Sword of the Lord

Q: What does the Bible say about the power of God's word?

The Bible teaches that God's word is quick and powerful, acting like a double-edged sword that discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Scripture emphasizes the life-giving and transformative power of God's word. In Hebrews 4:12, it states that the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. This means that the word not only instructs but also penetrates deep into the human heart, revealing our innermost thoughts and intentions. It is not merely the text on the page that has power; rather, it is the active work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the word that brings about transformation and life in His people. Without the Spirit's power, the words are just letters, devoid of their divine purpose and significance.

Q: How do we know God's sovereignty is important for Christians?

God's sovereignty is crucial for Christians as it serves as our foundation of hope and comfort in affliction. Believers find refuge and assurance in God's sovereignty particularly during times of trial and tribulation. As the preacher highlighted, God's sovereignty becomes precious when all other hope is lost. Psalm 119:49 mentions that God causes His servants to hope, emphasizing that our trust rests not on our circumstances but on His divine control and promises. When afflictions arise, we turn to God's sovereignty as our source of comfort and strength, reminding us that He is in ultimate control of all things. This perspective fosters deep dependence and trust, affirming that it is His faithfulness that upholds us, rather than our own.

Q: Why is it essential to mix faith with the preaching of the Gospel?

Mixing faith with the Gospel is essential because it allows the word to profit the listener, leading to true belief and rest in Christ. The significance of mixing faith with the preaching of the Gospel is clearly articulated in Hebrews 4:2, which states that the word preached did not profit those who heard it because it was not mixed with faith. This indicates that merely hearing the word is insufficient; it must be received in faith to be effective. Faith is a gift from God, enabling the hearer to respond and believe in the promises made through the Gospel. This faith not only brings about salvation but also provides rest for our souls, as we depend on Christ alone for salvation and comfort. Thus, faith transforms the understanding of the word from mere information into life-changing truth.

Q: What role does the Holy Spirit play in understanding Scripture?

The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding Scripture, illuminating its truths and applying them to our lives. The Holy Spirit’s role in understanding Scripture cannot be overstated. He is the one who quickens the heart and opens our minds to comprehend the deep truths found within the Bible. As stated in Psalm 119:50, it is God's word that provides comfort in affliction, and this comfort comes through the Spirit’s work of making the word alive in the believer's heart. Furthermore, without the Holy Spirit, biblical passages may remain cryptic or lifeless. When we approach Scripture prayerfully, inviting the Spirit to illuminate our understanding, we see how He reveals the intentions and teachings of God's word, enabling us to apply them to our daily lives. This shows that both the written word and the Spirit work in harmony to nurture our faith.

Once again, join me in Psalm 119 verse 49. It says, remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou has caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision. Yet have I not declined from thy law. I remember thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Thy statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night and have kept thy law. This I had because I kept thy precepts.

We're gonna be some time probably in this section, as it looks now, and this is the seventh group we've looked at, and the Huber letter, Zayin, this letter has several interesting meanings or connotation, and it should be no surprise that in the scriptures when we find something, that is interesting.

It's not a coincidence that the writer just put that in there and it just happened to be curious to us or whatever, but the intent by God that it has import. But this word has several interesting meanings or connotations. The first one is weapon or sword. The letter resembles a blade or a knife. Protection. The second connotation is sustenance. The root word for this connected with zan, Z-A-N or mazon, food or nourishment. And the third one is crown.

The letter, this letter is drawn like a capital I or a little L kind of a look to it with a crown on top of it. And so that it's used in that connotation at times too. But I found it, interesting and not, like I say, not just a curiosity, but that this is referred to this letter or this group of eight verses here of weapon or sword, sustenance for food or nourishment, and the crown of royalty it speaks of. But we're going to look this morning somewhat about the weapon or sword as it comes out. And it says, remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me.

And I think to that line in, that the bulletin today that says when all else, all other hope is gone that God's sovereignty is precious to God's people then.

