Thank you.
So, Hebrews chapter 4.
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.
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 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.