1. The Living & Powerful Word
Hebrews 4:12-13

2. Attitudes Towards God’s Word

3. Secular World
1. The Bible is a human book full of man made stories. 2. The Bible is just a recording of man searching for God. 3. The Bible is outdated and does not apply to us today.

4. Some in the Religious World
The Bible is a dead book and must be “brought to life” by a special working of the Holy Spirit.
People are dead in sin and therefore cannot understand the Bible unless the Holy Spirit “enables” them to understand it.

5. Sincere People
The Bible is God-breathed and is as much His Word and if it was spoken to us orally today.
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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. Sincere People
The Bible is God-breathed and is as much His Word and if it was spoken to us orally today.
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21

7. Evidence of the Powerful Word

8. In Creation
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3

9. In Creation
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 2 Peter 3:5

10. In Upholding the Universe
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2

11. In bringing the flood on a dark and sin filled world
by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 2 Peter 3:6

12. In bringing the lost to salvation
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Hebrews 2:1-3

13. In bringing the lost to salvation
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

14. The basis of judgment
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27

15. The basis of judgment
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. John 12:48

16. The Discerning Power of God’s Word

17. The Discerning Power of God’s Word
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

18. The word “discern” means to “separate out, as to investigate”
1. Capable of making a decision, able to judge

19. Since the issues of life come from our hearts, or thoughts
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.“Eat and drink!” he says to you,But his heart is not with you. Proverbs 23:7

20. Since the issues of life come from our hearts, or thoughts
Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

21. The Inspired Word guides the Christians life
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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

22. Lessons for Us Today

23. God’s Word is Vital to All Today
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because“All flesh is as grass,And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.The grass withers,And its flower falls away,But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:22-25

24. God’s Word is Vital to All Today
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16

25. God’s Word contains Wisdom Superior to the World’s Wisdom
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,And do not return there,But water the earth,And make it bring forth and bud,That it may give seed to the sowerAnd bread to the eater,So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;It shall not return to Me void,But it shall accomplish what I please,And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11

26. God’s Word contains Wisdom Superior to the World’s Wisdom
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Jeremiah 10:23

27. Conclusion
God’s Word has life, (Heb 4:12), and it gives life to those who believe and obey. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

28. Conclusion
Have you done what God’s Word instructs you to do? Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17