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welcome to everyone we have just one brief announcement before we begin our worship and that is that Wednesday night Bible study is back on beginning this Wednesday evening and that's at seven thirty in the fellowship hall forgive me here I'm trying to find something 730 we are currently studying the book of second Samuel what plan is to continue after second Samuel through the Old Testament God willing until the Lord Jesus returns or he takes us all to heaven we will be studying that well for our call to worship this morning you can turn in your Bibles or give here to psalm 15 psalm 15 a psalm of david lord who may abide in your Tabernacle who may dwell in your holy hill he who walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart he who does not backbite with his tongue nor does evil to his neighbor nor does he take up a reproach against his friend in whose eyes a vile person is despised but he honors those who fear the Lord he who swears to his own hurt and does not change he who does not put out his money at usury nor does he take a bribe against the innocent he who does these things shall never be moved amen well please turn in your Trinity Salter to Psalm 122 Psalm 122 will stand as we sing together please be seated huh well let us pray or blessed God and Holy Father we gather together on this lord's day Sabbath and we come to acknowledge that you are great and greatly to be praised we come before Father Son and Holy Spirit and we acknowledge your majesty and your excellence in your glory as the psalmist says from everlasting to everlasting you are God and we thank you most high for your grace and your mercy displayed to us in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we thank you Lord God for your sovereignty and for your excellence and for the fact that you have saved us by your power we thank you for the life and the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus for that gospel that truly good news which is to our ears most delightful and has indeed blessed us most immeasurably we pray that this morning as we sing as we pray as we hear the word of God we would do all these things for your honor and for your glory for the exaltation of God in our midst we know this is the purpose the primary purpose for our gathering together it's not simply so that we may be edified or encouraged though we certainly thank you that you do that but it is so that we may indeed come from out of the world into the place of God Almighty we ask that you would fill us with your Holy Spirit we ask that you would grant us the grace to approach you in an acceptable manner and to do so with reverence and with godly fear and with great joy and Thanksgiving but there is no better place to be on this side of the New Jerusalem than in the house of the living and true God to worship with the saints of God to glorify you father son and spirit we ask that you would forgive us for all of our sins and our transgressions for certainly when we consider your holiness and your righteousness and your justice and when we look into your holy law we see our own waywardness and sinfulness God we haven't just send a little bit we sin again the the god of heaven and earth in a multitude of ways and we confess that transgression now and pray for cleansing in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you according to 1st John 19 that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us and declines us from all unrighteousness it is our hearts desire and earnest plea that we would indeed be more and more conformed unto the image of Christ and that we would seek to be holy and righteous in this present world the manner that is consistent with Scripture we do pray for any and all who have come here this morning that have not come to the to the Lord Christ those who are dead in their trespasses and sins we don't appeal to them to make good choices we appeal to the sovereign God of heaven and earth to change their hearts we pray that you would grant the graces of faith and repentance to sinner's today cause them to see themselves before a holy God and cause them to see the absolute sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ to save all those who draw under God through him we ask our Father that you would look with favor upon this local body both spiritually and temporally we know there are many with needs in our midst many with physical challenges and trials and ongoing struggles and we just commit them to you into the word of your grace we know that you are concerned not only for the inward man but for the outward man as well and we trust that you have our best interest in your hand and we pray that you would grant grace to your suffering Saints and cause them to persevere and to bear up under trials considering Jesus considering the the blessings of the gospel that are theirs and for all of us we all come with spiritual trials we all come with many temptations and sins and issues that are facing us in this world and we would ask that you would strengthen us with might and the inner man so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith that you had more and more help us to do those things which are pleasing in your sight to truly obey the scriptures by the power of your spirit and to shine as lights in this crooked and perverse generation and give us opportunity to hold forth the word of truth we would pray our God that you would bless the missionary enterprise we consider the reality that the gospel is going forth throughout the earth it warms and encourages our hearts and we know that word is powerful and we know that that word does not return to you void that that word accomplishes the purpose for which you sent it and we would pray that today all over the earth many would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior they would hear the gospel and by grace believe the gospel and be saved by the blessedness of our Lord Jesus we pray for those in persecuted Nations or those in persecuted in other nations we just commit our brothers and sisters into your gracious care we read several examples in the last hour and we know there are many many more of persons who do not enjoy the liberties that we oftentimes take for granted so we pray that you would be their portion in their lot that you would sustain them in these hardships that you would even use them Lord God to point sinners unto Jesus Christ our Lord and Lord God we do pray for the governing authorities we know that you have called us to do so to pray for kings and all who in authority that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives we see the sins and the abominations that go on in this nation we see abortion and euthanasia and sodomy and other such evils and we can only cry out to you that in your wrath you would remember mercy that you would save sinners that you would awaken those who are dead in their trespasses and sins and that you would put the fear of God in the hearts of those who are in high places we know that the King's heart is in the hand of the Lord and you direct it as you do the rivers the waters and we pray that you would restrain these men and women from engaging in further acts of corruption and evil the word says woe to those who call good evil and evil good and that is certainly what we're witnessing in our day and age so do revive the church and cause us to hold forth that message of hope that message of truth and to be a prayerful people and do send forth your spirit to awaken those who are dead in their trespasses and sins be merciful we pray and do continue with us now as we sang as we look to the scriptures we ask in Jesus Holy Name Amen well please turn with me in your Trinity hymnal to number 302 number 302 will stand as we sing together amen well please be seated uh-huh you can turn in your Bibles to Matthew 14 for our scripture reading this morning Matthew chapter 14 will begin reading in verse 1 at that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants this is John the Baptist he has risen from the dead and therefore these powers are at work in him for Herod had laid hold of John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias his brother Philips wife because John had said to him it is not lawful for you to have her and although he wanted to put him to death he feared the multitude because they counted him as a prophet but when Herod's birthday was celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask so she having been prompted by her mother said give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter and the King was sorry nevertheless because of the oaths and because of those who SAT with him he commanded it to be given to her so he sent and had John beheaded in prison and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl and she brought it to her mother then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it and went and told Jesus when Jesus heard it he departed from there by boat to a deserted place by himself but when the multitudes heard it they followed him on foot from the cities and when Jesus went out he saw a great multitude and he was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick when it was evening his disciples came to him saying this is a deserted place and the hour is already late send the multitudes away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food but jesus said to them they do not need to go away you