THE MEANING OF CHRIST FOR US
HEBREWS 10:19-25
HEBREWS 10:19-25
I WANT THIS MORNING TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CHRIST MEANS TO US, OR AT LEAST WHAT HE SHOULD MEAN TO US. IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT( V25) AND YOU USE IT AS A HAMMER TO THOSE THAT DON’T GO TO CHURCH, YOU WILL MISS THE MEAT OF THE TEXT. “LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER”.
WE COULD CALL FOR A NO EXCUSE SUNDAY- TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS. (1) PUT COTS IN THE FOYER FOR THOSE WHO SAY THAT SUNDAY IS THEIR ONLY DAY TO SLEEP. (2) HAVE LOUNGE CHAIRS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT SAY THAT THE PEWS ARE TOO HARD. (3) PUT HELMETS ON THOSE THAT SAY THAT THE ROOF WOULD FALL IN IF THEY CAME TO CHURCH. (4) BLANKETS FOR THE CLOD, FANS FOR THOSE THAT ARE HOT. (5) DOCTORS AND NURSES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT WOULD BE SICK ON SUNDAY. IF YOU CENTERED ON THE LAST VERSE, YOU WOULD MISS IT. HEARING AIDS FOR THOSE THAT CAN’T HEAR THE PREACHER, AND COTTON BALLS FOR THOSE THAT CAN IS NOT THE ISSUE. IT IS NOT ABOUT EXCUSES, IT IS ABOUT WHY DO WE COME TO CHURCH, AND WHO ARE YOU COMING TO SEE
LET ME SET THIS UP. THE TABERNACLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AS DESIGNED BY GOD AND BUILT BY MOSES HAD 3 MAIN AREAS.
(1) THE OUTER COURT
IT CONTAINED THE ALTAR AND LAVER. ON THE ALTAR BLOOD FROM ANIMAL SACRIFICES WAS SHED AND THE LAVER IS WHERE THE PRIEST WASHED HIS HANDS AND FEET IN A CLEANSING CEREMONY BEFORE HE WENT INTO THE HOLY PLACE.
(2) THE SECOND(INNER COURT)
WHERE THE SHOW BREAD, LAMPSTAND, THE ALTAR OF INCENSE ARE. EACH PIECE HAD DEEP MEANING AND WAS SIGNIFICANT TO THE SACRIFICE MADE.
(3) THE HOLY OF HOLIES
IT HAD IN FRONT OF IT A HEAVY VEIL OR CURTAIN. INSIDE WAS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT,AND THE MERCY SEAT. IT IS THERE WHERE GOD’S PRESENCE WOULD MEET WITH THE HIGH PRIEST ONCE A YEAR. THE HIGH PRIEST WOULD SACRIFICE FOR HIMSELF AND ALL OF ISRAEL.
COMMON MAN COULD ENTER THE OUTER COURT AND THE INNER COURT SANCTUARY, BUT ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST COULD ENTER THE HOLY OF HOLIES, AND ONLY ONCE A YEAR.
IF THERE WAS SIN FOUND IN THE PRIEST, IF HE HAD SACRIFICED WRONG, HE WOULD DIE. THEY TIED A BELL AROUND HIS LEG AND AS LONG AS THEY HEARD THE BELL, THEY KNEW THE PRIEST WAS STILL ALIVE. NO BELL, THEY WOULD PULL HIM OUT BY THE ROPE ,BUT WOULD NEVER STEP FOOT IN.
YOU SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS
(V19)- THEREFORE, BRETHREN, SINCE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY OPENED FOR US THROUGH THE CURTAIN, THAT IS, HIS BODY AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD, WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.
BECAUSE OF JESUS WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
JESUS IS THE LIVING WAY , NO MORE ANIMAL SACRIFICES, THEY COVERED OUR SINS, JESUS CAN TAKE OUR SINS.
JESUS IS THE HIGH PRIEST WHO WENT INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES, TORE DOWN THE BARRIERS(CURTAIN) SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IT USE TO BE A FEARFUL PLACE TO BE. EVEN FOR THE HIGH PRIEST. WE NOW HAVE ACCESS FREELY. WORSHIPERS OF OLD WERE FEARFUL, THEY WERE UNDER THE LAW OF DEATH, WE ARE UNDER JESUS, THE PRINCIPAL OF LIFE. ENTRANCE IS GAINED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS
ILLUSTRATION
ISAAC HAYES DIED THIS WEEK. HE WAS A SOUL SINGER, 65 YEARS OLD. (JOHN SHAFT) HE WAS A SCIENTOLOGIST. ALONG WITH JOHN TRAVOLTA, TOM CRUISE. HE BELIEVED THAT WHEN HE DIED THAT HE WOULD BE BORN AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT BODY. EVERY PERSON IS A IMMORTAL SPIRIT (THETAN). YOU MOVE UP THE SPIRITUAL LADDER UNTIL YOUR SPIRIT IS “CLEAR” TO MAKE HEAVEN.
