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THEREFORE LET US DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCE TO THE THRONE OF GRACE:
proserchometha (1PPMS) oun meta parrhesias to thronos tes charitos:
(Hebrews
10:19-23;
13:6;
Romans 8:15-17;
Ephesians 2:18;
3:12)
(Hebrews
9:5;
Exodus 25:17-22;
Leviticus 16:2;
1 Chronicles 28:11)
Therefore - Because He was the perfect Man who never stumbled, He is
now the perfect High Priest through Whom we can enter into the presence of
the Most Holy God.
Let us draw near - one of the most incredible invitations
(exhortations) the world has ever received!
Click
for all 12 "let us..." exhortations in Hebrews (in the NASB).
Draw near (4334)
(proserchomai from prós = facing + érchomai = come)
means to come facing toward. To approach, come near, visit, figuratively to
worship, draw near, go near to.
The
present tense
is an exhortation to continually
drawing near to Him in prayer, worship, devotion of heart and life.
What a dramatic contrast with
God’s previous command at Mount Sinai
And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you
do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the
mountain shall surely be put to death.' (Exodus 19:12).
Because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross and His present mediation as
our High Priest, believers can boldly approach God’s presence! You may want
to read that again and then ponder the incredible privilege believers have
in the New Covenant!
Proserchomai is used seven times in Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:16 (note)
- 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.
Hebrews 7:25 (note)
- Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 10:1 (note)-
For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not
the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer
continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.
Hebrews 10:22 (note)
- let us draw near with a sincere heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 11:6 (note)
- And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek
Him.
Hebrews 12:18 (note)
- For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and
to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
Hebrews 12:22 (note)
- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels
What a contrast this truth presents with the Old Testament priests (Nu 16:40,18:22 Lev 21:17) Same
verb used in
Septuagint (LXX)
to
describe the
approach to God by the Levitical priests in the Old Testament! We are a
"royal priesthood".
Remember that in simple terms, praying is just taking time to talk with your
best friend, in this case your Father.
Confidence (3954) (parrhesia from pás = all + rhesis =
act of speaking > "speaking all things") conveys the idea of freedom to say
all. It is
that attitude of openness that stems from freedom and lack of fear
("shaking" fear - godly, reverential fear is always appropriate). Greeks
used parrhesia of those with the right to speak openly in the
assembly.
Under
the Old Covenant when the high priest entered the Holy of holies and the
presence of the Ark of the Covenant, he entered with trepidation and fear
(including fear of death), lest possibly all the conditions for entrance had
not been fulfilled. In the New Covenant, because of the finished work of our
better High Priest, all the Jewish saints, were encouraged to come before
the Lord at any time, especially the time of need. Only Christianity
provides such boldness by sinful men before a holy God, and that boldness is
only possible because of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Parrhesia is used four times in Hebrews...
Hebrews 3:6 (note)
- [In
Context]
but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house --whose house we are, if we
hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the
end.
Hebrews 4:16 (note)
- [In
Context]
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.
Hebrews 10:19 (note)
- [In
Context]
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place
by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:35 (note)
- [In
Context]
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great
reward.
Throne (2362)
(thronos) is a relatively large and elaborate seat upon which ruler
sits on official occasions. Figuratively throne speaks of authority and
power, while grace conveys the idea of sympathy and understanding, and our
great High Priest Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of these traits.
Jesus Christ fully God and fully Man, but a Man of infinite power on one
hand and a Man with complete and utter sympathy toward mere men! After the
resurrection, Jesus encouraged His disciples with the emboldening truth
that...
All power is given to Me, in heaven and in on earth (Matthew 28:18)
Of grace - This construction is referred to as
a genitive of quality, i.e., a “throne characterized by grace.”
Come forward to God’s throne, where there is grace. (TEV)
Grace (5485)
(charis) in simple terms is God's unmerited
favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation and for
daily sanctification. Grace can transform any and every
trial into triumph and every sorrow into joy. Grace always leads to
peace.
The English
word "grace" is from the Latin "gratia" meaning favor, charm
or thanks. Gratia in turn is derived from "gratus" meaning
free, ready, quick, willing, prompt.
