The Privilege of Prayer
Scripture: Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
It is a privilege that God asks us to come into His presence through prayer, and that we can speak to Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. It is more important what God says to us than what we say to Him. What should be our approach as we enter into the Throne of God (the most holy place)? Under the Old Covenant in Leviticus 16, the high priest was to enter the most holy place (the temple) once a year to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation. Just like the high priest of the Old Covenant, Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest under the New Covenant –who resurrected into Heaven. He sits on the right hand of the Father interceding for us – as God’s representative for us. Jesus has more authority than the Jewish priests, because Jesus is truly God and truly man. (Hebrews 1:8 -Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.) (Colossians 1:15 -He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.) (Philippians 2:5-9 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,) Jesus is the perfect Great High Priest who is without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.) That’s why Christ is always at the right of the Throne of God interceding for us. (Hebrews 12:2 - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.) He is always available to hear us when we pray, and as a believer in Christ I approach the throne of God bowing down in holy reverence of who He is. He is my Great High Priest, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I come humbly but yet with boldness (confidence with full assurance) – that there will be grace and mercy waiting in the throne room for me -- to meet not just some of my needs but all of my needs. The good news is whatever our needs may be -- spiritually, physically, or emotionally, it will never exhaust our Lord God’s supply of grace and mercy. If I fail, I cry out for His forgiveness with a broken heart. If I am hurting, I cry out for His healing power. Oh yes, He is my healer (Jehovah Rapha). If there is confusion or disappointment, I cry out for to Him for He is my peace (Jehovah Shalom). Since He is my provider (Jehovah Jireh), I know that He will take good care of me forever!
Prayer: Father, it is a privilege to come to You in prayer knowing that You are there with open arms for me. Sometimes I don’t know how to pray as I should. Thank you for interceding for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(by Pastor Robert Williams)
It is a privilege that God asks us to come into His presence through prayer, and that we can speak to Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. It is more important what God says to us than what we say to Him. What should be our approach as we enter into the Throne of God (the most holy place)? Under the Old Covenant in Leviticus 16, the high priest was to enter the most holy place (the temple) once a year to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation. Just like the high priest of the Old Covenant, Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest under the New Covenant –who resurrected into Heaven. He sits on the right hand of the Father interceding for us – as God’s representative for us. Jesus has more authority than the Jewish priests, because Jesus is truly God and truly man. (Hebrews 1:8 -Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.) (Colossians 1:15 -He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.) (Philippians 2:5-9 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,) Jesus is the perfect Great High Priest who is without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.) That’s why Christ is always at the right of the Throne of God interceding for us. (Hebrews 12:2 - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.) He is always available to hear us when we pray, and as a believer in Christ I approach the throne of God bowing down in holy reverence of who He is. He is my Great High Priest, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I come humbly but yet with boldness (confidence with full assurance) – that there will be grace and mercy waiting in the throne room for me -- to meet not just some of my needs but all of my needs. The good news is whatever our needs may be -- spiritually, physically, or emotionally, it will never exhaust our Lord God’s supply of grace and mercy. If I fail, I cry out for His forgiveness with a broken heart. If I am hurting, I cry out for His healing power. Oh yes, He is my healer (Jehovah Rapha). If there is confusion or disappointment, I cry out for to Him for He is my peace (Jehovah Shalom). Since He is my provider (Jehovah Jireh), I know that He will take good care of me forever!
Prayer: Father, it is a privilege to come to You in prayer knowing that You are there with open arms for me. Sometimes I don’t know how to pray as I should. Thank you for interceding for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(by Pastor Robert Williams)
1 Comment
Yes, I totally agree that it is more important to focus on what God says, listen & wait on Him. In addition to this, for myself...since only God knows my whole story, I can also ask God to help me to make it more of a two-way communication concerning those issues of my own heart as well.