It Splits the Middle

The longer I read the Bible the more I’m reminded of the fact that there is only, oh let’s say, an infinite number of ways one will learn a particular passage or chunk of verses. I’m so grateful for…

the fact that ‘His mercies are new every morning’ – it goes on to say ‘Great is His faithfulness…The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’ (Lamentations 3:23-24). When I run up on something like this, my heart immediately thinks of that – confused yet? 🙂 Well, in any case, here’s the ‘this’:

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [a]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Ok, so how long have you known this verse? I’ve always blown by those parts about the ‘piercing’ thinking that it’s just reminding me that the Word will get down inside of your heart. But after reading it like this: ‘penetrating to the dividing line’/’exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging’… I am reminded of the POWER of the Word. It splits the middle.

In leading worship, I am always in reliance that the Word of God will do the work through the power of Holy Spirit; we on the platform are the vessels in which He uses this power. It’s so important to speak the Word from the platform. It is our lifeline, our connection to the Power Source, our direction, our guide… For the worship leader, I submit to you Hebrews 4:12 in Bethany’s version: ‘hey guys, the Word makes the difference in your leading worship…’ For the worship participant,’hey guys, the Word makes the difference in your worship…’ Wait… was that the same thing? 🙂

Whether you are leading or following, knowing the Word in your worship times will change the way you worship. You will be able to realize (with evidence through the Word) what Christ has really done for you. You will know God’s ‘voice’ because what He speaks will always coincide with the Word. It may, as that last line in the AMP translations says: ‘exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging’… to a point where you are uncomfortable. What will you do then? My prayer is that You would turn to the Word – turn to what splits the middle, gives you a dividing point, a direction, a hope.

There’s so much more we could talk about on this topic, but today, maybe just going back up and reading Hebrews 4:12 a few times through and waiting for Him to speak.