Sermon
#24 Hebrews
Notes
Title: Boldness at the Throne
Text: Hebrews 4:16
Readings: Lindsay
Campbell and Larry Criss
Subject: Prayer at the Throne of
Grace
Date: Tuesday Evening – July 18, 2000
Tape # V-92a
Introduction:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16
The title of my message
tonight is – Boldness At The Throne. I want to talk to you about
the blessed work and privilege of prayer. I do not pretend to know a great deal
about the subject; but I do know what God has taught me and is teaching me.
Prayer is one of the most
important aspects of every believer’s life. Yet, it is one with which we
struggle constantly. It is a subject about which there is enormous confusion,
even among God’s elect. I cannot think of a single text in Scripture which
gives us more encouragement and reason to pray than Hebrews 4:16. Therefore, I
will stick very close to my text. But, before we look at the text, let me make
some general comments about prayer, which I hope will be helpful to you.
·
Private Prayer
·
Family Prayer
·
Public Prayer.
Now, let’s look at our text.
·
(Hebrews 4:16) "Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need."
I. Here is A Throne. — "The throne of grace."
Once it was called "the mercy seat," but now "the throne." In drawing near to God
in prayer, we come God upon the throne. No one approaches God who does not
approach him upon the throne. He who is God almighty is that great and glorious
Monarch of the universe who sits upon the throne of total, absolute sovereignty.
William
Jay once said, -- “When God enacts laws, he is on a throne of
legislation: when he administers these laws he is on a throne of government:
when he tries his creatures by these laws, he is on a throne of judgment, but
when he receives petitions, and dispenses favors, he is on a throne of grace.”
The idea of a throne
inspires awe, bordering upon terror. It repels rather than invites. Few of us
could approach it without trembling. Yet, here is the throne of the King of
kings and Lord of lords, the scepter of total sovereignty, absolute holiness, and
immutable justice. Before this great King the greatest earthly monarch that
ever wore a crown is but a worm. Before him, all the nations of men him are
less than nothing and vanity. How dares any sinful man him who is infinite
majesty? Blessed be his name, we come to him upon his throne because he sits
upon a throne of grace. Therefore we are allowed, and even commanded, to come
to it boldly.
A. If we would come to God, we must come to him as a
King.
·
With Reverence
·
With Confidence
·
With Submission.
Faith,
in its essence and in all its exercises, is surrender to the Lord God as our
great King.
B. In prayer we come to this great King as to One who
gives as a King.
·
We ask great things from the great King.
·
We ask great things with expectation, because he is as magnanimously
good as he is great.
·
We ask great things because he is infinitely rich in grace and in power
(Phil. 4:19).
C. He who is our God sits upon a “throne of grace.”
This King sits on his throne
on purpose, specifically to dispense grace. It is his design, his object in
displaying himself as King, to dispense grace.
D. It is in hearing the prayers of the needy and
dispensing grace to them that our God and King is honored and glorified.
You
will remember that this throne of grace is that which Isaiah saw (Isa. 6). It
was typified in the mercy-seat, which was upon the ark of the covenant in the
Old Testament, where atonement was made. It is this which John beheld in
Revelation 4 and 5, where he saw the Lamb that had been slain.
·
The Throne
·
The Rainbow
·
The Book
·
The Lamb, As It Had Been Slain
·
(Revelation 5:9-14) "And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; {10} And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall
reign on the earth. {11} And I
beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the
beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands;
{12} Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing. {13} And every creature
which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in
the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and
glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. {14} And the four beasts said, Amen.
And the four and twenty elders fell
down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
It is here, in Christ, the
crucified Lamb of God, sitting upon the throne, that we behold God’s majesty
and mercy, his justice and his grace, his truth and his goodness.
·
(Exodus 25:17-18) "And thou
shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold:
two cubits and a half shall be the
length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. {18} And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work
shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat."
·
(Exodus 25:22) "And there I
will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat,
from between the two cherubims which are upon
the ark of the testimony, of all things which
I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel."
·
(Hebrews 9:1-12) "Then
verily the first covenant had also
ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. {2} For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and
the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. {3} And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the
Holiest of all; {4} Which had the
golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold,
wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; {5} And over it the cherubims of glory
shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. {6} Now when these things were thus
ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service of God. {7} But into the
second went the high priest alone
once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: {8} The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the
first tabernacle was yet standing: {9} Which
was a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make
him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; {10} Which stood only in meats and
drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. {11} But Christ being come an high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not
made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; {12} Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us."
·
(Hebrews 10:19-22) "Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he
hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; {21} And having an high priest over the house of God; {22} Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water."
E. The Lord God to whom we come and before whom we bow
in prayer, even in hearing prayer acts as a sovereign, but whose sovereignty is
the sovereignty of grace.
To the throne of the great
God, poor sinners are bidden to come. Oh, what a privilege this is! We who come
to the throne of grace have free audience with the King of Grace!
II. Here is A Gracious Exhortaion. — "Let us therefore come."
A. Be sure you don’t miss the “therefore.”
The basis of this exhortation is fourfold. We
are invited, urged, bidden, commanded, and exhorted to come to the throne of
grace…
·
because of the danger we face.
·
because there is a rest to be had.
·
because the God with whom we have to do knows all things.
·
because we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens – “Jesus the Son of God!”
B. This coming is a spiritual coming.
This is an act of faith, an act of the heart.
