The Word Preached Did Not Profit Them

Transcription

1 The Word Preached Did Not Profit Them 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Heb 4:1-2 (KJV) Hebrews 4: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

2 you ever said, I Read My Bible, and It Didn t Help.? Have you ever heard someone say that? Many 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:11-16 (KJV) June 5, 2016 JUNE 12, 2016 CHARITY Introduction: The message title is taken from Hebrews 4:2. today meet with failure in their daily Have Christian experience. Some will even go for counseling in order to get their lives in order. When a person visits with a pastor, and if that pastor is the kind God called, he will receive counsel from God s Word. He will be admonished to follow the guidelines set forth in the Bible. Often, that Christian will say, I read my Bible, and It didn t help. This statement is foolish. The Word of God truly has the answer for each of our problems. In fact, there are many blessings to be had from just learning the Bible and applying Its truths in our daily situations. John gave us a wonderful truth concerning the blessings of simply reading just the book of Revelation in Revelation 1:3,

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Imagine the blessings of reading the whole Bible!) In this message, I hope to help us realize the power of the Word of God and Its necessary influence in each of our lives. Today is going to, of necessity, be part Salvation - John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.. - The lost need the Word of God for salvation. - No one is saved outside the influence of the Word of God in their lives. - One does not become born again by works, will, wisdom, or worth. One becomes saved by the power of the Word of God. - 1 Peter 1:23 states, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

4 The context establishes that Peter is referring to the written Word. The Greek word used in verse 23, is logos, which means the Word literally, or the Word embodied (i.e., the Person of Christ). - However, in verse 25, Peter makes the application to the written Word and uses the Greek word rhema (which means the literal written Word), But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. - Therefore, contextually, and since Scripture uses logos to mean both the written Word and the Living Word, Peter is speaking of the written Word. - Additionally, we have Romans 10:17 where we are told that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (either spoken or written). We must come to Christ through faith based on the Word written or spoken to us, telling us of the redemption we have because of the work of Jesus Christ and His power over death. One cannot be born-again apart from Jesus and His Word. 2. Security - 1 Peter 1:3-5

5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - Once saved, always saved is a Bible doctrine. - The Word of God makes this clear. You cannot trust your feelings or human reasoning when it comes to what you are going to believe. Feelings change; God s promises never change. - Trust His Word. Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 3. Fire - Luke 24:32

6 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? - Every so often, even the best Christians get coldhearted. It is a fact of life. The Word of God will never put your fire out; It will set you on fire. - The songwriter Gordon Jensen put it this way in his song, Bring Back the New Again. I can still remember the wonderful feeling Back when I first got to know You. It seemed the world was mine. I had joy, I had spring time, But that s all just a memory anymore. I guess I took my eyes off you, Lord, But I don t want this callous feeling anymore. Oh, bring back the way it was before. Bring back the new again. I want to see You again.

7 Bring back the way it was when we began. It wasn t that long ago when my heart was growing, And every new day was a challenge. But indifference turned me cold, Made things stale, made them old, Now, I ve lost the happy song I used to sing. It seems that I forgot the most important thing. How did I miss the road? And when did I lose the glow? And where did the wonder go? Bring back the new again. - The discouraged disciples had their hearts set on fire when Jesus opened to them the Scriptures. It will do the same for you. 4. Victory - Psalm 119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander

8 from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. - It is not within you to gain victory over sin. The power for this is found in the pages of Scripture. - You have tried it your way for a long time now. It hasn t worked. You have gotten into sin even more deeply. - Since your way has failed, try God s way. 5. Control - Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. - Much of life is out of control. Sadly, many of God s people are just as out of control.

9 * Husbands are out of control. * Wives are out of control. * Children are out of control. * Adults are out of control. * Church members are out of control. - Self-control is not humanly possible aside from the power of the Holy Spirit. - To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be under the control of the Word of God. - When a Christian is not under the control of the Word of God, he is under the control of something or someone else. - The Word of God will bring control. 6. Direction - Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

10 - Much of today s generation is without direction. Today s generation is bereft of the Word of God. - Someone asked God where He was during the Columbine shootings back on April 20, His reply was that He is not allowed in the public schools. - Churches preach a social Gospel without using the Word of God. Is it no wonder that so many of our young people are without direction? - Even in our fundamental churches, there are Christian young people who have no idea concerning the direction of their lives. I think I know part of the reason. Even though the Bible is preached from their pulpits, the Word of God is not paramount in their homes. * The average young person does not read his Bible. * The average young person does not study his Bible. * The average young person does not apply his Bible. * The average young person does not know his Bible. * The average young person does not memorize his Bible. * The average young person does not obey his Bible. * The average young person does not hear the Bible read in his home.

11 - What about mid-life? Mid-life is a real part of the human experience. Many lose direction during mid-life. This is why the Word of God is absolutely necessary during the mid-life years. 7. Growth - 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. - Why is it that some Christians never seem to grow? Scripturally, the answer is quite clear. When there is no desire for the Word of God, there is no growth in that child of God. - There is no way for a person to grow in his Christian experience while ignoring the Word of God in his daily Christian life. - If you, as a Christian, are spiritually where you were a year ago, it is not because the Word of God is

12 powerless. It is because you have neglected to desire the Word of God. - To use part of a quote by F.B. Meyer, If you are not willing to [grow], ask God to make you willing to be willing. 8. Faith - Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Without faith, it is impossible to please the Lord, but it is also impossible to have faith without the Word of God. Romans 10:17 makes it clear that faith comes when the Word of God is heard or read. - This relates back to Christian growth. A person may say, My faith is weak. This is not a true statement. Faith is not weak. For example, the Bible says that a lack of faith is because of an evil heart, Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews

13 3:12) God calls unbelief evil, but we call it weakness. A lack of faith is wickedness, not weakness. - If your faith is not what it ought to be, it can become what it ought to be through the Word of God. - There are two references in the Bible to those who are weak in the faith. * And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara s womb. (Romans 4:19) * Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. (Romans 14:1) - Their weakness is because of their immaturity. When a seasoned Christian refers to his faith as weak, it is because of an evil heart of unbelief. 9. Holiness - John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

14 - The word sanctify literally means to be set apart or to be made holy for God s use. - Holiness is a fruit God produces in the life of a Christian through His Word. Romans 6:22 says, But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. - Holiness is not self-produced, rather it is produced by the Word of God. Is it no wonder this generation is so unholy and ungodly? Remember, this is a generation that has been raised without the Word of God. 10. Provision - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

15 - The little phrase throughly furnished is important to the child of God. - Scripture is profitable to every Christian because It will mature him and complete him and completely equip him in all areas of life. Conclusion: I can hear some Christians saying, Well, I read my Bible, and It didn t help. The problem is not with the Bible; the problem is with you. In this message, we have found ten areas where we are benefitted by the Word of God. Paul said that God is true, and every man is a liar. Since God is true, the Word of God really does benefit every child of God. If it doesn t work, the fault is not on God s part. Have you allowed the Word of God to benefit you?