Marvin
Vincent says that grace (charis)
is primarily that which gives joy
(chara). Its higher, Christian meaning is based on the emphasis of freeness
in a gift or favour. It is the free, spontaneous, absolute loving-kindness
of God toward men. (Word Studies in the New Testament: Vol. 4, page 109)
Grace
is the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon
souls ("saving" grace), turning them to Christ and causing him to
seek after His righteousness, keeps, strengthens, increases them in
Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of
the Christian virtues ("sanctifying" grace - that work of the Holy
Spirit in the life of a yielded believer, enabling him to daily die to sin
and live to righteousness). Paul frequently introduces his epistles with
"grace" to recipients who are already saved by grace. Thus grace in these
introductions is Paul's desire that his recipients live out their
Christianity empowered by sanctifying grace.
Grace
is...
the gift of God as expressed in his
actions of extending mercy, loving-kindness, and salvation to people.
Grace is the dimension of divine activity that enables God to confront
human indifference and rebellion with an inexhaustible capacity to forgive
and to bless." (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
John writes
that “of (Jesus Christ’s) fullness we have all received and grace
upon grace.” (Jn
1:16). It is all of...
|
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense |
Grace
is God’s provision (for "Riches" one could also substitute "Righteousness")
for our every need when we need it. God in His grace gives us what we
do not deserve, and in His mercy He does not give us what we do
deserve.
Donald Grey Barnhouse observed
Love that gives upward is worship, love
that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace
It is
possible to grow in Bible knowledge and yet not grow in grace or in
one’s personal relationship with God.
It has been
well said that
The will of God will never lead you where
the grace of God cannot keep you.
The great theologian Jonathan Edwards
said that...
Grace is but glory begun, and
glory is but grace perfected.
The dying words of one
ancient saint were,
Grace is the only thing that can
make us like God. I might be dragged through heaven, earth, and hell and I
would still be the same sinful, polluted wretch unless God Himself should
cleanse me by His grace.
SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED:
hina labomen (1PAAS) eleos kai charin heuromen (1PAAS) eis eukairon
boetheian: (Isaiah
27:11;
55:6,7;
Matthew 7:7-11;
2 Corinthians 12:8-10;
Philippians 4:6,7;
1 Peter 2:10)
So that (hina) is a marker of purpose.
Mercy
(1656)(eleos)
is the outward manifestation of pity. Mercy refers to the outward
manifestation of pity and assumes need on the part of those who receive it
and sufficient resources to meet the need on the part of those who show it.
See
related discussion of mercy in the commentary notes on Blessed are the
merciful
Matthew 5:7and
the lesson notes on the study from the
Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the Merciful: Matthew
5:7 (Related resources -
The Mercy of God
by A. W. Pink, notes on
God's Attribute of Mercy)
The idea is to show
kindness or concern for someone in serious need or to give help to the
wretched, to relieve the miserable. Here the essential thought is that mercy
gives attention to those in misery.
Mercy includes
three elements:
1. ”I see the need”—that’s recognition.
2. “I am moved by the need”—that’s
motivation.
3. “I move to meet the need”—that’s
action. Having a feeling of sorrow over someone's bad situation I now want
to try to do something about it.
Mercy is more
than a feeling, but not less than that. Mercy begins with simple
recognition that someone is hurting around you. But mere seeing or feeling
isn’t mercy. Mercy moves from feeling to action. It is active
compassion for those in need or distress.
Hiebert defines
mercy as
the self-moved, spontaneous loving
kindness of God which causes Him to deal in compassion and tender affection
with the miserable and distressed.
Blue Letter Bible
writes that...
Mercy is when that which is
deserved is withheld to the benefit of the object of the mercy. God has
demonstrated this attribute in abundance with respect to mankind. We from
nearly the beginning of our existence
have
deserved nothing but wrath; having sinned and fallen short of eternal life
in glory, we can do nothing to commend ourselves to or defend ourselves
before God. But thankfully, God has been so amazing in His mercy. Over and
against merely having the mercy to allow us to live out our miserable lives
without destroying us instantly, God has chosen us to greatness and glory by
the hand of His Son. The believer finds himself in Christ and enjoys full
well the fruits of God's mercy.
Wuest writes
that eleos is...
God’s “kindness and goodwill toward the
miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them” (Vincent).
Grace meets man’s need in respect to his guilt and lost condition; mercy,
with reference to his suffering as a result of that sin. (Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans
or
Logos)
Marvin Vincent
adds that eleos...
emphasizes the misery with which grace
deals; hence, peculiarly the sense of human wretchedness coupled with the
impulse to relieve it, which issues in gracious ministry. Bengel remarks,
“Grace takes away the fault, mercy the misery.”
