*Text: Heb. 4: 12*
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (NKJV)
The bible is a book, but it is a book like no other book. It is a book that stands in a world of its own and is totally incomparable with any other. One of the major difference between the bible and any other book is that unlike the words in any other book, the words in the bible is alive and powerful. Our Lord Jesus Christ saying the same thing expressed it this way “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6: 63b) The words of the bible are not dead or inactive words, they are actually living and very powerful. And for those who know how to engage it properly, it delivers amazing and outstanding results. Results that are out of this world.
In an attempt to describe just how powerful the word of God is, our text compares the word of God to a two edged sword. A two edged sword is only at its best when it is as sharp as it can be. In that state, it can be very deadly, nothing that comes across it goes without receiving at least a mark. To describe just how powerful and effective the word of God can be, our text says that even when the double edged sword is at its best, the word of God is sharper. There is no double edged sword for instance that can pierce the soul, but the word of God conveniently pierces not only the soul but the spirit as well. Thereby revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Now whoever is holding a double edged sword must hold it carefully and use it also with a lot of care because it cuts both ways and so the one holding is also at risk of being harmed by it. In the same way the word of God impacts not only the one hearing it but also the one ministering it as well. Both the preacher and the teacher of God’s word and those listening to it are impacted in the same way. This places both the preacher and the teacher of the word and those listening to them at the same level before God. They will both be judged by the same word and they will both be blessed by the same word to the same level if they engage it properly and apply it appropriately to their situation.
Don’t attempt to hide anything about yourself from God and His word because when you come under the word, it reveals all that you may be trying to hide about yourself. That is the reason why you will seat listening to the word from a preacher that you have never met before and it will as if someone has gone ahead to reveal everything about you to the preacher. That is the reason why so many become very uncomfortable whenever they are exposed to the true word of God, because it brings to the surface things about their life that they would have preferred should remain hidden.
The proper attitude to God’s word therefore is to cooperate with it and allow it to expose all that needs to be exposed in your life and as it is exposed, don’t resist it, don’t deny it, don’t argue with it but rather submit to it and ask God to set you free completely from unpleasant issues and to cleanse you totally. If you are willing to cooperate with the word of God in this way, your life will be the better for it and you will not be far from the kingdom of God. Shalom.
Prayer Points
1. Father thank you for the power in your word and the result that it delivers in the life of men, even I my own life and family.
2. Father through the mirror of your word please expose every ungodly thoughts and intents in my heart and may the same word cleanse me from them all in Jesus name
3. Father by your word humanity will be condemned and by your word also humanity will be justified, may I be justified by your word and not be condemned in Jesus name
4. Father may the light of your word consistently reveal to me my true identity in you in Jesus name
5. Father as your word expose what needs to be exposed in my life, help me not to resist it, not to deny it but to submit totally to it so that it can totally transform me into the image of your Son in Jesus name.
Courtesy: Rev'd Canon Oladele Odumosu