give them something to eat and they said to him we have here only five loaves and two fish he said bring them here to me then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass and he took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples gave to the multitudes so they all ate and were filled and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained now those who had eaten were about five thousand men besides women and children immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away and when he had sent the multitudes away he went up on the mountain by himself to pray now when evening came he was alone there but the boat was now in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves for the wind was contrary now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them walking on the sea and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a ghost and they cried out for fear but immediately Jesus spoke to them saying be of good cheer it is I do not be afraid and Peter answered and said lord if it is you command me to come to you on the water so he said calm and when Peter had had come down out of the boat he walked on the water to go to Jesus but when he saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out saying lord save me and immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him oh you of little faith why did you doubt when they got into the boat the wind ceased then those who were in the boat came and worship worshiped him saying truly you are the son of God when they had crossed over they came to the land of janessa rhett and when the men of that place recognized him they sent out into all that surrounding region brought to him all who were sick and begged him that they might only touch the hem of His garment and as many as touched it were made perfectly well amen we see in this particular section the Lord Jesus Christ in His Majesty and in his glory and in his Celyn see specifically the disciples recognize that when they see Jesus as the ruler over the waves says in verse 33 than those who were in the boat came and worshiped him saying truly you are the son of god that is the confession of faith that is absolutely essential for us to make in Matthew 16 Jesus will ask who do men say that I the Son of Man amp and the disciples will rehearse some say John the Baptist meaning Herod others say one of the prophets others say Jeremiah and then Jesus says to the disciples but who do you say that I am and then Simon Peter answers and says blessed he says you are the Christ the Son of the Living God the Son of God and Jesus says blessed are You Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my father who is in heaven revealed it to you this is the central confession of the Christian faith Jesus is the Son of God Jesus is the person the Scriptures declare Jesus is the promised Messiah from the Old Testament who comes in the fullness of the time born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law if you have not looked to this Christ if you have not confessed this Christ as the Son of the Living God then do so believe on him look to the Lord Jesus Christ in whom alone there is everlasting life that's the good news of the gospel the good news presupposes the existence of bad news and the bad news is is that all of us have sinned against a holy God and we're all liable to the just judgment of that holy God that is bad news when we consider ourselves as the scripture describes us and as we consider ourselves in our own personal conduct sin is the problem that man faces today and the answer is through the Son of God it is through this Lord Jesus Christ truly you are the son of God may God grant grace to sinners today wherever this gospel is preached that they would make this central confession of the Christian faith that they would believe in him that they would look to him and that they would live by grace alone through faith alone in him alone and I would be remiss if we left this chapter without at least highlighting the activity of John the Baptist he played a very important role in redemptive history he was the forerunner he was the announcer he was the one who came before Christ to declare the coming of the king and John's faithfulness in a sermon costume his head when you pray for churches and you pray for ministers pray that there'll be the sorts of people that will not shrink back from declaring to the harrods of our day that it's unlawful for you to have your brother's wife John the Baptist didn't shrink back from declaring the whole counsel of God even when it made sinners uncomfortable we are never ever to respect sinners to the neglect of God doesn't mean we are mean-spirited and unkind and throw tomatoes at sinners but we respect and revere the living and true God and we hold to his word and we proclaim at 16 ounces to the pound in dependence upon the spirit no matter who is offended or who will ever cut off our heads as a result when you pray for churches you pray for pastors you pray for missionaries pray they would be John the Baptist kinds of men that do not shrink back from declaring the whole counsel of God because that's what this world desperately needs she doesn't need to church to entertainer she doesn't need the church to be a social club she doesn't need the church to peddle self-help she needs the Declaration and the proclamation of Christ crucified and Christ resurrected and Christ believed on as the Son of God for everlasting life we have seen and we do see too many men professing to be preachers who compromised the everlasting gospel and there is no place for such a situation in our day we ought to pray to God to raise up man with a burning in their heart to proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus will let us pray now father we thank you for the Son of God we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ and salvation in him we know that he is perfect he obeyed the law perfectly in in our stead and we know that he died as a sacrifice at Calvary in our stead we know as well he was raised up on the third day and as Paul says he was delivered up because of our offenses and he was raised up for our justification and in this we greatly rejoice we pray that you raise up men with this message to proclaim throughout the earth we pray for missionaries and local church pastors that they would be faithful like John the Baptist not shrinking back from declaring the whole counsel of God even that law that condemns and that law that is so often not welcomed in churches today we love your law Lord God we pray that we would use it lawfully and proclaim it to hopefully point sinners to their need for the Lord Jesus Christ and it's in his name that we pray amen well for our final him before the preaching will sing number 223 again number 223 will stand as we sing together please be seated you may turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 will return to our exposition of Matthew's Gospel probably the first week in September picking up there at the all of it all of it discourse in Matthew chapter 24 but this morning our focus is Hebrews 10 verses 19 to 25 I'll read the section pray and then we'll look at this particular material Hebrews 10 19 therefore brethren having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh and having a high priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the Day approaching amen we'll let us pray father we thank you for the written word and again as we come to it we're mindful of our own waywardness and transgression for those things dark in our understanding so we pray that you would cleanse us in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ provide to us each and every one of us the Holy Spirit that he would guide us and help us as we look to this passage of scripture that we would have a fresh appreciation for that priestly office of our Lord Jesus Christ that we would see him as that psalm 15 man that one who has ascended the mountain of the Lord that one who has entered into the presence of the Father for us and that he is united to us thus granting us access as well God certainly we rejoice in these good gifts that you have provided we received with Thanksgiving your word and we pray through Christ our Lord amen now the main doctrinal portion of the book of Hebrews is finished at this particular point notice how verse 19 begins it begins with a therefore and what the author I assume it's Paul what he will now do is begin to apply specifically the things that has preceded the major doctrinal portion is in chapter 5 verse 12 chapter 10 verse 18 it deals with the priestly office of our Lord Jesus the shorter catechism asks what are the offices of Christ he is prophet priest and gang we need a priest we need one who intercedes for us we need one who sacrifices for us and the book of Hebrews tells us that this Christ is superior in every way to the Levitical high priest what Jesus does is he not only sacrifices but he sacrifices himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we need that priestly office or the older authors would often refer to it as that say sure dohtal office of our Lord Jesus so the largest block of material is 5 12 10 18 it is an exposition of the priestly office of Christ now structurally what we have in 10 verses 19 to 25 is parallel to chapter 4 verses 14 to 16 both of these serve to sort of book in that main doctrinal teaching concerning the the priestly office of Christ in