February 12, 2023

Jesus is Greater- Session 11- The Transforming Word

Preacher: Ben Jennings

Series: Jesus is Greater

Passage: Hebrews 4:9-13

Service Type: Worship Service

Series: Jesus is Greater

Title: The Transforming Word

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-13

Subject: Transformation

Central Theme: The Role of God’s Word in Transformation

Objective Statement: The Word of God is essential in bringing us into God’s rest and transforming us because it is the only resource that can accurately embody these three descriptions.

Keywords: Descriptions

Points:

The Word of God is transforming because it is alive. v. 9-12
The Word of God is transforming because it is powerful. v. 12
The Word of God is transforming because it is discerning. v. 12-13

Introduction:

Connection:

The Superbowl is tonight. Should be a good game. My family is all in Missouri and so they are going for the Chiefs. Some of you may be going for the Eagles.
Usually at the superbowl I’m pulling for good dip, hot wings. Yay! Go pizza!
I heard it said one time that a football game is made up of dozens of men in desperate need of rest surrounded by thousands of people in desperate need of exercise.
I think there is some humor and truth in that statement.

Tension:

In Hebrew 4:1-13 the Word "rest" in the english translation is used 9 times.
What is this rest that he is talking about?
Sabbath Rest or Creation Rest-
- The context tells us that it was a reference to how God described what He did at the end of creation. That sabbath rest was an example that God called his people to in the 10 commandments. The sabbath day was a ceasing of labor for the express purpose of focusing on their relationship with God.
Canaan Rest-
- Rest also was a reference to the children of Israel going out of Egypt, from the wilderness, and into the promised land, or into my rest. The idea was that they were out of their bondage in Egypt. They were to be through the wilderness and into a place where they would settle and live.
- Of course, that first generation out of Egypt did not go into his rest because of unbelief, as was expressed by David, the Psalmist, in Psalm 95. In that Psalm, David encourages the reader not to have an unbelieving, evil heart, but to listen to God's voice today.
There is still a rest for us.
- In this text, the author of Hebrews also references this idea of rest as something that still exists and is still available for the people of God through faith. This is most explicitly stated in verse 9

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

This rest includes salvation.
- You cannot experience God's rest if you have not been saved. Our sin separates us from a Holy God, and it is by believing and trusting the good news preached to us that we are made alive and brought into a relationship with God. We do not have to rely on our own good works to make us right with God. We trust in Christ's work on the cross as the righteousness that is given to us to make us right with God. We are saved by His work, not by our own. This is expressed in verse 10.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Sanctification Rest-
- Once we have that salvation rest, we have that positional relationship with God, we are afforded the opportunity to have fellowship with God. We can have a closeness with God. We can have a walk with him that allows us to have a transformative rest in Him. He changes us from the inside out. We do not labor to enter our positional relationship with God. We believe God for salvation, and He saves us. We do labor to stay in fellowship with God because it is easy for us to get distracted from staying, and obeying, and focusing on our relationship with Him. This is expressed in verse 11.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

The question then is this: "How do we labour to enter into that rest?" If unbelief is what keeps us from entering His rest, how do we grow in our faith?
And the answer to this is found so clearly in the next 2 verses.
If you will understand and apply the truth of today's text, and the truth of the last two sermons, there is so much joy available for you. There is so much rest availble for you. There is so much fruit that will abound in your life. This is how God's power could flow through you in incredible ministry. God help me to believe this and live this out for our people. God help our people to live this out for Findlay and to the uttermost part of the earth.
How does it happen?
It happens by God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through His Word.
In the mind and words of the author of Hebrews He goes right to the word of God. If the issue is that a lack of faith, that unbelief, is what keeps us from God's rest, then the thing that will bring faith is the Word of God.

The Word of God is essential in bringing us into God’s rest and transforming us because it is the only resource that can accurately embody these three descriptions.

1. The Word of God is transforming because it is alive. v. 9-12

12 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.