It's precious to people when God reveals himself to them that that is so and not, and when all other hope or all other means of our rest or peace seems to be gone, it says then God's sovereignty pretty important, and I think that that is, but here that he has caused us to hope in him, in his word, and we see that David is calling upon the Lord to remember his word that the Lord caused David to hope in. I don't think that he's trying to jog God's memory that he might have forgotten something, but I think, and I read several different places, and I can't remember who said this or who phrased this, but said that, think of what I was going to say, it caused him to hope in that, reminding God of these things. We take his promises or those things that... that the word says to us about how we stand in him or whatever the promise or hope or word may be to us about how we stand in Christ, that we bring that back to God as a request and as a prayer to him, not to remind him, but to remind us of what the scripture says about where we stand. He's not, again, he's not saying that that for God to remember, but he was saying here to cause him to bring that to memory and to his mind. And when we are in different straits of whatever kind of affliction, as he speaks about in the next verse here, that he brings his word to mind, and he brings that to our mind, and when we speak to others, he brings his word to us and remembers that to us, and that he had caused it.

And verse 49, his comfort in tough times, for the words of God hath by the Spirit quickened David, as he said before and said in the last section. Quickened or made alive, it's God's word, not by word only, but by the power of God the Spirit that makes alive.

There are many people that hold the written word in their hand. There's no power in that written word of itself. It's God's word, and we take it as God's word. And we're gonna look in a bit and says that it is quick and powerful. But the quick and the powerful is brought about by God's spirit doing the work with it. Other than that, it's just printed on a page like anything else.

The words, a lot of people know the words of that and use the words of it and don't understand what it's speaking of. The power of the word is a spirit using that word in his people and not merely knowing the words. There are a lot of people that will repeat the the sinner's prayer or different things like that.

There's no magic in that. That's just like we were looking at on Wednesday night about the Ark of the Covenant. They thought that was a lucky charm to take with them into battle or whatever and it would And it was not of itself, it was not that. It was never intended to be that. It was a sign and a symbol and showing forth who had redeemed his people, the picture of that when it was in the temple. But there was no magic to that. In fact, they found it was a curse in a lot of ways to have that and to abuse what it was intended for.

But the word itself, people use it as a magic incantation. If you say these things, then you're going to be all right and you know this. That's not the power of the word. God's people will be in that word and God's people that he has put a new heart in. There's one of the guys I was reading, the old-timers, he called it a tender heart in his people that have any regard for his word by his spirit doing that. We don't come to that on our own. It's not made quick and powerful and alive to his people just because we read it.

There's a lot of passages we've seen over time that we've been in that you read it again or it comes up in a study or something. well, I didn't really understand that there before. How often does that happen to us? We see a verse that ties in with something we're either studying or comes up in conversation or a message and say, wow, I didn't understand that. And we've brought that up many times, the picture of, in Leviticus, how much time we spent there.

In years past, I would not have spent the time there. Reading through it was, as has been said before, kind of flyover territory. You kind of felt obligated you should read through that, but there was so much in that when we spent that time in Leviticus that God used that and revealed himself to us in ways that I hadn't seen before, and that's of his doing.

It's God's word, not by word only, but the power of God, the spirit that makes alive, as I said, only can the spirit of God indeed quicken his people via the true word and in the true word, the written word and the word himself, our Lord, our savior, who is the true word. I'd like to look at a couple of places that speaks kind of to this thought.

In the book of Hebrews, Turn with me, if you would, please, to the book of Hebrews. To me, the book of Hebrews was such an eye-opener. that how it shed the light on what the Old Testament speaks of, the priesthood and sacrifices, many things that should have been, you would think, apparent by reading some of the Old Testament things, but not so apparent. But the book of Hebrews has been used to reveal a lot of what the Old Testament is speaking of and who it is speaking of. But in Hebrews chapter four, I'd like to read verses one to three to start with.

It says, let us fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith, and then they heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, As he said, I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. And here it talks about those that, it said, tempted and proved me. God's been 40 years in the wilderness and they didn't enter into the rest because of unbelief. And here where it says,

2. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith, and then that heard it.

And we know that by grace are we saved through faith and that's not of us, that is of him. Rahab didn't have faith of herself to lead the spies or to accept this, to receive the spies in peace as it says. That was a faith that was given to her. In all the ones that we see in, chapter 11 of Hebrews and all through scriptures, any ones that was described as having faith, it was given to them and provided in them and not worked up by themselves.

Gospel must be preached and the Spirit must, by His grace, provide the faith for us to believe it and enter into the rest and depend on God in Jesus Christ as our rest. Again, it says the gospel was preached unto them. Speaking about those in the old time, a couple of points of that, those people knew what the gospel was. The gospel was preached unto them. the gospel of that Messiah, that one that had to redeem his people if they were going to be redeemed. They knew what the pictures were. They were taught that. Whether they understood that or saw it in reality, they didn't.

