Living Word...Cutting Deep

A few months ago I started my internship at Sovereign Grace Fellowship. The mercy of God is a constant reminder as I consider the fact that He would use me, in the midst of countless sins and limitations to advance the Kingdom of God. The opportunity to serve under wise and Godly men like Rick Gamache and Mark Alderton has also been a joy and blessing.

All of that to say, one of my new responsibilities is preaching once a month. In light of this I'm going to try to blog some post-sermon reflections here at Grand Ramblings. The primary reason is that I want these sermons, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to affect me as much as they hopefully affect the people of SGF. I think an excellent step towards this application will be taking the time to examine my heart and life. (granted this is coming from the guy who hasn't posted anything in almost 11 months)

To this end, here is my first reflection...

The sermon I preached on Sunday was entitled Living Word, Living God, based on Hebrews 4:11-13, "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

This isn't meant to be a complete rehashing of the sermon. If you're interested in listening to it you can find it at http://sermonaudio.wordpress.com/. The main thrust of the sermon is that we must remember that this "living and active" word of God is literally the word of God. The reality is that we live our lives in danger, in the midst of a battle for our faith. The sword of God's word is a defensive weapon against the onslaughts of this world and Satan. However, my main adversary in the fight of faith is my own diseased heart. Here the word of God is an offensive weapon to be plunged into my own flesh...in the process I am laid bare by through the Holy Spirit. The true affections and desires of my heart are revealed and exposed.

My reflection is this. If I'm going to lay my heart bare I need to take up my sword, but what does this look like. I made three applications in the sermon that I won't get into here. Personally, I've been hit with another this afternoon. I love to think about God and theology and any manner of spiritual things. I thinks its fair to say I'm a pretty cognitive guy. Well, this means that this afternoon I was sitting in Caribou reading The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards for an independent study I'm taking. The reading was profitable, challenging and Christ exalting...the reading was also not the word of God. So while I would encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ to increase their satisfaction in Christ through reading good, theologically inclined books, God glorifying books, I was convicted that this was no replacement for the living and active word of a living and active God. So I've set down my copy of The Religious Affections and picked up my sword. I want the Holy Spirit to expose my enemy and drive me to the cross. This can certainly happen through reading a master theologian like Jonathan Edwards, but only to the extent that I have already plowed the ground with Holy Writ.

Some days it is obvious that I need to turn off the TV, close the laptop, or get off the couch and pursue my savior through His word. Today it is just as obvious that sometimes this means closing my Edwards, Owen or Piper. In conclusion, below you'll find a prophetic song that was song after the sermon by Jon Bloom. To highlight the amazing wisdom and sovereignty of our God, Jon wrote this song in 1989, when I was 7 years old. He felt led to share it after my sermon, without having seen my notes. It fit perfectly...and I hope it drives you to pick up your own sword...

It Is a Sword
A meditation on Ephesians 6:10-12 & Hebrews 4:12

It is a sword, this word of God,
A weapon strong and good.
It has been forged by sovereign grace,
Prophetic fire and blood.
It's double-edged and there exists
No other blade so fine,
But skillful use is only learned
Through active use and time.

It is a sword with which to fight,
A sabre for the war,
For frequent are the battles and
Its use will bring its scar.
Designed as an offensive tool,
Not merely to defend,
Attack the enemy with it
And put him to an end!

And yet be warned! This sword we wield
Becomes the Surgeon's knife
And ruthlessly reveals our sin;
It wounds to save our life.
It lives and acts and pierces deep,
A paradox indeed:
The very sword that slays our foe
In mercy makes us bleed.

Grip tight the sword and keep it poised
When come the times of test.
Remain alert, its hilt in reach,
In times of peace and rest.
It is our hope, our confidence
When facing pain or strife;
Our glory, strength, our faithful friend --
Indeed, it is our life! (Deut.32:47)
Word & music by Jon Bloom. © 1989 Jon Bloom.

Grace and Peace,

MW