Explanation:

In these two verses we are given an incredible description of the nature and the function of the word of God.
The word here in our text is "quick". The greek word is Zao. It is found 144 times in our english translation and is translated as live, living, liveth, alive, lived, quick, lively, livest, life and lifetime.

How is the Word of God alive?

The Word is alive because God the Father is alive.

Let's set it in its context.
Psalm 95 and Hebrews 3 and 4 have taught us that God has a plan and an instruction for us.
- Go into His rest! Do not have an evil heart of unbelief.
There is an accountability to a real author who really wrote to us.
The writer of Psalms and of Hebrews is telling us that this real God, who really exists, who is really speaking to us specifically will hold us accountable for how we respond to His Word!

The Word of God is alive because God the Son is alive.

Consider again John 15. I won't exegete the whole passage but consider this.

John 15:1-5

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jesus' claim is that abide in Him is to connect with, hear, and obey his word as we see in verse 3. As we do that fruit is produced. Can dead things produce life? No!

The Word of God is alive because the Holy Spirit is alive.

He is the author of the book. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of the pages of Scripture.

2 Peter 1:20-21

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We are also told that at salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in the believer. To not have the Holy Spirit residing in us is to not be saved.
Consider what the Holy Spirit said through Paul in Romans 8:8-9.

Romans 8:8-9

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The Word of God is alive because it's author lives in us. The good news is that once He indwells us he cannot leave us. This is why Ephesians says

Ephesians 4:30

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The next two descriptions lay on the foundation of this first description.
The Word of God is alive because God is alive. He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnisapient. He is all knowing, all powerful, always present, and supremely wise. His Word is His revealing of who He is. His Word He will promise to support and fulfill. His Word is alive!

We can enter into God’s transforming rest through His Word because the Word is alive. We can also enter into God’s transforming rest through His Word…

2. The Word of God is transforming because it is powerful. (v.12)

Explanation:

Because the Word of God is alive, it is also powerful. The greek word translated powerful is ἐνεργής- energēs,meaning active, operative: - effectual, powerful. It comes from two other words which means "with work" or "with activity".
The Word of God is active. It works. It makes a difference. It transforms.
Consider these verses that speak to the power of God's Word.

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

John 17:17

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms. -- A. T. Pierson

Other books were given for our information--the Bible was given for our transformation.

The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity, but to make you conform to Christ’s image. Not to make you a smarter sinner, but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts, but to transform your life.” --Howard Hendricks in Living by the Book

Jeremiah 23:29

29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

The Bible—banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints. - Charles Colson

The Word of God is powerful both in its durability, and in its ability to change the lives of those who read it, believe its precepts, and obey its' truths.
The Bible is powerful.

We can enter into God’s transforming rest through His Word because the Word is alive. We can also enter into God’s transforming rest because it is powerful. Here one last description of God’s transforming Word:

3. The Word of God is transforming because it is discerning. (v.12-13)

Explanation:

There is a third description that we see in this passage of the word of God. It is discerning.
This truth is given to us with an illustration. It is described as a two edged sword. Paul also referred to the Word of God as a sword.

Ephesians 6:17

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

What does a sword do when it is implemented? It does exactly the word found in the verse. It pierces. It divides.
There is something to learning and discerning that does divide.
Tonight is the Superbowl, so I will use football as my illustration of this concept. Each individual player on the team was developed like this. Let's take the quarterback for instance.
The best quarterbacks are going to learn about grip on the football. They are going to learn about throwing motion. They are going to learn about reading the defence. They are going learn about leading the receiver with their passes. They are going to learn about ball faking. They are going to learn about scrambling. They are going to learn about hand offs. They are going to learn about play calling. All of these elements individually, and more, make up the totality of all that they have to learn in being a good quarterback.
We are living out life as God designed it. He has a plan and a purpose for us. You and I live physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual lives. These things are interconnected. We live from our hearts- from what we believe. Our behavior displays our beliefs. For our behavior to be changed, our beliefs, which come from our hearts, must be changed.
Now read the verse. The Word of God helps us to divide out what is inside of us.

