Come into His Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Torn Veil, Unbroken Access

Darkness covered Jerusalem as Jesus hung on the cross. At the ninth hour, He cried out and surrendered His spirit. The temple veil—a thick curtain separating God’s presence from humanity—ripped top to bottom. Priests tending Passover lambs froze as holy space became exposed. For centuries, only the high priest could enter that room once a year, bells jingling on his robe as others listened for his death. But Jesus’ final breath shattered the barrier. [07:42]

The torn veil declared God’s presence no longer confined. Where rituals once limited access, Jesus’ flesh became the new doorway. His death fulfilled the Day of Atonement permanently—no more animal blood, no more human mediator. The Father’s heart now stood open to all who approach through Christ.

You no longer need special qualifications to reach God. When shame whispers you’re unworthy to pray, remember the torn curtain. What heavy guilt have you let keep you from approaching His throne today?

“You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold. The veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.”
(Exodus 26:31-33, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for tearing every barrier between you and the Father.
Challenge: Write down one lie that makes you feel distant from God—then cross it out.

Day 2: Bells Without Ropes

Aaron’s descendants trembled each Day of Atonement. The high priest bathed, dressed in sacred linen, and tied a rope around his waist before entering the Most Holy Place. If God rejected his sacrifices, the bells on his robe would fall silent. Others would drag his body out by the rope. For 1,500 years, this ritual repeated—until Jesus cried “It is finished.” [12:43]

Jesus became our final High Priest, entering heaven’s sanctuary with His own blood. His perfect sacrifice needed no rope, no emergency exit. When He sat down at the Father’s right hand, the bells of fear stopped ringing. Access became permanent, not precarious.

You approach God through a Priest who cannot fail. How might your prayers change if you truly believed nothing could disqualify you from His presence?

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God… Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy.”
(Hebrews 4:14,16, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve believed God’s presence must be earned.
Challenge: Read Hebrews 4:14-16 aloud twice—once for your mind, once for your heart.

Day 3: Midnight in the Garden

Jesus knelt under olive trees, sweat like blood falling to the ground. He begged the Father for another way, yet surrendered: “Not my will.” Hours later, Roman nails answered that prayer. His anguish in Gethsemane mirrored the high priest’s terror before the veil—but Jesus faced both sides of the curtain. He walked our darkness to become our Light. [22:11]

The Son experienced every human struggle—betrayal, abandonment, mortal fear—yet trusted perfectly. He doesn’t dismiss your pain but says, “I tasted that cup.” His scars guarantee He understands your deepest wounds.

Where have you hidden your struggles, fearing God wouldn’t care? His tears at Lazarus’ tomb prove He enters grief with you.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death… Because He Himself suffered when tempted, He is able to help those being tempted.”
(Hebrews 5:7, 2:18, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to meet you in your current battle.
Challenge: Journal one struggle, then write “He knows” beside it.

Day 4: The Table Set for Strangers

Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall with one hand while holding a sword. Exiles gathered daily to hear Ezra read Scripture, their tools never far away. Community sustained them as they worked, worshipped, and waited for Messiah. Centuries later, Jesus told His disciples, “Where two or three gather, I’m there.” The torn veil birthed a family, not just free agents. [35:57]

Corporate worship fuels personal faith. Like embers separated from a fire, isolated believers grow cold. But gathered hearts blaze with shared testimony, prayer, and Christ’s tangible presence.

When has another believer’s perseverance reignited your own? Who needs your presence to keep their faith burning this week?

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another.”
(Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three believers who’ve strengthened your walk.
Challenge: Text one church member to schedule a coffee or call.

Day 5: The Road That Became Home

Two disciples trudged toward Emmaus, discussing the crucifixion. A Stranger joined them, explaining how Messiah’s suffering fulfilled Scripture. At supper, He broke bread—and they recognized Jesus. Though He vanished, they ran back to Jerusalem, finding the Eleven. As they shared their story, Jesus appeared again, commissioning all to preach repentance. The private meal became public mission. [39:20]

Resurrection life isn’t meant for closed rooms. Every encounter with Jesus propels us into others’ stories. Your testimony—how He met you on your Emmaus road—holds keys to others’ freedom.

Who in your life needs to hear not just “He is risen,” but “He walked with me”?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always.”
(Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Prayer: Ask for boldness to share your “Emmaus moment” this week.
Challenge: Tell one person how Jesus has walked with you recently.