chapter 4 verses 14 to 16 you have encouragement and then you have exhortation and that's precisely what we find here in Hebrews 10 in verses 19 to 21 we have encouragement for the people of God and then in verses 22 to 25 we have exhortations to the people of God this is the practice in apostolic teaching they set forth the doctrine caused us to reflect upon what is true and then make application in light of this grand reality concerning the death of Jesus Christ how then shall we live and that is precisely the author's point here now as well we ought to observe with reference to the structure in verses 19 to 25 there's encouragement and exhortation to God's people this is followed by verses 26 to 30 one which is a warning against apostasy a final falling away from and I think the connection is pretty obvious if you don't take char or you don't take comfort in these encouragement and comply with the exhortations you put yourself into a dangerous position of falling into apostasy you give evidence to the reality that you never believe the gospel to begin with and you will ultimately be delivered up as an offender of God's holy law so that's just a bit of the lay of the land I want to focus first on the encouragement for the people of God in verses 19 to 21 and there are two and I think these are encouragement Sui all need to take to heart as men and women redeemed by the blood of Christ we are not sinless are we as men and women redeemed by the blood of Christ we don't wake up every day loving God loving man as we ought 24-7 as redeemed by the blood of Christ we have remaining corruption and some would say why did God do it this way why in the world didn't you just you know remove all our sin he does judicially we are grant are we're told there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus practically we have remaining corruption well one of the reasons I don't know if it's a reason specifically but one of the helpful things about remaining corruption now don't go home and say you know Butler is telling us there's helpfulness about sin or blog or Facebook or tweet how you know messed up jim butler is because he actually suggests there's something helpful about remaining sent it does show us our constant need of christ doesn't it doesn't it what's the author in the book of Proverbs say give me neither poverty nor riches if I'm poor I run the risk of going out and steal it if I'm rich then I may forget God if I am sinless if I never have a battle if I never have a doubt if I never have a difficulty in my life I may forget about my dependency upon Jesus Christ so these two encouragement SAR for the people of God be encouraged be helped be strengthened and they serve as the basis for the exhortations that follow the first is that we have access to the Holy of Holies we by God's grace because of the work of Jesus Christ according to the power of the Holy Spirit we get to enter in to the very presence of God most high this answers the perennial question that is offered in the Bible we read psalm 15 verse 1 lord who may abide in your tablet at tabernacle who may dwell in your temple if you ever asked that the Old Covenant Saints dead and the gates before entering into worship and as well in Psalm 24 who may ascend into the hill of the Lord or who may stand in his holy place this is always the question how does a sinful man or a woman scan before a holy God wasn't this job's question and joke 9 how does a sinful man stand before a holy God this frame the liturgy in Israel they asked the question through their Salter last time we took the Lord's Supper we looked at the day of atonement and there I tried to put it into its particular context how does Exodus end Exodus ends with the tabernacle having been built with the glory the Shekinah glory of God coming down and dwelling in the midst of the people and yet Moses himself was not able to enter in so Exodus ends with the dwelling place of God and then we come to Leviticus and it opens up the way that that meeting place becomes a dwelling place so that sinners can stand that sinners can come before this holy God that's the purpose of the sacrifices in Leviticus one deny and then we see when they offer up sacrifice God brings fire down consumes their offering and the people fall down and shout for joy because God is now dwelling with them they are meeting with him this has always been the problem since the fall of man into sin how do we access God how do we come back to your way how do we stand on the mountain of the Lord Most High now know what the author says therefore brethren having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus he assumes this is a present possession doesn't he yes he does that's the language that he's employing he you should really listen not to me because it's me but this text because it's awesome look at what he says therefore brethren that pastoral appeal I've set forth doctrine I'm coming now to apply it brethren I want you to get this I want you to understand this so that when you do stumble or when you do fail or when you do fall when you do said we have a great high priest we have the Lord Jesus Christ and because of him we have access to the Father he says therefore brethren having boldness that therefore indicates that this is concrete application following the explanation of Christ priestly office the boldness is that same boldness that's in view in chapter 4 verse 16 it's not an arrogance it's not a presumptuousness it's a confidence it's an assurance it is a boldness not because we're good not because we've done well not because we've merited not because we're that psalm 15 man but because Christ is because of Christ we possess presently this boldness to come into the Holy of Holies we have boldness to come in contrast to the legal prohibition in the Old Covenant who went into the Holy of Holies was it the people of Israel no it was the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement and that not without blood the common Israelite didn't enter into the holy of holies remember that tabernacle or temple structure there were two rooms there was a room that was called the holy place and there was a veil that separated it from another room which was the holiest or the most holy place or we might call it the Holy of Holies that's where the the Ark of the Covenant was that's where the cherubim was and that's where the the high priest went once on the day of atonement to atone for his sin and Israel sit and hear the author tells us we have boldness to enter we have boldness to enter the holiest we have boldness in contrast to the dread and fear the people of God had in the Old Testament look at chapter 12 verses 18 to 21 chapter 12 verses 18 to 21 so there's a contrast we have a boldness that the old covenant people didn't they were prohibited from entering into the holiest of holy of holies but as well there was this fear this dread verse 18 of chapter 12 free have not come to the mountain that may be touched and it burned with fire and to blackness and darkness and tempest and the sound of a trumpet in the voice of words so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore for they could not endure what was commanded and if so much as a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow and so terrifying was the site that Moses said I am exceedingly afraid and trembling you see what they had in the Old Covenant no no what we have in the New Covenant in verse 22 now this points ultimately to heavenly realities but you know what the church is it's a foretaste it's a foreshadow it is the market day of the soul when we gather together here and we sing our hands and psalms of praise when we gather here to hear the word of God proclaimed when we gather here this is what it's going to be in heaven I hope that there's passagens encourages all of us to have a proper understanding of what it is we're doing when we gather as the church note verse 22 but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of angels Gil says this is the Church of God under the gospel dispensation we have access to the Father through the Sun by the spirit and we enjoy that Lord's Day by Lord's Day as we gather together this is the emphasis here the holiest back in 10 19 we have boldness to enter holiest this holiest as Owen says whatever was typically represented in the most holy place of old we have access unto giver ponder that you should because in a moment the author is going to go based on this encouragement to the command or at least an exhortation let us draw near if I had a 16 year old son or daughter and I bought them a new car and I paid for their insurance not that I ever did I have five kids and none of them got that but let's just suggest for a moment that I did I had blessed them I had be graced them I had bestowed good things up on them I had opened up the wallet I had poured it out at the car dealership I bought exactly what they wanted and I put it in the driveway and they never drove it people would say you're nuts your father bought you that beautiful car and you never drove it you see what the author is saying we have this boldness now this is our present possession because of the the priestly work of Christ that he's just developed and if we don't draw near were like that 16 year old who has that beautiful car and doesn't use it the benefits that Christ secures for us are not to be abused they're not to be resisted or rejected can you imagine anybody say well