Boldly Approaching God: The New Covenant in Prayer

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound truths found in Hebrews 10, focusing on the boldness we are called to have in approaching God through prayer. This passage speaks to the heart of our faith, emphasizing the new and living way made possible through Jesus Christ. The early Hebrew Christians, to whom this epistle was addressed, faced discouragement and doubt, tempted to revert to their old religious practices. They were reminded of the superiority of the new covenant established by Christ, which surpasses the old ways of temple worship and sacrifices.

Prayer, as we understand it, is not merely a ritual or a simple act. It is a profound engagement with the divine, entering into the very presence of God. This is not a task to be taken lightly, as it involves overcoming significant obstacles: the holiness of God, the accusations of our conscience, and the inherent uncleanness of our nature. These challenges highlight the necessity of approaching God with a true heart, full assurance of faith, and reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus.

The new and living way is characterized by its foundation in the incarnation and sacrificial death of Christ. Unlike the old covenant, which relied on a succession of earthly priests and repeated sacrifices, the new covenant is eternal and unchanging, anchored in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. This living way is not only a path to God but a transformative journey that cleanses us from sin and empowers us to stand boldly before the throne of grace.

In our modern context, we are reminded of the dangers of reverting to old, dead religious practices and the importance of embracing the vibrant, living faith offered through Christ. This new way is not just a theological concept but a practical reality that enables us to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that we have an advocate in Jesus who intercedes for us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Boldness of Prayer: True prayer requires boldness and assurance, not because of our merit, but because of the access granted through Jesus Christ. This boldness is rooted in the understanding that we approach God not as distant or unapproachable, but as a loving Father who has made a way for us through His Son. [06:09]

- Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer: The challenges of entering God's presence—His holiness, our guilty conscience, and our inherent uncleanness—are overcome through the sacrifice of Christ. This understanding transforms prayer from a daunting task into a joyful communion with God. [12:54]

- The New and Living Way: The new covenant established by Christ is a living way, contrasting with the dead rituals of the old covenant. This living way is characterized by the eternal priesthood of Jesus, who intercedes for us continually, ensuring our access to God. [24:59]

- The Foundation of Prayer: The foundation of our prayer life is the incarnation and atoning work of Christ. This foundation is solid and unshakeable, providing the assurance we need to approach God with confidence, knowing that our sins are forgiven and our relationship with Him is restored. [28:06]

- The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice: The sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to address all our spiritual needs, including the accusations of the devil. By relying on Christ's finished work, we can stand firm in our faith, confident in our salvation and our ability to commune with God. [36:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to Hebrews 10
- [02:08] - The Context of the Epistle
- [03:52] - Challenges Faced by Early Christians
- [05:17] - The Importance of Prayer
- [06:09] - Boldness in Prayer
- [07:17] - Difficulties in Prayer
- [08:57] - Entering the Holiest
- [10:50] - The Presence of God
- [12:54] - Conscience and Prayer
- [15:29] - The Problem of Sin
- [19:11] - The True Heart in Prayer
- [21:39] - The New and Living Way
- [24:59] - The Living Priesthood
- [28:06] - The Foundation of Prayer
- [36:09] - Overcoming the Accuser
- [38:28] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 10:10-25

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Hebrews 10:19-22 say about the boldness we should have in approaching God? How is this boldness achieved according to the passage? [01:15]

2. In the sermon, what were the three main obstacles mentioned that believers face when approaching God in prayer? [12:54]

3. How does the sermon describe the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant established by Christ? [22:25]

4. What role does Jesus' sacrifice play in our ability to approach God, as discussed in the sermon? [29:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of a "new and living way" in Hebrews 10:20 challenge the old religious practices of the early Hebrew Christians? What implications does this have for modern believers? [22:25]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of having a "true heart" when approaching God. What does it mean to have a true heart, and why is it essential for prayer? [19:39]

3. How does the sermon explain the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice in overcoming the accusations of the devil and our own conscience? [36:09]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between doctrine and prayer? Why is understanding doctrine crucial for effective prayer? [19:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own prayer life. Do you approach God with boldness and assurance? If not, what steps can you take to cultivate this confidence? [06:09]

2. The sermon discusses the danger of reverting to old, dead religious practices. Are there any traditions or habits in your spiritual life that might be hindering your relationship with God? How can you embrace the "new and living way"? [25:30]

3. Consider the obstacles of God's holiness, a guilty conscience, and inherent uncleanness mentioned in the sermon. How do these challenges manifest in your life, and how can you rely on Christ's sacrifice to overcome them? [12:54]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of having a true heart in prayer. What does sincerity in prayer look like for you, and how can you ensure that your heart is aligned with God's will? [19:39]

5. How can you practically remind yourself of the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice when faced with feelings of guilt or unworthiness? [36:09]

6. The sermon warns against the danger of apostasy. How can you stay rooted in your faith and avoid the temptation to turn away from the gospel? [04:42]

7. Identify one area in your life where you need to rely more on the new covenant established by Christ. What specific actions can you take this week to live out this vibrant, living faith? [25:30]

Devotional

Day 1: Boldness in Prayer
True prayer requires boldness and assurance, not because of our merit, but because of the access granted through Jesus Christ. This boldness is rooted in the understanding that we approach God not as distant or unapproachable, but as a loving Father who has made a way for us through His Son. The early Hebrew Christians were reminded of this truth as they faced discouragement and doubt, tempted to revert to their old religious practices. They were encouraged to embrace the new covenant established by Christ, which surpasses the old ways of temple worship and sacrifices. [06:09]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to approach God with more boldness and confidence today, trusting in the access granted through Jesus?


