Hebrews Ch4v12-16 - Dependence On God

Thank you.

So, Hebrews chapter 4.

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

And before we read, I just want to check, did everybody get one of these pieces of paper?

If you didn't get one, it's got practicing dependence on the top.

If you didn't get one, just put up your hand and I think Sarah, is that Sarah?

I haven't got my glasses on.

Oh, they're all gone.

Okay, so just share them out if you have them anyway.

Okay, no need, so having asked if you have one, just put it under your seat now, you're not to read it.

So, we'll read God's word, then we'll pray, and then we'll see what it has to say.

So, let's read.

Hebrews chapter 4, starting in verse 12.

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

For the word of God is alive 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.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses.

But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Let's keep our Bibles open.

We're going to talk to God as we pray.

Let's do that now.

Our Father God, we come to you in dependence upon you.

We ask for your help, that your word would be active in our life, and that we may experience your grace.

Help us now, we pray, in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, last week we started a new series, and we're asking the big question, what is a Christian?

So over the next few weeks, we're just taking a core theme each week and having a look at what the Bible has to say about it.

Today, we're going to see that a Christian is someone who is dependent on God.

Someone who is dependent on God.

And I'm sure you can think of many ways in which you may describe this, but for our sakes today, and to focus on where we're going in the talk, I'm putting it like this.

Dependence is saying, without God, I do not know what I need, and without God, I cannot receive all that I need.

So without God, I don't know what I need, and without God, I can't receive, I can't get what I need.

And the way in which we express our dependence on God is what we've been doing throughout this morning, both listening to God through his word, the Bible, and speaking to God through prayer.

Because through the word of God, through the Bible, our deepest needs are revealed.

And through prayer to God, our deepest need is received.

So let me say that again.

Through the word of God, our deepest need is revealed.

And through prayer to God, our deepest need is received.

And these two themes are at the heart of our text.

So chapter 4, verse 12, says the word of God is alive and active.

End of verse 12, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

So you see, God speaks to us through his word, it's active, and it reveals our deepest need.

Then have a look at verse 16.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

You see, we speak to God in prayer and we receive from God what our deepest needs are.

So what we're going to do this morning is look at these two themes of the word, the Bible, and prayer.

And then we're going to see what dependence on God looks like in practice.

So first, depending on God is listening to God.

Depending on God is listening to God.

Three things are going to help us to know what it means to listen.

First, let's remember that God is a speaking God.

The writer of Hebrews, from chapter 1 onwards, has been urging his readers to listen to God's word.

So have a look with me, chapter 3, verse 7, just to get the context.

So as the Holy Spirit says, today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.

Well, what's the rebellion?

Well, it was that time of testing in the wilderness.

The writer is looking back to when God's people were rescued from slavery in Egypt and were on their way to the promised land.

But not long into their journey, they sought an independence from God.

They stopped listening to the voice of God and listened to their own.

So with that background in mind, look at verse 12.

He says, see to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

He's challenging us.

Don't have a heart that is closed to the voice of God.

Verse 15.

He wants us to get it.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

And in case we've missed the point, he reminds us again, chapter 4, end of verse 7.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

You see, we need to be people who have our ears open to listen to God.

And the way in which we primarily hear God speak is through the words that we have before us in our Bible that we're listening to.

It's a little bit like a child's musical book.

Maybe you've had some of these in your house at different times.

When you open those books, you get a little tune that begins to play.

And then as soon as you close it, the music stops.

It's not that the music has gone away.

You just simply need to open the book and then you hear the music again.

Well, in the same way as we open up the Bible and read God's word, guess what?

We hear God speak.

Close that book.

And we silence his voice.

So first, we need to be a people who are listening to the God who speaks.

And when God speaks, God acts.

His words have power.

Look at chapter 4, verse 12.

For the word of God is alive and active.

God's word is living and transforming.

So right now as we hear the word, as we read the word, the word of God is taking effect in your life and in my life right now.

Just as God spoke the universe into existence with words,

so God acts in a powerful and transforming way through his words to us.

Look how the way, look in which the word of God is described.

Continue on in verse 12.

He says the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword.

