The Capablities of the Word

This morning I read Heb 4:11-13 and focused in on verse 12:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the divisions of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

After reading these verses I heard the Lord tell me one simple thing, "My Word is capable!"
There is so much that can be studied about this verse and so much depth to be pulled out of it but this morning the Lord simplified it to one simple message of capability.

So as I looked at the verses repeatedly, those four attributes stuck out to me: living, powerful, sharp and discerning.

In life we encounter various things and as we go through those things it can weigh heavily on our emotions, and our spirit. We have probably all experienced times of depression, weakness, and loneliness. But how often do we really run to the Word of God during those times. I can think of times in my life when I have really been dealing with a hardship and the first I place I ran to was another Christian, or my husband, or my Pastor. Why is it that we run to anybody and everybody first before we run to the Lord. We ask every ones advice before we find out what the Word of God says. Why is everyone elses opinion more important than Gods? Even though we won't say it is, we often act as though it is. Do I really believe that the Word of God is capable enough to handle my problems? Do I actually believe God's word is what He says it is? Do you? Well before we can answer that question we must know what exactly it is that God promises us concerning His word. So let's examine the verse a little closer.

There are four descriptions of the Word in this passage: Living, powerful, sharp and discerning.

The first description of the Word is living. The definition of this word means,"to be in active function or use". This means that God's word is actively doing what He said it would do. There is no inactivity or dormancy of God's word but it is in physical motion at all times. Isn't it great to know that God's word is always doing God's will at all times even when we are not . That it is always in an active state ready to transform, heal and restore us to where God wants us to be. All we have to do is receive it and allow it to become active in our lives.

The next description of the Word is powerful. This word is defined as "the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively." It also mean laborious work. How amazing is it that God's word not only is constantly active but it is constantly and effectively doing hard labor in the lives of those who will receive it. The Word of God is constantly and effectively working on our behalf. It is working to heal us, it is working to comfort us, it is working to save us, it is working to reveal things to us. It is awesome that God loves us so much that he left a Word that sees our need and stays hard at work to meet it.

Not only is the Word powerful and active but it is also sharp. Sharp things usually have the advantage over others because they have to ability to hurt. They have the ability to sever. They have the ability to completely alter the state of something. God's word is sharp enough to divide between spirit and soul, bone and muscle. So it is not only sharp but specifically sharp. It can know exactly what needs to be cut and how. It knows what needs to be divided and why. There is no guessing game with God's word but only precision. What does that mean in our lives? I am so glad that we have access to the very Word of God who knows how to do surgery on our lives. I am thankful that the word of God is even sharp enough to get to the deepest parts of us with exact precision. We are not forgotten. We are not just one of the crowd but are specifically known and the Word of God can precisely do the will of God in our lives.

Lastly the Word of God is described as a discerner. It is able to see and judge both the thoughts and purposes of the heart. That is huge! Because it is where our heart is that determines what our actions will be. God knows that actions don't occur without there being thought or heart behind it. By discerning the thoughts and purposes of the heart one discerns the eventual path that person will take. When I think about this I realize that the Word of God is powerful enough, strong enough, wise enough to stop things before they manifest in the life of a believer. It gets to the root of the problem instead of dealing with just the surface of the problem. God's word can go deep into the recesses of our hearts and minds and bring to the forefront the real issue, allowing us to deal with it in a successful manner.

God's Word is living, powerful, sharp and discerning. But it can only be to us as much as we allow it to be to us. We must allow the Word to be active in our lives. We must allow the Word to effectively work hard in our lives and on our behalfs. We must allow the Word of God to perform the specific surgery on our lives that God has deemed needed, and we must allow His Word to bring to the surface any issues of the heart so that our actions may always be glorifying to the Lord.

I am so thankful that we have been given a Word powerful enough to literally transform mankind. The question is, are we going to allow it to do what God has designed for it to do in our lives? Or are we going to keep seeking other venues to fulfill our needs? Are we going to let God's Word have it's rightful place of seniority or are we going to continue to push it aside? My prayer is that we would all begin to see God's Word as being capable and ready to do anything and everything in the lives of those who will surrender to it.

God,
I am praying for more revelation of the power of your Word. You created it to contain everything we need and yet most of us hardly use it for anything. Your Word is capable of healing, loving, judging, restoring, and many other things. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life through the power of Your Word. I love you. Amen.