His Name Is ….the Great High Priest Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

Three Questions:

Question one: Who is this Great high priest?

Question Two: What does this high priest have to offer?

Question Three: Why does He qualify?

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Readers’ Digest Magazine contains the story;

• Of an employee who confided in a co-worker.

• Quote: ‘I told her about a problem in our office and my fear that I would lose my job.

• She was concerned and said she would pray for me.

• I know she keeps a list of 10 people she believes need her prayers the most,

• So I asked her if she had room for me on her list.

• “Oh yes,” she replied.

• “Three of the other people have died”’

• I guess if we ask somebody to intercedes for us,

• We are expecting and wanting better results than that!

• The book of Hebrews reassures us again and again;

• That we have the best intercessor anyone could hope to have.

Note: There are two reasons every Christian should be confident in their priest Jesus.

FIRST: WE HAVE A PRIEST WHO IS AVAILABLE,

• Quote: Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25.

• Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,

• Because he always lives to intercede for them”.

Ill:

• Do you remember the old batman series?

• The one that starred Adam West as Bruce Wayne?

• When Commissioner Gordon needed Batman’s help;

• He would pick up a special red telephone and be instantly connected to the bat-cave,

• Where batman would get the message and be available to help.

• It did not matter what time of night or day Commissioner Gordon called;

• If he used that red telephone then he had instant access to Batman!

Transition: You and I come to an eternal living priest who is always available:

• Some people have the mistaken idea that once Jesus finished His work on the cross,

• He went to heaven to retire.

• This verse reminds us that nothing could be farther from the truth.

• ‘He lives to make intercession for us’ (Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25),

• Another example is chapter 9 verse 24:

• ‘He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’.

• As our high priest, He stands ready to hear our pleas, our petitions, and our pain.

• Quote: “His ear is eager. His heart is empathetic. His hand is extended.”

SECOND: WE HAVE A PRIEST WHO IS ALL-SUFFICENT.

• Quote: Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25.

• Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,

• Because he always lives to intercede for them”.

We have a priest who is all-sufficient to meet our deepest needs.

• That means no sin is so great:

• That it would turn the head of our high priest away from us.

• No sins are so numerous;

• That they could bar the entrance to into his listening ear.

• ill: In fact there is a sense that when we say; “Sorry Lord I did it again!”

• He replies: “What do you mean again!”

• That is not an excuse just carry on deliberately sinning (we saw that in our 1 John studies);

• But genuine confession brings genuine forgiveness!

• And we have a Great High priest;

• Who is all-sufficient to meet our deepest needs.

Quote: Graham Kendrick Hymn ‘The price is paid’.

“The price is paid

Come let us enter in

To all that Jesus died

To make our own

For every sin

More than enough He gave

And bought our freedom

From each guilty stain”

• Because he is All-sufficient;

• There is no reason why we should hesitate to come to Him in our time of need.

Note:

• Before we can confidently draw near to this Great High Priest,

• There are a few questions that we need answered.

• Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14-16 answer those questions.

Question one: Who is this Great high priest?

“…since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess”.

• Our high priest is identified for us as: “Jesus the Son of God”,

• While the name ‘Jesus’ and the title ‘Son of God’;

• Are used in the New Testament on many occasions;

• This is the only time they are used together in this way.

Now they are used together in this way to remind us of the criterion of our priest:

• “Jesus” is the earthly, the human name given to the baby born at Bethlehem,

• “Son of God” is the title given to the second member of the Godhead.