SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). What do we have? (vs 19-21):
• We have a bold confidence. (vs 19-20).
• We have a great priest (vs 21).
(2) What must we do? (vs 22-25a)
• We should draw near (vs 22-23).
• We should speak out (vs 23).
• We should stir up (vs 24-25).
SERMON BODY:
Reading: Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19-25
Ill:
• An anthropologist was working among the Xhosa (pronounce ‘forsa’) people in South Africa,
• He got together a group of kids and tried a little experiment.
• He put a basket full of fruit near a tree;
• And told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits.
• The kids lined up and waited for the man to shout ‘go’.
• When he gave them the command to ‘go’,
• He was surprised to see that they all took each-others hands and ran together,
• They arrived at the tree together and they then then sat together enjoying their treats.
• When the anthropologist asked them why they had run in that manner;
• When one child could have had all the fruits for himself;
• All the children cried out one word; ''UBUNTU,
• 'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa (pronounce ‘forsa’) culture means: "I am because we are"
• Paraphrased we would say;
• “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''
• TRANSITION: These verses in Hebrews chapter 10;
• Are a reminder that as the Church of Jesus Christ,
• 'UBUNTU': "I am because we are"
• A good reminder that we need one another!
Note:
• As Christians, we all have something great.
• In these verses, the apostle Paul tells us two things we have;
• And because of these two things that we have,
• We should therefore respond in three specific ways.
(1). What do we have? (vs 19-21):
(1a) We have a bold confidence. (vs 19-20).
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body”
Ill:
• Edna Butterfield
• Tells the story of how her husband, Ron,
• Once taught a class of mentally impaired teenagers.
• Looking at his students’ capabilities rather than their limitations,
• Ron got them to play chess, restore furniture and repair electrical appliances.
• Most important, he taught them to believe in themselves.
• Young Bobby soon proved how well he had learned that last lesson.
• One day he brought in a broken toaster to repair.
• He carried the toaster tucked under one arm, and a half-loaf of bread under the other!
• TRANSITION: Now that is confidence;
• That is what the writer to these Hebrew Christians is exalting.
• The word here USED for ‘confidence’ can also mean ‘boldness or frankness’.
• A good understanding in this context would be that we have a bold confidence.
Question: Why do we need a bold confidence?
Answer: Because we are entering into the holiest place.
Ill:
• The operating room of a hospital is a foreboding place-almost sacred.
• The air is filtered, pure and clean.
• The walls and floors are immaculately scrubbed.
• The instruments are sterilized.
• A sign hangs over the entrance-Unauthorized Persons: Keep Out.
• The only people allowed in the operating room;
• Are trained physicians and select hospital personnel.
• But they, too, must be scrubbed and sterilized,
• Wearing disposable hospital greens with protective masks and foot coverings.
• In order for the operating room to fulfil the function for which it was made,
• It must be free from contamination.
• Even the smallest of germs can infiltrate and infect the very person who's there for help.
• The operating room is a special place,
• Set apart for private usage for the most delicate of duties;
• The saving of human life.
TRANSITION: The Holy of Holies was a similar type of place.
• The Holy of Holies is a term in the Old Testament;
• Which refers to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle;
• And then later the Temple in Jerusalem.
• You could say it was the cleanest, most sacred place on earth.
• It was off-limits to everyone except the high priest,
• And even he could enter only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
So what the writer says in verse 19 would have sounded strange to his Hebrew readers.
• He tells them to enter into what has always been a ‘no go area’;
• To “to enter the Most Holy Place” and to enter with “confidence”.
• He then tells them the reason they can enter this area;
• Because there is a “new and living way” into the presence of God.
• Throughout the Old Testament the Jewish people were barred from God’s presence;
• By a large, tapestried veil or curtain;
• Which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple.
• However, one Friday afternoon around about 3o’clock - when Jesus died,
• We are told (Matthew chapter 27 verse 51);
• That “the curtain was torn from top to bottom”.
• Notice it was not from the bottom to the top;
• No human being tore that curtain – God did it!
• And as a result a “new and living way” into the presence of God was made.
• For hundreds of years that temple veil had warned, "Keep out!"
• But the tearing of the veil tacitly announced, "Come in!"
• Since the blood of Christ cleansed us from all of sin's contamination,
• We are now free-not only to enter, but to enter with confidence.
• We of course do not enter an earthly holy place;
• But rather into the presence of heaven itself!
Question: How did God inaugurate a bold confidence for us?
Answer: By dying for us.
• Because of Christ’s work on the cross,
• We have a bold confidence to enter into Heaven and stand before God!
Ill:
• Think back to the surgeon and the operating room illustration;
• That I used earlier on.
• Those people who are allowed to see the work within an operating room;
• Have two things in common.
• One, they must prepare by getting cleaned and scrubbed.
• Two, they must know the physician,
• For he is the one who authorises them to enter the operating room.
