THE THRONE OF GRACE
Thursday – September 28, 2017
As we come to the end of the fourth chapter of Hebrews we are encouraged, almost commanded, to come to the throne of Grace. Do we understand that we are to come boldly before our God much the same as we might come before our earthly father or other family? We can come boldly because of the confidence we have in our God, our Heavenly Father, our Daddy, our High Priest, our Redeemer, and our Savior. Now let’s review our primary text from this wonderful Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We have been studying that the provision of God for us is all inclusive and extraordinarily abundant for our success in the Kingdom of God. We have also touched on Jesus as our Great High Priest and we will be returning to that but first let’s talk a little bit about Grace. The general function of a priest is to perform some sort of intercession for others before God. I will talk much more about this as we review the function of a and THE High Priest. An intercessor is one who stands between God and a person or persons. The intercessor pleads before God for that person(s) to be granted compassion (mercy) and graciousness or favor (grace). In effect, the intercessor is asking God to delay justice according to their deeds. The intercessor takes the matter to the court of Heaven and launches an appeal process asking that the person in question be given a space of time to repent. The intercessor asks the Judge of Heaven to maintain a favorable attitude toward the person granted the favor of time and space. Again, let us take a look at an example from the Word.
Luke 13:6-9 (KJV)
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
In the preceding Scripture, we find the example of an unfruitful fig tree which could represent a nonChristian or a Christian, even the nation of Israel. The dresser (intercessor) of the vineyard stood boldly between “a certain man” (God) and the unfruitful tree and obtained mercy and grace for the unfruitful person. One might think of this much like a judgment being appealed and the time allotted by the judge to bring new evidence and perhaps change or reverse the verdict, the conviction, the judgment.
The priests of old basically stood between the person or even the whole nation presenting a sacrifice to God which covered the sin for a season. These priests performed other functions as well like receiving the ‘first fruits’ offerings of the people and pronouncing a blessing (an empowerment for greater productivity). As an aside, riches from God always comes from our activities not some magic fairy. Back to us, the priest, and sin.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As soon as we realize we have sinned which we are to confess it before our High Priest (Jesus). All too frequently we delay our confession by rationalization and wanting to satisfy our own lists a while longer. Both the text above and Hebrews 4:16 tell us that cleansing follows our confession. Our confession is to say the same thing He says about our sin. When we come to our High Priest, the Throne of Grace moping with our head down and crying for we are not in true repentance and it remains all about us and not all about Him. True love is all about Him. Come boldly to the Throne of Grace, confess the sin, come into complete agreement with Him and what His Word says about it and make it clear that your mind is changed from that moment forward, you have cast away the wickedness. When we do this we obtain His mercy, His compassion, and instantly the Grace of God (Holy Spirit) springs into action to help us. As we finish for today let us consider, meditate, and conform to the following passage.
Romans 6:12-15 (KJV)
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
We cannot avoid sin of our own power but we can in the Power of the Holy Spirit, Grace. When we submit ourselves to the leadership of Grace, the Holy Spirit (the giver of life) we can walk a sinless life just like our Jesus. To be “under grace” means to be submitted to Grace, the Holy Spirit (Vs 14). This does not mean we are not to keep the laws of God, it means that through the finished work of Christ Jesus the law, sin, no longer reigns over us but we reign over it in our submission to Grace, the Holy Spirit.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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