Prayer - Week 9

Preacher: Erik Meyers

Date: June 28, 2020

Text: Hebrews 4:15-16

Introduction

The great 19th century pastor J.C. Ryle wrote this about prayer: “When we pray we must never forget that the only reason God hears us is because Jesus, our mediator and advocate, intercedes for us at that very moment.”

It’s true, and if you can remember back 8 sermons, that was the first truth we thought about. Prayer, which is conversation (communion) with God, is made possible by Jesus Christ, because we can’t get to God without our sins being forgiven. So in Ephesians 2:18 Paul writes “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” And to Timothy he says in 1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

This morning, as we end this series on prayer, I’d like to end where we began, thinking again about the implications of this access we have to God in prayer. Rather than re-using Eph. 2:18, I’ve chosen a similar text; one that highlights the value of our access to God in prayer. Let me read the passage again before opening this sermon in prayer.

Heb. 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then [and here is a description of prayer] with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” “If you haven’t already, please open your Bibles to Hebrews 4.

Recap

I hope this series has been helpful for you. I hope it’s answered questions, and encouraged you to prayer. I know it’s been helpful for me. Since we’re wrapping this series up, I’d like to summarize what we’ve learned so far by repeating the main points of each sermon. For time’s sake, I won’t give biblical references here, but you can go back and listen. Here are 8 summarizing statements of what we’ve learned in this series on prayer:

Prayer is Christ-enabled conversation (communion) with God. Eph. 2:18. When we pray, Jesus calls us to be sincere and straightforward. When we pray, we should address God as our Father in heaven, because that is exactly who He is.

When we pray, it is good to begin with praise and thanksgiving.

When we pray, our wants and desires must be surrendered to the will of God.

When we pray, we should present all our needs to Him, including our most basic physical needs.

When we pray, we should seek forgiveness.

And finally, when we pray, we must look to God for guidance and deliverance.

And now today we look to Heb. 4:15-16, where, again, we find highlighted the inestimable value of our access to God in prayer. Let’s read it one verse at a time, beginning with verse Heb. 4:15.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

This letter was written to Hebrews, to Jewish Christians, and there are words here that they would have readily understood, but for many of us, we need them explained.

Jesus is our high priest who was and is without sin. That is what we’re told in verse 15. Before Jesus, God’s people had a human high priest who would regularly offer sacrifices up to God to atone for the people’s sin. This priest was an imperfect mediator.

Jesus is the new and perfect High Priest. He was without sin and was therefore qualified to offer himself on the altar as a perfect sacrifice, paying the price for our sin in full, so that we could be forgiven of our sin and reconciled to God. A few chapters later, in Hebrews 7:25, this is made very clear: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

So, Jesus is our High Priest and he has brought us to God. He has not merely saved us from Hell, he has brought us to God. Incidentally, this is why many Christians end their prayers with “In Jesus’ name, amen.” James 3:14 says You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. To pray in Jesus’ name means to pray through his mediation. It is to acknowledge that He makes it possible for us to speak with God.

And now – v16 is our resulting response. Because Christ has opened the door to God, here is how we respond:

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.

Jesus has opened the door and so we enter in. We draw near to the throne of grace; we draw near to God. This describes a personal relationship. This describes intimacy. You don’t “draw near” to people you don’t have a relationship with. Jesus has made it possible for us to approach God and speak honestly and plainly to him without fear.

And in his presence, (according to v16), what does God give us? Mercy and grace. So because, through Christ, we have access to God in prayer, we can boldly and freely draw near to God to receive His grace.

So you see, we draw near to God, we go to God, to be in His presence (the throne of grace) to receive mercy and grace. This is a very different way of thinking about prayer. We come to God primarily to relate to Him. We don’t use God to change our circumstances, we relate to God as the source of mercy and grace.

We draw near to him, Isaiah 64:7 puts it this way, “to take hold of [him].” The goal is to be with God, not to use God. The goal is intimacy with God to receive mercy and grace, not changing circumstances.

Timothy Keller: “[Paul] does not see prayer as merely a way to get things from God but as a way to get more of God himself.” Paul Miller: “Jesus’ example teaches us that prayer is about relationship. When he prays, he is not performing a duty; he is getting close to his Father.”

Again, this is a very different (and right) way of thinking about prayer.

As you read Paul’s prayers in the New Testament, it is startling how little Paul asks God to change circumstances. More than praying for God to reorder people’s lives, the prayer is that God would reorder people’s loves.