Sermon Summary

The crucifixion narrative centers on more than death and resurrection; it marks a decisive change in access to God. The gospel explains humanity’s rupture from God through sin, the wage of death, and the divine response of sending Christ to pay that debt. The torn veil at the moment of dying signals the end of the old ritual barrier that once kept people from God’s immediate presence, because the tabernacle’s curtain originally separated the holy place from the holy of holies where the mercy seat signaled God’s dwelling. Exodus laid out the veil as a partition that required a high priest and careful ritual on the Day of Atonement; the crucifixion fulfills and replaces that system.

Hebrews interprets the crucifixion as inaugurating Jesus’ role as both sacrifice and great high priest, someone who passed through the heavens and now sympathizes with human weakness. Jesus’ full humanity—tempted, grieving, betrayed—means he can enter into the struggles of daily life and intercede with understanding. That personal access transforms private devotion: believers no longer wait for one annual ritual but may approach God with confidence at any hour.

The doctrine also demands communal response. Personal access does not dissolve the call to assemble; corporate worship gathers private devotion into a public witness that strengthens faith and equips mission. The local body serves as a laboratory for discipleship: members spur each other on, carry one another’s burdens, and together bring the gospel into the streets. Practical warnings follow: corporate gathering should not become optional convenience, livestreams serve the homebound but cannot replace embodied mutual encouragement, and Christians must cultivate relational evangelism that listens and shares hope rather than pounding doctrine.

The theological resolution of the torn veil thus produces a lived spirituality: immediate access to God, an empathetic high priest, disciplined personal devotion, and a gathered people sent to multiply the gospel in daily life. The call closes with an invitation to prepare the heart, come expecting God, and let the renewed access shape both private prayer and public witness.

Key Takeaways

1. Veil torn opens direct access The curtain’s rupture symbolizes the end of mediated, momentary access and the beginning of continuous fellowship with God. The tabernacle veil once marked an absolute separation that demanded ritual performance; its tearing means the barrier stood down because the required atonement has been accomplished. This change reframes every approach to prayer as entry, not petition for permission, and calls believers to receive the boldness to draw near. [14:11]
2. Jesus serves as sympathetic high priest Jesus combined full humanity with divine priesthood, so his intercession rests on real empathy, not mere authority. Temptation, grief, betrayal, and moral testing shaped a priest who truly understands human weakness and stands ready to intercede. That empathy reframes suffering as a place to bring honest prayer rather than hidden shame. [20:26]
3. Daily personal access to God Atonement moved from an annual ritual to an everyday reality, permitting spontaneous, continual communion with God. Prayer becomes a constant resource for discernment, consolation, and transformation throughout ordinary routines, not a task reserved for special moments. This daily access invites persistent dependence and honest questioning as part of faithful growth. [27:21]
4. Gathering fuels mission and growth Corporate assembly stitches private faith into a resilient, outward-moving community that trains, encourages, and multiplies disciples. Shared worship and mutual accountability prepare believers to carry gospel hope into relationships where listening and presence matter more than argument. The gathered body becomes the launching pad for sustainable, relational evangelism. [35:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Scripture reading: Luke 23:44-46
[01:07] - Opening prayer
[01:37] - Celebrating Easter week
[03:25] - Defining the gospel
[04:20] - Why Jesus had to die
[07:42] - The veil torn at the cross
[08:33] - Exodus and the tabernacle veil
[14:11] - Veil fulfilled in Christ
[20:26] - Jesus as sympathetic high priest
[24:59] - Access by Jesus' blood
[28:08] - Corporate worship's purpose
[39:20] - The early church model
[48:31] - Prepare your heart for worship
[49:12] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Luke 23:44-46 (ESV)
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Observation Questions

What specific event occurred at the moment of Jesus’ death, and what was its symbolic significance? ([07:42])
According to Exodus 26:31-33, what was the purpose of the veil in the tabernacle, and how did it restrict access to God’s presence?
How does Hebrews 4:14-16 describe Jesus’ role as high priest, and what qualifies Him to intercede for us?
What practical warning does Hebrews 10:24-25 give about gathering with other believers, and why is it emphasized? ([28:59])

Interpretation Questions

Why did the tearing of the temple veil mark a decisive shift in humanity’s relationship with God? How does this connect to the idea of “boldness” in prayer?
Jesus experienced temptation, grief, and betrayal. How does His humanity shape His ability to sympathize with our struggles, and why does this matter for daily faith? ([23:29])
The sermon contrasts “annual ritual” with “daily access.” What does this imply about the nature of prayer and worship after the crucifixion?
How does corporate worship strengthen both individual discipleship and communal mission? What risks arise if believers neglect gathering? ([34:03])

