Sunday Sermon - Let Us Draw Near Hebrews 10:22. Let Us Draw Near. Time: 30 minutes

Transcription

1 Let Us Draw Near Time: 30 minutes The farthest distance in the world, Is not the distance between life and death, But you don t know I love you when I stand in front of you This line was originally written by a Hong Kong writer, and was put onto the BBS in Taiwan. Some university students extends this and it becomes quite a famous poem. The original novel describes a secret admirer who dares not reveal her love to the man she likes. This line fully expresses the feelings of this girl. She wants to get closer, to show him her love, but she doesn t know how. It seems for human beings, the furthest distance is not physical, but metaphysical. We feel loved when a distant lover says he or she misses you, but you really get hurt when someone who you live together gives you a hard time. Christians know that God lives in us, but there are times in our life that God seems to be infinitely far from us. Like rechargeable batteries, when we are broken with the charger, very quickly we drain our energy. I know people love God in this congregation, but in all the small groups I go to this week, I feel some of you have used up your energy. Many people s faces look tired, not like after a 100m run, but more like after a 10km long run. If that is your case, perhaps it is time for us to draw near to God and recharge. But how? In my previous sermon I mentioned there are three things you can do to make you aware of the presence of God. 1. Do what you must to bring yourself consciously into the presence of God (He's always there). 2. Expand your knowledge and concept of God. 3. Identify which spiritual activities and disciplines appeal most to how you are wired. Have you been doing that in the past two weeks? Do you find yourself connecting with God? Or do you still find there is a curtain between you and God, no matter how much you try you still can t get anywhere near God? Do you feel the furthest distance in the world is the distance between the righteous God and a sinful man? Even though we believe Jesus has died for us, our sins are constantly accusing us and push us away from God. Or perhaps the furthest distance in the world is the distance between our head and our heart. While we believe Jesus in our head but we do really take it to our heart cm, could cost us forever. In today s passage the author of Hebrews gives us two important manners we should have in order to draw closer to God we should draw near to God with a true heart, and we should draw near to God in Gary Hsu Page 1 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm

2 full assurance of faith. At the beginning of chapter four, we read NIV Hebrews 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Therefore this drawing near business is not new, it has been carried out for quite a while. The Israelites draw near to worship God by offering the same sacrifices year after year. Try picture this, a Jew brings an unblemished goat to the priests as guilt offerings. But he can only stop outside of the Holy Place. He needs to wait patiently for the priests to come back. And once a year all Israelites are waiting for the High Priest to return from the Most Holy Place. They want to get closer, but they have to wait outside. There is always something blocking their relationship with God. There is always a curtain between God and men. But after the death of Jesus, the curtain is torn, and we can enter the Most Holy Place through Him. If we are already in the sanctuary, why do we need to draw nearer? If the distance between God and man is removed by Jesus, why do we need to draw near? In the Friday group, Kevin talks about a princess who didn t know herself a princess. Later when she found out she tried everything she can to live like a princess. It is similar for us, we are already children of God, but we still need to live like the children of God. When a couple is declared husband and wife, they still need to continue loving each other. We are better than the Israelites, because now we have a choice. We can decide how often we want to sense his presence. Relationship is bidirectional NIV James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Come near to God and he will come near to you. It appears to be conditional, but it is not. This is actually a promise. God is always near, but when we decide to come near to God, we will then realise he is always here. 1. With a true heart NIV Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Gary Hsu Page 2 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm

3 If you want to come near to God, there are two manners in which we can draw nearer to God. The first manner is a true heart, in NIV it is translated as a sincere heart, but the original language it is a true heart, or genuine and real heart. What is a true heart? A true heart is a heart that is not lying. We are good at covering up things. Often we want to show our friends the best of us. If you ever live with a friend, that is how you can find out the truth about him or her. In my high school years, I rented a place with two other friends. At the time we were quite naïve, we thought since we are friends we should all contribute. Therefore when we purchase new electronic appliances we all share the cost. But when we need to move that is the time when good friends start to take advantage of each other. Through time you can really know what type of friends you have. You may lie for a while, but it is much harder to lie as time goes by. If it is hard to lie to a friend who lives with you for three years, how much harder to lie to God who knows you even before you were born? A true heart is a heart that is willing to open up itself for God to see. You may ask, God can see through ou hearts, why do I have to open up myself? Of course God knows our heart. God knows us longer than your parents. God knows us more than your friends, but we often pretend that he doesn t. If you have a true heart you will not pretend anymore. You come to God and say to him, God, this is me. I admit this is who I am. I used to lie to myself, pretending you cannot see. I don t want to lie to you anymore. Please forgive me. Not lying also means being sincere. That is why NIV translates this as a sincere heart. What does it mean to be sincere? When my daughter Esther makes mistakes, I will ask her to say sorry. But you know we are really born sinners, kids like Esther already know how to pretend to say sorry. Sometimes she will say sorry without looking at you. Sometimes she will say sorry while playing with her toys. Sometimes she refuses to say sorry at all. Sometimes she will say sorry with her eyes turning somewhere else. Sometimes she would cry and pretend to be sorry. It is not hard for me to determine whether she is sincere or not, because she is a kid. Therefore I will tell her, daddy would like to hear a real sorry, but a fake one. After several attempts she will then truly say sorry. But if you want to draw near to God, you need a real sorry, because God knows you more than I know Esther. It is easier for us to know if a kid is lying, but it can be really hard when we talk to adults. We Asian people have a problem, especially the older ones, we will not say yes because of politeness. For example, when I visit a young person s place, when they ask me, do you want any drink, I can ask them what do they have, and ask them directly to provide for me. But when you go to an older person s place, they may Gary Hsu Page 3 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm

4 ask, do you want to stay for dinner? You really need wisdom. Sometimes they don t mean it; they only ask out of politeness. If you think they really mean it and stay, you may cause them trouble. Perhaps you wait after they invited you three times, or you can really sense their sincerity, that is the time when you say Yes. Why is it so hard? Because a kid is simpler and easier to reveal real thoughts. But an adult is good at protecting themselves, and they would not show you their true feelings easily. But when you want to draw near to God, you have to remove that invisible mask. Those tricks we play on others will not work with God. To draw near to God, you need a sincere heart. But simply saying to God this is who I am is not enough. A true heart is a heart that is willing for God to change us. NIV Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. The first time I draw near to God was at the church camp in Some of you have heard of the story. That day people sing this song, Jesus loves you. And my tears just simply cannot be stopped. In the same year, I made a promise to God I will drink alcohol anymore. When you first become a Christian do you feel closer to God? But as years gone by, I do find it is harder for God to change me. Like John Gurusamy said in his sermon, I feel there are rooms we do not want God to enter and be our master. A true heart means you allow God to shape you, giving up ownership of your life. In summary, to draw near to God, you need a true heart. It is a heart that is sincere, without lying, and allowing God to transform your heart. 2. In full assurance of faith NIV Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. The other manner in which we draw near to God is in full assurance of faith. What is this full assurance of faith? In context we know this faith is the faith in Jesus, that through him we can have a relationship with God forever. What is the difference of faith and full assurance of faith? In chapter 4 the author of Hebrews begins his main idea that Jesus is the high priest. It didn t finish until chapter 10. Half of the text in this book is describing Jesus role as a high priest and its implication for the Gary Hsu Page 4 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm

5 readers. It shows how important this concept is for Christians. It enables Christians to have deeper knowledge of who Jesus is and how we may be forgiven. In 10:19-25 the author marks the end of this large section, and it doesn t end with lots of practical implications. These practical applications are based on the full knowledge of who Jesus. We have full assurance because of the evidences present in these chapters. When Frances and I got married, Frances still feels quite surreal even after two weeks. She can wake up at the middle of the night wondering if she is really married. But when we receive the wedding video, photo album, the rings we exchanged, the signed certificate, even now Esther and David are part of the evidences we are married. When you unpack the presents, count the red packets, prepare thank you cards, all these are evidences that we are indeed married. In a similar way, our faith is built on many evidences that give us full assurance. I will argue everything in between chapters four and ten are part of this full assurance of faith. In chapter 5, Jesus the high priest is also the Son of God. In chapter 6, God swore by himself to give us this promise. In chapter 7, Jesus is the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, Jesus the high priest is superior to all the other priests. He lives forever to pray for us. In chapter 8, the covenant Jesus made is better than the old covenant. In chapter 9 Jesus enters a better sanctuary, and his blood is better than the blood of the animals. In chapter 10 he sacrifice for sins once for all. Furthermore, the prophets prophesized about him for more than a thousand years. In verses 22 it says, our hearts are sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Our hearts and our bodies, internally and externally, provide us evidences that the salvation of Jesus is real. All these give us full assurance, which enables us to draw near to God. One of the difficulties for the bible study leaders is the repetitions in the book of Hebrews. Even though there are differences between chapters, ultimately it is talking about the same thing, the superiority of Jesus over the old system. But repetitions are really important, that is how we can have this full assurance. We are all very forgetful. 95% of the sermon will be forgotten within the first 72 hours. Therefore to have this full assurance of faith, you need constant reminder of these evidences in the bible and in your life. In 10:32 the author asks the readers to remember. NIV Hebrews 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly Gary Hsu Page 5 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm

6 rewarded. Bear in mind these people have gone through persecutions and conquer them before. They are willing to give up their life and possession for Jesus. It is very difficult to have faith during persecution and temptations. If someone put a gun on your head it will be hard for you to say you love God. If you have been through persecutions before, and you survived the test, doesn t mean you can have full assurance again when you face another persecution. Therefore, please do not think that once you draw near to God then that s it. To have the full assurance of faith, you need to constantly remember how God has helped you through out your life. Have you seen the movie, Jumper? It describes a group of people having ability to jump, or teleport to the place they see or remember. Therefore all these Jumpers have lots of photos on the wall so they can jump to these places. I actually don t like flying and travel, I think having this ability is not bad. Do you know how long does it take for light to travel from the sun to the earth? 8 minutes. But if you are a jumper you can jump to it instantaneously. Our thoughts can really travel over space and time. Esther can remember what she did with Shrek and Tweety in Gold Coast. I think in this busy society, to draw near to God constantly, you need to be a jumper. Your mind needs to constantly teleport to God. When I was working as project manager and studying master degree at the university, life was quite busy. I learned a bit of teleporting at the time. I will use any time I can find to draw nearer to God. Everyday when I took the bus to work, I started reading a systematic theology book on the doctrine of God. It is quite thick. It took about 30 minutes for me to travel from home to work. In 1 month I actually finished that book. I am still teleporting now. Every time I take a shower, my mind will automatically switch to the sermon I am preaching that week and thinking about the relevance and application. I find myself easier to connect with God when I am in a shower. Conclusion To conclude, NIV Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Please remember this verse, let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Let us come to God sincerely and without doubt and let us do that constantly by teleporting and switching to him, especially when we are busy. Let s Pray. Gary Hsu Page 6 of 6 EFCOS :30 pm