Not a sword that you're going to use in battle,

but a sword that you're going to use to cut open.

Continue on.

Verse 12.

The word is sharper than any double-edged sword.

It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

You see, the point is, God's word is active.

It's not passive.

It's always at work.

It takes effect.

It does what God wants it to do.

Read God's word and God will act in it through your life.

So in what way does God act?

What impact does the word of God have in our life?

Well, God speaks, God acts, and God reveals.

The word has many functions.

So if you're reading the Bible, it'll say things like,

the word of God nourishes you like food,

or it cleans you like water,

or it grows you like a seed in the ground.

And here the focus is primarily on showing us that God's word is a revealing word.

Let's read all of verse 12 to get the point.

For the word of God is alive and active,

sharper than any double-edged sword.

It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

Here's the revealing part.

It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God's word, the sharpest of swords,

is like a surgeon's scalpel.

You go into the operating theatre,

and the surgeon will get out his scalpel,

and it cuts right through,

exposing the heart.

What we are really thinking right now,

what we really believe,

God's word reveals the real you.

A friend of mine recently had a heart attack.

No one knew it was coming,

not least himself.

He was a very active guy.

He was big into cycling.

And it wasn't until he had to be rushed in

for emergency surgery

that they opened him up

and discovered all kinds of blockages

in his heart.

The surgeon's scalpel revealed

the problem.

Well, in the same way as we read God's word,

it's saying it cuts right to the heart,

deeper than we could ever imagine,

and it reveals what needs attention,

what needs to be done with our heart.

You see, the big message is this.

Through the word,

whoops, too far.

Well, you just have to listen.

I've missed out a point.

Listen to this.

The big message is,

through the word,

God reveals our deepest need.

Through the word,

God reveals our deepest need.

You see, without God speaking to us,

we're actually incapable of knowing

who we truly are

and what we are in need of.

We're dependent on God

to show us our need.

Look at verse 13.

Nothing in all of creation

is hidden from God's sight.

So everything can be seen.

Every person.

What they're thinking,

what they're doing.

Everything is uncovered

and laid bare before the eyes of him

to whom we must give an account.

God uncovers

what is hidden in our hearts.

He exposes the sin.

He shows us what really matters,

what we need to repent of,

the things that we need to change in our life.

You see, reading the word

is like entering into the surgeon's theatre

where we come humbly

and accept God's diagnosis

of what our hearts are like.

So through the word of God,

our deepest need is revealed.

Second big idea,

depending on God

is not just listening to God,

but speaking to God

in response.

And again, three things

to help us understand

the speaking to God

side of things.

First,

let's notice the access

to God we have.

Look at verse 14.

Therefore,

since we have

a great high priest

who has ascended into heaven,

Jesus,

the Son of God.

Now,

you may remember

that we looked at Hebrews

some time ago.

The high priest

was that person

who was chosen by God

to represent the people

to God.

And though the high priest

was great

great and had many

privileges and responsibilities,

their main responsibility

was to represent the people,

to give them access to God.

But the problem was

every high priest

that was appointed

failed.

They were sinful.

So any access to God

was only partial

and temporary.

They could never enter

into God's presence

fully

and completely.

But we have,

do you notice verse 14?

It says we have

not just a high priest,

but a great

high priest.

One who is better.

One,

look at the end of verse 15,

who did not

sin.

Jesus,

our great high priest,

was perfect.

He never did anything wrong

or thought anything wrong.

In fact,

as we read through Hebrews,

we'll discover

that as the high priest,

he took upon himself

our sin.

And he was judged

in our place

for our sin.

So that we,

now through Jesus,

may have full

and complete access

to God.

That's what it says

in verse 16,

isn't it?

Let us then

approach

God's throne of grace

with confidence.

If we're trusting Christ,

we don't need to fear.

We don't need to hide.

We can come

with confidence.

Isn't that incredible?

The God

who speaks to us

in his word

invites us

and says,

I'm listening

to you.

And the fact

that God

would make this

known to us

shows how much

he loves us,

that he wants us

to talk to him.

And for the Christian,

we can speak with God

anytime,

anywhere,

about anything.

So God speaks,

but God listens.