thank you for granting me this access but I don't want it thank you very much now of course we want it of course we want to draw near what's the best thing a redeem sinner has in this life it's communion with God isn't it it is the knowledge of the holy is that that welcoming presence of Yahweh of Israel it is the mediation of price it is the power of the Holy Spirit that's the access that we've been granted this is what the author draws our attention to Owen says whatever it is that was promised or represented typically in the Old Testament we have access on to it that is unto God Himself we have an access in one spirit by Christ the great I are the high priest and the Old Covenant loan entered into this Holy of Holies in the new covenant guess what all the priests of God enter in to the Holy of Holies notice the means by which we enter it's not because we're great guys and girls because you read your Bible 15 times this month therefore you get to access the Holy of always now read your Bible don't under sun derstand me we don't enter into this Holy of Holies because of our performance we don't enter into this Holy of Holies because of our good works we enter into the holy of holies as is described in our passage therefore brethren having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus there is rich theology and blessed stuff in this section by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh spend just a moment to unpack this particular section the emphasis on the Incarnation we seen that already or we see that in Hebrews 217 he takes on the seed of Abraham assumes humanity he assumes our nature with all of the the essential properties and common infirmities there of accepting sin the humanity of Christ is focused upon even in this particular chapter notice in 10 5 sacrifice and offering you did not desire but a body you have prepared for me in the Incarnation the Lord Jesus Christ embodies the tabernacle and the temple this is why John can say was speaking about the body or the temple of his body when he says destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up and they scratched their heads and say it took us 46 years to build this under Herod and will you raise it up in three days John the theologian says he was talking about the tent on the body of his body wasn't talking about the earthly temple that then stood Morales says having taken our humanity upon himself the Sun became the new tabernacle the presence of God on earth veiled in flesh he is in himself all that the temple signified dodds house and the way into that house it's the beauty of Christ the only begotten one he he has made him known he has dwelt among us now note specifically the reference here he enters the holiest by the blood of Jesus so there's an emphasis on Encarnacion but the emphasis on the atoning sacrifice through his blood this is constant in this section notice in 9 12 9 12 not with his not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood he entered the most holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemption now this is where I think it gets real practical when you send tomorrow and your guilty conscience is haunting you and hounding you realize that there is forgiveness obviously with God that he may be feared realize that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and those promises are true because of the blood of Christ because of what Jesus accomplished because you have a high priest because you can enter into the holiest we have access a boldness a confidence a an assurance to enter into the presence of god this is not to minimize or to justify san far be it but brethren when we sin we have an advocate with the father first John 21 even Jesus Christ the righteous we just sang five bleeding wounds he pleads received on Calvary's tree do you think Christ laid down his life for you to lose you on a Tuesday you actually think that our minion is amor pelagianism is right that we can come to Christ believe the gospel and then be finally lost the scripture nowhere testifies concerning that he who began this good work in you will complete it to the day of Christ Paul says in Romans 8 you did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things if Christ hung on that cross if he was bruised broken and bloodied for us do you think he's going to let you go on Monday gonna let you go on Tuesday you see the author wants you to consider the access that you have and the priesthood that secures it and it's based on those realities that he makes the exhortation on then how to live notice the emphasis on blood in the section 9 12 959 18 to 22 he speaks of this as being a new and a living way new in contrast to the Old Covenant system new in contrast to the to the means by which the high priest entered in on that day of atonement recorded in Leviticus 16 some have observed that the word new here is not the typical word the Bible uses for new the word new here is freshly slaughtered freshly slaughtered it's as if the Christ the sacrifice of Christ is always before the father in that regard it's a new and it's a living way and then notice what he says specifically by which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh now this little phrase through the veil is a little bit tricky you can look at mark for just a moment mark chapter 15 there's all kinds of interpretation concerning this veil that is his flesh there's a lot of different ideas as to what this specifically means I take it I think in a simple way whatever separates us from the father was represented by that veil remember as I said between the most holy place and the holy place there was this veil Israelites were not to pass through that veil the high priest was not to pass through that veil except for the Day of Atonement it represented something concerning the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man now notice in mark 15 verses 37 to 39 and Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last jump to 39 so when the centurion who stood opposite him saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last you see twice mark uses that reference he breathed his last what does that mean it means he died now what happens in between then the veil of the temple was torn in two not from bottom to top but from top to bottom what's the significance bottom to top would indicate it was a man who tore that veil top to bottom indicates it's God who tears that veil signifying access to the Father through the one who breathed his last and that's the emphasis in Hebrews 10 by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh Owen says and that which was signified here by his only this that by virtue of the sacrifice of Christ we're in his flesh is torn in rent we have a full entrance into the holy place such as would have been of old upon the rending of the veil other words if you went to the Old Covenant tabernacle and you managed to get into the holy place and then you saw that veil it would speak volumes to your conscience you're not supposed to pass from this compartment into the most holy place but when we see the bruised bloodied broken body of our Lord Jesus when we see his flesh rent asunder we as God's people think access we as God's people think access to the very presence of God most high and we have an assurance we have a confidence and we have a boldness not because we're great guys and girls but because we have a great high priest brethren there's a lot of stuff in here for our consideration notice what the text goes on to say by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh so that's the first primary encouragement the access to the Holy of Holies the second is the possession of this high priest notice what he says in verse 21 and having a high priest over the house of God having is supplied there but it's a good supply in other words it is coordinate with what he's already said we have access and we have this high priest and what does it mean to have this high priest Owen again says having is understood from verse 19 the word whereby the Apostle expresses our relation unto Christ our relation unto Christ we the great high priest we have one who sympathizes with us we have one who went into the presence of God the Father for us and he didn't take the blood of bulls and cavs and evers but he went with his own blood his own accomplished death and suffering on behalf of his people so all those in vital union with him by the power of the spirit through them the means of faith are united to him and have access as well he wanted for us he secured it for us and this is why the Apostle calls him our great high priest it's the same that we see in Hebrews 4 14 to 16 and it's what we conclude if we read Hebrews 5 12 10 18 properly when you read that exposition of the priestly office of Christ what do you struck with he's great he's great I was thinking recently and I've showed this before when I was in the US Air Force there was a judge advocate that was the sort of lawyer on base that would prosecute Airmen I didn't go to him because I got in trouble I worked in the military police and sometimes we rub shoulders and and that man had a coffee cup that's always stuck in my head it says my lawyer can beat up your lawyer this guy was a big powerful strong man and I never doubted for a moment that that he could indeed take on other lawyers our priests can beat up any other priests I'm not setting them apart from the the ironic priesthood of the