A Prayer Of Encouragement

Hebrews 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” (Hebrews 4:16).

Under the law, man was restricted in coming to God. At Mt. Sinai, where the law was given, there were barriers put up to keep people away. But the Gospel of grace is just the opposite, for it invites men to come near. Jesus said “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Our text certainly illustrates the Gospel of grace, for it invites men to come to God in prayer.

FIRST—THE PRECEPT TO PRAYER

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.” This text is all about praying.

• The mandate for praying. “Let us come.” This is a command, an order. We ned to pray. Prayerlessness is the devil’ program. He certainly has gotten into our churches, for the Wednesday night prayer service is nearly extinct.

• The motivation to pray. “Therefore.”The Lord has just been described in glowing terms as the great High priest. “Therefore” we ought to pray to him. Note there is not a word about coming to Mary or anyone else. But the precept is about coming to the Lord.

SECOND—THE PLAINNESS IN PRAYING

“Let us come boldly.” The word “boldly” means to be plain in your praying, We do not have to be timid or crafty in bringing our requests. Christ does not get tired of hearing us pray. Let him know every need. Yet, how often we belong in the last part of the first stanza of the hymn ‘What a Friend we Have in Jesus,’ which says, ‘Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.’ Do not hesitate to come to the Lord in prayer. To hesitate is to disobey.

THIRD—THE PLACE FOR PRAYING

“Throne of grace.” We should never come to the Lord on the basis of our merit but only on the basis of His mercy and grace. We will not get much through merit as we all over estimate our merit but we will get much through his mercy. We are not invited to come to a place of stern justice where our prayers must be sure that every jot and tittle is correct. But we are invited to the “throne of grace.”

FOURTH—THE PRODUCT OF PRAYING

“Obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Two things in the product of prayer are noted here.

• The help for praying. “Obtain … help.” We pray because we need help. Prayer is the best source of help known to mankind, for it brings God Almighty to our assistance.

• The hour for praying. “In time of need.” So many things fail us “in the time of need” but not God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When we are in trouble or a crisis that is when God’s help is the best.[1]