We have access

to him.

not only access,

look at the sympathy

that we have

from God.

We have a God

who actually

understands us.

He's not so distant

and far away

that he doesn't know

what's going on.

No,

he's close.

Look at verse 15.

For we do not

have a high priest

who is unable

to feel sympathy

for our weaknesses.

Now,

to feel sympathy

in this context

does not mean,

oh,

I'm sure it's hard

for you,

but you know what,

if you do better

and, you know,

if you work a little

bit harder,

then things will be

good for you.

No,

something deeper

than that,

it's saying,

I understand you,

I get you,

I've been

where you've been

and because

I've been there,

I can help you.

That's what verse 15

is saying.

Look at verse 15

with me.

We do not have

a high priest

who is unable

to feel sympathy,

but we have one

who has been

tempted in every way

just as we are,

yet he didn't sin.

Now,

Jesus didn't suffer

every temptation.

For example,

Jesus wasn't married,

so he didn't struggle

with the temptations

that married folk

might do.

He died at the age

of 33,

yes,

he rose again,

but he didn't suffer

the temptation

that maybe somebody

older did,

but he suffered

temptation

in a way

that we will never do

because when

we're tempted

and the pressure

comes on,

we give in

to temptation,

we break,

but Jesus

didn't break.

even as the temptation

increased

and the pressure

mounted,

Jesus did not sin.

Therefore,

because he didn't sin,

he is qualified

to help us.

He knows what we need

because he has lived

as a human

on this earth.

He's experienced

life in this broken world.

Just look back with me

to chapter 2,

verse 18.

It makes it very clear.

Chapter 2,

verse 18.

Because Jesus himself

suffered when he

was tempted,

he is able to help

those who are

being tempted.

Isn't that encouraging

for you and I?

That when we face

struggles like this,

we have a God

who isn't distant,

but is close

and understands

and sympathises

with us.

He enters

into our struggle.

He feels for you.

He draws alongside

and says,

I'm going to help you.

So we have access.

We have sympathy.

Therefore,

we can come

and ask God.

We can ask him.

Verse 16.

Let us then

approach God's throne

of grace

with confidence

so that we can

receive mercy

and find grace

for our time of need.

I don't know

what you think

of God,

but he is not

a tight-fisted

Grinch.

God is a loving,

generous Father

who loves

to give.

In fact,

God is the one

who knows

what is good for us.

So in our need,

we can run to God

and ask him

for our help

in our need.

He gives us

the supplies

that is required

for the Christian life.

And in this context,

he gives what we need

in our temptations

and trials.

Mercy is what we need

for our past failure

and grace is what we need

for the future challenges.

And he gives it

in bucket loads.

It's overflowing.

It's constant.

But how much more

is this true

in every area

of our life?

What about

in your times

of suffering?

Maybe you've got

an illness.

Or maybe it's

in time of loss.

Or maybe you're

hurting this morning

because of what

a friend has said

or done.

Or maybe you're

concerned for your

family or your

children.

Well, we have

an invitation here.

Come to me.

You have access

to me.

I understand you

where you're at.

Come to me

and I will give you

mercy and grace

to help you

now

in your time

of need.

And when we think

about it,

as we go through

the day,

our needs increase.

We have multiple

needs.

from the morning,

from the minute

we wake up

to the moment

we go to sleep.

And all through

the day,

whatever need

we have,

God is sufficient.

It's not just

saying,

here all,

I have a little

bit of mercy

and a little

bit of grace

and you can

choose when you

have it,

but you can

only have it

once.

No.

It's there for us.

He is sufficient.

The Apostle Paul

reminds us in

Romans 8,

I'm going to

quote here a

verse.

It says,

God did not

spare his own

son,

but gave him

up for us

all.

How will he

not also,

along with him,

graciously give

us all things?

If God gave

you the greatest

gift possible,

the gift of his

son,

who died for you,

and rose again

to defeat death

for you,

if God gave

the best gift

ever,

he says,

how will he

not also give

you what you

graciously need?

He'll give you

everything else

you need.

So we can

come with

confidence

and ask.

So the big

message from

this second

idea

is that

through prayer

we receive

our deepest

need.

