Bold Words

Hebrews 4: 12-16, by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
October 11, 2015


12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4: 12-16


They were overwhelmed by the living Word of God. There was singing. There was dancing and clapping. There were tears. As the plane landed in West Papua, Indonesia, the pastor and elders of the Kimyal Tribe had the privilege of receiving the first lot of Bibles translated into their native language. They praised God for being claimed under God’s promises. They praised God for bringing the Word of Christ to their land. They praised God for the ability to pass down the stories of God’s love through the Kimyal generations. It was a day to celebrate that God is with God’s people through Jesus Christ. It was a day to remember that by the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s Word changes things.*

The Animate for Adults Sunday School Class saw this celebration unfold together through a You Tube video last week. It was meaningful to see how deeply the class was moved by the Kimyal Tribe’s experience. But the class was insightful to notice something so important in their discussion afterwards. That insight was how often we take God’s Word for granted because it is so accessible to us.

Seeing the gift of faith through the eyes of the other often empowers us to truly experience how alive and active God’s Word is. It is why local and international mission opportunities quickly shift our perceptions of God, the world, and self.
It points us to the fundamental truth of the Hebrews text this morning: God’s Word is living and active when we live in relationship to it.

We are created to live in relationship with the Word of God. The beginning of John's Gospel tells us about this relationship: “All things came into being through the Word [our Savior] and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (John 1: 3-4).

As we grow in our relationship with God’s Word, it becomes a light that shines into our darkness. John Calvin often said that Scripture is like a pair of spectacles or glasses that we need to put on our spiritual eyes. It empowers us to see the world and ourselves rightly. We begin to see God’s activity in the world around us and God’s activity in our lives. That activity is God’s grace breaking in to transform our lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

I remember the first time I truly began studying Scripture as an adult. The more I read and learned, the more I craved to learn. God’s Word unlocked the doors of my heart and freed me to trust in the promises of God’s presence, reconciliation, healing, and wholeness. Scripture gave me the language of faith, belonging, and community. Scripture opened my spiritual eyes to see that through the gift of faith God is able to do far more than we can ever hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). That was comforting and it made my soul sing, dance, clap, and even cry in praise as the Kimyal Tribe did.

The active and living Word of God does not always embolden us with peace and comfort, however. If it came only into our individual lives for the sake of individual change, then we would have “accepted the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). The author of Hebrews says the Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. It pierces and divides soul from spirit (Hebrews 4:12).

If we are striving to build our relationship with God through the Word, then we must make room for the Spirit to challenge and shape us. It is hard to sit next to God and accept God’s will over our own. We like to be the ones in the driver's seat of life. Isn’t it easier to be the one who knows how to handle our situation? When we go to Scripture searching for God’s direction and the Spirit convicts us, it can be incredibly uncomfortable. The Word has the power to pierce us right between our soul and our spirit. You and I know that space. It is right between the seat of our affections (our will or soul) and the spiritual vessel which holds eternal things (our spirit).

A friend of mine told me about the way his faith helped him navigate through conflict with a co-worker. He was at a crossroads and knew if he spoke his mind that he would ruin the possibility of reconciliation. He felt the Spirit leading him through passages of Scripture on conflict. And it amazed him how the Word convicted him to move from a position of being right and feeling angry to having a spirit of gentleness and sensing compassion. God’s Word convicts us so that our hearts will break for those things that break God’s heart – be it conflict, natural disasters, hunger, poverty, injustice, racial tensions, you name it. God’s Word emboldens us to do the right thing as the body of Christ.

As we take life steps to mature in our faith, we keep learning that God’s Word is a trusted companion on the journey. It becomes our guide in how to live and respond to the twists and turns of life. If we are committed to make room for God’s Word to guide us, then you might be surprised that Scripture begins to read us.

God’s Word senses our limitations and weaknesses. It gives us words to frame our insecurities, our temptations, our disappointments, and our needs. God’s Word covers us in the compassion of Jesus Christ, “who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). How many of us have found solace in the psalms during those difficult days. How many of us have been emboldened by God’s prayer book in search of grace during times of need?

The Psalmist says, “God you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely” (Psalm 139: 1-4).

When was the last time you were overwhelmed by the Word of God? Maybe it was this morning. Maybe it was last week. Or maybe it has been a long time. There is an ebb and flow to our faith journey as the excitement decreases and increases within our hearts. I encourage us all to rekindle our time with God’s Word by taking up a Breath Prayer this week.

A breath prayer is is an intentional pause throughout the day to focus prayerfully on a short phrase or bible verse through your breathing.

Right now I want you to close your eyes. Slowly breathe in. Slowly breathe out. Let the solitude of silence claim you.

Breathe in these words: “God’s Word”
Breathe out these words: “Is alive.”
Breathe in: “God’s Word”
Breathe out: “Is alive.”

Focus on these four words. How is God’s Word alive in you? What area of your life is God bringing peace? How is God’s Word convicting you? What situation needs grace? As you reflect this week also consider this breath prayer in regards to our community. Now open your eyes.

May you be overwhelmed by God’s bold Word this week.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

* “The Kimyal Tribe, West Papua, Indonesia, Welcoming First Lot of The Bible in Their Language,”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yt_kj1XlWI