Hebrews 4:15,16, ‘For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’.
We see in this chapter, some warnings as well as some comforting words.
The warning we see in V11, ‘Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience’.
The Word we need to take heed is, V14, ‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession’.
Let us be diligent and hold fast our confession!
In an illustration where, ‘a man scaling a mountain, using a harness or ropes, which are anchored on the mountain’ – the mountain/rock is the Lord Jesus Christ on whom we depend completely with the help of the ropes/harness, which is symbolic to the promises of God, for our survival. The promises of God are very valuable and precious, in our lives! Let us hold fast our confession! Hold on tight to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot hold on to something which is uncomfortable! Are we comfortable with Jesus? Are we holding on to Him?
‘Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’
Here we see that the Word does not say, ‘we receive mercy and grace’ but when we come near with confidence to the throne of grace, we may receive mercy and find grace, to help in time of need.
In an illustration, where ‘a man is climbing a mountain, as he goes up, he is not able to get a grip and he fell down, an ambulance came immediately and took him for free – This is Mercy! Grace is – when we are climbing a mountain, as we head to the peaks, when we miss the grip, we can cry out to God, who is on the top of the mountain, for help! – This is receiving the real grace!
Peter also found the real grace, in Matthew 14:28-31, ‘Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him,’
This is true many times in our lives too! Many times, we try to climb this mountain with our own strength and fall down when we do not get a grip, we do not cry out for help in the beginning! But still, after when we cry out to God, He will forgive us, shows us His mercy. – This is only the second best! God is seeking the first best for our lives! Cry out to God for grace! Like Peter, seek to walk on the water and come toward Jesus, when he saw the winds, he cried out to Jesus, ‘Lord save me!’ Let us also cry out to God as the Bible says, ‘For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin’
Jesus is our example. In His limited life here, He lived just like us, tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin! Let us hold fast our confession, hold on tight to Jesus. Let us get rid of things which do not allow us to hold on tight to Jesus like – ‘our unbelief! Our faithlessness! Not trusting Him with our lives!’ Let us cry out to God, in the time of need and we can thus find grace, which is enough to overcome all temptations and have victory over them!
James 4:6 – 7,’ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you’.
To receive grace, we need to be humble, cry out to God. He is the Sovereign God. His promises are true. If we are diligent to God’s call, this High Priest who had passed over the heavens, who lived on Earth, He understands us so well, He is able to carry us through and we will be able to find grace, in the time of our need!
Romans 6:14, ‘For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace’
As we receive grace, we will have the power to overcome sin. We need to remain humble and submit to God and cry out for His help. He will give us grace in abundance.
2 Corinthians 8:9, ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.’
We have the richness in Christ, who became poor to save us! He gave us privileges, power and richness in Him. He is waiting for us on the top of the mountain, waiting for our cry, to help.
2 Corinthians 12:8,9, ‘Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me’
When we become weak, He becomes strong!
V10, ‘Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong’.
The Lord is seeking the remnant of the people in these last days, who have faith and who are not disobedient! We need to be diligent to enter into that rest, as the Bible says. We can cry out to God when we lose grip and fall, but this is not the best, receiving grace to overcome sin and have victory, is what God wants from us!
Hebrews 10:38-39, ‘But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
We need to walk by faith! Preserving our souls! God is eagerly waiting for us to become weak, so He can become strong! When we are humble, we can receive Grace. It is this grace that can help us to overcome sin and be victorious. Let us always hold on tight to God and keep drawing close to Him. Let us also be diligent in removing anything which is hindering us to reach out and receive grace from Him.
Praise God.