WHERE’S JESUS. A HOLY GOD DOES NOT NEED OUR HELP IN GETTING TO HEAVEN. HE HAS PROVIDED THE ONLY WAY.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS ABOUT JESUS.
I. JESUS IS THE LIVING WAY TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD
-THERE WAS A CURTAIN (VEIL) THAT JESUS BY HIS DEATH BROUGHT DOWN THAT ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO ENTER GOD’S PRESENCE.
- THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD.
EXODUS 31
GOD GAVE MOSES INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING AARON AND THE OTHER HIGH PRIEST THAT THEY WERE TO WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE ENTERING THE HOLY OF HOLIES. “THAT THEY MAY NOT DIE”. THEY WERE TO GET IN AND GET OUT OF THE VERY PLACE THAT GOD NOW CALLS US TO AND TELLS US TO COME WITH CONFIDENCE. BECAUSE WE HAVE FAITH IN THE SINLESS BLOOD OF JESUS THAT OPENED THE WAY.
JESUS SAYS:
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, I AM THE LIVING BREAD
I AM THE GREAT SHEPHERD
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
I AM THE GATE
I AM GOD’S ONLY SON
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
JESUS SAID ABOUT LAZARUS- “TAKE OFF THOSE GRAVE CLOTHES AND LET HIM GO
PETER SAID:
HE IS THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD
JOHN 5:24
I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHOEVER HEARS MY WORDS AND BELIEVES HIM WHO SENT ME HAS ETERNAL LIFE AND WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED; HE HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
II. JESUS IS THE HIGH PRIEST OVER GOD’S HOUSE
THE FUNCTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST WAS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND GOD. JESUS NOT ONLY SHOWS US THE WAY TO GOD, BUT INTRODUCES US TO GOD THE FATHER’S PRESENCE
ILLUSTRATION
SOMEONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DIRECT A TOURIST WHO ASKS THE WAY TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, AND YET BE VERY FAR FROM HAVING THE RIGHT TO TAKE THAT PERSON INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE QUEEN. JESUS IS ABLE TO TAKE US THE WHOLE WAY-SHOWS US THE WAY AND TAKES US PERSONALLY INTO GOD THE FATHERS PRESENCE.
(V21) AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.
EMBRACE THE FATHER BECAUSE OF THE SON
EMBRACE THE SON BECAUSE OF THE CROSS
EMBRACE YOUR FREEDOM BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD
EMBRACE OTHERS BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE
HE IS THE LIVING WAY, HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
(V23) LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.
III. JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CLEANSE
IN PRIESTLY RITUALS, HOLY THINGS WERE CLEANSED BY BEING SPRINKLED WITH THE BLOOD OF ANIMAL SACRIFICES. THAT BLOOD FROM ANIMALS ONLY COVERED THE SIN, JESUS CAN CLEANSE PEOPLE FROM SIN.
HE CAN CLEANSE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES
HE CAN MAKE THE BLIND SEE, THE CRIPPLED WALK
SONG-
WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
WHAT CAN MAKE ME WHOLE AGAIN, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT “IT IS A DREADFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD”
CLOSING
(V24) LET US CONSIDER HOW WE MAY SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS. LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER
WE NEED EACH OTHER
WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY, WHOSE FOUNDATION, WHOSE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD.
THE GOD THAT SAYS “COME TO ME ALL WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST” ALSO SAYS “DRAW NEAR TO ME AND I WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU”
WHEN WE REFUSE TO DRAW NEAR/ DISOBEY, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD. WE INSULT THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE SAY NO THANKS TO GOD’S MIGHTY WORKING GRACE.
LET US CONSIDER
CALLS US TO DELIBERATE THOUGHT
STIMULATES US TO EACH OTHER
PULLS THE CHURCH UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST
JESUS IS SPEAKING TO SOME THIS MORNING- YOU RESPOND TO WHAT HE IS TELLING YOU.
ALTAR
