They Heard, and Were Never the Better
The word of God will not profit those who hear it unless it is mixed with faith, which is the key to making every truth work for their advantage.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that the word of God does not benefit those who hear it unless it is mixed with faith. He points out that the issue lies not with unbelievers, but with those who possess faith yet fail to actively exercise it. The preacher's words are likened to a sweet potion that lacks effectiveness without the ingredient of faith. Brooks asserts that faith is essential for spiritual growth and that without it, believers cannot reap the full benefits of God's truth. Ultimately, he encourages the congregation to actively engage their faith to experience the transformative power of the Word.
Text
"The word did not profit those who heard it, because
it was not mixed with faith." Hebrews 4:2
He does not speak here of unbelievers--but of those
who had faith in the soul--but not in the exercise; and
therefore the word did not profit them. They heard,
and were never the better. And what was the ground
of it? Why, it was because they did not exercise faith
upon the word. The words which fell from the preacher's
lips into their ears, were a sweet potion--but they did not
work effectually, because they lacked the ingredient of
faith. Faith is one of those glorious ingredients, which
makes every sermon, every truth, work for their souls'
advantage. Nothing will work for a believer's good, for
his gain--if it is not mixed with faith. Nothing makes a
man rich in spirituals, like the frequent and constant
actings of faith.
Sermon Outline
- The Word Without Faith
- Faith is the Ingredient That Makes the Word Work
- The Importance of Exercising Faith
- Faith Makes a Man Rich in Spirituals
- Constant Actings of Faith Are Necessary
Key Quotes
“The word did not profit those who heard it, because it was not mixed with faith.” — Thomas Brooks
“Faith is one of those glorious ingredients, which makes every sermon, every truth, work for their souls' advantage.” — Thomas Brooks
“Nothing makes a man rich in spirituals, like the frequent and constant actings of faith.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Faith is the key to making the word of God work in your life, so it's essential to exercise faith in your daily life.
- Constantly acting on faith will make you rich in spirituals and help you grow in your relationship with God.
- The word of God will not profit you unless you mix it with faith, so make sure to apply faith to the truths you hear.