In this

context,

God is

revealing our

sin so that

he can provide

healing for

our sin.

Like the

doctor exposing

the problem so

he can restore

the person's

health.

Well,

that is what

God does.

He reveals

so that we

can receive

the healing.

And how true

is that in

all of our

Christian life.

He sees

what's going

on and

he will

provide for

us.

Now let's

be clear

before we

move on.

God doesn't

give what

we want,

but what

we most

need.

He will

never give

anything that

is harmful

and he will

never withhold

what is best.

Do you know

that?

He'll never

give you

anything that's

harmful and

he'll never

withhold from

you anything

that is best.

God made

you.

He knows

you and he

will give

according to

your need.

So here's

these two

big ideas,

how we

express our

dependence on

God.

Through the

word of

God, our

deepest need

is revealed

and through

prayer to

God, our

deepest needs

are received.

So, you've

got your

piece of

paper, now

you can look

at it, or

maybe you've

already read

it.

And we

want to

think about

how do we

practice

dependence on

God?

What's it

actually going

to look like

for you and

me to listen

to God and

to speak to

God day by

day?

Well, before

we get into

the detail,

Day Northland,

a pastor and

writer says

that reading

the Bible

and prayer

is like

breathing.

It's a really

helpful analogy.

Breathe in,

breathe out.

To breathe in

is to live.

Without breathing

we die.

Well, just as

we physically

need to breathe,

so we

spiritually need

to breathe.

breathe in

God's word

and we

breathe out

in prayer.

Inhale,

exhale.

It's oxygen

for the soul.

So what will

this spiritual

breathing look

like?

What will

speaking to

God and

listening to

God look

like?

Well, I've

got three

things down

there on

your piece

of paper.

The first

one says

breathe

regularly.

Breathe

regularly.

We need

regular times

to read

and pray.

Plan times

where we

prioritize

listening to

God and

speaking to

God.

We say,

Johnny, look,

I understand

that, I know

that, but I

don't have

time, I'm

busy at work

and then

while I'm

doing taxi

for the kids

and I drop

one here and

then I have

to go and

get the other

one here and

then I have

to go back

and I have

to go to

the shops

and look,

the way I

look at it

is if I

can get

here on a

Sunday,

that's good

for me.

That'll get

me through

the week.

Well, if

you're here

this morning

and you're

wondering if

you are,

you are,

you are here,

that's good.

Welcome.

It's great to

have everybody.

Gathering

together is

vital, but

if that's the

only time we

breathe,

ease, we're

going to

struggle in

our Christian

life, aren't

we?

Look at the

quote that's

on your

sheet by

D.L.

Moody, an

American

evangelist.

He put it

like this,

a person

can no more

take in a

supply of

grace for

the future

than he

can eat

enough for

the next

six months

or take

sufficient air

into his

lungs at

one time to

sustain life

for a week.

We must

draw upon

God's

boundless

store of

grace from

day to

day as

we need

it.

I guarantee

you don't

just have

one meal

on a

Monday that

lasts you

for the

rest of

the week,

right?

Unless you're

on some

weird, crazy,

unhealthy

dieting

exercise.

That'll kill

you, so

don't do

it.

Just as

we eat

daily and

breathe

regularly,

so we

need to

read and

pray

regularly.

It's not

a duty to

perform a

kind of a

tick list and

oh God

will be

pleased with

me.

No, it's

oxygen for

your soul.

It'll

actually grow

you and

nourish you

and it

will sustain

you and

change you.

So let's

breathe

regularly.

breathe

intentionally.

The second

idea is

let's

breathe

intentionally

because

sometimes you

can go,

well, what

am I going

to read

today?

Close my

eyes, flick

through and

oh, I'll

read this.

Well, no,

let's have a

bit of purpose

about it.

Choose a

book, choose

Hebrews,

whichever one

you like,

and say,

I'm going to

read a section

at a time.

So let me

show you a

pattern how

you can do

this.

This is

something that

I sometimes

do, different

ways of

reading and

helping us to

get God's

word into

our life.

So four

things under

breathing

intentionally.

First come

independence.

