Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. 16 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.
When I was in college back in Dallas, one winter a friend and I went Christmas shopping at Best Buy. While we were there we had the luxury of seeing the one and only Dez Bryant (Who was a star player for my favorite team of all time the Dallas Cowboys)! My friend and I were star struck and didn’t know what to do at that moment. What I really wanted was a picture and an autograph, but our fear was that we were going to be too much of a bother to him. While we were waiting in line, another man came up and asked us who the person was that we were talking about. We mentioned who he was and sure enough after he checked out, he went up to Dez and his crew and got a picture! A man who didn’t even know who Dez was five minutes ago went straight up to him without reservation. That man didn’t waste any time did he?
In Hebrews 4 the writer of the book encourages Christians to go to the Lord directly to the Lord in prayer in confidence. Verse 16 says it all. The call for the Christian is to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. How are we able to do that? By the completed work of Jesus Christ on Easter weekend. See, in the Old Testament the people of God needed a high priest to go to God on their behalf with their requests, prayers and sacrifices. The high priest would go into what was known as the Holy of Holies in which he alone was allowed to go to make intercession for sins by sacrifice of animals and to make requests on behalf of the people.
Here is the good news for us today: we no longer need a high priest to go to God for us. Listen, for Christians today, Jesus is our faithful High Priest. He was the all sufficient sacrifice needed for mankind when he died on that old rugged cross once and for all. All who believe in His completed work (Death, Burial and Resurrection) have their sins forgiven and are now able to approach God directly in prayer. We are now able to have a real relationship with the creator God. WOW!
What does that mean for us then? We ought to go to the Lord in prayer. There are many who are too fearful or too ashamed to go to God in prayer. There are many who are too afraid to go to the Lord with their problems because of what He may think of them, or perhaps because they feel as though they are a bother to the Lord. No, God desires for us to take our requests to Him in prayer (Psalm 55:22). God desires for us to take our troubles to Him because He knows what we are going through, and can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). We ought to have a reverence when we approach the King of kings in prayer, but we also should know that He is a very personal God who is near to you and I. That ought to encourage us. So run to Him. Listen Christian, spend time sitting at His feet like Mary did (Luke 10:38-42). Spend time crying out to Him in prayer. We have the opportunity to walk in fellowship with the Creator God by going directly to Him in prayer! Make the most of it! Don’t be ashamed.. Be encouraged at the fact that He hears your cry and wants to meet you where you are today!
Prayer of the Day: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to make a way back to you. Please help for me to never take for granted the opportunity to come to you in prayer. Help me to grow in prayer and my desire to pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Song for Today: O Come to the Altar- Elevation Worship
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
1 Samuel 16:7
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.