Knowing God And Praying

Life’s Pitfalls and Discoveries

Knowing God and Praying

Hebrews chapter 12:18-12:29

Introduction-

We continue to look at the series Life’s Pitfalls and Discoveries;

Prayerfully you have sensed that God wants to work not only in our lives but also use our lives to speak and help others on their journey with God.

We have looked at the power of forgiveness, and the pitfall of not forgiving.

Seen the wisdom of God that is available if we want it and the many consequences of doing things in our own strength and our limited wisdom.

Last week, we talked about focusing on God, intentionally focusing on God and the pitfall of too many distractions that take us away from God. Good things and bad things can be distractions that will keep us from staying focused on God.

Today looking at prayer, speaking to God and having a conversation with Him and wanting to hear back. Taking time to see who we are praying too and giving Him the honor and glory that is deserved.

Making time to not forget that He is God and we are His followers and not the other way around.

To set up the text, we will be in Hebrews chapter 12, and Hebrew 12 speaks of God’s Holiness and the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for each of us.

These verses are a pulling together of the Old Testament God that most feel is too harsh, mean, and out of touch and the New Testament God that gave us His Son Jesus Christ to be our sacrifice and has made known that He desires a relationship with us..

Make no mistake about it, God is still a holy God and He has not changed but He made a way that unholy people can come into His presence without being destroyed.

Hebrews chapter 12:18-12:29

You read that portion of Scripture and two feelings immediately flood your soul.

One is the awesome holiness of God and you think how could I ever come to Him. Why would a holy God want anything to do with me?

The other is the joy that we would even be invited to come to Him and if we are not careful, we could easily forget His holiness and treat Him like a pal instead of God.

Both are dangerous and both can affect our relationship with God.

You would think this is a sermon on the holiness of God, but it is on prayer. Before you can understand the great and Holy God that has offered salvation, you have to grasp His holiness.

To be this kind of holy, you have to be separate, in a class of your own, set apart.

To be this kind of holy, you have to be morally pure. Not just a good person.

To be this kind of holy, it is your character, your nature. You don’t act holy, it is who you are.

R.C. Sproul

The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.

Do you understand this morning that God offers to us (good thing) to come into the presence of a God that is a consuming fire! A God that if He didn’t allow us His presence that we would burn up like dirty rags.

There are two great mountains of importance in the Bible. Mt Zion and Mt Sinai.

We like Mt. Zion, it represents Christ and His victory at Calvary.

Mt Sinai is where Moses received the 10 commandments, where he spent time with God and could not even look at the holiness of God without losing his life.

Here is how one person described the contrasts….

Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror. Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.

Mount Sinai is in the desert. Mount Zion is the city of the Living God.

Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things. Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.

At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God. At Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to draw near.

Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear. Mount Zion features just men made perfect.

At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator. At Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.

Mount Sinai brings an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals. Mount Zion brings a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God's precious Son.

Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain. Mount Zion is all about invitation.