God's word sharper than a double-edged sword

Hebrews 4:12 (LB)

God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.

Have you ever heard or read a verse or passage of Scripture and it “cut you to the quick”?  That is, did it hurt to hear the words?  On the other hand, haven’t you read or hear a verse or passage of Scripture that broke your heart wide open or gave you an overwhelming feeling of comfort and assurance?  The dual ability of the Word of God both to hurt and to help/heal explains the meaning of a double-edged sword.  Verses that speak on sin and immoral and selfish behaviors are examples of the way God’s word is alive and working and sharp in causing us pain to hear/read these words.  Verses that speak on love and forgiveness and God’s promises are examples of the way God’s word is alive and working and sharp in providing comfort and healing and reassurance.

God’s word (“logos”) has the following characteristics:

·  It is alive and working (also translated as living and active).  God’s Word is already written partly in your heart while written completely in the book called the Bible.  Its words bring life and energy into your life if you open your mind and heart to read, hear, study, meditate, apply, and teach it others (e.g. your children, grandchildren, friends, whoever).

·  It is sharper than a double-edged sword.  Sharpness means penetrating power.  It can impact your life deeply.  It can bring to the forefront deeply hidden faults and weaknesses in your life.  It can also bring great comfort and resolution to make significant changes in your life.  Someone once said that one edge of the sword is the God who exposes and judges while the other edge of the sword is the God who saves and reassures with great hope.

·  It cuts all the way into you and can reveal the most hidden aspects of sin and hurt in your life.

·  It cuts and divides your soul and spirit.  Can you adequately define the real difference between your soul and your spirit?  There is a fine line between the two, yet the word of God can penetrate even that deeply into your life.  Again, nothing in your entire being is hidden from God and His Word will reveal this to you.  Hidden pride, selfishness, immorality, impurity, or any other defect in your life will be revealed to you if/when you allow His word to penetrate your soul and spirit.

·  It judges the thoughts and feelings in your heart.  God uses His word to search within your inner being to reveal the true motives of what you think and how your feel.  He already knows, but He wants to use His Word for you to learn what He already knows.  Then, once you learn and see what He knows, you will be more motivated to seek positive changes in your life.  

Think about your own experiences in hearing and reading God’s Word. List some of the verses in His Word that you know have cut deeply into your mind, soul, and spirit that caused either deep pain or great comfort (some of mine are II Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 7:21,Philippians 2:14, Psalm 23, Psalm 25, and Romans 12:1-2).  From now on, approach His Word with renewed respect and awe based on the perspective that you now have from understanding better what Hebrews 4:12 teaches about His Word.  And never forget what the following verse (Hebrews 4:13) says:  “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”.  Sobering words, do not ignore them, do not be nonchalant about them.  

Steadfast and immovable

I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 

Therefore?  Therefore what?  The word “therefore” transitions what was previously written into a logical conclusion or consequence.  What Paul had just written was the fact that believers will not die forever and do not have to fear death because they believe in Jesus Christ and the fact that He defeated the sting and fear and power of death.  Because of this fact, this wonderful fact that all believers should (must) claim, you, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, should be steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

To be steadfast and immovable are two words essentially describing the same manifestation in the life of a believer.  You are to hold fast, stand firm and be secure in your faith.  In Isaiah 26:3, the steadfast in mind shall have perfect peace because of his trust in God.  In Acts 2:42, the earliest Christians continued steadfastly in learning about God, fellowshipping with other believers, praying and eating together.  In Hebrews 10:23, believers are urged to hold fast in their faith without any wavering.  The word “steadfast” is linked to “faith” in several other verses (Matthew 7:24-25, I Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 6:1, Colossians 2:5, II Thessalonians 2;15, Hebrews 3:14, James 1:6-8).  One interesting verse about being immovable is found in Psalm 55:22 where you are to cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (see also Psalm 16:8) 

To be abounding in the work of the Lord, what does this mean?  The Greek word for abound (perisseuo) means to be in excess, to be in abundance, to overflow.  The work of the Lord means whatever He created you to do, to be fulfilling your purpose in life, to follow all of His comments, to be fully committed to His will for you.  So you are to abound in Christian service.  You might retire from your job and from your career, but as long as you live, you must never retire from Christian service.  You are to abound in Christian love (read I Thessalonians 3:12-13) with your love for others being the unselfish, self-sacrificial “agape” love.

A lot to consider and to learn from this one verse.  How steadfast and immovable are you in your faith?  How abounding are you in your work for the Lord?  Someday you will give an account of your life before almighty God and these two questions seem reasonable to be asked of you.  Are you prepared to answer and have no regrets in your answer? 

Besides the commands in this verse, there is also a promise.  No matter what you do for the Lord, especially if it is service that no one else knows about, He knows and will reward you someday.  Make it your goal in life that when you face the Lord in heaven, He will look at you and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23, Luke 19:17).  Perhaps you know deep in your heart that He cannot say this to you now, but you can resolve with all of your heart to be begin right now to be obedient to this verse, to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that His promise to you is that whatever you do for Him will not be in vain and you will blessed forever. 
 