Soul and Spirit- There are parts of the scripture where the word for soul and spirit are used interchangeably. There are parts of scripture where a distinction is made. Some have said that the reasoning part of us is the soul, and the spiritual part of us is our Spirit. Only the Bible can discern between the two, and to help us behave accordingly.
Joints and marrow- One commentator said, "The Word of God can get right down in htis flesh of ours and make a disctinction." There is a connection between our spiritual lives, our souls, and our bodies. David says this after his great sin against Uriah and Bathsheeba:

Psalms 32:1-4

1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart- The word here for "discerner" is the word kritikos. Strongs Dictionary says that this wrod means "decisive(“critical”), that is, discriminative: - discerner." Thayers dictionary says that this word is 1) relating to judging, fit for judging, skilled in judging" Of what is this Word a discerner or a critic? "The thoughts and intents of the heart"!
There are so many people who are critical of the Bible. Well, the Bible is critical of us. It discerns. It critiques.
This is why some people do not like it. They don't want to be exposed. But think about it. Again, back to the sports world.
Why do elite players have coaches? Why do the best at their sport have people critiquing their game?
Michael Jordan was once asked what he thought his best skill was. He didn't say it was his ability to dunk from the free throw line or his scoring ability. His answer: “I was coachable.I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.”
What is a coach if he is not a critic? Doesn't a coach help the player discern what He is doing wrong and instruct him in doing right?
Think about that quarterback who tells his coach- I don't like what you're telling me about my throwing motion, or my ability to read defenses. We talk about "coachability". A player can have all kinds of talent, but if he can't take instruction he'll never be as good as he can be.
The Word of God critiques. It discerns.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us exactly that.

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Doctrine- "Believe this. Know this!"
Reproof- "Nope. That's wrong. See this. Don't believe this. It is wrong."
Correction- "See what you did there. Stop. That's wrong."
Instruction in righteousness- "Do it this way. Act like this. Try this".
Notice the realm of the discernment or critiquing of the Word of God.

It is a discerner of the "thoughts and intents of the heart".
Everything we are and everything we do is found in the heart.

Luke 6:45

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Our behavior is just the application of all that has been soaked up and believed by our hearts. It is out of that overflow that we live.
When we come to the Word of God, being willing to be discerned- willing to be exposed by it, and learn from it, we are lead into an understanding of ourselves and our world that will help us to live rightly.
The truth is that we enter into that exposure seeing it ourselves, but that is exactly how God is able to see us anyway. Read the next verse:

Hebrews 4:13

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things arenaked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

God knows our hearts. He knows our thoughts. He knows why we do the things we do.
It's because of this that He sent His Son. He knows that we are sinners. He knows that we need Salvation. He knows our hearts motives and intents.
He knew that unless our hearts were changed- regenerated- our behavior would never be changed. Transformation would not be possible.
So, He sent Jesus Christ to die for us. He sent His Son to save us.
When we trust in Christ as our Savior He makes us new.
Then He helps us to enter into His rest by transforming us from the inside out. He sanctifies us by exposing us to ourselves.
His Spirit comes and indwells us. As we read His Word and submit to it, we begin to understand who we are. He convicts us. He convinces us. We repent. We are coached. We are critiqued. We are discerned. We are changed.

Conclusion:

What keeps people from the positional relationship with God? Unbelief. A lack of faith. We are saved by God's grace through faith. We put our trust in Him and He saves us.
What keeps believers from experiencing the full transformative fellowship that is available to us as God's rest? Unbelief. A lack of faith. That's why God's word tells us so often to abide. To remain. To stay. We must believe and obey!

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;

Where He sends, we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Topics: Bible, Word of God