Hebrews #09; an exposition of Hebrews 4:12-13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 8, 2014.
Intro:
Our statement of faith declares, The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. (Article I The Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
We confess the authority, the truth and the inspiration of this book, it is the Word of God. We are in the minority. The Bible, once believed and cherished by most in our culture, has lost its luster as far as most Americans are concerned. The culture in general reflects more of the attitude of Mark Twain than our Baptist forefathers. Twain said, “It (the Bible) is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.” As far as most are concerned it is one of any number of “holy books.” None more valid than another. Interesting, perhaps, but of little or no relevance today. Yet the writer of Hebrews makes it clear the Bible is key to entering into God’s rest. Our text this morning is found in Hebrews the fourth chapter verses 12 and 13.
Text: Hebrew 4:12-13
The writer began a warning back in chapter 3. “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me…therefore I was provoked with that generation and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My anger, ‘They will not enter My rest.’” 600,000 men left Egypt only 2 entered the land of promise. Why? Unbelief. Failure to believe and embrace God’s word, His promise. Chapter 4 continues that warning. Reminding us there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God and that rest demands an attitude of whole-hearted commitment to the truth. It is belief in the fact related to the word and promise of God plus trust in those words. To trust is to rely upon or give yourself to. Verse 11 says, “Let us strive to enter that rest.” Verse 12 then says, “For the Word of God is living and active…”
There is the call to strive to enter followed immediately by an affirmation of the power and authority of the Word of God. The message from the biblical writer to us is that…
Thesis: You enter God’s rest when you believe and submit to His living, effectual, exposing and humbling Word.
There are three things I want to point out as we work our way through this very important text.
These believers are hard pressed.
Everything in their world says, “Abandon your faith.”
“It’s just not worth it. Turn back.”
The writer pleads with them, “Don’t harden your heart.”
“Don’t ignore His voice.”
“Embrace His promise.”
4:12-13 brings to a conclusion the warning started in 3:7.
- God’s Word pulsates with life. (4:12)
- This living Word actively, effectually exposes the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (4:12-13)
- This humbling exposure leads to a quiet submission.