Survive or Thrive, part 3

2019-05-12 

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Key Verse: Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

God wants us to live our lives in confidence of His presence and power. There is a great difference between confidence and arrogance. The world often confuses the two. But when we keep our eyes fixed on His Word and His way for us, we will see Him constantly at work in our lives.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NLT) 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. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

1. Living close to the source

• Vss 19-20 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.
• Living the kind of lives God intends requires us to spend more time connected to Him than connected to the world
• Our personal walk with Christ is vital to a live “over the top”

2. Recognizing Jesus as our mediator

• Vss 21-22a 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...
• We are not alone in the journey. Jesus is on our side!
• Romans 8:34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

3. Free from guilt

• Vs 22b For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
• Satan’s goal is to keep us paralyzed with guilt and fear
• Jesus has paid the price in full for us to live “free and clear”

4. Trusting Him completely

• Vs 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
• Thriving in life requires us to wake up each day knowing He is in control and will keep His Word

5. Encouraging one another

• Vss 24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
• We must put into practice what He has promised
• We must:
  • Gather regularly
  • Love unconditionally
  • Serve willingly
  • Share continually
  • Pray powerfully