The pre-Christian definitions of the word
eleos include the element of grief experienced on account of the
unworthy suffering of another. So Aristotle. The Latin misericordia (miser
“wretched,” cor “the heart”) carries the same idea. So Cicero defines
it, the sorrow arising from the wretchedness of another suffering
wrongfully. Strictly speaking, the word as applied to God, cannot include
either of these elements, since grief cannot be ascribed to Him, and
suffering is the legitimate result of sin. The sentiment in God assumes the
character of pitying love. Mercy is kindness and good-will toward the
miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them. (Vincent, M.
R. Word Studies in the New Testament)
In Classical Greek
eleos was used as a technical term
for the end of the speech for the defence, in which the accused tried to
awaken the compassion of the judges. (Brown,
Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
One needs to
distinguish between grace and mercy. Grace is shown to the
undeserving, while mercy is compassion to the miserable. Grace is God’s
solution to man’s sin. Mercy is God’s solution to man’s misery. Grace covers
the sin, while mercy removes the pain. Grace forgives, while mercy restores.
Grace gives us what we don’t deserve while mercy withholds what we do
deserve.
Grace is getting what
we do not deserve.
Justice is getting what we do deserve.
Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.
Find grace - grace is there for the need but we must avail
ourselves of His grace. God allows difficult circumstances and difficult
people in our lives to humble us and we can chose to submit and bow and draw
near to the throne of grace with bold petitions and requests or we can
stiffen our neck (refusing to humble ourselves) and miss His grace (James 4:6)
We need mercy for the forgiveness of our sins and grace with which to meet
and overcome our trials.
Help (996)
(boetheia)
is
the noun derived from boetheo (997),
to help from which in turn is from the combination of two words boé =
a cry, exclamation + theo = to run. The incredible word picture is
that of one who upon hearing a cry for help, runs to give aid to assist or
to
succor. Boetheia describes the assistance offered to meet
a need. In secular Greek, this word was used to describe a medical aid or a
cure. Boetheia is only twice in the NT.
The writer of Hebrews encourages
saints writing "Let us therefore (term
of conclusion) draw near with
confidence (fearlessly, boldly) to the throne of grace, that we may (note he
does not say so that we "might" but in fact that we will)
receive mercy and may find grace to help (boetheia) in time of
need." (Heb 4:16)
The Amplified version describes this
"help" as "appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need
it."
Jehovah runs to our cry for help with
His mercy to cover the things we should not have done, and His grace to
empower us to do what we should do but do not have the power to do, both
arriving in the nick of time.
Luke uses boetheia in his
description of the storm tossed ship in (Acts
27:17, click to read the full account), writing that "after they
had hoisted (the lifeboat) up, they used supporting cables (boetheia)
in undergirding the ship and fearing that they might run aground on the
shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor, and so let themselves be
driven along." This procedure of passing ropes under the ship to hold it
together is known as frapping, (frap is a nautical term that means to
draw tight, to lash down or together). So in the midst of the storm the
sailors wrapped cables around the ship’s hull and winched them tight. Thus
supported, the ship would be better able to withstand the severe pounding of
wind and sea. Beloved, do you see the word picture inherent in the Biblical
use of (verb - boethéo, noun - boetheia) in other verses? From time to time
all of saints encounter unexpected storm winds and are in need of our great
Captain to batten down the hatches, sending His help that we might be
able to endure the stormy trial or temptation.
In contrast to the infrequent use of
boétheia
in the NT, the LXX uses this word 40 times so we will look at some of the
uses. Note that boétheia
is the word used in
Psalm 121:1-2 - click for commentary.
In
Psalm 7:10, the Septuagint uses
boetheia to translate the Hebrew word "shield", David testifying
that
My shield (Lxx = boetheia) is
with God, Who saves the upright in heart." Shield is a
metaphor picturing the protecting presence
of God. Boetheia conveys the idea that upon hearing our cry for help,
God runs to give His protection! What an awesome God we serve beloved.
Psalm 20:2 May He send you help
(Heb =
'ezer)
(LXX = boetheia conveys the idea of Him sending help upon hearing your cry
for help) from the sanctuary and support you from Zion!
