Do Not Abandon our Gatherings to Worhip
Coming home Hebrews 10:19-25 • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
In just two weeks, we will celebrate Back to Church Sunday.
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
It is a day that has been set aside to re-establish our priorities, to invite our friends and yes, get those who have wandered off, back into the sheep fold. Back to church.
As I thought about this day approaching, I was thinking about just how precious our salvation is to us.
You know when we heard the Savior’s call, we welcomed it in our life like a great treasure, it was something we could not do without. It is precious to us.
But here is the problem we face....
People slip away from the church, from our gathering of born again believers. And it doing so they end up falling away…
Friends, if we believe the church, our gathering is important then we will must have a desire to bring people back into it.
So consider this one passage from the book of Hebrews...
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.
The author of Hebrews, reminds us that we must hold onto the act of gathering together to worship, to love and care for each other.
This place should be a safe haven for the church and a hospital of hope for the lost. But we cannot give up in coming together.
So this morning lets find out more as we study the Word of God. lets find
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.
Man O’ Man, this is such a rich chapter I am not sure I can fairly preach it over one week, but we will work our way through it and see what the Lord is telling us.
So like have pointed out to you so many times, verse 19 begins with a word of transition, a word that tells us… because of all that has happened before hand, we have life today. . . So Here is a Biblical response to the life we have in Christ....
1. We Have a New Way Set Before Us....
1. We Have a New Way Set Before Us....
The passage tells us we have a new beginning, a new way because of Jesus.
Remember in times past, the only person who was allowed to pass from the holy place of the Tabernacle to Most Holy Place was the High Priest. He alone would supervise the sacrifices , He would take the blood of the lamb and would go into the presence of God behind the veil and offer the blood upon the mercy seat. It was there what the Lord would see the blood and declare the sins of the people forgiven.
But verses 19-20 tell a new story...
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,
The writer tells us that because of Jesus everything changed. That through His body and blood, His sacrificial death, we suddenly have hope, a confidence that we know can enter into the presence of God.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Do you remember when Jesus gave up His life on the cross, the Bible tells us that the earth shook, and the veil of the temple was torn in to.
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
His sacrificial death on the cross, removed the need of a earthy priest to work, to intercede on our behalf. For now we have a Great High Priest, who once and for all entered into the presence of his Father, offering a perfect sacrifice for sin.
Verse 20 tells us that what Jesus did for us on the cross, this new and living way opened and gave us access to the throne of God. In this we have confidence, that we can enter into his presence.
This new way, this new entrance is one that comes only through Christ. Consider what Jesus told us previously.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
and then also
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the door to the Father, the only true way. He once and forever offered a perfect sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice that has atoned for our sin, past, present and future…
And the reward of that is now we can boldly enter the throne room of God, we can seek His face and intercede for others as well..
Oh my friends, a new way was set before us.
We
It has been given to us by Jesus.... rejoice in it my friends. rejoice in it.
Now lets move on to our second thought…
2. Draw Near to God....
2. Draw Near to God....
In times past it was impossible to draw near to God fully, the old system of sacrifices and worship through the festivals was not enough. There was always a Priest who served for our sin and to offer our sacrifice.
Also, For many, there was no faith in this system, the life was a system of works., not faith. Thus the law was a burden for many…
Remember Jesus telling the religious leaders they placed heavy burdens on the backs of the people?
It did not produce salvation. They were lost.... They were dead in their trespasses and sins.
Consider the Apostle Paul, remember his heart for the Jewish people,
If you look at the Apostle Paul in , verses 1-2, Paul has one desires, that his country men would be saved...
Listen to this...
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
They had a zeal, look at Paul. he said he was blameless under the law, with a zeal so great he even persecuted the Christian church before coming to know Christ in
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Their zeal was based on works, not on the true knowledge of the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Paul had once lived in this era, the OT should have pointed and revealed to them Jesus of the NT era, but their lack of faith kept them from seeing the truth
they were lost...
But it is not the same for us who are in Christ
We have the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and the work he came to do...
let me take you back to verses 21-22
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.
The true knowledge is that we have a great high priest, Jesus.
Henbrews 10: 21-22
He is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7). He is the one who went once and for all into the temple not made with human hands eternal in the heavens and offered a perfect sacrifice to the Father.
Since we know Jesus, we have confidence that we can boldly approach the Throne of Grace.
Listen to Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
It is assured to us that we can draw near to God with a heart full of hope. Why? Jesus!
A true heart speaks to one that is full truth, perfect love.. there is no hypocrisy present in this life or person. The reason being is simple, Jesus changed the heart. And Jesus is the reason we can ....
Jesus has brought that person from death unto life....
So we have a joy my friends, a joy that allows us to draw close to God, walking in his presence, knowing his love!
How wonderful is this....
If you know Jesus you can draw near to Him as well, if you do not know Jesus you cannot not...
Not just one more thought for today.... then we will come back and see the rest next week.
3. Stand Firm...
3. Stand Firm...
Standing firm is a Biblical concept my friends.
There have been many times in both the Old and New Testaments where one can see the command to “Stand Firm.”
The meaning is very plain.. Don’t waiver, Don’t turn aside, be strong in the Lord in all things.
And this is the very implication we find here as we move through this passage my friends...
Lets return again to the book of Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Consider what the author of Hebrews says right off the bat, ...“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering....”
The phrase “let us hold fast” is emphatic in meaning… stick firmly here. To occupy and refuse to do anything else. It is a very firm command my friends…
Imagine standing right where you are and all around you was death, but you were safe if you stood still, and you hear someone say… Hey, don’t move.... don’t do anything!!!
That is the level of the command.
And the matter which we are to hold fast to is our “...confession of hope...”
Our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is our hope. ---------
** He is the way, the truth and the life, No man comes to the father except by Him .
** There is no other name under heaven where by which man can be saved…
How has made all this possible.. God the Father… it is He who has promised… and dear friends, God is faithful…
t is he who has promised...
Listen to Paul, as we speaks to the church at Corinth.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
And then in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3...
3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
And then in also we see God’s promise to Sarah...
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
So without a doubt God is faithful, and my friends He calls us to be faithful as well. That is why we cannot forget to hold fast to the confession of our hope. and do so without wavering...
Stand firm and do not waiver… For He is faithful and will help us...
Jesus will help us stand firm my friends.. I believe that with all my heart.
I always think of Paul in this way… what ever I give to God, he will help me do it.
In regard to worship, in regard to church, if I make the resolution to make his house a priority, God will help me stand firm
“I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have commited unto him against that day”.... 2 Tim 1:12
Stand firm my friends and do not give it up....
lets pray and we will finish this message next week
3. Stand Your Ground
4. Encourage One Another
5. Dont Give up worshipping Together