In such matters, there are no rules to follow, but the rules of reverent love,
gratitude, and faith. Posture is meaningless. Affectation is horrible. Prayer,
like all acts of worship, is spiritual. It is more an attitude than an act.
Yet, it is an act…
·
inspired by the promise of God.
·
seeking the will of God.
·
motivated by the glory of God.
B. Who is it that here urges us to prayer?
1. It is Paul, a man like
ourselves, a sinner saved by grace, an experienced believer who had often
proved the value of prayer to his own soul.
2. This call comes from the
whole church of God.
God’s
saints need one another’s prayers, urge one another to prayer and help one
another in prayer.
3. This call comes to us from
God the Holy Spirit, for the apostle spoke by inspiration.
The Spirit, making
intercession in us, says, "Let us come." Let us not be indifferent to
this sympathetic call. At once let us draw near to God.
III. Here is A Blessed Adverb.
— "Let us come boldly."
Did I read that right? Does
God the Holy Spirit call us to come boldly to the throne of grace? He does
indeed! Not proudly, presumptuously, or demandingly. Yet he does say, "boldly."
A. We may and should come to the throne of our God
boldly because it is the throne of grace.
I
read recently that when Martin Luther prayed, he did so with as much reverence
as if he were praying to an infinite God, and with as much familiarity as if he
were speaking to his nearest friend.
This word “boldly” implies liberty without restraint (Acts 2:29; 4:13). We have
liberty to speak our minds freely; to speak all our heart, our ills, our needs
our fears, and even our complaints. As others may not bind us in speaking to
God by prescribing what words we should use; so we need not restrain ourselves,
but freely speak all that our hearts and condition may require.
A man once came Augustus
with a request, but came with so much fear and trembling that the emperor
cried, "What, man! do you think you are giving a sop to an elephant?'' The
emperor was insulted by the man’s apparent thoughts that he was a hard and
cruel ruler.
Can you imagine how such
cringing before God insults our heavenly Father? When men pray with a slavish
bondage and dread, with cold, cringing phrases, and a crouching solemnity, the
free Spirit of the Lord may well rebuke them. Art thou coming to a tyrant? Holy
boldness, a blessed, childlike hope and confidence, is the proper attitude of
the believer’s heart before God.
Remember,
we come to the throne of grace, not to Sinai’s mount, but to Zion’s hill,
through the merits of Christ, before our Father in heaven. We should,
therefore, come boldly.
1. It is the throne of grace,
therefore our faults will be forgiven.
2. It is the throne of grace,
therefore the faults of our prayers will be overlooked.
3. It is the throne of grace,
therefore our petitions will be properly interpreted.
·
(Romans 8:26) "Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered."
4. It is the throne of grace,
therefore our miseries will be pitied.
5. It is the throne of grace,
therefore our needs will be supplied.
B. What does this word “boldly” suggest?
By this adverb,
"boldly," the Holy Spirit means for us to understand that —
1. We may come constantly, at
all times.
2. We may come unreservedly,
with all sorts of petitions.
3. We may come freely, with
simple words.
4. We may come hopefully, with
full confidence of being heard.
5. We may come fervently, with
importunity of pleading.
IV. Here is A Benefit Supplied.
"Let us therefore come."
A. "That we may obtain mercy, and find grace;" not that we may
utter good words; but may actually obtain blessings.
Francis Havergal said, “Obtaining
mercy comes first; then finding grace to help in time of need. You cannot
reverse God's order. You will not find grace to help in time of need till you
have sought and found mercy to save. You have no right to reckon on God's help
and protection and guidance, and all the other splendid privileges which he
promises to ‘the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ,’ until you have this
first blessing, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus; for it is ‘in’ Jesus Christ
that all the promises of God are yea and Amen.’”
1. We may come when we need
great mercy, because of our sin.
2. We may come when we have
little grace.
3. We may come when we are in
great need of more grace.
B. There are many reasons for us to come boldly and at
once to the throne of grace.
1. Our character urges us. We
are invited to come for "mercy," and therefore undeserving sinners
may come.
2. The character of God
encourages us to be bold.
3. Our relation to him as
children gives us great freedom.
4. The Holy Spirit's guidance
draws us near the throne.
5. The promises invite us by
their greatness, freeness, and sureness.
6. Christ is already given to
us, and therefore God will deny us nothing.
7. Former mercies and grace
given us from the throne give us solid confidence.
C. The great reason for all this is Christ himself.
1. He once was slain, and the
mercy-seat is sprinkled with his blood.
2. He is risen and has
justified us by his righteousness.
3. He has ascended and taken
possession of all covenant blessings on our behalf. Let us ask for that which
is our own in him.
4. He is sympathetic, tender,
and careful for us; we must be heard.
5. The humble faith of the
believing heart, seeking mercy and grace from God, through Christ Jesus, honors
God.
·
Let us come to the throne, with all our sinfulness, to find mercy.
·
Let us come to the throne, with all our weakness, to find help.
·
Let us come to the throne, in all our trials and temptations, to find
grace.
·
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
·
(Matthew 6:5-15) "And when
thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward. {6} But thou,
when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret
shall reward thee openly. {7} But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking. {8} Be not ye therefore
like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye
ask him. {9} After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. {10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven. {11} Give us this day our daily bread. {12} And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors. {13} And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
{14} For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you: {15} But if ye forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses."
AMEN.