It said it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it. That is the vast majority of the preaching and teaching that goes forth. It goes forth, and by God's grace, he does what he will in his people to reveal himself. But there's countless that, as it says here, not mixed with faith in them that heard it. And it's not saying that they didn't believe hard enough, or they didn't this or that. God has to give the eyesight, has to give the faith by his grace to his people.

And those that didn't enter in, that was their situation, that they didn't have that. They didn't have that with them, that faith. It was just the preaching of the word. There were those that understood, at least a few we know of that wandered in the wilderness, at least two or three of them that we know about, but that's a pretty small percentage. That was a small remnant of those. And it said they could not enter in because of unbelief. And that wasn't something they worked up unbelief. That was just God didn't provide faith to them. They were going the way that natural man goes. And that's the point of it. They didn't have that rest. They were not looking to him for their rest. They were looking at it only with fleshly eyes.

If that's so, that this must take place, We can indeed rely upon his word, his statute, his promises, his testimonies, all those words that we saw at the beginning of Psalm 119 that relate to God speaking to his people in whatever form and however that lays out. In Hebrews chapter four, a little farther on we're gonna look, starting with verse nine.

Verse 8 says, if Jesus, or Joshua speaking him out, had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, for he that is entered into his rest is also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." And where it says he, verse 10, He that is entered into his rest, he hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his. And that's the rest that it speaks of. That's the rest that the gospel alludes to and says just outright. That's our rest is in him and not the rest of getting something accomplished.

That is the difference between religion and figuring out what must be done to be saved and God's people being delivered by his grace and understanding and having these things and being able to rest in him. And the works that are done from the beginning, the lamb slain before the foundation of the world, those works were done We didn't realize that until the Lord reveals himself to us, but they were done and that's the rest of God's people is resting and that has been done, that it's finished as it said.

And that's the word that's related here in Psalm 119. Let me get back to the right spot here. where it talks about thy servant on which thou has caused me to hope. That rest that is given to us and caused by God and delivered to us by him. And there in the Hebrews verses, starting with verse 12.

It says, for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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. Neither is there any creature that's not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. And up here in verse 12, where it talks about the word of God, powerful, quick, powerful. Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of the joints and marrow, and as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That gets right down to it. the word by the spirit, it gets to the root of the matter. And that is the only way.

The preaching or reading or other things of the word, without that taking place, they're just words. They may be good words and people try to follow after in a good way and think that's a good thing, but that's not the same as the spirit. And here, this applies over there in Hebrews where we said, it was not mixed with faith. It was not mixed with faith in those that the gospel said was preached to and given to. takes that word, that's when it becomes quick and powerful. That's the only way it can be. We can argue, we can do whatever we want to do about it and with others, that doesn't get it done. That doesn't get it done. We may offend somebody and make them upset with us, but that's not the same thing.

This here, speaking about this, when God in his spirit takes that word, it gets in and And that's the only way that man can be stirred. The only way he can be stirred in a new heart placed within him, that tender heart placed within him, is by the working of the Spirit doing that work.

And it says here, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nobody else can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. They may discern or figure out what is on my mind in that way, but not what's in our heart. And we can't tell what is in the thought or intents of any other person's heart either.

That's God's business, and that's what he is about. And we can come before kings, as David said in the last section there. But that is, and also the hope that we have and the comfort we have, or the rest we have, is because of the Lord in his word. It said, comfort in my affliction, and thy word hath quickened me. Verse 50 there of this section. And then the last little bit in the same chapter of Hebrews chapter four, starting with verse 14. It says, seeing then that we have a great high priest that's passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And these verses fit hand in glove with what David's speaking about in other parts of scripture. Of the many times that he's pleading with the Lord for help and for deliverance and for comfort and those things that only God can provide. And as it says here, let us come boldly to the throne of grace so we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. That, like I said, speaks to what is being said here in the Psalms. He says, remember thy word and that coming boldly before the throne of grace. We bring our petitions to Him according to what the Word is.

And we do, as we feel pretty poorly in prayer and bringing petitions, and that's where the important, or an important thing comes forth, which is the Spirit intercedes for us in those ways that we don't even know how to do. how to ask for help or those things. So this speaks to what David's reminding God or having God remind him of those things that he's said before and looking to him for that help. The word of God wielded by the Holy Spirit gets down, as we said, to the root of the matter. dividing soul and spirit, and I like this, and this really says a lot here, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart, not just the thoughts and intents socially with something, but of the heart and to the matter of that.

