The Power of The Word

STUDY: # 1008-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: DECEMBER 4 @ 10, 2018

TOPIC: “The Power of The Word” Hebrews 4:12

God says: "Is not my word like FIRE, declares the LORD, and like a HAMMER that breaks the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29) Like fire consumes the wheat, so the Word of the Lord will consume false prophets. His Word, which is food for the true prophet and for those who hear Him (including you), is also consuming fire and a hammer that breaks the phonies. Many want a word of peace from God (like those to whom Jeremiah spoke) while they are in sin. On the contrary, His Word burns the lies and breaks the hardened heart to bring it to repentance. The hammer symbolizes a destructive power.

I. His Word remains His voice!

A. If the Word is heard with faith, it touches the person.

1. The good news has been announced to us through the Word; the good news of eternal life through faith in Christ!

2. People fail in life because the Word was not accompanied by faith when they heard it (Hebrews 4:2).

3. Like the Israelites, to whom God offered the Promised Land, who did not believe and for that reason did not receive the promise. This also happens in these times!

4. Unbelief kept them from the rest that God had prepared for them in the Promised Land (Vs.1). For us, that promise is for eternity!

B. (Vs.12) Why must we make such a diligent effort to listen and be attentive to the Word of God?

1. Because we have to see ourselves with a God whose Word will judge us. It is a powerful Word that searches our hearts; along with the eyes of the Lord who see everything (Vs.13).

2. The Word of God searches our hearts. It is the voice OF HE WHO SEES EVERYTHING!

3. He examines us very carefully, trying to know our insides, discovering all the details of our lives, even those that are less obvious to men ("... and penetrates to split the soul and the spirit, the joints and the marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.")

4. This is a solemn warning that nothing goes unnoticed by the Lord!

5. The absence of faith is first discovered by the Word of God.

6. We speak of the voice of God that is for our good. However, it is with a bad attitude, and in rebellion that she is despised, like the ten spies did (Numbers 13:32).

7. Let us consider with our whole being that this Word of God that has been given to us is:

a. LIVING, because it participates in the very life of God, who inspires it, who blows it. She is constant and actively alive. She is vital (John 6:63) "... the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." His words to you are life, they are spirit! They are not mere expressions. They are not words that are carried off by the wind, but divine realities coming from the Word, in whom life is; life that is received when it is accepted by faith. Words become instruments of eternity!

b. The Word is EFFECTIVE; giving power. It produces the expected effect. (Isaiah 55:11) "... it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." If you receive it with faith there will be power and joy in your life!

c. It is sharp, MORE CUTTING THAN A SWORD OF TWO EDGES. How can you not believe! It is sharp (strict, acute, it’s not open for discussion, cuts off any possibility of duplicity). It's final!

d. It is divisive, PENETRATES UNTIL REACHING THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT, that are the two invisible and intangible parts of man. The Word comes to the very thoughts and intentions of the evil heart, who likes silence. The heart is evil and can come to harm those who are our brothers in faith.

e. But the Word is insightful, it perceives our details at a great distance. It has the capacity to discover things that are hidden. "... AND DISCERNS THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART." The Word divides "... THE JOINTS AND THE MARROW ..." (The joints are what allow external movements and the marrow is the hidden, but vital life of the bones.) So, that means, that she enters your intimate motives until it reaches your depths.

f. She is discriminant (it points out the differences between one thing and another, discerns) and judging regarding the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It is the Word that judges us, and not we who judge the Word!

C. Will you diligently listen to it? Will you give it your full attention? Will it be your food as it was for Jeremiah? Will you love and obey the Word? Amen.