Overcoming Prayer Challenges Through Christ's Sacrifice

 

Summary

In the epistle to the Hebrews, we find a profound message about the nature of prayer and the challenges that accompany it. The recipients of this letter were Jewish Christians who, due to persecution and hardship, were experiencing discouragement and were tempted to revert to their old religious practices. This struggle affected their entire lives, particularly their prayer life. Prayer, as emphasized throughout the Bible, is essential for a Christian's spiritual vitality. However, it is not as simple as some might suggest. True prayer involves entering into the presence of God, which is a profound and solemn act.

The first challenge in prayer is recognizing that it means entering the holiest of all, the very presence of God. This is not a casual act but a sacred one, akin to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies. The second challenge is dealing with an evil conscience. When we come before God, our conscience often accuses us, reminding us of our sins and unworthiness. The third challenge is the sense of uncleanness, the pollution of sin that makes us feel unworthy to stand before a holy God.

These challenges can only be overcome through Jesus Christ, who provides a new and living way to God. This way is not through the old temple rituals but through the sacrifice of Christ, who is both the foundation and the opening of this path. His blood cleanses us, and His righteousness clothes us, allowing us to approach God with boldness and assurance. This new way is living because Christ, our high priest, lives forever to intercede for us. It is only through Him that we can truly pray, overcoming the accusations of conscience, the pollution of sin, and even the attacks of the devil.

Key Takeaways:

- Entering God's Presence: Prayer is not merely uttering words but entering the presence of the living God. This requires reverence and an understanding of the holiness of God, which makes prayer a profound and solemn act. [11:16]

- Dealing with Conscience: An accusing conscience can hinder prayer. We must address our guilt and unworthiness by relying on the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us and allows us to stand before God. [15:38]

- Overcoming Sin's Pollution: Beyond guilt, the pollution of sin makes us feel unclean. Through Christ's righteousness and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified and made fit to approach God. [18:12]

- The New and Living Way: Jesus Christ provides a new and living way to God, distinct from the old temple rituals. His sacrifice opens the path to God, allowing us to pray with confidence and assurance. [26:11]

- Victory Over the Devil: The devil accuses and condemns, but we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. Our confidence in prayer comes from Christ's victory, not our own righteousness. [37:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Hebrews 10
- [01:01] - The Struggles of the Hebrew Christians
- [02:27] - The Importance of Prayer
- [03:54] - Misconceptions About Prayer
- [05:27] - The Complexity of True Prayer
- [07:21] - Entering the Presence of God
- [09:24] - The Holiest of All
- [11:16] - The Nature of Prayer
- [13:15] - The Problem of Conscience
- [15:38] - Addressing an Evil Conscience
- [17:56] - The Pollution of Sin
- [22:11] - The New and Living Way
- [26:11] - Jesus as the Foundation
- [30:17] - The Role of Christ's Sacrifice
- [37:36] - Overcoming the Devil
- [40:30] - Assurance in Christ

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 10:19-22
- Psalm 51:1-4
- Revelation 12:11

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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 10:19-22, what enables believers to enter the "holiest" with boldness? How is this different from the old temple rituals? [00:27]
2. In the sermon, what are the three main challenges mentioned that believers face when approaching God in prayer? [07:21]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus Christ in overcoming the accusations of conscience and the pollution of sin? [22:11]
4. What is the significance of the "new and living way" mentioned in the sermon, and how does it relate to the believer's prayer life? [26:11]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of entering the "holiest" in prayer challenge the common perception of prayer as a simple act? What does this imply about the nature of prayer? [11:16]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that an accusing conscience can hinder one's prayer life, and how can believers address this issue? [15:38]
3. The sermon mentions the pollution of sin as a barrier to prayer. How does the righteousness of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit help believers overcome this barrier? [18:12]
4. How does the sermon explain the believer's victory over the devil in the context of prayer, and what role does the blood of Christ play in this victory? [37:36]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. Do you approach prayer with the reverence and understanding of entering God's presence as described in the sermon? How might this perspective change your approach to prayer? [11:16]
2. Have you ever experienced an accusing conscience that made it difficult to pray? How did you address it, and what steps can you take to rely more on the cleansing power of Jesus' blood? [15:38]
3. Consider a time when you felt unworthy to approach God due to the pollution of sin. How can you remind yourself of Christ's righteousness and the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in those moments? [18:12]
4. The sermon emphasizes the "new and living way" through Jesus Christ. How can you ensure that your prayer life is rooted in this new way rather than old rituals or habits? [26:11]
5. In what ways can you actively resist the devil's accusations in your life, using the truth of Christ's victory as your defense? How can this strengthen your confidence in prayer? [37:36]
6. How can you cultivate a "true heart" in your prayer life, ensuring honesty and sincerity before God? What practical steps can you take to align your heart with God's truth? [22:39]
7. Reflect on the role of Jesus as your high priest. How does this understanding impact your confidence and assurance in approaching God in prayer? [28:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Entering the Sacred Presence of God
Prayer is not merely uttering words but entering the presence of the living God. This requires reverence and an understanding of the holiness of God, which makes prayer a profound and solemn act. When we pray, we are stepping into the holiest of all, akin to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies. This is not a casual act but a sacred one, demanding our utmost respect and awareness of God's majesty. Recognizing this transforms our prayer life from a routine task into a meaningful encounter with the divine. [11:16]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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."

