BOLDLY COME - HEBREWS 4:16

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

BIG IDEA: DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR BOLD PRAYERS.

WE’VE BEEN IN THIS (PRAY FIRST) SERIES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EVERY BELIEVER GOING DEEPER IN HIS/HER PRAY LIFE.

GROWING PAST THE TEMPTATION OF JUST ASKING FOR STUFF, AND LANDING UPON FERVENTLY PURSUING INTIMACY WITH OUR LORD.

WE FASTED (DENIED OURSELVES PLEASURABLE DISHES AND/OR ACTIVITIES) TO HELP US TO FOCUS MORE UPON HIM.

WE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT WITH OUR PRAYERS, WHILE FOLLOWING JESUS’ MODEL: THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE...

SO THEN, AS WE CONCLUDE THIS SERIES, MY STUDIES LED ME TO THIS SINGULAR VERSE, EMBEDDED WITHIN A DEEPER CONVERSATION AND CONTEXT ABOUT REST AND REWARDS, NESTLED IN HEBREWS 4....

16 - THEREFORE, LET US APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH BOLDNESS, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN TIME OF NEED.

IF THIS EXTENDED SEASON HAS PROVEN NOTHING, IT IS (IN FACT) A TIME OF NEED...

WE WRESTLE WITH SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL TURMOIL...

OUR LOVED ONES FIND THEMSELVES DESPERATE FOR BOTH DELIVERANCE AND FOR DIRECTION...

CHURCHES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN AND TO CHANGE, IN ORDER TO ADAPT TO THE SHIFTING TRENDS...

OUR FINANCES FLUCTUATE LIKE THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF GOODS AND SERVICES, WHILE WE WATCH OUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS DIMINISH BY THE DAY....

BIG IDEA: DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR BOLD PRAYERS.

AND SO, THE HEBREW WRITER LEAVES BREAD CRUMBS FOR US TO FOLLOW, LEADING TO THE THRONE OF GRACE...

IN THE LATTER VERSES OF CHAPTER 3, LEADING INTO CHAPTER 4, HE WANTS BELIEVERS TO KNOW THAT

FAITHFULNESS MATTERS

...11 Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

FAITHFULNESS MATTERS.

THIS REST SPEAKS OF OUR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE,

IN WHICH WE EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF ALL THAT THE LORD DESIRES FOR HIS CHILDREN.

THE COMPARISON IS MADE WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHO WERE DELIVERED OUT OF THE EGYPTIAN HANDS OF PHARAOH IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS, CROSSED THE RED SEA, AND YET, THEY NEVER ENTERED INTO THEIR PROMISED LAND - THEIR REST, BECAUSE OF THEIR DISOBEDIENCE.

THEY MISSED THE FULLNESS OF THEIR INHERITANCE…(THEIR REST)!

THEY WERE DELIVERED, BUT NOT FULFILLED IN THEIR INHERITANCE...

THE WRITER IS CLEAR, THAT SAME FATE CAN BEFALL BELIEVERS WHO SLACK WHEN THEY OUGHT ATTACK! WHO FALL WHEN THEY OUGHT CALL...

BELOVED, NOW AIN’T THE TIME TO ALLOW THE CLEVERNESS OF THE WORLD’S PHILOSOPHIES TO SWAY YOU...

NOW AIN’T THE TIME TO CHASE RELIGIOUS RABBITS, JUST BECAUSE LIFE GOT HARD!

I KNOW IT’S HARD...

I KNOW AT TIMES IT SEEMS UNFAIR...

AND THIS IS WHY THE HEBREW WRITER TRANSITIONS FROM FAITHFULNESS TO THE WORD!!!

YES, FAITHFULNESS MATTERS....

AND THE WORD MATTERS...

LISTEN TO THIS DESCRIPTION OF GOD’S WORD: 12 - FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND EFFECTIVE AND SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, PENETRATING AS FAR AS THE SEPARATION OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW. IT IS ABLE TO JUDGE THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART.

OUR FAITH IS RENEWED WITH A CONSISTENT DIGESTION OF GOD’S LIVING WORD!!!

SCROLLING WON’T STRENGTHEN YOU! SCRIPTURES WILL!

THE WORD MATTERS.

IM PRIVILEGED TO DRIVE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL DAILY. WE HAVE A RITUAL WHEN WE GET IN THE CAR TO CHECK THE SCREEN ON THE DASH. I’VE GOT APPLE CARPLAY, SO IT GIVES ME INSIGHT INTO UP TO DATE TRAFFIC TRENDS. IF WE SEE RED OR YELLOW ALONG THE ROAD WE PLAN TO TRAVEL, WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS…I CAN’T SEE THE ROAD, BUT MY CARPLAY CAN. AND BASED UPON WHAT IT REVEALS, DETERMINES THE ROUTE I TAKE! - As Christians, we need eyes that we don’t have. God has a greater vantage point and provides that information to us in His Word.

FAITHFULNESS MATTERS. THE WORD MATTERS.

AS I PUSH TO GET TO VERSE 16, THE WRITER LEAVES MORE CRUMBS TO NIBBLE, AS WE DISCOVER IN VERSE 14 THAT JESUS MATTERS!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, WHO -

INTERCEDES FOR US

UNDERSTANDS US

OVERCAME FOR US

Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

AWWW, FINALLY - 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

BOLDLY COME.

FRIENDS,

FAITH MATTERS. THE WORD MATTERS. JESUS MATTERS.

BOLD PRAYERS MATTER.

COME WITH CONFIDENCE (THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST HAS GIVEN US PERMISSION) - APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE W/BOLDNESS!

COME WITH EXPECTANCY (HE RECEIVES & RESPONDS APPROPRIATELY) -

MERCY TO MAKE IT!

GRACE TO OVERCOME IT!

A little boy one day came to his mother. He said, “Mama, give me a peanut butter sandwich.”

Mother made him a peanut butter sandwich, but then he looked at it and smiled. He said, “Mama, I asked you for a peanut butter sandwich and you put jelly on it too!”

You know what mercy is? Mercy is when God not only gives you what you asked for, but He adds a little extra on it too. He gives you more than you deserve.

AREN’T YOU GLAD HE’S A GRACE-GOD! ALWAYS GIVING US MORE THAN WE DESERVE…We can overcome, because He overcame!!