September 27, 2012
OUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Hebrews 4
Jessica Tigert
Central Truth
God's Word is crucial in the life of a believer.
Key Verse | Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Hebrews 4
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 1 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God 2 4:8 Greek he would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 4
When I open anything that has to be put together, I have to read through the instructions several times for it to make sense. Too many times, when I try to figure things out without instructions, it ends up in a heap of a mess. I eventually have to go back and start all over again with instructions in hand.
It is often the same with the Bible. God has given us the Bible to use as our instruction manual throughout life. He has filled it with everything that we could possibly need to know. We too often just push it aside as if we know better. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that it is living and active. We can always get something new out of it. It also tells us that the Word is able to judge our thoughts and intentions. We can't hide anything from God or pull the wool over His eyes. He is able to get to the root of the issue in our hearts.
We also need to use this tool He has given us to prepare ourselves to speak His truth to others in our lives. Paul tells us that we are to be armed with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17b). We need to have His words hidden in our hearts so that our hearts are more aligned with the truth. We need those words to help judge our intentions and cut out those parts of us that aren't glorifying to Him.
One way to do this is by memorizing Scripture. The Equipped Disciple classes at Watermark helped me see the importance of reading my Bible and memorizing Scripture. I highly recommend those classes to everyone. I confess that it is often a struggle to not fall back into old habits, and I don't always make spending time with God a priority. However, I know that tomorrow is a new day, and God is waiting for me to spend time in His Word and learn His truths.
Discussion Questions
1. How are you doing at spending time reading your Bible?
2. What Scripture have you memorized lately? Take Equipped Disciple 1 if you haven't started; it's there to help!
3. What habits or thoughts does the Lord need to cut out of your life?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
September 24-28 (Hebrews 1-5)
Read Hebrews 4:12-16.
• What is the Word of God?
• To what did the writer of Hebrews compare God's Word?
• What does it mean that His Word exposes our thoughts and desires?
• How does it make you feel to know that nothing you think or do is hidden from God?
• Who is our High Priest that has entered heaven?
• What does it says that Jesus understands about us?
• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus experienced all the temptations that you face?
• What was different about Him?
• Is it comforting for you to know that Jesus, who died for your sins, knows and understands you?
Activity: Talk about what it means to be tempted and the difference between being tempted and sinning. When you are tempted, what can you do to keep from sinning? Take time to think through different scenarios as a family and discuss what the temptations are and how you can say "no" to the temptations. (Examples: a friend is mean to you at school, your boss treats you unfairly at work, someone says something untrue about you at school or work, a grocery clerk gives you back too much change, etc.)
Throughout the week, take time at dinner to talk about ways that you were tempted throughout the day and what choices you made, either to fall to the temptation and sin, or to resist the temptation. Then pray together, thanking Jesus for His sacrifice to pay for all of our sins.