Pentecost +20b October 14, 2012
Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Sharp : Confidence
Last week we at Beach Cities Christian Fellowship we began a journey in Hebrews.
We talked about the path of suffering, forgiveness and holiness that the great Pioneer of our Salvation blazed;
Hebrews reminds us to be = Testified : Holy
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is God's Son
Jesus was appointed the heir of all things
It's through Jesus that God created the world
Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God
Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power
Jesus is the purification for sins
Jesus sits at the right hand of the God Almighty
As we looked at Hebrews 2, we discussed our need to be Holy as God is Holy.
Through your comfort,
Through your forgiveness,
Through your experience with the pioneer of our perfect salvation...
May you, being rooted in Christ's Love, comfort others!
May you - be Holy as the Lord is HOLY.
May you be Testified : Holy!
Hebrews 4:12-16
This week we are looking at Hebrews 4:12-16
Listen as I read from the New Living Translation
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:12-16 NLT)
SHARP : CONFIDENCE
Do you have Sharp : Confidence?
The scriptures tell us the word of God is Alive and Active.
* Is there any doubt that we too... should be?
* Be Holy as I am Holy.
* Be Alive as I am alive!
* Be Active as I am Active!
"The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword."
Have you ever held a two-edge sword?
* I have a friend in Seattle who owned a few doubled-edged swords.
* Double edged swords are:
1) Heavy - take great skill to manuever
2) Sharp - are very dangerous.
- Why?
- They cut both ways.
Have you heard this statement before?
"The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword"
When you have heard this before, what does it make you think of?
"word of God..."
1) Scripture
2) "Word" (capital W) = Jesus
3) Spoken word - voice, utterance
Often when we hear "the word of God" we think of: Scripture!
* The Holy Scriptures
* The Bible - sharper than any double edged sword.
- We can read the Bible and it has the ability to cut right through us.
2) We hear in John 1:1 (in the NIV) say this of the "Word"
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)
* Our mind is drawn to John 1.
* The Word of God is Jesus.
* The Word of God can
3) Spoken word. Utterance.
* When we hear the voice of God - it is sharp.
Here in Hebrews, the Greek word used for this "lower case w" is Logos.
- It draws us to the use as a spoken word
- But logos was also used in John.
Is it appropriate for our mind, when we read "the word of God" here in Hebrews to think of
1) Scripture
2) "Word" (capital W) = Jesus
3) Spoken word - voice, utterance
SHARP : CONFIDENCE
We have just looked at what is sharp.
Let's now spend some time looking at our CONFIDENCE.
What is MOST IMPORTANT in your life?
"Are you Confident?"
Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. (ESV)
Talk about confidence.
Your Love is better than LIFE!
Chair at Knot's Berry Farm
When I was a boy, I remember visiting Knot's Berry Farm.
There was an Old West interactive show - where they invited people
to sit upon this old chair that was up on the wall.
People of all different sizes were invited.
People of all different sizes were intimidated by the idea of sitting on
a chair where the feet didn't touch the ground.
Zip-Lining
This past week I had the opportunity to go Zip-Lining
After getting geared up.
Strapped in.
Hooked up
There's a moment when you have to step off the platform.
There's a moment when you have to place your confidence in the
ropes.
Are you Confident?
What do you have confidence in?
Wikipedia says: Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective.
At some point - if you're going to go Zip-Lining
You have to have confidence in the college students who
strapped you in
You have to have confidence in the harness that holds you in.
You have to have confidence in the line above your head that
carries you
You have to have confidence that you will stop at the end.
You have to have confidence.
This Morning - the writer of Hebrews is reminding us that we can have confidence!
We can approach the throne of God with confidence.
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
Are you in a time of need?
Do you need Mercy?
(YES?)
Then approach the throne of God.
We no longer have to wait.
We no longer have to go through someone else.
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Last week as we looked at chapter 1 & 2 of Hebrews we discussed Suffering.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)
Why can we approach the throne with confidence?
Because we have a God who empathizes with us.
We have a God who understands us.
We have a God has experienced that which we are going through.
Why can we approach the throne with confidence?
Because the "Logos" - the word of God - calls us.
Because Scripture calls us.
Because Jesus Christ calls us.
Because The Voice of God calls us.
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.
SO let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet did not sin.
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4 NIV)
The New Living Translation in Romans 12:2 says:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)
Our World says have self-confidence.
Our world looks down on the church, and Christ, and our reliance on God.
Yet, we know we are not to be of this world.
Yet, we know we are to allow God to transform us in a new person.
We know we are to allow God to change the way we think.
How has our thinking to change?
One way - we are to be confident
not in your own doings - but in that of God.
God Loves you.
God calls you.
God wants you -- to come to the throne of grace in confidence!
Are you in a time of need?
Do you need Mercy?
I invite you to step off the platform in confidence that
God will carry you through!
Come to the Holy one,
the one who has been tempted in every way - yet did not sin.
Come to the one who empathizes with you.
Come to the one who is LOVE!
Benediction:
As you go, receive this benediction:
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it!
May you this day, and everyday have a SHARP : CONFIDENCE Go and Love!
Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Sharp : Confidence
Last week we at Beach Cities Christian Fellowship we began a journey in Hebrews.
We talked about the path of suffering, forgiveness and holiness that the great Pioneer of our Salvation blazed;
Hebrews reminds us to be = Testified : Holy
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is God's Son
Jesus was appointed the heir of all things
It's through Jesus that God created the world
Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God
Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power
Jesus is the purification for sins
Jesus sits at the right hand of the God Almighty
As we looked at Hebrews 2, we discussed our need to be Holy as God is Holy.
Through your comfort,
Through your forgiveness,
Through your experience with the pioneer of our perfect salvation...
May you, being rooted in Christ's Love, comfort others!
May you - be Holy as the Lord is HOLY.
May you be Testified : Holy!
Hebrews 4:12-16
This week we are looking at Hebrews 4:12-16
Listen as I read from the New Living Translation
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:12-16 NLT)
SHARP : CONFIDENCE
Do you have Sharp : Confidence?
The scriptures tell us the word of God is Alive and Active.
* Is there any doubt that we too... should be?
* Be Holy as I am Holy.
* Be Alive as I am alive!
* Be Active as I am Active!
"The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword."
Have you ever held a two-edge sword?
* I have a friend in Seattle who owned a few doubled-edged swords.
* Double edged swords are:
1) Heavy - take great skill to manuever
2) Sharp - are very dangerous.
- Why?
- They cut both ways.
Have you heard this statement before?
"The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword"
When you have heard this before, what does it make you think of?
"word of God..."
1) Scripture
2) "Word" (capital W) = Jesus
3) Spoken word - voice, utterance
Often when we hear "the word of God" we think of: Scripture!
* The Holy Scriptures
* The Bible - sharper than any double edged sword.
- We can read the Bible and it has the ability to cut right through us.
2) We hear in John 1:1 (in the NIV) say this of the "Word"
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)
* Our mind is drawn to John 1.
* The Word of God is Jesus.
* The Word of God can
3) Spoken word. Utterance.
* When we hear the voice of God - it is sharp.
Here in Hebrews, the Greek word used for this "lower case w" is Logos.
- It draws us to the use as a spoken word
- But logos was also used in John.
Is it appropriate for our mind, when we read "the word of God" here in Hebrews to think of
1) Scripture
2) "Word" (capital W) = Jesus
3) Spoken word - voice, utterance
SHARP : CONFIDENCE
We have just looked at what is sharp.
Let's now spend some time looking at our CONFIDENCE.
What is MOST IMPORTANT in your life?
"Are you Confident?"
Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. (ESV)
Talk about confidence.
Your Love is better than LIFE!
Chair at Knot's Berry Farm
When I was a boy, I remember visiting Knot's Berry Farm.
There was an Old West interactive show - where they invited people
to sit upon this old chair that was up on the wall.
People of all different sizes were invited.
People of all different sizes were intimidated by the idea of sitting on
a chair where the feet didn't touch the ground.
Zip-Lining
This past week I had the opportunity to go Zip-Lining
After getting geared up.
Strapped in.
Hooked up
There's a moment when you have to step off the platform.
There's a moment when you have to place your confidence in the
ropes.
Are you Confident?
What do you have confidence in?
Wikipedia says: Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective.
At some point - if you're going to go Zip-Lining
You have to have confidence in the college students who
strapped you in
You have to have confidence in the harness that holds you in.
You have to have confidence in the line above your head that
carries you
You have to have confidence that you will stop at the end.
You have to have confidence.
This Morning - the writer of Hebrews is reminding us that we can have confidence!
We can approach the throne of God with confidence.
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
Are you in a time of need?
Do you need Mercy?
(YES?)
Then approach the throne of God.
We no longer have to wait.
We no longer have to go through someone else.
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Last week as we looked at chapter 1 & 2 of Hebrews we discussed Suffering.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)
Why can we approach the throne with confidence?
Because we have a God who empathizes with us.
We have a God who understands us.
We have a God has experienced that which we are going through.
Why can we approach the throne with confidence?
Because the "Logos" - the word of God - calls us.
Because Scripture calls us.
Because Jesus Christ calls us.
Because The Voice of God calls us.
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.
SO let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet did not sin.
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4 NIV)
The New Living Translation in Romans 12:2 says:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)
Our World says have self-confidence.
Our world looks down on the church, and Christ, and our reliance on God.
Yet, we know we are not to be of this world.
Yet, we know we are to allow God to transform us in a new person.
We know we are to allow God to change the way we think.
How has our thinking to change?
One way - we are to be confident
not in your own doings - but in that of God.
God Loves you.
God calls you.
God wants you -- to come to the throne of grace in confidence!
Are you in a time of need?
Do you need Mercy?
I invite you to step off the platform in confidence that
God will carry you through!
Come to the Holy one,
the one who has been tempted in every way - yet did not sin.
Come to the one who empathizes with you.
Come to the one who is LOVE!
Benediction:
As you go, receive this benediction:
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it!
May you this day, and everyday have a SHARP : CONFIDENCE Go and Love!
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