Praying Grace
Notes
Transcript
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.
Sermon Series: Developing a culture of prayer
Our Great High Priest
Keyword is GRACE. God’s throne of GRACE. GRACE to help in time of need.
Grace means unmerited favor. Grace is the opposite of Religion.
The theme of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is our Great High Priest
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.
The term “priest” denotes religion, a human mediator
As the redeemed people of God. Aren’t you glad that we do not need a human priest anymore to go to God?
Christ has taken the office of a more superior Priesthood!
Christ is a King, Prophet and Priest. (talk of His uniqueness compared to David and Samuel)
This is why religion is a problem, it puts someone or something in the middle of humanity and God.
In His unique Person, Jesus unites His being God and His humanity
He represents Humanity - brings us to God (He was the sacrifice)
He is the image of God - Brings to humanity what God has for them.
Image of the chart of sacrifice under the law vs Christ here.
Go back to keyword: GRACE.
Grace is the opposite of religion. You cannot be a full recipient of God’s grace and still entrapped in religion.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
You can replace law (what religion is to the Jews) with Religion.
Rephrasing: You are not under religion, but under grace.
My prayer for you today is that you be freed from the SHACKLES OF RELIGION and brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Jesus as our high priest is a BIG DEAL (say to your neighbor “BIG DEAL”)
Explain Priest - Aaronic origins
He was the offering - the sacrifice
He is also the priest Who continues to make intercession for us
What can you say about God’s love? He gave ALL of Him, His perfect life and body for you.. and He is not done, He stands as your mediator between You and God.
There is no condemnation!
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
THIS IS THE RELENTLESS LOVE OF GOD THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
This should be our attitude in prayer - still in the sermon series “Developing a Culture of Prayer”
Last part of verse 14:
“Let us hold fast our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14b)
This is important, the Hebrews were facing persecution, testing and trials.
Our confession, or profession of faith is like the glue that holds things together when they are falling apart.
When facing difficulties and times of persecution and testing - Pray our confession of faith.
Faith is trusting, and our trusting is only as Good as the person we trust.
When Paul was in jail, waiting for his trial, he placed His confidence in the Lord Jesus and trusted in the plan and purposes of God.
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Explain this verse by verse.
Pray with confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The next verse reinforces this confidence. Why do we place our trust in the Lord Jesus?
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.
The Lord Jesus is both Compassionate and Able.
He is compassionate - He sympathizes with our weaknesses
Sympathize word study here
Sympatheo means to share in the suffering (talk) - Jesus Identifies with us
He is compassionate and He also is able:
“(Jesus) was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 15b)
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus overcame — through the same Holy Spirit in you, you too can overcome. AMEN!
This is our confidence - hold fast to our confession:
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.
Mercy - not getting what we deserved.
Grace - Getting what we did not deserve.
We go back, to the confidence we have through Christ -PRAYING GRACE
PRAYING GRACE
Acronym God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
But there is another acronym that gives us confidence and that we can use that makes us hold fast our confessions when we pray:
PRAY G.R.A.C.E.
G - God’s Character (The throne of grace)
R - Righteousness of Christ (Jesus was tempted as we are, yet without sin)
A - Access (Come boldly through the throne of grace)
C - Compassion of Christ (Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses)
E - Exaltation of Christ (Great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens)
G- God’s character -( Who is God when you come to Him with a need?
He is God Who saves;
17 The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
He is a faithful God.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Do you need healing today?
Exodus 15:26 - I am the LORD Who heals you.
R - The Righteousness of Christ - What did the Lord Jesus do for you?
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
A - Access - Remember that you have a privilege to come directly to God through Christ (In the Name of)
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
No need for a middle person
C - Compassion of Christ - Christ sympathizes and identifies with you
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
E - Exaltation of Christ - We come before the Lord Jesus, Who is both in a position of power and privilege to answer your prayer.
Whatever you ask in my Name...
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The prayer prayed according to God’s will, when answered, exalts the Lord Jesus Christ and gives glory to God!
Are you facing troubles today? Let go, and let God take over!