Reflection: When you pray today, how can you intentionally prepare your heart and mind to enter into God's holy presence with reverence and awe?


Day 2: Confronting the Accusing Conscience
An accusing conscience can hinder prayer. We must address our guilt and unworthiness by relying on the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us and allows us to stand before God. Often, when we come before God, our conscience accuses us, reminding us of our sins and unworthiness. This can create a barrier in our prayer life, making us hesitant to approach God. However, through Jesus' sacrifice, our conscience is cleansed, and we are made worthy to stand before Him. This assurance allows us to pray with confidence, knowing that our sins are forgiven. [15:38]

1 John 3:19-21 (ESV): "By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 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: Is there a specific sin or guilt that your conscience keeps bringing up? How can you bring this to Jesus today and trust in His cleansing power?


Day 3: Overcoming the Pollution of Sin
Beyond guilt, the pollution of sin makes us feel unclean. Through Christ's righteousness and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified and made fit to approach God. Sin not only brings guilt but also a sense of uncleanness, making us feel unworthy to stand before a holy God. This feeling can be overwhelming, but through Christ's righteousness, we are clothed in purity. The Holy Spirit works within us, sanctifying us and making us fit to approach God with confidence. This transformation is essential for a vibrant prayer life. [18:12]

Titus 3:4-6 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: In what ways do you feel unclean or unworthy before God? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to renew and sanctify you today?


Day 4: Embracing the New and Living Way
Jesus Christ provides a new and living way to God, distinct from the old temple rituals. His sacrifice opens the path to God, allowing us to pray with confidence and assurance. Unlike the old covenant, which relied on temple rituals and sacrifices, Jesus offers a new way to approach God. His sacrifice on the cross tore the veil, granting us direct access to the Father. This new way is living because Christ, our high priest, lives forever to intercede for us. Embracing this path transforms our prayer life, filling it with confidence and assurance. [26:11]

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 does understanding Jesus as your eternal high priest change the way you approach prayer? What steps can you take to embrace this new and living way today?


Day 5: Victory Over the Devil's Accusations
The devil accuses and condemns, but we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. Our confidence in prayer comes from Christ's victory, not our own righteousness. The devil seeks to accuse and condemn us, creating doubt and fear in our hearts. However, through the blood of Jesus, we have victory over these accusations. Our confidence in prayer is not based on our righteousness but on Christ's triumph over sin and death. This victory empowers us to pray boldly, knowing that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. [37:36]

Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.'"

Reflection: What accusations or doubts does the devil use to hinder your prayer life? How can you stand firm in Christ's victory and pray with boldness today?

Quotes


Prayer means entering into the presence of God. You notice how he puts it: having therefore, Brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest. Now that's his way of describing prayer. Prayer, say, means entering into the holiest or the holiest of all. [00:07:36]

Prayer isn't just getting on your knees and uttering a number of words or offering up a few pious hopes and aspirations. No, no, prayer means entering into the holiest of all, going into the presence of the Living God who is eternal in all his qualities and attributes. [00:11:19]

When one really enters into the presence of God and realizes what one is doing, immediately one's conscience begins to speak, and the conscience condemns us. We've all known this, haven't we? We've known what it is to feel this even in the presence of some very good and saintly human being. [00:14:00]

There's something worse, you know, even than the guilt of sin, and that is the pollution of sin, the sense that one is utterly unclean. And of course, the more one realizes the presence of God, the more one is bound to realize this. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. [00:18:12]

The new and the living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God. What is this? Well, you see, this is the thing these Hebrews have been forgetting. It's all in Jesus Christ. [00:26:11]

It's not only a new way; it's a living way. And why do you want to go back, he says, to the old dead way, whereas there is this living way? And anybody who wants to go back to an earthly priesthood and a number of earthly priests and popes and all these intermediaries, it's a denial of the Christian Gospel. [00:29:57]

The only foundation that enables me to travel along the road to go to God is the person of the God-man. No man could ever make a foundation for this way. You need more; you need the God-man, reinforced concrete. And what happened at the Incarnation is that human nature has been reinforced by the Godhead and the Divine. [00:31:18]

Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He's come into the world in the likeness of sinful flesh. That doesn't save us. He bears our sins in his own body on the tree. [00:33:13]

Prayer means entering into the presence of God. How can I be sure that even this way admits me to the presence of God? The answer is quite simple: it is God's own way. It's God who suspended. God is the architect of this new and living way. [00:34:27]

You can't answer an accusing conscience except by the blood of Jesus Christ. Then what of this pollution? And you see, there's only one answer: I am immediately clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He puts it upon me. Not only that, he puts his Spirit in me. [00:36:29]

There's only one way to answer the devil, and it's the way we are told about in Revelations 12: they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. He can't answer that. Let the devil say everything he can; there's only one thing to say to him. [00:37:36]

All your difficulties are solved by the new and the living way, Jesus Christ, Son of God, and him crucified, body broken, bloodshed. The only way whereby a man can enter into the holiest of all. But with this, you can go with boldness and with assurance, full assurance of faith. [00:39:33]

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