We can pray

to God

before we

read, we

can pray,

Lord, open

my eyes that

I may see

wonderful things

in your

law.

Show me,

reveal to

me.

Or a

reminder that

I cannot

bear fruit

apart from

God, I

can do

nothing.

You see, I'm

asking God

to reveal to

me my

deepest need.

So we

come to

the Bible

with an

attitude of

dependence.

I need

him.

And as

we do,

the next

step is

we engage

the mind.

We're well

able to

think, so

we engage

the mind.

we read

the text

just as

we've

read from

Hebrews

12 or

from Hebrews

4 today.

And we

can ask

simple

questions like,

what does

it say

about God?

Well, we've

learned that

God is a

speaking God.

His word is

active and

alive.

What does

it say

about myself

and areas

that I need

to change?

What's in

my heart?

What commands

am I to

follow or

promises to

believe?

Well, we've

got a

great promise

that when

we come

to God

and ask

him for

grace and

mercy,

he will

give it.

That's a

command I

can follow.

So that's

engaging the

mind.

And then we

want to bring

it to the

heart deep

down in

our life.

So from

the answers

we think,

how does

this apply?

So how

does this

truth about

God whose

word is

active and

alive,

life,

how does

that help

me to

thank him?

I can

thank God

for that.

What sin

do I need

to confess

and turn

from?

Not just

generally,

but being

more specific.

Lord, I

want you to

change me

because I

get angry

so often.

Or help

me because I

find that I'm

not speaking

the truth

as I

ought.

What do I

need God

to ask for

help,

for change?

So we

can do

that simple

exercise.

And then the

last one,

experiencing

the truth.

That's taking

it all

into prayer

and putting

it all

into practice.

So we

can adore

God, we

can praise

him and

say thank

you so

much for

your living

word and

the work

it does

in my

life.

We can

confess,

Father,

please forgive

me for

the times

that I

have watched

something

this week

that I

ought not

to have

watched.

The things

that I

have thought

that I

shouldn't

have

thought,

please forgive

me.

And then

when petition

we ask

of God,

Lord,

would you

give me

mercy?

And will

you give

me grace

to help

me live

as I

ought as a

Christian

this week?

speak.

So that's

just something

very simple.

Breathe

intentionally.

Have a

focus and

a pattern

for our

reading and

speaking to

God.

And then

the last

one,

breathe

together.

Sometimes

we can get

overwhelmed and

anxious,

can't we?

And we

can get

kind of

out of

breath and

we can get

challenged and

someone needs

to sit

alongside us

and help

us to

regulate our

breathing.

They might

even say,

breathe with

me,

calm down,

breathe in,

breathe out.

But we

need to do

that spiritually

because it's

hard sometimes

to read and

pray on our

own.

And we

need somebody

who will get

alongside and

say,

breathe with

me,

let's read

God's word

together,

let's take

it in,

let's reflect

on it,

now let's

pray it

back to

God.

Pray with

me.

We need

each other

and that's

why God

has put us

together in

a church

family,

so that we

can help

each other.

And if you

want somebody

to help

you,

well ask

someone today.

I would be

very happy,

I'd love to

meet with you

and read

the Bible.

So what is

a Christian?

Well a

Christian is

someone who

depends on

God.

Through the

word of

God our

deepest needs

are revealed

and through

prayer to

God our

deepest needs

are received.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Father, thank you

that we have

heard your

voice through

your word

written down

in scripture.

and thank you

that you have

heard us as

we have

prayed to

you.

Would you

please help

us to

live our

life dependent

on you?

That you

would reveal

to us what

is going on

in our life

that we may

come and ask

for the

things that

we need.

Would you

give us

mercy and

will you

give us

grace for

our needs

today?

Thank you

that you

listen and

thank you

that you

speak.

In Jesus

name we

pray.

Amen.

Well we're

going to sing

a song

together that

helps bring

some of

these thoughts

and themes

together.

speak oh

Lord as

we come

to you to

receive the

food of

your holy

word.

It's a

prayer.

A prayer

that we

would long

that God

speak into

our lives.

Let's stand

together if

we're able

to and

we'll

sing.

Amen.