"For the word of God is living 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." Heb 4:12
His words are from eternal to eternal and everlasting. Not only does He speak, but He also makes certain that his words accomplishes its purpose [Is 55:11].
Words pre-exist humans. Words, conversation and community existed in the Trinity prior to creation. When God made Adam, and communed with him, this ability to use words and the faculties for speech were created in him. Even different languages came from God as he made poor the wisdom of man and his works in Babel [Genesis 11:1-8]. We humans borrow words, its meaning and the ability to speak from Him our Creator. Thus the admonition in the bible to clear our conversation of filth, slush and unwholesomeness.
In Hebrews, the author compares the word of God to a double edge sword. It judges thoughts and attitudes. When a message is preached, if we feel a piercing or pricking in us, it may very well be the sharp blade of this double edge sword (provided the words being preached have scriptural foundation). On the contrary, in the delivery of a message if our thoughts and attitudes are untouched it should only mean three things –
- All our thoughts and attitudes are right, in which case we are borderline perfect
- The words preached are not the word of God
- Or it is time to think of a new Church!
In Paul’s epistles will you see an abundance of admonition or encouragement?
“… for the current thinking today is that gospel ministers instead of piercing men and women with the sword of the Spirit, only show them only its handle; they let them see the bright diamonds on the scabbard, but never let them feel the sharpness of the two-edged blade. They always comfort, and console, and cheer, but never allude to the terrors of the Lord.” Charles Spurgen, Oct 23, 1881
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