Entering and Remaining in God's Presence

Intro Question

What was a time that someone gave you something or did something for you that you did not deserve?

Pray/Listen

Is anyone hearing anything or sensing anything as we’re praying?

Read Scripture

English Standard Version Chapter 10

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Main Point

There’s no barrier between us and God’s presence, so we can come before Him with confidence.

Intro Story

I was working at a Christian bookstore, and part of our job was to up-sale products, donations or sponsorships. One evening I sold two to the same person...

Most of us know that this is what Jesus did for us, die a sinner’s death so that us sinners could live and be in eternity with Him forever.

His death is not just about being in His presence in heaven after we die, it also means that we get to be in His presence now while we’re in this life

How do we get access to His presence?

Many of you might say worship, pray, read scripture, those kinds of things. While they are certainly vital to our relationship with Him, those are not what opens the door to His presence.

The people of God did all of these things throughout the OT, but were not permitted into His presence. His presence was reserved for a select few people, such as Moses, David and whoever the current High Priest was, and even He could only go before God once per year

What gives us access to His presence is something we could never do on our own. It’s the finished work of Jesus: His body that was broken on our behalf, His blood poured out as covering for our sins, and His status as the ultimate High Priest, bringing His sacrifice before God, satisfying God’s wrath and cleansing us from unrighteousness so that we can stand boldly before Him

Jesus made a way for us to confidently come before God. He is the way, the truth and the life!

How do we enter and remain in His presence?

There are 3 “Let us” statements that show us our role in entering in and remaining in His presence:

Draw Near

Hold Fast

Consider One Another

Draw Near

Now that Jesus has made the way for us, we now have a choice to enter in

The condition of entering in are:

Hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience

His blood cleanses our inner selves

Bodies washed with pure water

Baptism cleanses our outer selves

Mark 16:16 ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Jesus gets us in the room, drawing near gets us in relationship

“Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.”

If you’re not sure if you’re saved, or if you haven’t been baptized, talk to us after the message during the response/ministry time!

The next two are how we ensure remaining in His presence:

Hold Fast

The confession of our hope (aka salvation)

It’s easier to remain, and harder to drift from His presence if we remember what it was like before we gave our lives to Him

This is where the enemy tricks us into thinking we are not in His presence, when we aren’t as engaged with these practices

One time my wife and I were just moving about the house, doing our thing, not saying much or interacting much. At the end of the day, my wife said...

In these moments it’s not that we weren’t around each other, or that we’re losing our relationship. It’s just for a short time our connection was shallow

This is where worship, prayer, reading scripture, taking communion are vital.

Consider One Another

Don’t neglect to meet and do life with believers

Make space for believers outside of just church

Spend time encouraging and strengthening one another, especially knowing the Day of Judgement is coming

Make it a priority to tell others how God sees them and what they mean to you

Doing these two things will stir each of us into love and good works

We should want the people around us to enter in and remain in His presence equally as much as we want it for ourselves

Response

Invite band

If you have never been saved or baptized

If you want to come forward have people pray over you as you enter into His presence

If you feel like the enemy and his lies are making you believe you are not in His presence