Finding GOD’S throne of Grace: series Hebrews 4:16
Finding GOD’S throne of Grace: series Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then come boldly (confidently) to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16
Context is Heb. 3 the example of OT Israel that saw all the miracles of GOD yet died in the wilderness short of the promised land that GOD gave them.
Ill. Journal 5-4-23. Pouring out from GOD’S Throne like stairs is waves and waves of mercy to great you.
HE alone understands you and your struggles. JESUS is so kind and sympathetic High Priest that HE sends out waves of mercy to great you. Like the prodigal son the very moment you decide to return to the FATHER you look down and waves of mercy are already washing your feet like waves rolling upon the shore at the beach.
Context of this throne is Chapter 3-4 of Hebrews, which is a warning to us who have been given the promises of entering GOD’S rest – that we should fear we come short of it.
“Therefore, since the promise of entering HIS rest remains, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it.” Heb. 4:1
- All through Bible GOD tells us to fear not.
- Only here HE tells us to fear one thing.
“We who have believed have entered this rest.” Heb. 4:3
- This is salvation rest we are born again
“Those who first heard of the good news of deliverance failed to enter faith’s rest because of their unbelieving hearts. Yet we still have the opportunity to enter the promise of the faith rest life. There still remains another special sabbath type rest for the people of GOD.” Hebrews 4:6,9 TPT
Salvation rest – when you are born again.
Spirit- led rest – when GOD is enthroned above all and your life is marked by surrender, submission, sacrifice to HIM.
NOTE: the people of GOD have salvation rest but there remains a special rest for us to obtain.
Ill. This is what I have been looking for all my life. After I got saved I had peace with GOD and salvation rest. But I knew there was more to this life than just knowing you are going to heaven when you die.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
We are perplexed, but not in despair.
Persecuted, but not forsaken,
Cast down, but not destroyed. . . for our light affliction, which lasts but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things seen, but at the things not seen.” 2 Cor. 4:8,9, 17-18.
“Shaken but not stirred.” Quote from OO7
See Hebrews 4:16 from the Passion translation Bible:
“So now we come freely and boldly to where LOVE is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and find grace we urgently need to help us in our time of weakness.” Heb. 4:16 TPT
How do you know you are at GOD’S throne of grace?
1. You are surprised to find waves of mercy washing your feet, washing away guilt, condemnation, shame, regret from you so you can begin to see GOD clearly.
2. You spontaneously begin to worship and enthrone GOD because you finally see Him as HE really is.
3. You are empowered by grace to do anything HE says regardless of the cost or humiliation to you.
You find grace to reconcile with someone.
You find grace to let go of things GOD tells you.
Grace to start moving in the direction HE tells you.
Bring GOD your crushing burdens and find sustaining grace.
“Cast your burdens to the LORD and measureless grace
will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22
Cast = to throw, fling off, hurl.
First use is Gen. 21:15
3 examples of people finding the throne of grace:
1. Hagar and Ishmael – ill. Set up the story.
They wandered in the wilderness. When their water was gone she cast the child under one of the shrubs. She went a little farther and said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the child.” and lifted up her voice and wept. And GOD heard the boy’s voice. Gen. 21:15
Then the angel of GOD said to Hagar, “What is the matter with you Hagar? Don’t be afraid, GOD has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Pick up the boy for I will make a great nation of him.” THEN GOD opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. Gen. 21:17-19
2. Rich young ruler – he didn’t find grace – LOVE was not enthroned, no surrender, submission, or sacrifice.
3. Zacchaeus – lived a self-dominating life. But when he enthroned LOVE he repented and voluntarily made things right with others.
See Luke 19:8.
Most people today don’t seem to quickly humble themselves and be star struck with JESUS as Zacchaeus was.
It seems that most today have to get to the point of breaking before they will humble themselves to come to the throne of grace. So GOD waits for us to learn - that trying to live our lives without HIM will cause our burdens to eventually crush us.
Concl:
The Throne of grace is available to everyone – it is invisible.
- Faith is necessary to get to the throne of grace.
- Humility is the approach to the throne of grace.
- Mercy is freely given at the throne of grace.
- Grace must be found – the ability from GOD.
- Rest will be entered – step into it.