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It’s A-L-I-V-E!

by TerryLema October 6, 2023

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” [Hebrews 4:12 HCSB]

I came across an article yesterday about Bible Verses that every Christian should know by heart. One such verse is above, Hebrews 4:12. Why do I think it is necessary to know that verse by heart when there are so many others?

First, because it tells us that the Bible is unlike any other book we can ever read. The Bible is the Word of God and as such, it is a “living” Word. Other books we read may produce an intellectual, emotional, or social effect, but the Word of God, the Bible, produces a supernatural, effective change within a person’s soul.

A second thing we should always remember is that the Word of God is “able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”

Because the Bible is alive, it READS us. It sees our ideas and thoughts. It knows what is in our heart. It judges us. That is both a comforting and a scary process. When I sit down and open my Bible and begin to read, the Word of God sees what is in my heart and moves through the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal and to change what is wrong and to encourage what is right.

It is extremely easy to get people to read books ABOUT the Bible … because those books are the works of men and women. Very easy to fill our intellect with another’s thoughts and ideas about what is read.

It is much harder to get people to read their Bibles – because once that book is opened it begins to judge and to work. It means when confronted and convicted, change will be required.

October 6, 2023 0 comment
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The Living Word

by TerryLema February 6, 2022

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” [Hebrews 4:12 HCSB]

That familiar verse comes at the end of a passage on unbelief. The writer of Hebrews spoke of the rest (in faith) promised by God that was left unappropriated by the Hebrew children because of their disobedience. That rest is available now in Christ Jesus and when we hear God’s invitation, we are not to harden our hearts through a pattern of disobedience as the Hebrew children did.

That verse, along with verse 13 which we will look at tomorrow, contains a solemn warning that unbelief never goes undetected. The Word of God (the Bible) is living and discerning. That means the Word of God has the power to read us and discern and judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.

I know that often as I read through my Bible, both Old and New Testaments, I feel it cut into my soul. I see through its power the things that are in my heart, and how different they often are from my outward actions. The Word sees my duplicity, the lies I have told myself, the arrogance and rebellion that often resides inside.

The Word knows me. Along with the convicting power of the Spirit of God, it moves me towards repentance and revival.

So I guess the question we need to ask today is “What am I doing with the Word of God?”

Am I allowing it to read me? (That means I have to be reading it too!) Am I allowing it, and the Holy Spirit to reveal my patterns of disobedience?

I pray I am!

February 6, 2022 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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