From the heart of the pastor...
“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” (Heb. 4:12).
“Living” is the first Greek word in this verse. Do you
believe that God’s word is alive?
Eve listened to Satan’s word, Adam listened to Eve’s
word, but Jesus listened to God’s word. Adam and Eve
are dead – Jesus lives. How affective is God’s word!
God’s word is as alive as He is. God’s living word
reveals man’s death. Scripture exposes man’s Achilles
heel. The word is so alive that when Shaphan read it in
the presence of King Josiah, the king repentantly tore
his clothes (II Ki. 22:11).
God’s word is active. The word creates, sustains and
regenerates (Heb. 11:3; 1:3; I Pe. 1:23, respectively).
It never leaves you as it found you even when you are
disobedient to its commands. When someone complains of
Scripture being boring, they have failed to realize that
they are the bores not Scripture.
If the word were not active, it would not be opposed.
Why do the unregenerate want the Ten Commandments
outlawed from courtrooms and schoolrooms? Why has the
Bible been banned, burned, criticized, carried to the
moon, smuggled into prison cells and translated into
over two thousand languages? Because the word is
active.
God’s word is sharper than any two-edged sword having no
blunt edge. It goes forth as He instructs never
returning to Him empty, for it accomplishes all He
directs (Isa. 55:11). The word is the two-edged sword
that came out of Jesus’ mouth (Rev. 1:16; 2:12). It is
either saving or judging the one upon whose ears it
falls (Jn. 6:63).
God’s word is piercing. You cannot bluff God.
Scripture is God’s vehicle for the unveiling of your
quicksand. The Bible expresses the quintessence of
Christianity.
God’s word divides. It defines the chasm separating
believers from unbelievers. Scripture penetrates to
your most secret hiding places – it defangs the
serpent. The Aramean king did not understand how
Israel’s king consistently knew his battle plans. His
servants advised him saying, “Elisha, the prophet who is
in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you
speak in your bedroom” (II Ki. 6:12).
God’s word judges both your thoughts and intentions.
Jesus says, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My
sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is
what will judge him at the last day” (Jn. 12:48). The
word not only illumines the abscess; it lances the
canker and in the power of the Holy Spirit medicates the
infection.
The word does not try Jesus and it is not on trial – you
are.
“Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people…
and when he opened it, all the people stood up” (Neh.
8:5).
Soli Deo Gloria!
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