Levitical priesthood I'm simply making the point well actually I am because that's what the book a bruise does he's great do this is an exercise sometime this week read Hebrews 5 12 10 18 and do not see if you cannot conclude this one's great once for all sacrifice emphasized over and over he appears in the presence of God for us because of his work because of his blood because of that the fail has been rent asunder we now have access into the holiest you see why the Apostle is able to say and having a high priest over the house of God this is the great high priest I'm sorry I'm having a hyper just over the house of God this is the one that we are to look on and to understand and to appreciate access granted to the house of god and i want to emphasize the need to constantly remember this you can think about this I mean there's a lot to think about in your busy day i'm sure i haven't followed you or you know who imitated you or gone about your particular task get a lot of stuff going on in that head you got work you got children you got wives you got husband you got children you go whatever going on you know at some point you got to think this say shirt dohtal priestly office of christ because it's that by which you have acceptance with God we need them as a prophet to instruct us we need them as a prophet to thus saith the Lord to us we need them as a prophet to indicate the mind of God for us and we need them as a king to subdue us to protect us to rule over us to defend us we need them as a priests to save us we need that office brethren and if you are trying to live the Christian life devoid of contemplating these particular realities it's not going to go well with you you're going to stumble you're going to have difficulties it's not just a matter of I need to try harder not to send that's true try harder not to sin by all means but look to Christ consider that blood consider the reason for our access is not because of us but because of him he's that song 15 man who gathers under his wings the entirety of his church and brings us atop the Mount of the Lord so that we may dwell in the presence of Yahweh that's what the apostle wants you to consider those are the encouragement snow note the exhortations and there are three the first is the need to draw near by the way this is you know in here is an argument for Pauline authorship of Hebrews Paul likes that triad of faith hope and love and that's precisely what the author employees here faith verse 22 hope verse 23 love verse 24 there's many other arguments as to why Paul wrote the book of Hebrews that this is certainly an important one too stand that triad of faith hope and love notice the exhortation verse wanting to let us draw near let us draw near that drawing near means to utilize the access that we have to the Holy of Holies purchased for us by Christ look at the logic you have this access it's been wrought by the blood of Jesus now get to it go back to the illustration me telling the sixteen-year-old the cars out there I put the keys in your pocket go drive what would we say if we saw that teenager we'd say you're nuts what do we say to fellow believers or professors of the Christian faith that don't seek God in private they don't seek God in families they don't seek God in the church they don't seek to use the access that has been purchased for them to the very holy of holies imagine the Israelites on that day of atonement watching the high priest take off all of his regal garb being clothed only in the linen he goes into the most or the holy place and then he penetrates behind the veil and goes into the holy of holies what do you think it was like among the Israelites at that time I wonder what it's like in there I wonder what's happening in there I wonder what you know what God thinks and what's going on with the high priests we don't have to wonder anymore the veil has been rent from top to bottom through the death of our Lord Jesus we don't have to wonder what access to God looks like we don't have to wonder what the presence of God looks like we have by the grace of God to pursue it be lazy don't neglect don't resist don't listen to the devil's logic oh no don't read your Bible oh no don't pray you're too busy for such things I I just absolutely love the argument that we're too busy in our day to read the Bible and pray we've got more gadgets and more trinkets and more appliances to make our lives easy yeah we can't find time in our busy day Joshua led the children of Israel on the conquest of Canaan and yet his daily meditation was in the law of the Lord brethren it's never a matter of I don't have time it's never a matter of I just can't it's a matter of you didn't get up early enough for you didn't stay up late enough I mean just be honest I think that's much more preferable at the throne of grace confessors send to God and He will forgive you but no try to say well you know the time management skills that you gave me have kept me from properly worshiping you know let us draw near the Apostle says based on these two realities we have access to the only place and we have this high priests so let us draw near again Owen I told pastor Barcelos yesterday I don't like reading Owen when I preach from Hebrews because the temptation is to put too much Owen in here but if you've ever had any familiarity with his commentary on Abra's he exhausts the text in ways that I simply cannot but he says concerning this drawing near he says wherefore this drawing near contains all the holy worship of the church both public and private all the ways of our access unto God by Christ you need to use that access you need to draw near Christ didn't purchase it for you so you could sit on the sidelines and watch everybody else draw near and wonder what it's like to be one of those Christians that knows the face of God you by the grace of God ought to be knowing the face of God the presence of God the blessing of God and note the qualification that our author gives us in verse 22 let us draw near with a true heart that means without hypocrisy remember Jesus doesn't like hypocrites Matthew 23 woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites this idea of a true heart means an undivided art it means singleness as the older authors would say it means sincerity you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength this is what the Abbas says draw near with a true heart don't be like those Israelites of all that brought their worst sacrifice to the temple don't be like those Israelites of old that brought their skull and animals to sacrifice at the temple no you come with the true heart and notice specifically what he goes on to say in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water i think this parallels what we've already seen or what you see in chapter 9 notice a 99 it was symbolic for the present time in which this is the old covenant tabernacle in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience this isn't true in our new covenant setting is it Jesus Christ washes us in his blood and purifies our conscience and that's the precise emphasis again notice in 914 how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God you see we have that don't ever get up on a Sunday morning say you know I really was they really had a bad week this week my conscience is sullied it's dirty its foul I'm not going to go to the house of God those dear people they don't need my you know wretchedness near that does that ever happened anybody it ever suggested to you by you know not where either it's the devil or it's your own heart yeah you really shouldn't read that Bible or claim to be a Christian because your conscience is a mess you've sinned against against a holy God don't dare witness to somebody you're not as you pure as the driven snow so therefore don't do it what do we do to serve our conscience what do we do to get a clean conscience first John 19 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness that ought to be attacked that every believer keeps in their pocket that ought to be a text along with Psalm 130 verses 3 and 4 along with Psalm 25 verse 11 where the psalmist actually argues from the greatness of his sin for God to pardon him those cats ought to be dear to the people of God whose consciences do get dirty whose conscience is our trouble whose consciences aren't as pure as the driven snow we confess and we trust because of what Christ is God that we receive forgiveness the Apostles Creed what was confessed in the early church I believe in the forgiveness of sins do you ever make that confession I hope you do it often I hope you make that confession every single day I believe in the forgiveness of sins we scanned in constant need of that the way to a pure or clean conscience is through the bloody cross of our Lord Jesus now some have taken this washing of the body here as a reference to baptism I don't believe that's what's in view I think the parallel is a 913 notice what they received in the Old Covenant system for if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of F ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh think the New Covenant equivalent to that is the Holy Spirit it's not our water baptism that purifies us or cleanses us the spirit is likened to the two water when he cleanses us from all iniquity the promise of the New Covenant in Ezekiel 36 24 to 29 God says I will sprinkle clean water I will send my spirit to you this is why in the discussion