Call to worship – Psalm 16
16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Hymn # 395 Come to the Saviour Now
Call to Confession – Ten Commandments
Words of Assurance: 1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
God's Will for Our Lives: 1 John 2:3-5
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Hymn # 386 Arise, O God, and Shine
Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Sermon: Let us Draw Near
Sermon Notes
Intro: At the Banner of the truth, the speakers are very accessible. At most conferences the speakers are not available. Sometimes when people are accessible, it seems that they really aren't accessible due to how we think of ourselves. We tend not to think of ourselves as good enough to talk with these good speaker/teachers. This didn't change for pastor until someone took the time to bring him to the speakers, inviting him to sit with and them and talk over coffee.
So it was in the Old Testament, people could not just go and talk with God, that was for the high priest only. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, and only once a year after performing sacrifices. Our sins need to be covered before we can approach God. This helps us realize just how holy God is.
What the bible doesn't tell us, is that in history they would tie a rope on the high priest so they could drag him out if there be need (aka the death of the high priest).
In Hebrews we see Christ as the great High Priest.
This means that through Jesus we have the confidence to approach God. Jesus has died once and for all, the sins of his people are fully covered. Jesus opened the way to God. In fact, when he died, the curtain dividing the holy place from the holy of holies was torn in two. And so when Jesus died he cried out "it is finished", meaning it was completed. Christ, the one without sin, took MY place.
Not only is he my replacement, he is also my high priest, a fully human high priest, able to intercede on my behalf, fully understanding how hard it is when one is tempted.
In the light of all this knowledge....draw near to God. We should have this confidence to come before God.
And yet so many believers fail to do this, it is like they see their sin and thusly are reluctant to come before him. But the bible guards against this...the reluctance or the overconfidence that people can have. We always come to God through Christ. You need a true heart....a heart that is truthful, not hiding who you are, a heart aware of the need for Christ.
When we have that knowledge, that faith, we can just come. It is a coming that is filled with trust.
So then let us draw near to God, knowing that we do so through Christ and his action on our behalf.
Draw near to God. Draw near to Gos in him.
Draw near in worship.
Draw near to God in all areas of our life.
- Consider how you can pray more
- How you can worship in private
- How you can turn to God more in your life
- How can we be more of the people God has called us to be?
Just draw near to God.
Hymn # Since We Have Confidence (See Insert)
Hymn # 713 I Am Thine, O Lord
Hymn # 88—4 Jehovah! Father, Spirit, Son