Sunday Worship 9 April 2023 : “Come boldly to the throne of grace”

Text: Hebrews 4:1-16
9 April 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. The many struggles in faith and life

a) The problem of drifting away from the Lord (Hebrews 2:1)

b) The problem of neglect of our faith (Hebrews 2:3)

2. Thank God for the Lord Jesus, the Son of Man

a) The Spokesman of God

b) The Apostle of God

c) The Captain of our salvation

d) The High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek

PROBLEMS OF FAITH AND LIFE THAT WE MUST FACE

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

15 while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Hebrews 3: 7-15

1. The Illustration of the Children of Israel in the days of Moses

a) Redemption from Egypt

b) Protection given by God

c) Provision of God

d) Presence of God

2. The problems of the sinful heart

a) It can become hardened

b) It can easily go astray

c) It is described as an evil heart

d) It departs from God

3. Rebellion against God

a) It starts with ignorance of God’s ways

b) It ends up with rejection of His ways

c) This is how Sin can deceive us

NECESSARY THINGS WE CAN DO

1. To beware all the sin problems we face

2. To exhort each other daily

3. To remember we are partakers of Lord Jesus

OUR CHALLENGE THIS EASTER

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:11-16

1. The Call to Diligence

a) Lest we fall

b) Lest we become disobedient

2. Heed the Word of God

a) It is a living Word

b) It is a powerful Word

c) It is a sharp and insightful Word

3. Come boldly to the Throne of grace

a) We have a great High Priest

i) The Lord Jesus

ii) The Son of God

b) We have a High Priest who can sympathise

i) With our human weaknesses

ii) He will give grace and mercy in our time of need

CONCLUSION

1. Hold Fast

a) Let us hold fast to our confession of Faith

b) Let us hold fast to our conviction of Faith

2. Seek Renewal

a) Remembering the Lord Jesus as our Risen Saviour

b) Renewing our Faith and our Walk with the Lord