What can mere man do to you?

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the defense of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?  

Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? 

The Bible speaks a lot about fear (also including feared, fearful, fearfully, fearing, fears, feareth, fearest, fearfulness).  Words related to fear are used 403 times in the Old Testament (my count from Strong’s Concordance) and 117 times in the New Testament.  Fear is used either relating to God or relating to man or the things of man.  Basically, you should always fear God and never fear man or the things of man.  Whenever the Bible speaks of fearing man or the things of man, it also assures you that God is present to help you deal those kinds of fears.  The two Psalms above are good examples. 

There are at least 20 different Hebrew words that are translated as fear in the Old Testament and perhaps 10 different Greek words translated as fear in the New Testament.  The most common Hebrew words are:

·  Yare’ (also yir’ah)--translated as “reverence” or “awe”.  Hundreds of verses in the Old Testament use this word to describe how we are to reverence and honor God.  Some of the best are Genesis 15:1 (fear not, Abraham), Exodus 20:20 (people, fear not), Psalm 23:4 (fear no evil) Psalm 139:14 (fearfully and wonderfully made), Proverbs 1:7 (fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge), Ecclesiastes 12:13 (the conclusion is, fear God), Isaiah 41:10 (do not fear for I am with you), Daniel 1:10 (I fear my Lord) and many other examples including the two Psalms verses above).  

·  Pachad—translated as “terror” or “dread”.  Examples include Genesis 31:53, Deuteronomy 11:25, Psalm 36:1, and Jeremiah 33:9, all referring to fear or terror where and when God is absent.   

The most common Greek words are:

·  Phobeo—translated as “reverence”—Matthew 10:26, 28, Luke 12:32, I Peter 2:17, Revelation 1:17, etc. refer to reverence and awe of God.   

·  Phobos—translated as “terror”—Matthew 14:26, Luke 21:26, Romans 3:18, I John 4:18, Hebrews 12:21, Revelation 11:11, etc. all related to human fears apart from God.

There are also two other Greek words related to fear worth noting:

·  Eulabeia—translated as utmost respect and awe—Hebrews 12:28

·  Deilia—translated as timidity—II Timothy1:7 (God has not given you a spirit of timidity).

Christian people are not to fear anything or anyone on this earth.  You are only to fear (reverence) God.  Fear is a consequence of sin (Genesis 3:10).  You accumulate fears when you are young and do not know the Lord personally and then have to fight them the rest of your life.  Fear (and worry) is a result of a lack of faith.  Fear of others especially can be debilitating.  Proverbs 29:25 says that the “fear of man brings a snare”.  You need to ask the Lord to help you everything to overcome the fears you have, especially any fear of any other human being.   

Perhaps you fear other people because of strict parents, especially if one/both of them were abusive.  Perhaps you were a victim of bullying as a child.  Perhaps you were never strong or big or brave enough to stand up to others.  Perhaps a teacher or coach or other person in authority overstepped that authority and mistreated you to the point that you fear anyone in authority.  Whatever the root cause of your fear of other people, such fear is unbiblical and as a believer in God, you must go to Him in prayer and as a result of His promises to hear your prayers, you can trust Him to help you overcome your fear of others, whoever they are in your life.  Jesus said that you are never to fear (phobeo) other men, even those who can kill you.  He is present in your life to protect you against such fear.  You simply have to trust Him and His promises to be with you and help you overcome your fears.      

Where have you placed your life today……ruled by fear or by faith?

True friends

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NASB)

Two are better than one….for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion, but woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Petra is a Christian hard rock band, popular in the 80s and 90s.  I wasn’t a great fan, but had some attraction to them because they were from Fort Wayne, IN.  One of their popular songs was “Two Are Better Than One”[1]. I liked their lyrics that said “You can call me up in the night, I will pray till you win the fight”.

Each person needs another who can do what Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches and the Petra group sings about.  You need someone who you can call in the middle of the night, who will pray with you as long as necessary, who is your friend no matter what.  You need someone who isn’t afraid to be honest with you and tell you when you are going astray.  And you need someone who is there during your darkest hours, your most troubling moments, when you are on the edge of despair, and simply be your unconditional friend. 

To have a friend to lift you up when you are down is serious business.  Note that the Scripture says that it is woe to the one who falls and does not have someone to help him, to lift him up.  If you are someone who thinks that you can face any and all aspects of your life without anyone else’s help, think again.  You are violating the spirit of this verse. 

Just this past week, listening a 60s station, the Beatles song, “With a Little Help From My Friends” was playing and I thought about the fact that as I enter the final years of my life, how important it is and will be to have friends. Oh how true these words are.  Another popular song, sung by Josh Groban “You Raise Me Up” also relates to these words from Ecclesiastes. 

Who is your companion in life?  To whom are you a companion?  Who raises or lifts you up?  Who can you raise up today?

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[1] http://www.elyrics.net/read/p/petra-lyrics/two-are-better-than-one-lyrics.html