Wednesday February 4, 2015

Read Hebrews 10:19-22

 John Welch (1570-1662), one of the Scottish reformers, was a man of prayer. It’s reported that when he prayed, often for the entire night, a bright glow would emanate from the room he was praying in. Several independent eye- witnesses have testified to this fact.

But most of us have the opposite situation, don’t we? Personally, I know what it’s like to be tired and still want to draw near to God in a time of prayer.. As a pastor of a church, I often have long days with many emotionally and spiritually draining situations. Often I come to the end of the day around 10 or 11pm and then, spirit willing but weak in body, want to spend time with God in prayer and reading. Fortunately or unfortunately, the pattern I have of reading and praying takes about 1 hour but one hour more after a draining day is hard, very very very hard. But over the last 20 years of ministry I have never ever regretted giving God another hour.

In today’s passage the phrase “let us” is used to draw out the implication of vv19-21. There are four such “let us” verses that serve to exhort and encourage us to give God (and each other) just that little bit more.

The first let us passage is ’Let us draw near to God’.

We are beckoned to draw near to God with sincere heart. The Greek says  with a true heart. There is no hidden or unconfessed sin. There is no duplicity.  We also come in full assurance of trust – knowing that God will receive us, hear our prayers and forgive us for our sins.

In fact we are told that we have our hearts sprinkled (which parallels the sprinkling of blood in Old Testament cleansing) from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. When we draw near to God there’s no need to fret and be anxious about our sins. We can seek forgiveness be assured that it’s granted. Read 1 John 1:9 if you are still not convinced.

As we draw near to God we are free to pour out heart to Lord (Psalm 62:8), sing His praises and to present our concerns and fears to Him. We are free to adore Him in song, in praise and in worship.  We have the freedom to weep and mourn and to cry out to Him.

The other let us passages will be discussed throughout the week but for now, notice that all of these ’let us’ passages are written in the plural. Even though they apply to us individually, they are meant first and foremost for the gathered body of Christ, the church. Our Sonday gatherings are an opportunity to draw near to God as we adore, confess, give thanks and make supplication to the Lord together. Our Sonday gatherings are an opportunity to enter the Most Holy Place and to be together with our Lord and Saviour.

What we do together and how we approach corporate worship is an outflow and reflection of our individual worship and time with the Lord. Maximise your personal time with the Lord and corporate worship will take on a whole new meaning and WOW factor.

Prayer:

Use the day’s reading notes and Bible passage to pray meaningfully:

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Pray that God would bless the MOPS ministry and PlayPals ministry that runs on Wednesdays. Carers and helpers are needed. Pray that many would come to Christ through these ministries.

· Ask the Lord to make your congregation a congregation that is committed to prayer. 

 Discussion & Reflection

1. What does it mean to draw near to God?

2. Another Christian confesses to you that they haven’t prayed for a while because of a sin they committed months ago. How do you counsel this person?

3. What does it mean to draw near to God in a corporate or church sense?

4. What does it mean to draw near to God in confidence as a church?