Thank you, Brother Crawford. I appreciate the good men, you said. That's in good company, to be with good men. I'm glad you're here on this first day of 2020. Good way to start the year. Get off to a good start and then keep on a good path with the blessings of God. We know not what the year holds, but we know who holds the future every day of it, and we can trust him. I want to challenge my heart and yours tonight with a portion of scripture found in the book of Hebrews and chapter 10. Hebrews is a very wonderful, challenging book that we would all do well to really spend a lot of time in. And maybe as you do your daily Bible reading this year, you'll focus on reading through the Bible in a year. You can do it in less than a year without too much difficulty. And then you can go to some select passages or favorite books. I would challenge you to spend some time in the book of Hebrews. It's a book that gives us a lot about the Lord Jesus. In fact, it's all about Him. The Bible, of course, is all about the blessed Savior, but in Hebrews chapter 1, we have Christ as better than the angels. Verses chapters 1 and 2 give us that thought. He's better than the angels. Chapter 3, Christ is better than Moses. Chapter 4, Christ is better than Joshua. Chapters 5, 6, and 7, Christ is better than Aaron and the Levitical priesthood. In chapter 8, Christ is the author of a better covenant. Chapter 9, a better tabernacle. And in chapter 10, a better sacrifice. Chapter 11, a better choice by faith, and we have it illustrated. In chapter 12, a better example, looking unto Jesus. And that is the theme chosen for this year, to focus on looking unto Jesus. And then in chapter 13, a better life to live, going forth unto him." The text says, going forth unto him outside the camp, that is, bearing his reproach if necessary, unashamedly serving the Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to focus on Hebrews chapter 10, just a part of it, and I want you to notice Three things particularly. One is the access that is granted unto us by the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have access unto God. That's a wonderful thought when you just stop and think about it for a while. Access to the true and living God. And we're encouraged how we have and how we are to respond to that access that God gives us. And then I want us to look at the advocate that is ours, that of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and then the activity that we're to be involved in, and then the assembling of ourselves together as the text closes. I'm reading from Hebrews chapter 10, beginning with verse 19 and down through verse 25. There is too much in this text of scripture to look at any of it very carefully or thoroughly. You would do well, and I have profited greatly from spending a lot of time in just this single text of scripture. because it says so much, and we'll have an opportunity to look at all of it tonight. But let me just sort of whet your appetite for a good way to look particularly at this text of Scripture or the entire book of Hebrews, or for that matter of fact, throughout the Scriptures. There are three terms that are very popular in this book of Hebrews. One is the word therefore. It's used twice in this 10th chapter. The word therefore is a term of conclusion. Statements, truths have been given, and then this therefore draws a conclusion as to what this is all about. What does it mean? Why is it there? And that term, you would do well to just ponder as you come across it in the reading of scripture. A second term is just the little three-letter word, for. It is generally a term of explanation. You'll find that true in this text of scripture. In fact, that word therefore used twice in the 10th chapter, but in the same chapter four is used some nine times. Nine times, just in chapter 10. And remember, it's a word or a term that generally refers to a conclusion. that is reached, or an explanation of the truths given. And then there's a little three-letter word, but, B-U-T, and it's generally a term of differentiation. It makes a contrast, or it gives the opposite side of what has gone before. Now, if you'll focus on those three words, in fact, you would profit from just going through and circling those words in your reading, especially in this 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews. And remember what those terms generally give us. Either a conclusion that is reached or an explanation of the truths that have been presented, or a contrast, making a difference. as the term but refers to it. Also, in the book of Hebrews, some have referred to the book of Hebrews as the lettuce patch of scripture because it has lettuce so often found in the text. And our challenge tonight from this particular portion of scripture gives that let us. But I want you to understand that that's not just a suggestion. This let us is actually a command. It is put in a relatively meek or mild form, but it's a strong command that comes as a result of the truths that have been presented. Let us, let us, and we'll look at that tonight. And I want to focus on that because I believe If we can let this portion of God's word really come into our hearts and come to grips with the text and ask God during the days ahead, should the Lord tarry, this new year that we're beginning, ask God to really use this portion of scripture to challenge our hearts, to do exactly what God is asking us to do, yea, what God is commanding us to do. It'll make a difference, not only in our lives, it'll make a difference in our church. In fact, there are some commands that really get right down to where we live. Our relationship with others, and particularly our relationship with fellow believers. So follow along, please. I'll begin reading with verse 19, Hebrews chapter 10. and reading through to verse 25. