IT’S ALIVE!!!!!! Hebrews 4:12-13New International Version(NIV)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 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.
These verses reminded me of a Small Group Study called “Not a Fan” that our small group followed a while back. The study asked if I was a fan of Christ or a follower of Christ? Was I the type that stood on the sidelines & hollered “You go God!”? Or was I a true follower of Christ that lived, slept, breathed & followed HIS Word?
In the DVD, it showed a person that went to church every Sunday & acted “Christ Like” on Sunday, but the rest of the week, he went about work & life without praying, or following Christ. He stole a client from a friend at work & the friend said are you the same person I sit with every Sunday? The man answered, no that’s Sunday, this is real life. It’s everyone for themselves!
Really? Read again the verses above. “The word of God is alive and active.” It’s not just on Sundays. News articles & television may inform us; Books might entertain & motivate us; Movies and television shows might captivate us; but only the living, active Word of God can actually change us.
We are fooling ourselves if we think that just coming to church on Sunday makes us a Christian. The verse says the word is “sharper than a double edged sword & penetrates through soul, spirit, joints and marrow and judges our thoughts and attitudes of our heart.” “Everything is laid bare before God.”
We can’t hide our sinful thoughts, hidden agendas and attitudes from God. He knows what we are thinking or saying even before we think or say it.
Some might think that’s (using pastor’s words) scary fear. I think that’s awesome. The Word of God gives life & it is up to us to receive it or reject it. If we receive the word, it transforms & cleans us from the inside out. To believe God, to trust God, we must hear His Word. We must hear the good news and know the promises that He makes for us to believe because as the verse says His Word is “living and active.”
In our small group study, the man finally realized that the Word was not just for Sundays. It is alive and active every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year. The man ended up quitting his job and opening a homeless shelter to feed, clothe & minister to all that would listen. When he died the testimonies of the people that he changed their lives was proof that God lived through the man.
Following God and living His Word is not just on Sunday. As the verses say we can’t hide from God,so I am trying to open my inner being and Live with Faith. I am trying (and this is really hard for me) to not control but let God lead me. As pastor said yesterday, it’s not about training me, but accessing God’s word & letting Him lead me.
As the verses say, all things are open and exposed. What will I do with what is exposed and what He now is watching? Do I turn from the deceptive promises of sin, and trust in the all-satisfying promises of God?
I am going to try with all of my heart and soul. Will you try? Will you help me try? I would love to hear from you.
Jerry
My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You, to receive your Love and Your Life and all the grace & mercy I so desperately need this day! I surrender every aspect of my life totally & completely to You –my spirit and soul, my body, my heart, my mind & will!
I deliberately and intentionally come under Your rule and reign Jesus and come in the name of Jesus against the kingdom of darkness and every form of evil that is come against me, my family, my kingdom and domain! I put on the Truth like a belt (surrendering to Your truths and You as Truth)! I put on Your Righteousness like a breastplate (not depending on my own at all)! I put on Readiness that comes from Your Gospel peace in my life! I take up Faith as a shield (trusting You over my will and thinking)! I receive salvation like a helmet over my mind and life! I wield the Word of God like a sword totally empowered by Your Holy Spirit in me-fill me afresh! And I pray….!
Amen