"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need." Hebrews 4:16
When I was young going to a birthday party was a big deal for me. I lived in a small community in Oklahoma called Mountain View, so there was just a small handful of other kids I got to play with and do stuff with. I often got invitations to go to a birthday party, which was common since everyone knew everyone by their first name. One day I got this invitation to go to a party for a kid I knew who was not even in kindergarten yet. I think I was in the second grade. So I went and when I got there, I didn't see anyone I knew. It was just a bunch of toddlers about 3-5 years old. I was seven. So I felt a little out of place. When they started opening presents and playing games things felt awkward for me and I eventually got up and left.
For the rest of my younger, teenage, pre-adult years I got invited to several functions. I went to most of them and just kind of hung around in the back feeling like a social nuisance to everyone else. Some of the time I was asked to join in on a game only because they needed one more person, not because they wanted me to.
I know as you are reading this, it does not sound very encouraging, but keep reading. This how many people in the Body of Christ view their relationship with God and His Son. They feel like social nuisances, they do not feel like the belong to anything or anyone. They often felt they were bothering God when they asked for something. I have some good news for you. We have a promise in God's word that we are special to Him, we are important to Him, and most of all we wants us to participate in the things that He has designed for us, not because He needs someone and He has no other choice but you, but because He loves us and is excited when we get involved in the things that He has designed for us.
For me it was a big deal to get invited to attend something like a wedding or birthday or anniversary celebration. I felt like I was an important person whenever I got an invitation.
What is the significance of an invitation?
AN INVITATION IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECOGNITION:
When I get an invitation in the mail or in this day of age, email it is generally an announcement of something that is going on and my presence at this event is requested. Now, I get invitations all the time on Facebook or from an email from someone I don't even know. A true invitation is going to come from someone who knows you personally. There are some invitations I get from high school classmates or from church friends asking me to attend a function they have planned. Why are they sending me this invitation? They personally recognize you and they know you and want you to participate in something that they have created.
Hebrews 4:16 first tells "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne…" We have a personal invitation from our Heavenly Father to just come and be with Him. He don't have to get permission to come because God's word already says "COME" God has sent us an invitation to just come into His presence. Notice in this verse that Paul did not attach anything to this invitation. Paul did not say "Repent and boldly come to the throne" Some invitations I get ask me to bring something, or to give something. But God has sent us an invitation to come to Him with nothing but ourselves. The best thing I like about this invitation is that it says "boldly". We don't have to be ashamed when we come to God. We don't have to consider our worthiness when we come to God. We have an all out right to come to his throne simply because He said "COME". In other words you can walk in and act like you own the place. You are recognized when you are in God's presence. He recognizes you the very second you come in and He is there to greet you.
A lot of us don't see that in God. I personally have struggled with this, and sometimes still do. But I know that my Heavenly Father gets excited when I come to Him. I don't always feel too excited when I come to Him. That is because we have something called a sin-consciousness that is constantly reminding is of how bad we are. We have an enemy, Satan, who wants to be reminded of how bad we are. Satan does not want us to get into God's presence. Satan knows once we get in we are coming out with something that is going to be harmful to him and detrimental to his kingdom.
There is only one string attached to this invitation. Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him; he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." The only condition is our faith. God wants us to believe in Him. If we don't believe that God is God how can we ask Him for anything else?
I remember some of the commercial slogans that I heard when I was younger and one that always sticks out is the old Toyota slogan "Who could ask for anything more?" In other words Toyota was advertising that with their line of vehicles they have everything you could possibly want or need in a vehicle. The only thing that Toyota wants from you (other than your money) is your belief in their company and their vehicle.
2 Peter 1:3 "According as His Divine power has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us unto glory and virtue."
There is nothing else you need to ask for. You have already been redeemed, the price that kept you out of the presence of God was paid for. There is nothing else that God is going to do.
AN INVITATION IS AN APPROVAL FOR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.
Usually when I get an invitation I am invited to attend a function and to join in on something going on. What would be the point of attending something you are invited to if you are not permitted to join in on the activities? I have been to some functions where I have seen people who have been invited to attend but don't participate. They show up but don't show out or in some people's case show off. That is how some people are in their relationship with God. They show up, but don't actively participate. When we are invited to come to the throne we are not just invited to come and observe. We can actually come in and participate. What do I mean by that? The scriptures tells us that in His presence there is joy everlasting and at his right hand are pleasure evermore.
My kids, and my step kids know that when they are at home they have a right to participate in all of the family functions. They have a right to sit at the table and eat dinner with us. They don't have to ask. We just holler "dinner is ready" and the sound of feet stomping can be heard throughout the house. My kids and step kids know that when they are at home they can freely do things that they are permitted to do. They can watch tv when they want, they can eat a snack or get a drink whenever they want. They can sit on the furniture, play on the floor whenever they want when they are at my house. My house is a place of security, a place of comfort, a place of peace.
I have given my kids all of these things why? THEY ARE MY KIDS AND THEY KNOW WHO THEIR DADDY IS. John 1:12 "For as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God." God is my Father. I know who my Daddy is.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us that when we do come to the throne there are some things that we can obtain. "…that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." Someone once said that God's mercy is God deliverance from what you do deserve, and His grace is giving you what you don't deserve. It is by God's mercy that I am not going to die in my sin and it is by God's grace that I am saved. Ephesians 2:4-5, 8 "But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins has made us alive together with Christ… for by grace are you saved through faith; not of works lest any man should boast."
It does not matter what you have done, there is mercy for it. It does not matter what you need or what is going wrong in your life there is always find grace to help . There is no problem that God can't handle, there is no need that God can't supply. 2 Peter 1:4 tells is that we have been given "…exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we can be partakers in the divine nature…"
AN INVITATION MEANS YOUR PLACE HAS BEEN RESERVED.
Your place was reserved over 2000 years ago on a cross where Jesus died. What Christ did on the cross, He did for us in our place and set it to the credit of your account as though you did it yourself.
A reservation means that something has been prepared ahead of time for you. Jesus before He died said "I am going to prepare a place for you, that where I am there you may be also." (John 14:2-3) I don't know about you, but I am glad to know that I got a RESERVATION IN HEAVEN.
A reservation means you cannot be denied access. Ephesians 3:12 "In whom we have boldness and ACCESS with confidence by the faith of Him. In those fancy elegant dining restaurants you walk in the door and there is a man there called Maitre'd who will ask you "Do you have a reservation?" You don't need slide the angel a $5 bill and ask for quiet table in the corner. You can in faith and with confidence, walk in announce your arrival and you will ushered in immediately.
You have been cordially invited to come to His throne anytime, anywhere, and for any reason. Your place has already been reserved. This invitation will never expire. Everything has already been prepared in advance. So please come as you are and join millions of others who have also received this invitation. God is expecting you.
If you have never had the opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, I would like to extend to you the opportunity to make that a reality in your life. There is only one thing you have to do and that is simply believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe that on third day Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. If you want to you can just say the prayer below and mean it from your heart.
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DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER I COME TO YOU AS A SINNER. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND THAT HE DIED FOR MY SINS. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT ON THE THIRD DAY JESUS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM DEAD. I CONFESS THAT I AM NOW BORN AGAIN. I AM NOW A CHILD OF GOD. I BELIEVE AND CONFESS ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN!!!!!
My friend if you prayed that prayer or something like it I believe that you got born again, I believe that your name has now been written down in the Lamb's Book of Life and I believe that Heaven is now your eternal home. Get into a bible believing church and find out what you need to do that you are a new believer in Christ.
May God richly bless you!
Impartation Ministries International