Day 2: Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer
The challenges of entering God's presence—His holiness, our guilty conscience, and our inherent uncleanness—are overcome through the sacrifice of Christ. This understanding transforms prayer from a daunting task into a joyful communion with God. The early Christians were reminded that the new and living way made possible through Jesus Christ allows them to approach God with a true heart and full assurance of faith. This is not a task to be taken lightly, as it involves overcoming significant obstacles, but it is made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. [12:54]

1 John 3:20-21 (ESV): "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God."

Reflection: What specific obstacle in your prayer life can you ask Jesus to help you overcome today, trusting in His sacrifice?


Day 3: The New and Living Way
The new covenant established by Christ is a living way, contrasting with the dead rituals of the old covenant. This living way is characterized by the eternal priesthood of Jesus, who intercedes for us continually, ensuring our access to God. The early Hebrew Christians were reminded of the superiority of this new covenant, which surpasses the old ways of temple worship and sacrifices. This new way is not just a theological concept but a practical reality that enables us to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that we have an advocate in Jesus who intercedes for us. [24:59]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: How can you embrace the new and living way in your daily life, moving away from old, dead religious practices?


Day 4: The Foundation of Prayer
The foundation of our prayer life is the incarnation and atoning work of Christ. This foundation is solid and unshakeable, providing the assurance we need to approach God with confidence, knowing that our sins are forgiven and our relationship with Him is restored. The early Christians were reminded of the importance of this foundation as they faced discouragement and doubt. They were encouraged to rely on the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, which cleanses them from sin and empowers them to stand boldly before the throne of grace. [28:06]

Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Reflection: What aspect of Christ's atoning work can you meditate on today to strengthen the foundation of your prayer life?


Day 5: The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice
The sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to address all our spiritual needs, including the accusations of the devil. By relying on Christ's finished work, we can stand firm in our faith, confident in our salvation and our ability to commune with God. The early Hebrew Christians were reminded of this truth as they faced discouragement and doubt, tempted to revert to their old religious practices. They were encouraged to embrace the new covenant established by Christ, which surpasses the old ways of temple worship and sacrifices. [36:09]

Romans 8:33-34 (ESV): "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, trusting that it addresses all your spiritual needs?

Quotes

Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a New and Living Way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh and having an 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. [00:01:20]

Prayer is vital and absolutely ascential to the life of the Christian but the great question is how is this to be done it's one thing to talk about prayer it's a very different thing to pray and here this mean teaches us the only way whereby we can pray truly because of as you notice he says we are not only to pray we to pray with boldness with confidence with Assurance indeed he uses the term full Assurance of Faith. [00:05:38]

Prayer is not some vague crying out to any powers that may be to help us it's a confident and an assured and a bold approach to God and without this is this men teachers the Christian canot continue now as that was true in the first century it is true today we are surrounded by problems and difficulties and perplexities and nothing is more important for us than we should know exactly how we are to pray. [00:06:13]

The first thing about prayer of course the thing which in a way makes it completely impossible for us is that it means means entering into the holiest the holiest of all having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the holiest what does he mean by this well I've reminded you that this man was writing to Hebrew Christians and he was using a term with which they were very familiar. [00:09:00]

Prayer means entering into the presence of God we don't talk to ourselves when we pray we don't talk to other people it means entering into the very presence of God and that is why prayer is not only difficult I said but when you realize something of what that means it appears at first sight to be completely impossible who shall dwell with the burning fire asks Isaiah who can dwell in the presence of this Burning light. [00:10:51]

The second is what he calls here an evil conscience from the 22nd verse let us draw near with a True Heart in full Assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and here is the second great difficulty always with prayer we can talk to men and we can justify ourselves before men there's no difficulty about that we're all very good at balancing the accounts. [00:12:47]

The ultimate problem about Sin is not even the guilt about prayer is not simply the guilt of sin it is the pollution of sin the feeling that we are totally unworthy in and of ourselves apart from any actions we may or may not have performed and here is the ultimate problem how can a man whose nature is evil and sinful and wrong ever enter into the presence of this holy God. [00:16:00]

The first is we must have a True Heart let us draw near he says with a True Heart what does that mean that means sincerity that means honesty you can't assemble before God you can't mislead God God seeth and knoweth all things this man you know keeps on repeating these things he's put it like this in chapter 4 he says the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. [00:19:32]

How can a man pray the answer is that there is a new way here's the thing he's emphasizing and he puts it in this form of course and you noticed in the reading at the beginning how he draw draws out and works out this contrast These Foolish Hebrew Christians were beginning to look back to the old way here they are Christian people were looking back to the temple and its worship and its ceremonial and to that Earthly priesthood. [00:21:44]

This new way is built upon the foundation of the Incarnation wherefore when he cometh into the world he said sacrifice and offering th W us not but a body hast thou prepared me you see this is what makes prayer possible the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world in a sense in order that we might pray there is only one way of access to God I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by me. [00:27:36]

Christ is the end of the law to everyone that believeth the law has been honored he fulfilled it positively he has borne our sins he has borne the punishment the law has been carried out the punishment has been Meed out the law is satisfied and as the law is satisfied my conscience is satisfied if our hearts condemn us God is greater than our hearts and he knoweth all things. [00:32:41]

There is a way for men to rise to that Sublime above an offering and a sacrifice a holy spirit's energies an advocate with God these these prepare us for the sight of Holiness above the Sun of ignorance and light shall dwell with the eternal light through the eternal love it answers that problem but lastly and finally there is the devil the accuser of the Brethren who Rises and who speaks to us and threatens us. [00:35:05]

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Transcript
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