I still want a second person," the defendant insisted. "When one of the plaintiff’s lawyers is talking, the other one is thinking. When you talk, nobody’s thinking."
God is talking today and it is time for the church to start listening closely to every word – not only what has been said but what is being said.
The word of God is designed to touch every division of the tricotomy of man – spirit, soul and, body.
I. The Word is Physical.
A. It is alive. Psalm 147:15, “He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.” When Hebrews says that God’s word is living it means that there is activity going on. Psalm 107: 20 shows some of the activity of the Word of God. “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” God’s word brings healing. It is active. Matthew 8:5-13 (Read) Jesus did not need to go in order to heal. He sent His word.
B. The Word is powerful. It is sharper than a two edged sword. Isaiah said, “He has made my mouth like a sharp sword.” Because he spoke the word of God. Is. 55:11, “So shall the word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The things that God has called His word to do shall be accomplished.
II. The Word of God is Spiritual.
A. The division of the soul and spirit. It can separate the soul (thoughts and emotions) from the spirit. Paul says that the word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Let’s take a little time to understand the words that are translated “word”. The word of God that is spoken of in this passage is logos. It refers to a complete thought or expression of a complete idea. It refers to the whole Bible. Jesus is the living logos. The Bible is the written logos. The Holy Spirit utters the spoken logos. The other word is rhema. It refers to a single promise given by God. When standing in the face of adversity, the rhema becomes a weapon of the spirit. It does not stand on its own authority but in the fact that it comes from the logos. We can stand on the rhema in the authority of the logos and expect to receive from God.
B. It divides the joints and marrow. The word goes to the inner most parts of your being. The word separates fact from fiction, truth from lies, and life from death. John 1:1,4,”In the beginning was the Word… In Him was life…
A. B. Earle wrote this story.
A number of years ago an incident occurred which greatly endeared the Bible to me, and caused me to feel safe without any carnal weapon. All in a moment, I found myself surrounded by six men demanding my purse. I was where I could not defend myself or obtain help from man. I confess to a strange palpitation in my heart. It seemed clear that my purse or life must go. At that instant something seemed to say:
"Tell them who you are."
With much difficulty I said to them:
"I am a minister of Jesus Christ. My business is to preach Christ wherever I go, and you know you are making a demand upon me that you cannot meet at the judgment seat of Christ."
After a little I distinctly heard one of them say: "Let him go."
Then I knew God’s revolver had taken effect. I now became calm, and pointed them to the Judgment-seat, where they must meet me and this whole transaction. Strange to tell, they were silent for a little, then one by one went away, and left me alone. This was plainly the effect of preaching to them the great Day of Judgment, accompanied by the Divine Spirit. I can never forget my feelings as I walked away from the spot, seeing "Jesus only" with me. I seemed to grasp the "Bible" with a new love and confidence, and silently said:
"I shall never need any other revolver than this."
"For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." What an illustration of this was that moment before me. The Bible is the Spirit’s sword. "The excellency of the power is of God, not of us." For fifty-seven years in which I have been preaching "the Word," I have witnessed its power over hardened, as well as moral, men, in bringing them to repentance, and causing them to forsake their sins.
In view of this wonderful deliverance, I would recommend all ministers to preach more simply "the Word," and all men to embrace and obey it. Let us scatter it everywhere. Let us put this mighty weapon into every man’s hands, and let us all rest and trust more fully in it. Martin Luther says:
"And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us."
-- A. B. Earle, From: "Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888
III. The Word is emotional.
A. It is a discerner of the thoughts. Proverbs says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” And “There is nothing that enters a man from the outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” The word of God will instruct you in righteousness. The word becomes a stepping-stone for the Holy Spirit’s convicting power to keep your feet on the path to righteousness.
B. The word reveals the intentions of your heart. You know that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” But the world doesn’t know that. Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart”. Matthew 12:33-37, (read). Why is the world condemned by their words? Because they reveal the heart. The word of God will reveal what is really in your heart. Even Christians have things in their hearts that need changing. Ephesians 5:25-26 says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her that He might sanctify and cleanse her by the washing of water by the word. That washing of water refers to repentance. It comes by the word.
Do you know that no one ever got saved without hearing the word of God? It can’t happen. Whether it comes from the TV, radio, a book, a friend, or the Bible itself, the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, must be presented before someone is saved.
You know about the great commission. It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the gospel and then make disciples.
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved…” but “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”
We are focused on the town of Palmyra, but the Lord calls us to look beyond this town. We are called to partner with others who are doing God’s work around the world. People all over need to hear the word of God. .
“For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower, so shall My word be that goes froth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void.”
What an awesome promise. What a great responsibility.