• TRANSITION: Because of Christ’s work on the cross,
• We are made clean in his presence.
• Verse 21 tells us we are also made close to his presence.
• “We have a great high priest”
• That leads us nicely on to the second thing we have:
(1b) We have a great priest (vs 21).
“…and since we have a great priest over the house of God”
• The responsibility of the priest was to present the people to God.
• And represent God to the people.
• Priests really functioned as a go-between.
• ill: The Latin term for priest is ‘pontefex’.
• Which means ‘a bridge-builder’.
• Now Aaron was the very first "high priest,"
• He had an important title and an important job;
• But notice Jesus Christ is called the; “GREAT High Priest”.
• No Old Testament priest not even the first priest Aaron;
• Or even Melchizedek who was both a king and priest (Genesis chapter 14)
• Could ever assume that title.
• It is a unique to Jesus Christ!
Question: How is Christ a great priest or greater than the previous priests?
Answer: Hebrews chapter 7 verses 23-27 (NLT):
“Under the old arrangement there had to be many priests so that when the older ones died off, the system could still be carried on by others who took their places.
24 But Jesus lives forever and continues to be a Priest so that no one else is needed. 25 He is able to save completely all who come to God through him. Since he will live forever, he will always be there to remind God that he has paid for their sins with his blood.
26 He is, therefore, exactly the kind of High Priest we need; for he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin, undefiled by sinners, and to him has been given the place of honour in heaven. 27 He never needs the daily blood of animal sacrifices, as other priests did, to cover over first their own sins and then the sins of the people; for he finished all sacrifices, once and for all, when he sacrificed himself on the cross.”
Wow! Get a hold of these great truths:
• Only one man – the high priest was allowed into the very presence of God:
• And now any Tom, Dick or Harriet can experience his presence!
• One man once a year was allowed into the very presence of God:
• As Christians we can dwell in the presence of God ever day!
• Excuse me but Hallelujah!
Note:
• The expression: ‘Over the House of God’ (vs 27)
• Bible scholars differ as to what this ‘house’ is.
• Some interpret it to mean heaven.
• I would side with those who interpret it to mean the Church.
• Because of Hebrews chapter 3 verse 6:
“But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.”
SUMMARY:
• Because of Christ’s work on the cross,
• We not only have a bold confidence to enter into Heaven;
• But we also have a great, holy, innocent, and undefiled High Priest forever,
• Waiting for us in Heaven,
• And who is continually saving and interceding;
• For those who draw near to God through him and because of him.
Now:
• We have looked at the two things that we have,
• We should therefore respond in three specific ways.
• Each response starts with the expression “Let us…”
• Verse 22: “Let us…draw near to God”
• Verse 23: “Let us…hold on to hope”
• Verse 24: “Let us…encourage one another”
(2) What must we do? (vs 22-25a)
(2a). We should draw near (vs 22-23).
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Ill:
• A Jewish man bought a shop in London;
• It was sandwiched between two mega super stores;
• ‘Harrods’ on the left and ‘Rigby & Peller’ on the right.
• His friends said to him; “Harold, you have made a big mistake,
• With these world famous shops either side of you;
• Why would anyone want to visit your shop.
• Harold just smiled and said:
• “Because the name of my shop will be illuminated in great big lights;
• And I am going to name my shop ‘ENTRANCE’.
• TRANSITION: We have entrance into God’s presence;
• This verse really summarises some of the things the writer has already stated.
• (a). The expression ‘draw near’ relates back to verse 1 (of chapter 10):
• Where the writer has told us that the Law can never make those who ‘draw near’ perfect.
• But because of Christ’s work,
• We have the bold confidence to be able to ‘draw near’ to God.
• (b). The expression ‘full assurance of faith’ relates back to chapter 6 verses 10-12:
• Where we read (NKJB):
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
• (c). The expression ‘Hearts sprinkled and body washed’;
• This has nothing to do with baptism – some people interpret it that way;
• But I think that is wrong.
• The imagery here is straight from the Old Testament;
• Blood was sprinkled as a sign of cleansing;
• And the priests were continually washing both themselves;
• And the sacred vessels in basins of clear water.
• Just as the priests in the Old Testament had to prepare themselves for fellowship with God;
• So you and I need to prepare ourselves spiritually to enjoy fellowship with God.
• We need the blood of Jesus and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to purify our lives.
Ill;
• It was Queen Elizabeth who supposedly bragged,
• “I take a bath once a month, whether I need it or not.””
• Although to be fair to her that saying is not backed up with any facts.
• TRANSITION: You and I are constantly contaminated by the world;
• Therefore we need regular cleansing!
• Just as the priests in the Old Testament had to prepare themselves for fellowship with God;
• So you and I need to prepare ourselves spiritually to enjoy fellowship with God.
