Dare to Draw Near: The Power of Prayer

1. Hebrews 10:19-22 19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

2. Hebrews 10:19-22 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,

3. Hebrews 10:19-22 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

4. Dare To Draw Near Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 3/4/2018

6. “Somehow, the simple act of prayer links a sovereign God to a finite man. When man prays, God responds. Difficult situations change. Unexplained miracles occur.”

7. “In prayer you align yourselves to the purpose and power of God and He is able to do things through you that He couldn’t do otherwise. For this is an open universe, where some things are left open, contingent upon our doing them. If we do not do them, they will never be done, for God has left certain things open to prayer – things which will never be done except as we pray”

8. “Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.”

9. “Prayer has obtained things that seemed impossible and out of reach. It has won victories over fire, air, earth, and water. Prayer opened the Red Sea. Prayer brought water from the rock and bread from heaven. Prayer made the sun stand still. Prayer brought fire from the sky on Elijah’s sacrifice. Prayer has overthrown armies. Prayer has healed the sick. Prayer has raised the dead. Prayer has procured the conversion of countless souls.”

10. “Indeed, God has said nothing lies beyond the potential of prayer. Beloved, let us ask with new confidence… Lord, teach us to pray!”

11. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with [the] women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.(Acts 1:14) The first thing the disciples did after Jesus ascended was to _________.

12. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with [the] women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.(Acts 1:14) The first thing the disciples did after Jesus ascended was to PRAY.

13. THE FIRST COVENANT Hebrew 9:1-7 1Now even the first [covenant] had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which [were] the lampstand and

14. the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5and above it [were] the cherubim of glory

15. overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7but into the second, only the high priest [enters] once a year, not without [taking] blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

16. The tabernacle

17. SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

18. Hebrews 9:11-15But when Christ appeared [as] a high priest of the good things to come, [He entered] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; The new covenant

19. and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself

20. without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were [committed] under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

21. The veil in the temple was torn The cross replaced the altar No need for the candlestick or table for bread Jesus replaced the altar of incense When Jesus died

22. Before Christ died, His disciples knew nothing of the great privilege they would soon experience. No ordinary Jew would consider entering into either the holy place of the most holy place in the temple. His sacrifice was “once and for all”! (Hebrews 7:27)

23. THAT’S ONE REASON WHY THE APOSTLES WERE SO INTERESTED IN CHRIST’S PRAYER LIFE AND WHY THEY ASKED HIM TO TEACH THEM TO PRAY.

24. A New testament illustration

25. Luke 1:5-10 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren,

26. and they were both advanced in years. 8Now it happened [that] while he was performing his priestly service before God in the [appointed] order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

27. 1 among nearly 18,000 Chosen by lot Zachariah’s privilege

28. We can enter the most holy place (come into God’s presence) with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) We can draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22) our privilege:

29. 5For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [given] at the proper time.(I Timothy 2:5-6)

30. To enter God’s presence is the greatest privilege known to man

31. 18For you have not come to [a mountain] that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which [sound was such that] those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” (Hebrews 12:18-20)

32. 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of [the] righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than [the blood] of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24)