Out of heaven’s
sanctuary came the angel to strengthen our Lord, and from the precious
remembrance of God’s doings in his sanctuary our Lord refreshed himself when
on the tree. There is no help like that which is of God’s sending,
and no deliverance like that which comes out of his sanctuary. The sanctuary
to us is the person of our blessed Lord, who was typified by the temple, and
is the true sanctuary which God has pitched, and not man: let us fly to
the cross for shelter in all times of need and help will be sent to us.
People of the world seek help out of the armory, or the treasury, or the
pantry, but we turn to the sanctuary." (Spurgeon
- Treasury
of David)
Psalm 35:2 "Take hold (imperative or
command) of buckler and shield, and rise up (imperative or command) for my
help (Heb =
'ezra)"
Note how David boldly approaches
Jehovah's throne of grace using two verbs in the imperative mood (commands)
to cry out for help in his time of need! Spurgeon adds that "The Lord is
pictured armed for battle, and interposing Himself between His servant and
his enemies. The greater and lesser protections of providence may be here
intended by the two defensive weapons, and by the Lord’s standing up is
meant His active and zealous preservation of His servant in peril. The
psalmist thought of God as a real personage, truly working for His
afflicted." (Spurgeon
- Treasury
of David)
Psalm 38:21 Do not forsake me, O
LORD; O my God, do not be far from me! 22 Make haste to help (Heb =
'ezra) (boetheia = run to my aid upon
hearing my cry for help) me, O Lord, my salvation!
Spurgeon adds that
Delay would prove
destruction. The poor pleader was far gone and ready to expire, only
speedy help would serve his turn. See how sorrow quickens the
importunity of prayer! Here is one of the sweet results of affliction, it
gives new life to our pleading, and drives us with eagerness to our God.
Faith tried, faith trembling, faith crying, faith grasping, faith
conquering." (Spurgeon
- Treasury
of David)
Psalm 60:11 O give us help (Heb
=
'ezra) against the adversary, for
deliverance by man is in vain. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly, and it
is He who will tread down our adversaries (LXX = Greek verb thlibo
= literally to press together or hem in, which figuratively pictures
sufferings that arise from the pressure of circumstances or from the
antagonism of persons)
David acknowledged that victory had to
come from God. The Israelites could not obtain it without His help. Who do
you cry out to for help? On whose strength do you draw, the Lord's or your
own? The source of your help and your strength will determine whether you
experience victory or defeat. MacDonald adds that "The believer’s enemies
are the world, the flesh and the devil. In himself he is powerless to
conquer them. And the help of other men is insufficient, no matter how
well-meaning they might be. But there is victory through the Lord Jesus
Christ. Those who trust in Him for deliverance will never be disappointed."
(MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Psalm 70:1 "For the choir
director. A Psalm of David; for a memorial. O God, hasten (hurry and do this
quickly) to deliver me; O LORD, hasten to my help." (Heb =
'ezra)
David is urging the Lord to make haste to
deliver him. He is crying out for immediate help. Spurgeon adds that "It is
not forbidden us, in hours of dire distress, to ask for speed on God’s part
in his coming to rescue us...It is most fitting that we should day by day
cry to God for deliverance and help; our frailty and our many dangers render
this a perpetual necessity." (Spurgeon
- Treasury
of David)
Warren Wiersbe asks
"Has God ever been slow in your life? He
was in David's. This undoubtedly was one of the psalms written when David
was being harassed by King Saul. So he cries out, "Lord, why don't You do
something? You're being awfully slow."
Have you ever pondered the delays of God?
He is never in a hurry, but once He starts to work, watch out! He patiently
accomplishes His work. David pleads, "Make haste, make haste" (v. 1). He
repeats his plea in verse 5: "I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay." If right now
it seems as though God is tarrying instead of working, if it seems as though
He is delaying instead of acting, what should you do? Seek Him and wait on
Him and love Him. Verse 4 says it beautifully: "Let all those who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say
continually, 'Let God be magnified!"' We've seen that phrase before. David,
when he was sinking, said, "I . . . will magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Ps
69:30).
Here's a good lesson for us. When God is not moving as rapidly as we think
He should, when our timetables do not coincide, what should we do? Rejoice
in Him, love Him and magnify Him. Let Him worry about the timetable. God is
always working, and we know that all things are working together for good
(Rom. 8:28). But He waits for the right time to reveal His victories. Let
Him watch the clock.
God's delays are a part of your character-building process. The next time
God gives you a delay, encourage yourself by remembering that He never stops
working for you, and He knows when and how to help you. Submit to His
timetable and His care." (Wiersbe, W: "Prayer, Praise and Promises").