with Nicodemus in John 3 Jesus says are you the teacher of Israel and you don't know this I don't know if he said it with that quite a Fatone it's hard to read tone there he probably didn't say it like that he said it you know does Jesus would a nice gracious kindly but if you ever noticed he upbraids Nicodemus you're the teacher of Israel you don't know this he should have known this based on Ezekiel 36 this reference to water in John 3 is not to water baptism it's the power of the Holy Spirit who cleanses us this is the contrast between the old and the new we would bring our effort we would bring our land we would bring our Bullock and it would burea fight our bodies but in Christ we have purification through and through heart body soul now notice the second exhortation the need to hold fast this is a repeated emphasis and we will not rehearse it here for the sake of time but a repeated emphasis in this epistle to 136 3 14 for 14 14 10 23 10 35 and 36 essentially what the Apostle is saying throughout this is Bissell is I pray you to fasten your grips I pray you to fasten your grips for those of you might be puzzled by that turn of phrase we read a a meditation by Spurgeon in the prayer meeting and that was the point fasten your grip upon the truth this is what the author says this is what he wants Jewish believers Hebrew Christians are being tempted to go back to the mosaic system they're being tempted to go back to that old covenant system there be tempted to go back to the to the sacrificial system that has been superseded because of the ones for all sacrifice of Christ so he wants them to hold fast the confession of their hope we might think that's an interesting turn of phrase why not the confession of our faith it's rather the confession of our hope I think Calvin is right as he exhorts the Jews to persevere he mentions hope rather than faith for as hope is born of faith so it is fed and sustained it blah sustained by it to the last so hope and faith or sisters we have fo that means we have faith so holding fast the confession of our hope is something we must do we must fasten our grips upon the truth of Christianity we must fasten our grips upon the doctrine of the cross we must hold fast to the reality of the gospel we mustn't hold these things with a loose can you ever shake somebody's hand and they give you that you know that that limp sort of thing that you think why don't you grab my hand young people shake hands and grab it a bit and look them in the eyes that's a good practice for your life you get that and if anybody I'm sorry I'm not trying to you know pick on you maybe work on you know firming it up a bit this is how people approach Christianity we we hold it as if it's some sort of a philosophical system or a theory an ethical ideal that that is one among many no it's not Paul says I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified did Paul hold it with a limp wrist or did Paul hold it with everything that Paul had that's the kind of Christianity we need to have today there's too much limp-wristed Christianity there's too much of that sort of thing that kind of takes it or leaves it that's not what we're ever called to were to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints we are to hold fast our hope yes to a watching world but probably in the context hold fast that confession of your hope for your good you need to understand these truths you need to appropriate these truths and you need to never let these truths go because on Tuesday afternoon you're going to need a great big dose of the access to code to God that you have and the high priestly office of Jesus so holdfast your confession but then notice the basis for this holding fast it's not because we're great or because we have strong hands Spurgeon refers to a sailor grip sailors apparently give a nice good grip when they shake somebody's hand now there's those guys out there too they you know squeeze your hand and you almost have to stifle the scream it's like dude we're shaking hands you don't have to kill me here I'd like to use this you know instrument for other things and having it broken by you so it's got to be a happy balance somewhere in there don't be the limp guy but don't be the crusher either the Spurgeon refers to that it's not because we have sailor hands but notice what the text underscores he says let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering how can we not waver because he who promised is faithful it's not our sailor grip it's the faithfulness of God it's not our powerful shake it's the faithfulness of God it's not our powerful faith it is the faithfulness of God it's not our ability it's not our goodness it's not our performance but because God who promised is faithful that's the purpose of the reason to the basis what by which we can hold fast the confession or hold the confession of our hope without wavering it's not because we're somehow intrinsically stronger than the rest of the people that we are surrounded by but it's because our God is faithful isn't this a constant refrain in the Bible God is faithful you ever doubt that I mean even in first John 19 I've cited it already he if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us he's faithful you actually think that you're going to go to God and ask for forgiveness and he's going to say well now that that's not for you anymore you you you've used it all up Peter says to his Lord Lord if I my brother sins against me and I forgive him seven times in a day is that what's right I think Peter was probably being magnanimous there right think about it when your brother or sister wife husband children parents come to you seven times in a day doesn't that seem a lot to exercise what lord give me the grace so that I can continue to exercise grace and forgiveness so all these poor slobs I'm surrounded by seven seems like a large number doesn't it but what does our Lord Jesus say seven times seventy if God the Lord calls his people to exercise such forgiveness what ought we to conclude that he himself exercises that kind of forgiveness what have we learned in James he gives to all wisdom liberally and without reproach he upbraided not that means when you come to God asking for wisdom he doesn't make fun of you he doesn't say oh but you used up all your units of wisdom I'm not going to get no he doesn't reproach us and he have bread if it's not he gives to those who ask liberally and without reproach the same is true of forgiveness this is why first John 19 Psalm 133 and for a song 25 verse 11 ought to be nearby your heart and soul bring these to God it is his faithfulness that is in view and then note the third and final exhortation the need to consider one another the need to consider one another verse 24 you see the the coordinate nests of these let us draw near let us hold fast let us consider one another these are the three exhortations that follow the two encouragement you have access to the Holy of Holies and you do so because of the blood of Jesus Christ it is a new and living way that he consecrated for us through through the veil that is his flesh we also have him as a high priest a great I priests and because of that we need to draw near hold fast and now consider one another in order to stir up love and good works it's interesting in 31 the people of God are told to consider Jesus that really should go without explanation shouldn't it I mean shouldn't believe or consider Jesus that's been the bulk of the sermon this morning is that we need to consider Jesus specifically in that priestly office not to the neglect of the kingly and the prophetic do not take me as saying those are unimportant but we need to consider Jesus but those who consider Jesus also consider Jesus people have a book in my study by pastor Blackburn it's called why Jesus or Jesus loves the church and why you should too we are to consider Christ nobody would argue with that Christians consider Christ but according the Apostle here when he gets practical and he starts to apply the doctrine of the priestly office of Christ he tells us in verse 24 let us consider one another let us look up from ourselves and realize that we are in assembly Association communion with other people in other words the church isn't just about us it's not just about me it's not just about private individuals it's about the people of God and we are told specifically to consider one another and the consideration of one another is in order to stir up to promote to hopefully foster love and good works that doesn't mean you sit down on the you know the bench and take off your shoes and you know lift your feet say okay now you come over here and do the good work of washing my feet that's probably not what's in view here the idea is this mutual edification this mutual encouragement this mutual exhortation to stir up love and good works chrysostom says that he the apostle knew that much strength arises from being together and assembling together much strength arises from being together and assembling together you've heard the analogy probably a thousand times you know when the coal is not with the other calls it dies out on its own that's a good analogy that is a very fair representation of the reality of church life if you try to go it alone and you try to be the Maverick and you try to be you know that the man that doesn't need anybody you're probably going to dry out or die out or burn out these are simply the realities