Hold Firm

[VIDEO]

Our desire, according to psychologists, is threefold: to feel morally clean, safe, and significant. We’ll do anything to justify feeling and thinking that way. And we’ll avoid any source that holds up a mirror to our lives that says otherwise.

[SLIDE] Mark Twain once said: ‘Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I have always noticed that the passages in Scripture which trouble me most are those which I do understand.’

Creates a lot of turmoil when we come to a mirror like the Bible and find out that there’s some uncomfortable truth in there.

The Hebrew writer wants us to deal with our fears and anxieties with spiritual maturity.

But first, we have to get up on:

On The Operating Table

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

“The Word puts our soul on the operating table.”

Not destruction, but exposure.

Hebrews 4:13 NLT

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Naked & exposed - language of vulnerability. Having the neck exposed.

Proverbs 5:21 NLT

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.

I know - this doesn’t seem like great news. The “eye in the sky” is always watching, right?

Better Hold On

Hebrews 4:14 NLT

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

“Hold firm” = cling tightly, connect, grip.

Keep hold of the one who knows where you’re coming from and also knows how to mediate for us before God.

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Understands = sympathizes, suffers along side of.

We need someone who can legitimately say, “I know exactly what you’re going through.”

Weaknesses = a lack of capacity, inability.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Romans 8:26 NLT

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

What We Really Need

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Fearless in our lostness.

[SLIDE] Mercy - NOT getting what we deserve - judgment, condemnation.

[SLIDE] Grace - NOT deserving what we get - love, acceptance, significance.

Ephesians 3:12 NLT

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

In a few minutes, we’re going to finish the service with a song called “rescuer.” I hope you’ll stay plugged in with us through that song so you can sing and affirm the message we’ve been sharing all morning:

Hold firm to Jesus, our rescuer, who redeems us, breaks all our chains of guilt, shame and sin, makes us fearless.

Hold firm to Him.