In time of need (2121)
(eukairos from eu = good, well +
kairos
= time, opportune time) means seasonable, timely, opportune, favorable, at
the right time, well timed. It is the that time which is well suited for
something.
When is this
time? In one sense, it is all the time because we stand constantly in need of His
grace!
His grace comes when we come in our time of need, and not until.
An Illustration of Grace received in the nick of time -
The story of the John Hus who was condemned to burn at the stake. The night before in his cell
he tested himself with a match and recoiled in pain. Hus is quoted as
saying “If I can’t withstand the fire of a candle, how the stake?” But
the next day Hus not only bore the flames, he died singing. God's grace was
sufficient and he went thru the flames in a manner that glorified His
Father.
><>><>><>
A Bold Entrance - One morning, Scott Long and his wife had just
awakened and were lying in bed when suddenly a young fellow entered their
bedroom. He walked around the bed to Scott’s side.
If the trespasser had been a total stranger, his entrance would’ve been
criminal intrusion. If he had been a friend, his entrance would’ve been just
plain obnoxious. But it was their toddler son who had entered their bedroom,
jumped on the bed, and boldly said, “I want in the middle.” Scott was struck
with the beauty of a child’s security in knowing he is wanted.
We are welcome in our heavenly Father’s presence as well. Hebrews 4:16 tells
us we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and
find grace to help in time of need.” We can approach Him confidently about
anything—our needs and our desires—knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter
5:7).
Writer Phillips Brooks said, “If man is man and God is God, to live without
prayer is not merely an awful thing; it is an infinitely foolish thing.”
Let’s not be foolish and ignore the help we can find in prayer to our
Father. Instead, let’s approach Him with the boldness of a child who knows
he is loved and wanted by his father. —Anne Cetas (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
When we approach the Lord in prayer,
We can come boldly to His throne;
His children come expectantly,
For grace and mercy will be shown. —Sper
Pray as a child talks to his father.
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Hebrews 4:16
Equal Access
Pastor Stuart Silvester told me of a conversation he had with an
acquaintance who frequently flew his small private plane in and out of
Toronto International Airport. He asked the pilot if he ever encountered
problems taking off and landing a small craft at an airport that was
dominated by so many large jets. His friend responded, “My plane may be
small, but I have the same rights, the same privileges, and the same
access to that airport as anyone else—even the jumbo jets!”
Pastor Silvester then made this spiritual application: “It’s the same with
prayer, with the believer’s approach to the throne of grace. No matter who
we are or how small we are in comparison with others or how low our
station in life, we take a back seat to no one. No one is given priority
treatment.”
In a world that offers preferential treatment to the wealthy, the famous,
and the influential, it’s encouraging to know that every child of God has
equal access to the Father in heaven. The psalmist said, “The Lord is near
to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm
145:18).
With that assurance, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” in
prayer, knowing that our loving God will never turn us away. —Richard De
Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
There never is a night or day
When God can’t hear us as we pray;
There is no time, there is no place
That we’re beyond His love and grace. —D. De Haan
Prayer is an open line to heaven.
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Hebrews 4:16
Worthy Of Worship
As Moses was tending his father-in-law's sheep in the desert, his
attention was drawn to a strange sight. A bush was burning without being
consumed. When Moses turned to look more closely, God said to him, "Take
your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground"
(Exodus 3:5).
Joshua had a similar experience when he approached the captain of the host
of the Lord. As Joshua drew nearer, he was given this command: "Take your
sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy" (Joshua
5:15).
The experiences of Moses and Joshua teach us that a holy God demands our
reverence and respect. True, we are encouraged to "come boldly to the
throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). We can enter the presence of God with
confidence because Jesus has opened the way for us through His death on
the cross. But never are we to approach God with disrespect. Never are we
to profane His name.
Our heavenly Father is not "the man upstairs." He is God, the One who is
high and lifted up. And because of His majesty and holiness, we are to
exalt and worship Him. As the one true God, He is worthy of our adoration.
Let's give Him our highest praise.—Richard De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
You alone are worthy, Lord,
To be worshiped and adored;
We to You our tribute bring
As our hearts rejoice and sing. —Hess
True worship acknowledges the true worthship of God
><>><>><>
Hebrews 4:16
Afraid Of The Dentist?
