Hebrews 1 – 4
Verse 1:1 opens with a mention on God’s communication:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
I don’t like this statement much because it implies that this does not happen anymore. As you continue in the chapter he says that Jesus fulfilled the prophets and spoke directly from God. Well this may be true but does that me we cannot prophesize? In John 14:12 Jesus said “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these”! One of those things is prophesize, so we can do greater if we release our “control” to God.
Verses 2:3 – 4 explores why some “have it” and some don’t:
3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Our salvation is “great” and doesn’t depend on our speaking in tongues or healing or prophesizing, but rather our faith. It’s clear here that these “gifts” are distributed “according to his will” and not ours. I know I want to be able to lay hands and heal people, but so far am batting ZERO on that endeavor (at least that I know of). Does that mean I am not saved? No just means God did not distribute that “gift” to me.
I think some churches get into a dangerous slippery slope by implying that one is not saved if they don’t have all the gifts of the spirit. I know Vernie was at a college ministry who said she was not saved since she was not speaking in tongues. The “body” has many parts, the eyes are not expected to do what the feet do, so why should every member of the church have to speak in tongues or even raise their hands in worship?
Verse 4:12 is talking about the “word of God” and how it lives:
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.
Those who have spent their life reading the Bible can attest that this is true. The words hit a tone one year and then the next time you read the exact same words something different sparks inside. Are they truly living or does it just seem that way I will not venture to say one way or the other, but what I do know is combined with the Holy Spirit these words are exactly what we need at any given moment in our lives.
How can words change their meaning? They can’t but the Holy Spirit readies us to understand things at a new level each time we read. We look at this as a simple book with just a bunch of stories, but as you gain more understanding you read different things that were missed the time before. This book has so many different layers and meanings that one could spend a lifetime reading it and get something new each and every time. That is why God wants us reading it often, so he can show us new “revelations” in our hearts.