• Being consecrated as New Testament Priests;
• We are able to enter into the Holiest Place of God.
(2b) We should speak out (vs 23).
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Ill:
• In 1982, Disney World in Orlando, Florida finished work on the Epcot centre.
• Walt Disney had recently passed away,
• So the Disney executives asked his wife to cut the ribbon and say a few words.
• When the MC called her up to the podium,
• He smiled and said, ""Mrs Disney, I just wish Walt could have seen this!"
• She smiled and responded by saying, "He did."
• TRANSITION: Walt Disney was a man of vision and a man of hope!
• His belief allowed him to see so many of his dreams come true.
Notice:
• That our speaking out, our profession is centred around ‘hope’.
• And the hope of every Christian is based upon the promises of a faithful God.
• We have experienced the saving power of God at work in our lives,
• That is in the past.
• We are experiencing the cleansing his sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit;
• At work in our lives day by day – that’s the present.
• Therefore we have this hope for the future;
• That those things God has promised to us he will deliver;
• Our hope rests on a faithful God and on his truthful promises!
Ill:
• The very next section Chapter 11);
• Gives example after example of seventeen named men &women who proved God faithful
• Chapter 11 is not only an example of what our faith should look like;
• But a testimony to the faithfulness of God.
(2c) We should stir Up (vs 24-25).
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ill:
• At the close of World War II, Jimmy Durante,
• The famous comedian, was invited to entertain wounded soldiers at a veteran's hospital.
• He said he would be able to do only one very short routine;
• As he was already committed to two radio shows on the same day.
• Jimmy Durante went on staged and did his performance;
• The man who invited him stood on the side lines amazed;
• When Jimmy Durante didn't rush off but gave three complete routines.
• After the show the man who had booked Jimmy Durante asked him:
• "Why did you stay so long, you've probably missed your radio shows?"
• Jimmy Durante answered,
• "Look at the men on the front row and you will see for yourself."
• When the man looked he saw two men on the front row;
• Each of whom had lost an arm,
• But they were applauding by clapping their two remaining hands together!
• TRANSITION: We need each other to encourage, to support, to survive;
• Which is why the writer no doubt says in verse 25:
“Do not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching”.
Notice:
• The writer highlights two things in verse 24:
• “Love” and “Good works”
• The writers instruction are clear;
• Stir up that inward emotion in others ‘love’;
• So that it will overflow outwardly in ‘good works’.
• For that to happen we cannot live like islands isolated from each other;
• We must be close to one another so that we can give encouragement.
Quote:
“When you're up, the team needs you;
when you're down, you need the team!”
Did you notice the emphasis in verse 24;
• “Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds,”
• The emphasis is not what a Christian gets out of the local Church;
• But rather what they can contribute to the local Church.
• We should be faithful attenders at a local Church gathering;
• To encourage others, to stir up others, to spur them on.
Conclusion:
Question: When should we do it? (vs 25b)
Answer: “All the more” (vs 25b)
• The writer of this letter;
• Wants us to respond ‘all the more’ to all three of the responses he gives.
• Verse 22: “Let us…draw near” – more and more!
• Verse 23: “Let us…speak out” – more and more!
• Verse 24: “Let us…stir up” – more and more!
These three verses contain the three great Christian virtues:
• Verse 22: “faith”
• Verse 23: “hope”
• Verse 24: “love”
• They are the fruit of our fellowship with God!
Question: Why respond this way?
Answer:
• Well if the three reasons given in verses 22-24 will not motivate you;
• Remember that “the Day approaching.” (vs 25)
• One of the strong motives for faithfulness in the New Testament;
• Is an appreciation that the Lord is coming!
Ill:
• An elderly Christian lady attended a Christian conference gathering;
• Similar to Kewick/Spring Harvest etc.
• For her it was really the first time;
• She had mixed with Christians from other denominations,
• This really blessed her and opened her eyes to the richness of Christian traditions
• She especially liked it when the preacher suggested;
• Instead of using the normal greetings,
• Why not use one popularised by the early Church.
• He pointed out that the first Christians were so eagerly awaiting the return of Christ;
• That they used the word ‘maranatha’;
• An Aramaic word meaning ‘the Lord is coming’.
• The elderly lady took this on board;
• And the next day went around greeting everyone they met with the words;
• “Marijuana, brother, marijuana”.
Ill:
• Robert Murray McCheyne; the godly Presbyterian preacher, used to ask people:
• "Do you think Jesus Christ will return today?"
• Most of them would reply, "No, not today."
• Then McCheyne would say,
• "Then, my friend, you had better be ready;
• For He is coming at such an hour as ye think not" (Luke 12:40).
Sermon audio:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=7MdgrbH3HzYPb9m7Le7k5NunjrJ4PTpU&forceSave=Consider_one_another_-_Hebrews_chapter_10_verses_19-25_-_sermon_by_Gordon_Curley.mp3