Why are so many people afraid of going to the dentist? It may be the
result of a bad experience. One woman said of her childhood dentist, "I
started getting upset and crying and he said, 'If you don't shut up, I'm
going to slap you.'" She now drives 70 miles to The Dental Fears Clinic in
Kansas City.
People who are afraid to go to God have a similar problem. Some may have
been mistreated by spiritual leaders. Others may have learned unhealthy
fear of God as children. Still others, overwhelmed by their sin, see only
God's righteous demand for justice and miss the loving provision of His
Son's sacrifice for sin.
The people in today's Bible reading (1 Samuel 12) were afraid because
Samuel exposed their sin. But he also told them that God longed to forgive
them.
We need to replace irrational fears with healthy ones. God's Word
repeatedly assures us that the pain of going to Him is far less than the
pain of avoiding Him. It also assures us that because of Jesus we can
"come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy" (Hebrews
4:16).
A dentist fills the holes in your teeth, but God wants to fill the holes
in your heart—with Himself. Don't let your unhealthy fear stop Him.—Mart
De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
The love of God is my pillow,
Soft and healing and wide;
I rest my soul in its comfort,
And in its calm I abide. —Long
Only God can fill the emptiness of an aching heart.
><>><>><>
Hebrews 4:16
Praying With Boldness
Have you ever found it tough to pray? That can happen when we're
reluctant to tell God how we're really feeling. We might abruptly stop in
mid-sentence, fearful of being disrespectful of our heavenly Father.
A trip through the book of Psalms can help us pray more openly. There we
can overhear David's conversations with God and realize that he was not
afraid to be completely open and honest with the Lord. David cried out: "O
Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger" (Psalm 6:1). "Have mercy on me, O
Lord, for I am weak" (6:2). "Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?" (10:1).
"Do not be silent to me" (28:1). "Plead my cause, O Lord" (35:1). "Hear my
prayer, O God" (54:2). "I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily"
(55:2).
Think about David's approach. He was saying to God: "Help me!" "Listen to
me!" "Don't be mad at me!" "Where are You?" David boldly went to God and
told Him what was on his mind. Yes, God expects us to come to Him with a
clean heart, and we need to approach Him with reverence—but we don't have
to be afraid to tell God what we're thinking and feeling.
Next time you talk with your heavenly Father—tell it straight. He'll
listen, and He'll understand. —Dave Branon (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
When you approach the Lord with boldness,
When you pray in Jesus' name,
Just tell Him all the pain you're feeling—
There's no need for fear or shame. —Fitzhugh
Prayer is an open line to heaven.
><>><>><>
Hebrews 4:16
Help For The Helpless
I sometimes ask people, "Where does it say in the Bible, 'God helps
those who help themselves'?" Most say they're not sure, but the concept is
so familiar that they think it must be somewhere in God's Word.
Actually, the Bible doesn't say that at all. It tells us just the
opposite: God helps the helpless.
When you read the Gospels, you find that Jesus did not refuse to help the
helpless. He did not withhold forgiveness and compassion from those who
acknowledged their sin. He did not turn away from those who had no power
to change. In fact, the people who distressed Him most were those who
thought they didn't need any help at all.
God's thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), and He sees things
differently than we do. We see our own ability to deal with problems; He
shows us our weaknesses to teach us to rely on His strength. We take pride
in our successes and begin to think we don't need God's help; He allows us
to fail so He can teach us that true success comes through His grace.
Are you feeling helpless today? God's grace is available for those who
recognize that they cannot help themselves. "Come boldly to the throne of
grace" to find help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16). —David H. Roper
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
God helps those who know they are helpless
><>><>><>
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Read: Hebrews 4:14-16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy. - Hebrews 4:16a
TODAY IN THE WORD - Haley Mills was an established child star at the
time, but her escort to Disneyland one day had even more clout. As she was
ushered past thousands of guests waiting in endless lines, one security
guard attempted to stop the duo from proceeding. He yelled, “Hey, who do you
think you are, Walt Disney?” Imagine his shock and embarrassment as Mills’s
escort turned around and said, “As a matter of fact, I am Walt Disney.”
Needless to say, the guard let them through.
Special relationships with people in high places garner all sorts of
special access. And our relationship with Christ gives us immediate access
that even a king would envy. Today’s reading in Hebrews reveals that, with
Christ as our high priest, we enjoy benefits even Solomon couldn’t call his
own. Our high priest has ascended higher than any Old Testament priest ever
could (v. 14)!
