Series: Playing A New Game [#4]
IT’S JUST A REGULAR SUNDAY
Hebrews 10:19-25
Introduction:
As I was preparing for today’s sermon, I realized that we have had a “special Sunday” for 10 weeks- It started with the March 25th Palm Sunday sermon and went through last Sunday’s Memorial Day sermon. So, my 1st thought was to check the calendar for a holiday today. There wasn’t anything; so, I checked the liturgical calendar and today’s theme is, “The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ”. My immediate thought was, “I can make that happen”- Hebrews 10:19-22 says this perfectly. As God often does, He lead me to keep reading and I thought, “God is trying to make a point”. As far as the calendar goes, today is just a regular Sunday. Nothing special prepared, just normal stuff. Then it hit me, “The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ” should be every day’s theme and that is not just some small thing.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)
“Therefore, brothers, 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, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Is it regular that you can…
1. Enter into God’s presence?
I need to remind each of you that in the Old Testament, if anyone entered into the Holy of Holies or touched the Ark of the Covenant, they died. Even if it was accidental, like when the Ark of the Covenant was being taken to Jerusalem, it didn’t matter. The Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the Holy of Holies represented the presence of God and no one could just enter into God’s presence; but Christians can.
Christians can go boldly, with confidence, into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus. There is nothing regular about that- Sinful people being able to go into the presence of God.
Is it regular that you can…
2. Draw near to God?
Not only can a Christian go into God’s presence; but they can also draw near to God and He will draw near to them. That means that you can have God with you all of the time. How do you draw near to God? By confessing your sins to God and being cleansed of everything that is not righteous.
Is it regular that you can…
3. Share your relationship with God with others?
Not only can you have a personal relationship with God; but you can share that with others. You do that by lifting Jesus up. That’s why meeting together with other believers is important. We need to encourage one another. We don’t know how long we have to encourage one another. Let’s not waste the time God has given us.
Conclusion:
We cannot allow our Christian life to become mundane and just “regular”. It is unbelievable what God has done for us and continues to do.
