I want to think as the Lord helps
and meditate on this last verse in this chapter that we read,
Hebrews 4, chapter 16. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. We've sung at the beginning of
the greatness of God, and as I mentioned, Hebrews begins so
much of the greatness of God. Speaks in Hebrews 1 verse 3,
who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of
his purpose, person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power. The greatness of God. And yet,
the wonder of wonders is this. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace. We do not come boldly to the
throne of grace because Christ is not so great, because he is
not so special and therefore we can come with boldness. No,
the Hebrews, the epistle to the Hebrews is exhorting Christ to
the highest possible level. that he is everything. So isn't
it a wonder that we are told to come boldly to this place? You think, well, if this person
is so great, And we've also read in the chapter that we read,
we've talked in chapter 12, sorry, verse 12, it says, for the word
of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. We're coming to a God that knows
everything. We're coming to a God that is
extremely holy extremely great and he knows everything about
the one that's coming to him. Surely that naturally would fill
us with fear, he would see right through us, he would realise
that we're sinful and we would try and hide from him like Adam
did in the garden. But you see this is the wonder
what is being spoken of in this epistle. Yes, it's true that
God is great. Yes, it's true that God sees
everything. He sees the thoughts and intents
of the heart. Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and
open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to be. We cannot
deceive God. We're sinners, and he sees it
through and through. He sees that we're sinners. How
do we then come boldly? How do we come boldly when we're
sinners and he is everything that is holy? Well, you see,
we have this mediator. Seeing then that we have a great
high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God. You see, we have one, though
he is so great and exalted, and the epistle to the Hebrews cannot
exalt him high enough. He says he's better than angels,
he's better than all the Old Testament prophets. He's the
truly great one. And yet that truly great one
is one that is touched. We read in verse 15, but we have
not an high priest. Though he's so great, which cannot
be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. So you might think if you're
coming to one that knows everything, that sees you through and through,
that might be a fearful thing, that might want you to run away. But you see, just as a really good doctor
understands the true depths of the malady of the person, the
patient that's in front of them, and they understand all the malady,
and their understanding of it isn't to condemn that person,
it's to do that person good. It's to help them. It's to deal
with their problem. That's a good surgeon, isn't
it? To understand the malady through and through. And yet,
not to condemn, but to show mercy. And you see, that is what we
have in verse 16. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, not because we're sinless, not because
God is not so great, but because we are sinners, and because he
is so great, and yet he understands all the malady in our hearts. You see, we've read, he is the
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He knows
everything. Nothing can we hide from him. You see, the Pharisee prayed
in the temple, and he prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee that I'm not like other men. You see, he came with a
certain level of boldness, but not to obtain mercy, did he?
He didn't need mercy in his own estimation. But you see here,
we're exhorted, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy. That's the purpose. Not that
we may flout ourselves before this Great One and show our greatness.
No, He sees us through and through that we're sinners and comes
sure to the glory of God that sin is mixed with all that we
do. But this is a wonder of wonders, isn't it? Let us come boldly.
This is the exaltation. And as we have this prayer meeting
tonight, let us Come, therefore, come boldly, not because we're
self-righteous, not because we have anything to boast of in
and of ourselves, but that we may obtain mercy. That's the purpose. Mercy. And find grace to help in time
of need. This one who is seated on that
position of authority and power and excellence, understands all
the malady, all the things that we're passing through, and therefore
we're to come to him, as it were, to unbosom all our cares to him. He knows it. He understands. You see, if you talk to somebody
and they've been through it, they empathize with you. Christ
empathizes with his people. He understands. And that is what
we're to do. We're to come boldly unto the
throne of grace, not arrogantly, not self-confidently, but boldly
in the sense that this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. This man, though he's so high
and exalted, he loves his church. and he is put in that position,
he is ever liveth to make intercession for them. He loves them, he seeks
to deal with all their maladies, and therefore his omniscience,
his knowing everything about us, rather than make us run away
from him, we're to come to him as that good physician, the one
that can deal with our greatest malady, a malady of sin. Well,
may we then, as we gather at this prayer meeting, let us come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, undeserved
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. May the Lord
add his blessing.