But our access comes not just from Christ’s lofty position in heaven, but
also from the common experiences Jesus went through on earth (v. 15). We
have a high priest who can relate to our weaknesses and has overcome all our
temptations. Because of that unique relationship, we can “approach the
throne of grace with confidence” to receive help whenever we need it–whether
it’s grace when we suffer or mercy when we stumble (v. 16).
This doesn’t negate, however, Ecclesiastes’ warning about the appropriate
awe the presence of God should stir within us. It simply adds another
dimension to the picture. “Under the sun” thinking puts primary stress on
our sin without considering the redemptive power of our heavenly high
priest. Our inclination toward faithlessness makes any oaths we might make
to God very risky. But Christ’s priesthood is confirmed with an oath
straight from God that can never be broken (Heb. 7:20–22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Is there some temptation in your life you’re afraid to
bring to Jesus, some sin you’ve never had the courage to confess? Jesus can
sympathize with whatever you’re facing! You can approach His throne with
boldness and claim His grace and mercy in your time of need.
(See
Moody
Bible Institute's Today in the Word)
><>><>><>
September 20, 1999
Equal Access
READ: Psalm 145:14-21
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need. --Hebrews 4:16
Pastor Stuart Silvester told me of a conversation
he had with an acquaintance who frequently flew his small private plane in
and out of Toronto International Airport. He asked the pilot if he ever
encountered problems taking off and landing a small craft at an airport that
was dominated by so many large jets. His friend responded, “My plane may be
small, but I have the same rights, the same privileges, and the same access
to that airport as anyone else—even the jumbo jets!”
Pastor Silvester then made this spiritual application: “It’s the same with
prayer, with the believer’s approach to the throne of grace. No matter who
we are or how small we are in comparison with others or how low our station
in life, we take a back seat to no one. No one is given priority treatment.”
In a world that offers preferential treatment to the wealthy, the famous,
and the influential, it’s encouraging to know that every child of God has
equal access to the Father in heaven. The psalmist said, “The Lord is near
to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
With that assurance, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” in prayer,
knowing that our loving God will never turn us away. —Richard De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
There never is a night or day
When God can’t hear us as we pray;
There is no time, there is no place
That we’re beyond His love and grace. —D. De Haan
Prayer is an open line to heaven.
><>><>><>
Worthy Of Worship - As Moses was tending his father-in-law's sheep
in the desert, his attention was drawn to a strange sight. A bush was
burning without being consumed. When Moses turned to look more closely, God
said to him, "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand
is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).
Joshua had a similar experience when he approached the captain of the host
of the Lord. As Joshua drew nearer, he was given this command: "Take your
sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy" (Joshua 5:15).
The experiences of Moses and Joshua teach us that a holy God demands our
reverence and respect. True, we are encouraged to "come boldly to the throne
of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). We can enter the presence of God with confidence
because Jesus has opened the way for us through His death on the cross. But
never are we to approach God with disrespect. Never are we to profane His
name.
Our heavenly Father is not "the man upstairs." He is God, the One who is
high and lifted up. And because of His majesty and holiness, we are to exalt
and worship Him. As the one true God, He is worthy of our adoration. Let's
give Him our highest praise.—Richard De Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
You alone are worthy, Lord,
To be worshiped and adored;
We to You our tribute bring
As our hearts rejoice and sing. —Hess
True worship acknowledges the true worthship of God
><>><>><>
Afraid Of The Dentist? - Why are so many people afraid of going to
the dentist? It may be the result of a bad experience. One woman said of her
childhood dentist, "I started getting upset and crying and he said, 'If you
don't shut up, I'm going to slap you.'" She now drives 70 miles to The
Dental Fears Clinic in Kansas City.
People who are afraid to go to God have a similar problem. Some may have
been mistreated by spiritual leaders. Others may have learned unhealthy fear
of God as children. Still others, overwhelmed by their sin, see only God's
righteous demand for justice and miss the loving provision of His Son's
sacrifice for sin.
The people in today's Bible reading (1 Samuel 12) were afraid because Samuel
exposed their sin. But he also told them that God longed to forgive them.
We need to replace irrational fears with healthy ones. God's Word repeatedly
assures us that the pain of going to Him is far less than the pain of
avoiding Him. It also assures us that because of Jesus we can "come boldly
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy" (Hebrews 4:16).