Here’s just one example. When it came to the Philippians, there are many circumstances Paul could have asked God to change. And yet, here is what he prayed. Philippians 1:9-11 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Now obviously we should ask God to do things. You can and should talk to God about anything and everything. Philippians 4:6 tells us to present ALL our requests to God. Be sincere and straightforward. But, understand, what you really need from God is God.

Example: This past Thursday morning I needed to pray; meaning, I needed to spend time in communion with God. I was quiet, went through all my worries and anxieties, remembered God’s Word, and that was exactly what I needed.

Okay, so that’s a summary of Hebrews 4:15-16. Because of Christ, we can draw near to God, commune with Him, and receive mercy and grace. You see, it highlights the inestimable value of our access to God in prayer.

Now, with that understanding – that we can and should, without fear, draw near to the throne of grace – I’d like to devote the rest of this sermon to practical application.

For this series, I read many books on prayer. One of my favorites was a classic by Matthew Henry called A Method for Prayer. In that book, he said something in light of this text that struck me, and it was basically this: If we can draw near to the throne of grace, why would we ever want to leave?

In other words, he felt the goal should be to draw near to God in prayer, and somehow, someway, stay in his presence all day, every day. He wrote this:

We need not wait until heaven to enjoy God. What’s heaven but an everlasting access to God, and present access is a pledge of it… This life of communion with God, and constant attendance upon him, is a heaven upon earth.

This helps us to understand texts like Ephesians 6:16-18a In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

And perhaps John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you.

And certainly 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. The ESV Study Bible explains it this way: Pray without ceasing suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in his presence throughout each day.

Well, how do we do that? How do we pray at all times, pray without ceasing? How do we “abide in Christ.” How do we draw near and stay near?

Well that’s a main point of Matthew Henry’s book. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend it. In it, he gives a very practical method to pray without ceasing.

So here are the three points of his book, which will be now the final three applications of this sermon:

Begin each day with God.

Spend each day with God.” “End each day with God.

Begin each day with God

This is common sense. For most of you, the morning marks the beginning of your day, and so for the person desiring to commune with God all day long, it’s essential you begin each day with God.

In Exodus 29:39 we’re told that the priests offered a sacrifice to God every single morning. And 1 Chronicles 23:30 tells us that the Levites would sing thanksgiving to God in the morning.

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

Matthew Henry: God requires our first-fruits; therefore, we should give Him the first part of our day. God deserves our best, not just leftovers of the day when we are tired and worn out.[14] Henry wrote, “In the morning we are most free from company and business, and ordinarily have the best opportunity for solitude.”

We have to train ourselves to have our first thoughts of the day to be about God. To begin our days not fixed on the day before, or the day ahead, but on God himself. John Bunyan said “He who runs from God in the morning seldom finds him the rest of the day.”

Psalm 88:13

But I cry to you for help, Lord;” “in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Psalm 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,” “for I have put my trust in you.” “Show me the way I should go,” “for to you I entrust my life.

Spend each day with God

Psalm 25:5

Guide me in your truth and teach me,” “for you are God my Savior,” “and my hope is in you all day long.

To start and end our days in communion with God is one thing, but this is most difficult. How do we commune with God throughout our day? Our goal is to walk in God’s presence, conscious of Him, and speaking to Him all day. (It takes time to develop this discipline, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not there yet).

The biggest obstacle here is probably busyness, which, in my opinion, is the most common problem today. It’s not a new problem, in fact, in 1665 Thomas Brooks wrote a book called “The Secret Key to Heaven” and one of his chapters is titled “An objection stated and answered: we are too busy to spare time for private prayer.” We’re too busy not to pray. This doesn’t mean finding a quite place for a quiet time over and over throughout your day, but it means looking to God over and over. Sometimes, the prayer is as simply as “help!”

Think about the thoughts and feelings that fill your days and how they can be bent up to God in prayer.

Are you burdened? Are you worried? Are you fearful?

Are you grateful?

Are you being tempted?

Are you suffering?

Are you thinking too much about past or future?

Every minute of every day contains reasons to look to God.

Are you working?

Are you resting?

Are you reading a book?

Are you golfing or fishing?

Are you visiting with friends?

Finally, in conclusion…

End each day with God.

Well we end the day the way we began. Examine the day behind you – confession, thanksgiving…

“O that when I awake I may be still with God; that the parenthesis of sleep, though long, may not break off the thread of my communion with God, but that as soon as I awake I may resume it!

And now, let us end this sermon, this series, with prayer.

Let’s pray.