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(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.

A. Entering God’s Rest (Hebrews 4:11)

(11) Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

1. This is the last part of a long admonition, starting in chapter 3:7ff.

2. This passage is appropriate for the beginning of Advent season, which historically is a season of reflection and preparation before Christmas, which formally begins on Christmas Day. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

3. The next two messages will be about the Jesus the incarnate great high priest, who knows and understand us and is perfectly equipped to be our high priest because he has become one of us and has walked in our shoes.

4. Today is an admonition to hear the words of this Jesus and embrace them.

(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.

1. Just what is this “word of God”

a. The Old Testament? The New Testament?

b. The message of Psalm 95 as quoted in Hebrews 3:7 and 4:7?

c. The “word of the gospel” (Hebrews 4:2)?

d. The “word” spoken by their leaders to them (Hebrews 13:7)?

e. The word of the Son (spoken by and about Christ) (Hebrews 1:1; 2:1; 6:1)?

f. For us today, all of the above - all that may be called the “word of God.”

2. Characteristics of this word: it is…

i. That is, it is effective, powerful, dynamic,and working to accomplish its purpose to discern, convict, befuddle, or transform, whatever is the case.

ii. As it says in Isaiah 55, the Word of God, when it goes out, does not return void. It does its work. Its work may be merely to discern the deadness of the hearer, and thus be a tool for judgment. Or its work (with the invigorating power of the Spirit) may be to enliven the heart of the hearer.

iii. Either way it is a powerful and dynamic and active word.

b. ….sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow

i. The point here is that this active and living Word is piercing. It “sees” right into the deepest inside of us. No part of us is hidden from its gaze.

ii. It cuts through all pretence, all masquerades, all attempts to hide or rationalize. It sees us better than we see ourselves. It knows us better than we know ourselves. We cannot hide from it. We are laid bare and naked before its piercing gaze.

i. Again, this active and living Word knows our hearts through and through. We cannot trick or fool it in any way. It reads us like a book.

ii. In context, this means that the Hebrew believers cannot try to have their Judaism and their Jesus too. The Word sees through all such pretence.

iii. Nor can we have the world and Jesus too, or our sin and Jesus too, or some other belief system and Jesus too. The Word of God pierces right through that.

iv. Therefore, since we are utterly laid bare, and totally defeated before the mighty gaze of the word of God, let us bow our hearts and submit to God as our judge and king and Lord! Let us enjoy the clarity of His judgment, the freedom of total “knownness” and rejoice that he calls even us to Himself in Christ.

v. Let us rejoice that we all live in a totally transparent glass house fully exposed to a God who sees us yet whom in Christ has loved us.

(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.

1. Notice the shift from the Word itself to the one who gives the Word.

2. No creature, nothing created, anywhere, can hide from Him.

3. All creatures are naked and exposed before Him who sees all.

4. And to Him, before whom all are naked and exposed, all must give account.

D. Let the Word of God Dwell Richly in You (Colossians 3:16)

1. Seek out the Word, that it may do its work in you. Read it, memorize it, expose yourself to it day to day and week to week that it may transform and remake you.

2. Ask God to take away all pretence and all phoniness and to give you integrity of heart, to knit your heart together in unity before Him.

3. Rejoice that you cannot play games with God so it is futile to try!

4. Ask God to prepare your heart to receive the Word, and to receive Him, the Word’s author, to receive the Son, and the Spirit, and the Life he brings!