chrysostom again for as iron sharpens iron so also association increases love for if a stone rubbed against a stone sends forth fire how much more soul mingled with soul two stones can send out fire certainly to believers in Christ who have the Holy Spirit are going to send out some fire to you see what the Apostle says let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works what is assumed that we're near one another that we see one another that we actually do associate with each other how can we stir one another up to love and good works if we never see each other how can we stir one another up the love and good words if we're always absent from where the people of God are now know the Apostle addresses this very particularly in what follows this is a concrete illustration or example of how we avoid stirring one another up to love and good works notice verse 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together this wasn't a hypothetical problem this wasn't just theory for the Apostle because he says as is the manner of some some were absent in themselves from association with God's people how can you stir up one another to love and good works if you're not with God's people you can't do it can you I mean you might try it by you know telekinetic power I want to stir this but you can't do it I'll send him an email well it might be helpful you know during other times but I'll tweet and all you know put his dread dress on there and he'll see it he'll be so eager you actually need to be with the people who God that's what the author is say not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together which is the custom of some in other words we're God's people are you ought to be present with them this abuse was taking place in the Assemblies Owen suggests perhaps three reasons fear of persecution if as we've suggested the Hebrew Christians are being persecuted as 10 32 and following makes obvious then you could probably see some earthly logic to that if I knew guys with machine guns we're going to come to church and gun us down I might think twice before going to church I hate to admit that but that's the reality fear of persecution you knew that coming to church this morning might land you in jail for 10 15 20 years would you come it's easy to say well they should have just been there they shouldn't forsaking the assembling of themselves together Oh brethren we're not being persecuted I mean if somebody raises their eyebrow at us when we pray in a public place we internalize that ass persecution read some of the accounts of what's happening to God's people and Muslim nations we are not being persecuted before we get judgmental upon these people it's wrong and I'm not condoning it but I see the earthly logic and suggesting that if I'm going to go to jail because I attend church this morning I could see that it would enter into my head maybe you know I have a sniffle and I can't be there he also suggests spiritual sloth and I think that suggested in the text itself or in the in the Epistle itself notice in 21 what the author says this is probably one of our reality spiritual sloth notice in 21 therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away more than one way to apostatize we think internet pornography that's the stepping stone to apostasy it could be but if a man by the grace of God or a woman confesses their sins for sakes their sins they will find mercy from God most high again we think it's adultery we think it's bank robbery we think it's the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine drifting away is as much a means of the pursuit of apostasy you're not reading your Bibles you're not coming to church you're not doing those things that God calls you to do they could be stepping stones to a full-blown full-out apostasy and then he suggests as well unbelief gradually toward the forsaking of all professions so you see it wasn't theory with the apostle this was actually taking place now note that last Clause is we consider this last exhortation it's intriguing says let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves as is the manner of son but exhorting one another so negatively don't forsake the assembling of yourself positively exhort one another you know maybe today after the service instead of saying boy it's nice that it's a cooler day how was your soul how you doing you reading anything that's encouraging your heart is there any way I could pray for you this week ex orting one another notice this last Clause and so much the more as you see the day approaching so much the more you ought to be exhorting one another so much the more you ought not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together with the people of God now what's this day there are basically three options one is the day of one's death the second is the day of final judgment the third is Owen and Gil and I take this position the day of judgment upon Jerusalem in AD 70 but whichever we go concerning that day notice how the logic of the Apostle runs contrary to ours if you knew that next Monday the world was going to add or you knew that next monday you were going to die or you knew that next Monday our fair city of chilliwack was going to be surrounded by Abbott's for teens and destroy if you knew that what would be the tendency on Sunday it would be to spend time with family it would be to load up supply so that we can escape and get out of Dodge before they converge it would be anything and anything other than I must be with the people of God in church it's not amazing look at the logic I'm not stretching this whatever day it is if you're going to die if it's the judgment upon the city or if it's the final judgment what's the apostle say don't miss assembling with the people of God I just find that logic compelling what's Paul saying don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together which is the custom of some but rather exhort one another all the more may that the judgment of your fair city may the thought of your death and may the thought of the final judgment push you even more earnestly to attend the worship of the Living God it's a Psalm 122 focus I was glad when they said to me let us go to the house of God that's his emphasis Owen says whatever desolations and destructions may be approaching our best and wisest frame will be to trust unto God in the discharge of our duty if I knew that tomorrow the city was going to be destroyed why should that affect how I live today it is that not something that steps out at the page from you because I'm sure that we got to make sure my beans are in order are going to make sure my canned goods are ready I got we got a long long distance to cook come to where God's people are he says approaching judgment sought to influence unto a special diligence in all of an evangelical duties now as we conclude we need to appreciate the connection between doctrine and application I've already set forth 5 12 10 18 is the doctrine of the priestly office of Christ from which the Apostle now applies it based on that reality in 51 10 to 18 1080 here is then three things you ought to do now it's problematic when we have doctrine without application this is the bible study and there's nothing wrong with a bible study but in the proclamation of god's truth there must be the exposition of Scripture and the application of it there must be there for you know one of the problems i think we face today is a lot of application with no doctrine this comes visa V self-help go out and be better people be better this be better well tell me why show me in the book expound the scriptures and attach my conscience to the revealed truth of God because it's God the Lord who is Lord of the conscience it is him who gets to dictate how we live in light of his truth we need both doctrine and application sometimes Reformed churches or looked at is so doctrine higher than you know but it's also Bri brawl it's all all about the head that certainly can be a potential problem but it's not necessarily the gates we need to preach the doctrine and make the practica the applications that flow naturally from the text I mean is encouraged flow naturally from the discussion of the high priestly office that the exhortations flow naturally you don't scratch your head and say where did he get that it follows necessarily from his explanation of who Christ is and what he has accomplished secondly I want to remind all of my dear brothers and sisters of your present possession your present possession you have access to the Father through the Sun by the spirit if that doesn't send you home happy I don't have anything else for you I really don't again this was a black church and we're in Southern California this is where I'd say can I get an amen I'm not really saying that but do you understand that you have access to the Father through the Sun by the spirit the triune God Himself is the Lord and we because of what Christ has done entered go to that mount we ascend because of what he has done on our behalf the Old Covenant believers used carnal means look at specifically 910 notice in 9-10 concerned only with foods and drinks various washings and fleshly ordinances this was Old Covenant Tabernacle worship it was fleshly it was carnal but not so in this new covenant era spiritual we have access to the Father by through the Sun by the Holy Spirit that triune God has granted us access Old Covenant believers had an outward pledge of