Application Questions

The veil’s tearing means believers can approach God “with confidence” at any time. How might your prayer life change if you fully embraced this truth? What practical step could you take this week to lean into this access?
Jesus understands human weakness. What current struggle or temptation do you need to bring to Him honestly, rather than hiding in shame? How can you remind yourself of His empathy in moments of doubt? ([22:11])
The sermon warns against treating livestream worship as a substitute for gathering. How can you prioritize in-person fellowship even when it’s inconvenient? What distractions or excuses do you need to confront? ([34:31])
Corporate worship is meant to “stitch private faith into a resilient community.” How can you intentionally encourage one person this week through listening, prayer, or sharing your own story of God’s faithfulness?
Relational evangelism requires “listening and presence more than argument.” Who in your life needs you to walk alongside them in their struggles first, rather than immediately preaching? How can you create space for that relationship to grow? ([42:18])
The early church saw growth as they shared life and worship together. What habit or practice could your small group adopt to better reflect this model of mutual support and mission?
Preparing your heart before worship is described as essential. What specific action (e.g., prayer, reflection, repentance) will you take before the next gathering to “come expecting God” to move? ([48:31])

Sermon Clips

But his resurrection gave us the victory over death. Yes. You have to have Sunday morning as well as Friday night. You have to have both. And so we get to celebrate that every year for Easter. But see, it doesn't just happen at Easter. Every Sunday should be Easter Sunday. Amen? We should be able to celebrate that. That's great news. That's the good news of the gospel. Jesus paid the debt that we couldn't afford, and now we have that access to the father. [00:06:24] (40 seconds) #EverySundayIsEaster

Again, it was one day out of the entire year that anybody could walk back there and it could only be the high priest. So when Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom. When he paid the debt that separated us, he fulfilled what needed to be done that they celebrated on that one day of atonement. He became the atonement once and for all so that we no longer have to have a high priest on one day of the year to do all the sacrifices so that he could go on our behalf to the holy of holies. [00:13:50] (57 seconds) #VeilTornAccess

So by Jesus paying the debt and becoming our high priest, We now have a high priest who understands what we go through because while Jesus was here on his earthly ministry, he was tempted as we were. Y'all remember the story about him going into the wilderness and being tempted for forty days? Satan came to him three different times and tried to, you know, get him to sin and he quoted scripture to him and got him to back off. So by doing that, he understands what we go through on a daily basis. He understands what it means to be tempted. [00:20:56] (55 seconds) #JesusUnderstandsUs

Instead of asking him why in a negative sense, ask him why in a positive sense. I'm not saying not to question God. We should always question God. If you don't think we should question God, you should tear your psalms out of your book. Psalm the writer of psalms was always questioning God if you read it. So we should ask god, lord, why am I going through this? Teach me what it is that you want me to learn of why I'm going through this. [00:33:14] (33 seconds) #QuestionGodWithFaith

Because as we go through the week with our own lives, with the holy spirit living in us and we are now the temple, we now have access to the father. We now can go and have church anytime we want to. We have to know that we cannot forsake the assembling of one another. Chapter 10 goes to now the corporate worship. It's a culmination of the week. [00:28:32] (37 seconds) #WeAreTheTemple

It puts a whole new perspective on what he said when he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the father except through me. Jesus was the veil. The veil was torn. We now have access to the father through Christ. And so we have that hope that we can go and share with the world. Hey. Just as I experienced it, I want you to experience it. [00:44:18] (25 seconds) #AccessThroughChrist

When we accept Christ into our lives, the holy spirit comes and indwells in us like he did the temple. Just as Jesus came and sat on the mercy seat in the holy of holies, that holy of holies now lives in us. The holy spirit comes and sits in our lives on the mercy seat of our hearts, and he sits there with our lives daily, and we get to go to him daily, and we get to worship him daily. And as we go through things in life and as we come through certain experiences, we get to say, god, thank you for allowing me to go through this. Thank you for allowing me to worship you. Thank you for allowing me to wake up this morning. [00:31:24] (44 seconds) #HolySpiritWithin

See, that's what he's calling us to do. He's calling us, hey. I've already given you the access. You don't have to wait to come to me. If you go through anything in life, come to me, and I'm gonna be with you. And as I go with you, now go into the community. You see, by giving us the access, he is with us at all times. He's with us everywhere we go. As we go, as he's commanded us in the book of Matthew with the great commission, he's told us that as you go, low, I will be with you always. So he's not gonna forsake us. He's not gonna tell us, okay, go and let me know how it goes. [00:37:08] (48 seconds) #GodGoesWithUs

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Come into His Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Torn Veil, Unbroken Access

Day 2: Bells Without Ropes

Day 3: Midnight in the Garden

Day 4: The Table Set for Strangers

Day 5: The Road That Became Home

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Come into His Presence

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