A dentist fills the holes in your teeth, but God wants to fill the holes in
your heart—with Himself. Don't let your unhealthy fear stop Him.—Mart De
Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The love of God is my pillow,
Soft and healing and wide;
I rest my soul in its comfort,
And in its calm I abide. —Long
Only God can fill the emptiness of an aching heart.
><>><>><>
Praying With Boldness - Have you ever found it tough to pray? That
can happen when we're reluctant to tell God how we're really feeling. We
might abruptly stop in mid-sentence, fearful of being disrespectful of our
heavenly Father.
A trip through the book of Psalms can help us pray more openly. There we can
overhear David's conversations with God and realize that he was not afraid
to be completely open and honest with the Lord. David cried out: "O Lord, do
not rebuke me in Your anger" (Psalm 6:1). "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I
am weak" (6:2). "Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?" (10:1). "Do not be
silent to me" (28:1). "Plead my cause, O Lord" (35:1). "Hear my prayer, O
God" (54:2). "I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily" (55:2).
Think about David's approach. He was saying to God: "Help me!" "Listen to
me!" "Don't be mad at me!" "Where are You?" David boldly went to God and
told Him what was on his mind. Yes, God expects us to come to Him with a
clean heart, and we need to approach Him with reverence—but we don't have to
be afraid to tell God what we're thinking and feeling.
Next time you talk with your heavenly Father—tell it straight. He'll listen,
and He'll understand. —Dave Branon (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
When you approach the Lord with boldness,
When you pray in Jesus' name,
Just tell Him all the pain you're feeling—
There's no need for fear or shame. —Fitzhugh
Prayer is an open line to heaven.
><>><>><>
Help For The Helpless - I sometimes ask people, "Where does it say
in the Bible, 'God helps those who help themselves'?" Most say they're not
sure, but the concept is so familiar that they think it must be somewhere in
God's Word.
Actually, the Bible doesn't say that at all. It tells us just the opposite:
God helps the helpless.
When you read the Gospels, you find that Jesus did not refuse to help the
helpless. He did not withhold forgiveness and compassion from those who
acknowledged their sin. He did not turn away from those who had no power to
change. In fact, the people who distressed Him most were those who thought
they didn't need any help at all.
God's thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), and He sees things
differently than we do. We see our own ability to deal with problems; He
shows us our weaknesses to teach us to rely on His strength. We take pride
in our successes and begin to think we don't need God's help; He allows us
to fail so He can teach us that true success comes through His grace.
Are you feeling helpless today? God's grace is available for those who
recognize that they cannot help themselves. "Come boldly to the throne of
grace" to find help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16). —David H. Roper (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
God helps those who know they are helpless
><> ><> ><>
Alexander Maclaren has the following sermon on Hebrews 4:16 entitled...
The Throne of Grace IN the
context are three great exhortations which bear a very remarkable and
distinct relation to each other:
‘Let us labour to enter into rest’;
‘Let us
hold fast our profession’;
Let us come boldly to the throne of grace. It is a hard thing to labour to enter into rest. How is it to be done? The
second exhortation helps us to answer, ‘Let us hold fast our profession,’
which being translated into other words, is this: our true way of labour is
to cling in faith to Him whom we acknowledge; but knowing the weakness of
our own hearts, and how they waywardly fluctuate and pass away from the one
confidence and happiest trust, it is with profound wisdom that the ultimate
injunction is held out for the foundation of all — ‘Let us come to the
throne of grace.’ There we get the strength that will enable our slack and
benumbed fingers to grasp again the thing we hold. There we shall get that
fresh grip of Christ which will quicken us for the labour of entering into
rest. And so this portion of exhortation interposed between the
doctrinal and theological parts of this letter is addressed to every one in
the Christian profession. I ask you, then, to look at this exhortation,
which covers the whole ground of Christian duty and strength.
Now, first, here is a very remarkable and beautiful expression — ‘the throne
of grace.’ Grace, of course, as I do not need to explain, is the New
Testament word for the undeserved favour and loving regard of God to man
considered as weak, sinful, and unworthy; it is love which has its own
motive, apart from any regard to worthiness in the object upon which it
falls. Grace is its own real impulse and motive, and grace is set in
Scripture as the opposite of desert; it is of grace, not of works, and so
forth. It is set as the antagonist of sin and unrighteousness and all evil,
and so runs up to the idea that it expresses the unmerited, self-originated,
loving regard of God to us poor miserable creatures, who, if dealt with on
the ground of right a | 
