Discerner of thoughts

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


God's word- quick, powerful, sharp, piercing, a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.


We might argue that a lawyer, a very smart and savvy lawyer is like that, right? They get in court or sit at a negotiating table and when they open their mouths every word that comes out seems quick, powerful, sharp, piercing… sometimes it even seems as if they can see right through a person, doesn't it? Have you ever met a person like that, maybe not a lawyer, but someone who just seemed to be brilliant and in an almost frightening way able to get into your head? Yes? No? Maybe? As I sit here writing this I'm trying to recall if I've ever met someone like that. Part of me wants to say I have, but I'm not sure. Yes, I've met brilliant people- you know- people who just seem to have an edge on the logical side in the smarts department- whose I.Q. is a tad bit above normal. And yes, I've met people who seem to understand where I'm coming from. But I’m not so sure I've really ever met anyone who has been able to discern my thoughts and the intents of my heart. Once in a blue moon someone might teasingly say 'I know what you're thinking' and then because of already seeing outward responses leading up to that declaration they might be able to guess right. That's all it is though, a guess based upon clues they've seen moments before. They might be sitting next to me as I watch a Dairy Queen commercial on television and then pop up and say, I know what you're thinking, you want ice cream. Or maybe because they know me better they might determine exactly what sort of ice cream I might be wanting. It's not true discerning of my thoughts. Though some people claim to be mind readers can we trust their mind reading? They use tricks and who is not to say they don't have a head's up through the spiritual realm but not in a good way. Discerning our thoughts and intents of our hearts is for God, not for man and if Satan can get to us by seemingly working the works we attribute to God, he's deceived us.


God's word is quick, power, sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, joints and marrow, a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.


Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


God sees us in a way NO other can see us. Angels, both good and bad (Satan included), can only see so much. Yes, they can witness ALL our actions every secret action, but they cannot know our hearts, they cannot discern our thoughts perfectly. They may think because of our actions that they know us perfectly- but they don't- not like God can know us. We are fully manifest in his sight- every imperfection, every sin, every good deed, every pain, every heartache, every joy, every thanksgiving, every prayer we are naked not only physically, but spiritually to God. Every doubt, every belief, every hope, every despair, God knows. We are known. You may have thought from time to time that no one understands you, that no one can possibly understand you. You may have even believed that you're not sure you even understand yourself. We can rest in the knowledge that God does know us- every bad bit and every good bit, and we can praise Him for being able to take our filthy hearts and clean them.

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1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous


Today there are people who go to other people seeking to use them as their advocates with God. It's great to have an advocate - someone to plead our cause- isn't it? Some times we turn to friends or family to stick up for us, to plead our cause to others around us. You know what I'm talking about, you've had an argument with someone before and gone to a third party for their opinion on the matter hoping they'll choose your side and defend your position- take up your cause- be your advocate. When you have an advocate then feel supported, you feel defended, you feel hope.


A priest, and a high priest in the days before Christ's death and resurrection held the position of an advocate. The priest helped a person reunite with God. Without the priest to intercede by taking the blood of the sin sacrifice a person made and offering it to God in the various ways- a necessary step in the process of forgiveness instituted by God was lost. The sanctuary service used all pointed to the one ultimate sacrifice that could cover our sins, and eventually blot them all out . The priests on earth were priests that had to be cleansed themselves of sin- they were imperfect advocates. The perfect advocate- the perfect High Priest came in Jesus Christ. We have a perfect Advocate! The One who knows us like know other is our High Priest, our Advocate with the Father.


Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.


Our Advocate, Jesus Christ, Our LORD and Savior! An Advocate like no other! An Advocate who took on humanity and felt every temptation a human can feel. Our Advocate was touched with the FEELING of our infirmities. He understood, He FELT every temptation, the powerful pull of temptation. Our Advocate knows exactly what it means to be tempted in ALL ways just like we are tempted. Our Advocate never fell victim to temptation, never. Our Advocate relied on His connection with God the Father, ever trusting in Him.


We are sinners, we NEED and Advocate, we NEED the Great High Priest , Jesus the Son of God. Without our Advocate we have no hope. With our Advocate we can BOLDLY go to the throne of grace to obtain mercy, and grace to help us when we need that help-which is always! I never ever want to be without my Advocate. I never want to be without my High Priest. No human being can intercede for us. Yes, we can pray for one another, but we cannot offer any sacrifice of our own and find forgiveness for our sins, or sins of another. Our High Priest in Heaven alone can go before God and plead His innocent blood. No man on earth can hand out God's forgiveness. We can forgive a person, but we cannot tell anyone they are forgiven by God- that their sins are forgiven by anything we've done, they must seek that forgiveness from God personally. We can tell another that God will forgive them if they repent and ask for forgiveness from Him, but only that person knows whether they repent, only that person can make that personal connection with Christ. We can tell someone their sins are forgiven by us, but our forgiveness is NOT God's forgiveness- they need God's forgiveness and must go directly to their Advocate, directly to their High Priest in Heaven who will intercede for them with the Father.


By the mercy and love of our High Priest, through His grace may we come before Him seeking the mercy and grace He alone can give to us.


Amen.