Bold to the Throne

Depending on the type of help needed, there is a place to go where those who qualify can obtain it. There is a garage for car owners, a chiropractor for those with joint issues, and a bank for those needing to secure finances. As long as you’re in need of help and possess an object of their specialty, you can have tremendous confidence in resolving your problem. The only inhibiting factor would be not going to them and experiencing the effects of their presence.

Though not one of the most engaging subjects of the Bible, the most significant amount of space is given to the construction of the Tabernacle for the presence of God’s glory. It is where the Holy of Holies dwelt among the people, providing help in the cleansing from sin’s curse. It is where the people went to find grace and mercy from sin’s punishment by offering a perfect lamb as a sacrifice. However, accessing this glory of God required a priest who knew the critical movements that would make this possible and was carefully prepared to go there. Failure to comply with the way God provided for accessing His presence could have dire consequences. There was goodness and mercy in His presence, but there was also a holy fire that would consume all that wasn’t His.

In Christ, we’ve been given access to everything beyond a veil that had limited who could go into the Holy of Holies. At the moment of His death, He took on all the sins that could separate us from God’s love while tearing that veil in two. Mercy for our sins and overwhelming grace in His presence to display God’s goodness were provided. He has made it available. Now, it’s up to us to boldly access His presence as His new and living Tabernacle, not made with hands.

Notes

We are the new Tabernacle for Him to dwell in.

Hebrews 10:16-23 (NLT) 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Old vs New

• Earthly priest/Priest forever – Our mediator/connection
• Blood of perfect lamb/Blood of Jesus – receive mercy from curse and enabled blessing
• Washing of purification(natural)/Clothed in righteousness (H.S. renewal of all)– God’s way to His presence

Jesus is our understanding Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Confidence in His Promise and Oath as our Priest

Hebrews 6:18-20 (TLB) 18 He has given us both his promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that he will give them the salvation he has promised them. 19 This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, 20 where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from his position as our High Priest, with the honor and rank of Melchizedek.

A heart truly clothed = heart full of confidence in coming/bold

1 John 3:18-24 (NKJV) 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

The temple of God vs the temple of the world

James 4:4-8 (TPT) 4 You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy! 5 Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us”? 6 But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” 7 So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you. 8 Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.