God when you were standing outside of the tabernacle you'd even see the holy place let alone the Holy of Holies but they had this outward pledge that God was present that God was in there met that's not what we have we've moved beyond the outward pledge to the substance itself those types and those shadows pointed forward to Jesus and in Jesus we have access we have the presence of God himself as well the Old Covenant believers were excluded from the Holy of Holies we have access to it because of the blood of Jesus thirdly we ought to consider the present responsibilities of our of God's people we have a present possession access and Christ our high priest we need to consider these exhortations are you drawing near to God I mean this is one of the most unhealthy things for believers to not pray to not read their Bibles we'd say this is an unhealthy thing for somebody in their physical health not to eat not to drink you can't last long like that I understand you can last a while without food but if you go three days without water you're going to die that's not a supposition it's not an inclination that is fact and yet how many times do God's people go without that that water that life-giving nourishing bread and water what does Jesus teach us i understand pastor porter preach from matthew for jesus was the true Israel who actually subscribed to what Deuteronomy 8 said the children of Israel in the wilderness wha cried they wind they complained they grumbled and God sent them there to test them and to show them that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God it shows the dependence that we have upon the Scriptures do you draw near have you gotten to a place where you're comfortable living at a distance with God have you gotten to a place where you say you know foolish things like well I don't have quite the fire i had when i was first converted but but you know I'm all right that's a supposition that's an assumption that isn't you know no basis in Scripture you know when Paul wrote for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain you'd been a Christian for about 30 years you see we've just adopted this idea that you know we're fired up when we first get say we pass out tracts we tell people about Jesus but you know 20 or 30 years later where we're not quite like that anymore have you accepted that have you lived at a distance from God have you entertained that it's somehow okay not to you use the access secured for you by the blood of Jesus my dear brothers and sisters let it not be seek the Lord draw near to God seek his beautiful face as well holding fast the confession of our hope we really need to do this it's always intrigued me that in Jude 3 contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints all of the specific exhortations in Hebrews it's not to pastors is not to Kelvin it's not too spurge and it's not too you know oh and it's not to the right reverend doctors who are over churches there they're certainly included but it's all God's people need a holdfast don't be that limp wristed nancy boy that can't you know hang on to a piece of paper this is the confession of your hope grab it and don't let it go I pray Spurgeon wrote that you fasten your grips have that sailor grip when it comes to the Christian faith and we need to consider one another do you pray for the people of God in your own church do you pray intercessory prayer for the people of God in your church is your prayer life all about that unholy trinity me myself and I certainly pray for yourself i'm not suggesting otherwise but do you pray for brethren who have physical trials do you pray for brethren that are facing domestic hardship do you pray for brethren that are in other countries we read this morning of a man whose daughter 16 years old was raped by the next door neighbor do we pray for a guy like that and ask God give him grace so he doesn't go down the local store and buy a gun and shoot his neighbor and the head do we pray for the 16 year old girl that was violated by some wicked man who lives next door and the father supposition is the police aren't going to prosecutor he won't be caught and found out imagine living next door to your daughter's rapist do you ever think to pray for people like that do we pray for the governing authorities the way Paul and just two in 1st Timothy 2 first of all I urge that prayers supplications intercessions and giving zuv thanks be made from home for kings and all of an authority I for one are you I not argue but complain a lot about political leaders I need to pray more for them to pray that God grant them wisdom god grant them salvation God give them a song to moment when david says to the kings and the judges of the earth to kiss the son lest he be angry and they perish in his way when his wrath is kindled but a little brethren we need to consider one another and there is a blessed means of considering one another every Sunday twice and even on Wednesday night there is a blessed place where you can consider one another show up in the public place and worship the Living God I love what Morales says concerning the reality that what this text along with Hebrews 12 22 you have come to Mountain Zion they point ultimately to heavenly realities but those heavenly realities are part are presently tasted in the church we are here to feast upon God we are here to enjoy your way we are here to understand and know our blessed Savior to grow in the grace of knowledge of em we are to understand the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit it's good to see brethren it's good to see friends it's good to talk and all that stuff but primarily brethren we come to worship are our great God Morales says and so this heavenly reality is tasted and renewed liturgically that simply means the way that we worship the way that we go through reading a song and praying and then singing a hymn or singing a song this heavenly reality is tasted and renewed liturgically in the corporate spirit enabled approach of God's people as they ascend with Jesus to the heavenly mountain Zion Lord's Day by Lord's Day through the new and living way the veil of Jesus flesh and consider in our book of Hebrews and we're going to end soon I realize we're getting close to that time but consider in the book of Hebrews sometimes people say do you have a choir in your church no actually we do it's right here right do you have a worship leader in your church do you know what my answer to that is you would probably say Jim would say no we don't have a worship leader Jim would say yes we have a worship leader in his name is Jesus Christ look at Hebrews 2 12 truly amazing passage of Scripture well let's pick up in 10 to 10 for it was fitting for him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings for both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one this next part just always blows me away for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren Jesus is not a shame to call you brethren if you're in Christ he's not ashamed of you it's an amazing we're often times ashamed to name the name of Christ but he's never ashamed to call us brethren now note verse 12 saying I will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you Christ is the worship leader in the new covenant community he is with his brethren he leads the praises to his father and that by the spirit for the glory and the excellency and the majesty of our triune God brethren we are participating in something a little bigger than I think we oftentimes do not understand and if you are not a believer this morning I tried to set forth the reality in several places and it several times along the way if your need for Christ you don't have access to the Father apart from Christ you don't have access into the holy of holies apart from Christ you don't have salvation or eternal life or eternal bliss and happiness apart from Christ how do we get Christ we by God's grace belief sometimes people say well it just seems so simple believe it is simple but on the other hand it's difficult because we want to work for it we want to do something we want to prove ourselves we want to have a hand in it ultimately well it's according to the grace of God so that all praise and all glory and honor goes to the god of grace you need to look and live you need to believe the gospel you need to confess Jesus is the Son of the Living God you need to come you need to turn from your sins and you need to take the gospel as it is given in the scriptures and believe and you will be saved that's the hope that's the encouragement that's what everyone who's called brethren by Jesus has it's not because we're good it's because Christ is good and Christ is ascended the mountain of the Lord and Christ has brought his church with him belief and you will be saved well let us pray father we thank you for the Word of God and these things truly do amaze us that we have access into the Holy of Holies and then we have such a great high priest how we ask and pray father that you would grant us the grace to put into practice these exhortations to draw near to hold fast the confession of our hope and to stir one another up unto love and good works may this be the case for your glory and for your honor and go with us now and bless us in the remainder of this lord's day and bring us together that we may worship you again and we ask these things through Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation you you