Unfaithful Members? Power Politics behind the scene? Poor Membership Attendance? Worldliness? Fussing and hate between brethren? Poor contributions? Few Personal workers? Trouble getting Teachers? Inactivity from most members?

Hebrews Stresses The Importance of The Word Of God

Purpose of the Book to Encourage Christians to: Give more earnest heed to the things they had heard – 2:1 Keep them from ‘departing from the living God’ – 3:12 Not drift away – 6:5; 10:26; 2:1

Hebrews 4:12 “The Word of God is Living – Hebrews 3:12 in reference to God What does this mean with respect to God’s Word? It is Not just a collection of ancient religious writings which, once given, disappeared or is no longer valid

Hebrews 4:12 Its promises and warning are ever new… It speaks to people throughout the ages and demands a response It is Always Releavant and Applicable

Point of Hebrews 3&4 is we Must Heed God’s Word to Enter in Eternal Rest “Today” – Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:15 Applied by David to Israel – Hebrews 4:7; Psalm 95:7 Now to the Hebrews – Hebrews 3:12,13 God’s Message Timeless – 1 Peter 1:23

“For The Word of God is Powerful” Power to Create – Hebrews 11:3; Genesis 1:3 Power to Sustain – Hebrews 1:3 Power to Prove – Uses 29 Quotes and 53 Allusions from the Old Testament Divine Origin of Scripture – Hebrews 1:1,2; 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Chapter 2 More on Necessity of Heeding Gospel Hebrews 2:1 – “lest we drift away” Word of God was: First spoken by the Lord Confirmed by those who heard Verified by God through Miracles- Hebrews 2:3,4

Chapters 3&4 Psalm 95 attributed to the Holy Spirit (3:7) and to David (4:7) Proves this is God’s Message, Given Through David, by means of the Holy Spirit Many today Deny Inspiration of the Scriptures – but it is the Word of God that Proves God’s Will – it is ACTIVE TO PROVE WHAT IS TRUE

“For The Word of God is Powerful” Power to Save – Hebrews 6:5; 2:1,4; 10:26; 12:25 God’s Word is Powerful & Active to Save us IF we Heed it, OR to Condemn us if we Reject it. Necessary to be Steadfast – Hebrews 4:2

“For The Word of God is Piercing” Carries the idea of Penetrating Like a surgeon’s scalpel Cuts through every part of man so as to lay him bare, fully open to inspection Nothing remains Untouched by Scripture – addresses every aspect of man’s life

“For The Word of God is Discerning” To Discern is to Judge – “thoughts and intents of the heart” Hebrews 4:13 – nothing hidden from His sight God & His Word Able to Discern Good & Evil Within us & His Word teaches us to do the same – Hebrews 5:11-14

“For The Word of God is…” Need to Make Application of Things Revealed Often God’s Word is Studied & people walk away unchanged! The Living, Active Word should Transform our Lives – Romans 12:2 Word of God is to Transform us into a Different Person as we live out its precepts in our lives each day

We Need to be Among Those who “BY FAITH” Obeyed – Hebrews Chapter 11 “Walk by faith” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 Faith comes from God’s Word – Romans 10:17 The Living, Active Word should Transform our Lives – Romans 12:2 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

We Hear the expressions… “Music is his life…” “Sports are his life…” “He lives for his work…” Means Importance, Meaning and Fulfillment in these areas of life. Colossians 3:3,4 “Christ Who is our Life”

Hebrews 2:1 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”