Feel my heart
Hebrews 4:14-16
14. Seeing then that 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 cannot sympathize (be touched by the feelings of our infirmities) with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Does Jesus feel us? Was in praying I said lord feel my heart. The heart is part of three part spirit man; my mind- houses the thinker, chooser and the feeler.
Emotions of mans heart:
What I think…what I choose…what I feel- emotions that happen in our life.
1. High priest of compassion
NKJ- Sympathizes with our weaknesses
KJ- Touched by the feelings of our infirmities
Infirmities can be our weaknesses, our need for strength, diseases or sicknesses
Verse 14: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our high priest. He is not above carrying for us. In fact he is just like us in all points except sin is not there.
He sympathizes with us in every temptation and trial and need. Although he is in Heaven… he change his place not his natural in relationships.
Mt 26: 38-39
38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Jesus was feeling the heart of God which was feeling our heart. God feel my heart, its life…its thinking, choosing and its feelings.
Christ walk was perfect-here on earth. Satan came to him in the wilderness and found nothing of sin in him. He ought to find nothing in us as well. No sin!
Jesus talks about reproach brothering his heart- Gethsemane… He was there in agony, praying more earnestly. There he had the heart of man and all that the heart of man can go through. But he went through it in communion with his Father for us!
No failure possible…no sin. Yet in all his feelings he is now and then touches for us. With out sin-sin apart, Jesus was like us- without sin. He understands our heart and trials and tribulations.
a. Boldly say he knows me
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
b. Touched by the feelings of- sympathizes with our weaknesses- physical-moral, spiritual lives. (not the sin but the liability of its assaults.
c. He is sinless- but understands all forms of temptation more than we.
d. Jesus repels them instantly like fire does a drop of water cast into it. He knows what power is needed to overcome any temptation any sin any weakness of our flesh.
e. What did Peter say: in 1 Peter 1:7-9
7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
One thing I realize we not have to stand 1 test alone!
He was tempted – like as we are (according to our similitude) Remember we where created in his likeness and in his image.
Hebrew 7:25-28
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that comes unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26. for such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28. for the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
2. Come boldly to the throne of Grace
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.
Look at this:
Come – Greek: approach- draw near
Boldly- Greek- with confidence or freedom of Speech/ Paul tells us in Eph. 6:19 ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
a. Throne of Grace
God’s throne has become a throne of Grace to us: Through Jesus the high priest and his intercession.
1. That we obtain – receive Mercy because the suffering Christ is touched by the feelings of our infirmities
2. Find grace- throne of grace we obtain mercy At this throne we are invited to come Mt. 11:28-30
28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light
3. in time of need
Seasonably- when you need it: Acceptable time is when you need it: while it is opened to you.
3. Help
Let us therefore come boldly "Come boldly to the throne of grace." This is going straight to God, not to the priest. It is to the "throne of grace." We want mercy; we are poor weak things, and need mercy; in failure we need mercy; we always need mercy.
What mercy was shown to the Israelite s in the wilderness! Their garments not getting old; God even caring for the clothes on their backs! Think of the mercy that would not let their feet swell! Then, when they wanted a way, Oh! Says God, I will go before with the ark to find out a way. That was not the place for the ark at all. It was appointed to be in the midst of the camp, but God would meet them in their need.
They want spies to go and see the land for them; fools that we are to want to know what is before us. They had to encounter the Ammonites, high walls, giants. A land that devours the inhabitant is their account of it, even with the grapes on their shoulders. Just like us on the way to heaven. They cannot stand these difficulties. We are as grass-hoppers, say they; but the real question is what God is.
As saints we are weaker than the world, and ought to be: but when waiting on God, what is that? When they have not confidence in God, they find fault with the land itself. What a wonderful God He is! He says, if you will not go into Canaan you must stay in the wilderness; and He turns them, and turns back with them. It is grace, but the throne of grace. God governs: it is a throne. He will not let a single thing pass.
But When there is an Achan in the camp, He judges. Why? Because He is there: It is a throne. If you are not victorious, there is sin. We may come boldly to the throne, etc. Still it is a throne (not a mediator), but all grace. If I go to the throne, instead of the throne coming to me, so to speak, it is all grace: I get help. I never can go to the throne of grace without finding mercy. He may send chastening, but it is a throne of grace and all mercy-"grace to help in every time of need." If you have a will, He will break it; if a need, He will help you. Do you feel that you can always go boldly, even when you have failed? Humbled, of course, and at all times humble, but humbled when you have failed.
In closing:
Observe what the aim is when we thus approach: "that we may receive mercy and find grace for seasonable help." Our weakness needs this mercy; and God’s pleasure is that we, engaged with the difficulties of the way, may find grace for seasonable help. He sits there and invites thus that we may depend on Him for help in good time. Having such a Priest let us approach the throne of grace boldly: God and His Son Are pledged to bless us: as also we can look to Him without doubt or fear. Such is His word, no less than His will.
