FCA 9/13/21

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Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB95
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Prayer
Being that this is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, I want to us an athletic illustration. Think about offseason. The hard work and dedication that it takes to make it through some of those tough workouts. Think about when you working on you weight max. I remember looking at my weight card and seeing the weight increments go up by 15 per set. And you say to yourself, I got this, until you get underneath that weight. and before you know it, your muscles start to give out, knees start to tremble, teeth start to clench, and that’s it, you are burnt out. You need someone to help you get the weight off of your chest.
This is what life is like. Life will throw weight on by 15, 20, sometimes 45 lbs at a time. And most of the time you go this. Until you get to the point of exhaustion. And then you need someone to step in for you. You need someone to grab the bar. You needs someone to get under neight your arm pits and lift you and the weight. . You need a spot.
Well the author of Hebrews understood this concept. In fact, this illustration really doesn't do this verse any justice because what we will see is that this Great High Priests that we read about in Hebrews 4, not only grabbed the bar when the weight got heavy. He gently moved you out of the way and did the heavy lifting for you.
Are you sad today, is there something bothering you. Are you lonely, is something disturbing you soul.
Well I want you to know that we have a High Priest, that knows everything before it happens, he knows your thought from afar off, and before any-word is muttered on your lips, He knows it.
This is why htis verse starts out with the word therefore. The author wants to remind us that
Hebrews 4:12–13 NASB95
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
This reminds me a field trip we took to the US treasury. Right at the start of the tour, a gentlemen approached the class with exciting news, that everyone in the class was clear to proceed. He stated, that they did a face recognition on each person, and nothing red flagged the system. In other words, they had every search history, all pictures and evey bit of background information on each person that entered through those doors.
They wanted these student to know that they knew everything.
Thats what we see here in Hebrews. That God knows everything. He know every thought and He knows every intention. He sees every action and he sees every reaction.
Thats kinda scary. It would be if he was a heavy handed ruler. or a evil task master.
But let me give you some hope today. Heres how the bible describes God.
James 2:5 NASB95
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
1 John 4:7 NASB95
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:9 NASB95
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:19 NASB95
We love, because He first loved us.
see beloved, we can love because Gods is Love.
I want to give you hope this evening. The writer of Hebrews starts by stating that we have a High preiest. Not like the priest that we read about in the Old Testament. men who need to sacrifice animals for their own sins because they were just as sinful as you and I.
No, we see here in verse 14, that this priest has passed through the heavens.
Romans 8:29 NASB95
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Jesus, the Son of God, is our High Priest. He passed through the heavens, His name is above all names. He is the Alpha and Omega, He is the great I am, and it is He who shed His blood on the mercy seat for all sinners.
This is why we read “Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Now lets go back to that first illustration. Remember we talked about someone grabbing the weight when it gets unbearable.
Look at what Heb 4:15 states
Hebrews 4:15 NASB95
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
If you get anything from this lesson, I want you to get this.
Jesus knows you because He created you, but He can symtatize with you because He was tempted in eveyway but He defeated perfectly.
Tom Constable had a great illustration in his commentary
Lets think about Jesus’ temptations, imagine a large bolder on the sea coast. Since it does not move, it experiences the full force of every wave that beats against it. Smaller pebbles that the waves move around do not because they yield to the force of the waves.
See Jesus’ temptations were greater than ours because He never yielded to them.
Likewise a prizefighter (Jesus) who defeats the champion (Satan) endures more punishment than other contenders
Because we would have thrown in the towel, or just get knocked out.
The apostle Paul adds to this point when he states in Romans 8
Romans 8:26–27 NASB95
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
See God knows that in our best strength we are weak. In fact, Jesus was clear, apart from God we can do nothing. Definitely not approach a Holy God in our sinfulness.
So what do we need? See need Jesus. See Jesus is the one who stands in our place.
Think about nouns (person, place, thing, or idea).
When you are saved, you become the rightiououness of God. See that the noun (rightouness), we cant lose that.
see we when stand before God we stand covered in Christ.
Hebrews 4:16 NASB95
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I dont know about you. But I need as much mercy and grace as I can get.
See, This is the good news of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 NASB95
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ladies and gentalmen. the only thing we deserve is death. see we are great sinner, and Jesus is a great savior.
The question is, where do you stand with Christ.
Do you have a personal relationship with Him or do you just know of him.
Does He walk with you, or just walk past you.
Romans 10:12–13 NASB95
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Make that commitment today. See grace will save you. Just call out to God. I want to you know that God did for you, what you could not do for yourself. He your spotter, He lifted the heavy load for you.
Don’t wait till tomorrow, for this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in Him. This is the day, that the Lord’s rightousness becomes your own.
Revelation 3:20 NASB95
‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Sinners Prayer
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