And he reveals those things. Sometimes he knows those things, sometimes he reveals those to us, what our thoughts intense of the heart are. We have a great high priest in heaven, as it said. Jesus, the Son of God, may we hold fast our profession. And I don't think that's another, it's another thing to do, check the box, but in him that is done. That's the only way that can be done. We can't hold on things.

We had a message one time given about the covenant, eternal covenant, at one of our camps and the speaker said if it was up to us, we'd throw it away. The covenant, those things, that if God doesn't keep them, that we would not be able to do those things or hold fast.

If these things are so, then we can, verse 16 there in Hebrews, we can come boldly and seek his help. In the book of Ephesians, turn to the book of Ephesians. with me if you would, chapter six. Ephesians chapter six, starting with verse 10. I'm gonna read down a little bit here. Verse six, chapter 10 of Ephesians, it says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. And then it says, take on the whole armor of God. But here, stand, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

In verse 12, it said, where we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. And indeed, those things that David dealt with and speaks of, he talked much about physical hardship and persecution and stuff, but we've seen in his life those things that that he wrestled with that were of his nature, of his own self, sinful nature that we are. And those are the type of things that are truly wrestled with that are beyond our powers and our scope to deal with. Those things on those levels have to be done by God and have to do the work that we cannot do in ourselves and in others.

And then verses, starting with verse 13 down a bit farther, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore having your loin skirt about with truth, having the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Again, the whole armor of God, and that is all, not just the scripture, that is that, but that armor that we have, it says, with the truth, girt about with the truth, and the breastplate of righteousness. And that breastplate of righteousness is not something we fashioned or that we provide the means to, but standing in His righteousness is the only righteousness that we know that we have. And feet shot, it said, with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Again, that speaking before all persons in all levels and those type of things that we bring the gospel to bear.

And that's what we have, that's the sword that's spoken of up here by the Zayin, the letter that's the head of this eight verses, to take that with us. And then verses 16 and 17 says, above all, the shield of faith were with you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. But here it talks about the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

And that is, that is, That's what we have to deal with. That's what we have to bring to bear is the word of God when we have occasion to and spend our time in and as we relate that to others. And that passage where Paul says, I came to you not in excellency of speech, nor in man's power, but God's power. message brought, that's standing in the power of God to make that effectual and to do anything with that, and not with his own excellency of speech, as he says. And these things that he provides to us that we may stand, as it says, to stand. And then I'd like one more spot, and before we go back to Psalm for just a second, First Thessalonians chapter five. First Thessalonians chapter five. And I'd like to start with verse 14. unto the Thessalonians.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both amongst yourself and all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the spirit, despise not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast that which is good, abstain from all appearance of evil. and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless under the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it. And he goes on about praying for the brethren, but verse 24, faithful is he that called you who also do it. So those things that David, no matter what situation he finds himself in, and turns to God and seeks God to reveal unto him those things that he needs and to remember those things and the judgments and how we are comforted by those things. God, the one that calls his people, that has a people, he's the one that's faithful to do these things. And it's not our faithfulness that gets the job done. It's his faithfulness that gets the job done and has got the job done and will continue to deliver his people.

And that's, I think, part of the gist that leaves that where he says at the beginning here, this is my comfort, my affliction for thy word hath quickened me. And above here, it says, verse 49, thou hast caused me to hope." Remember the word, caused me to hope. And those things along with that verse in Thessalonians, he is the one that's able to get it done.

And sometimes we're slow and learning or remembering that, that who's getting things done. And I think that's a good reminder to us here in this passage here. And we're gonna look a little more into this section of Zane next week, Lord willing. So thank you for your attention, your patience. And once again, in our Lord Jesus Christ be free.

Sword of the Lord

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the power of God's word?

How do we know God's sovereignty is important for Christians?

Why is it essential to mix faith with the preaching of the Gospel?

What role does the Holy Spirit play in understanding Scripture?

Sermon Transcript

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Sword of the Lord

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the power of God's word?

How do we know God's sovereignty is important for Christians?

Why is it essential to mix faith with the preaching of the Gospel?

What role does the Holy Spirit play in understanding Scripture?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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