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Father, open our hearts now to your word. Teach us by your precious Holy Spirit. Lord, may we receive the challenge that is given to us in this portion of Holy Scripture. May we receive it gladly. And may, dear God, we focus our attention on what you would have us do after all that you have provided for us, after all that you have done for us, what we ought to be busy in our Christian lives day by day. And we'll thank you and praise you for it, because we ask it in Jesus' name and for His sake. Amen. Alright looking at the text and we'll have to rush through it a little bit get I want to at least get to the Closing part of the text because that's where the challenge comes But the the believers access really sets the stage It establishes the groundwork It tells us all that God has done for us and then the challenge comes in the latter part of the text So look at verse 19 having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. That word boldness doesn't suggest to us that we have some arrogant approach unto the Lord God as if we can just burst into his presence without thought or without a spirit of holiness of our wonderful Lord. It actually has sort of a dual meaning. Boldness is one of them, but confidently is another one. We can come with confidence because of what God has done. It even goes a little deeper in that, in a deeper sense than just this boldness or with confidence. It gives us the idea that we can approach the very presence of God with freedom of speech, with a liberty to tell God all that's on our hearts and on our minds. Now, sometimes we're reluctant to do that. I am. Sometimes I'm not sure I want to tell God all that's on my heart, all that's in my mind. But I might as well do it because God knows it anyhow. He can read our thoughts. He knows the thoughts that we think. Not just the words that we speak. So we might as well be honest with God. We might as well come with a freedom of speech that God invites us to come, boldly or confidently in his presence, and just tell God all about it. I have been challenged in that area in my life, especially of late. I'm just coming in and if there's a problem, if there's a concern, if there's a trouble in my heart, then I just want to lay it all before the Lord. I want Him to, I want to have that liberty and feel that freedom to just tell God exactly how I feel, exactly what I'm thinking, exactly what's on my heart. That ought to be our attitude in prayer. In 1779, John Newton, and you know him, know something about him, but he expressed this attitude of coming boldly, this access that we have to the very heart of God in a poem that he wrote. Now, you'll have to bear with me just a little bit. I'm not going to share the whole thing, but it's in Old English style, of course. back in those years. So you'll have to think about the words a little bit, but listen to what he says. He's actually speaking to himself to start with. He says, come my soul, thy suit prepare. Jesus loves to answer prayer. He himself has bid thee pray, therefore will not say thee nay. In other words, God has invited us to come. So he's not going to turn us away when we come with the right heart, attitude, and the right spirit. He goes on to say, thou art coming to a king. Large petitions with thee bring. For his grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much. Now just think about that for a moment. He's saying, soul, prepare this prayer you're going to come to God because he has asked you to come and he'll not turn you away. That's the invitation that God has extended. And then he says, just remember soul, you're talking to a king. So when you come, bring with you large petitions. For his grace and power are such that none can ever ask too much. Oh, what a God we have. And then in the third stanza he says, with my burden I begin. Lord, remove this load of sin. Let thy blood for sinners spilt set my conscience free from guilt. Now, there's a whole lot said in just those three stanzas of that poem. But what he is saying is that I have this access to the very throne of God, and I speak to my soul, and I say, soul, come boldly and freely. Just tell God what's on your heart. Is your praying like that? I have to ask myself that question. Is my praying like that? Do I realize the one to whom I am coming in prayer, he's my King, he's my Lord, he's my God. And he has bid me come, he's invited me to come. And he'll listen to the cry of my heart. And that's what John Newton was expressing in that poem. The believer's access. Notice in that 19th verse, having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. That's how we come. That's what makes it possible for us to come into the very presence of God. because of the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We come by the blood. What can wash away my sin? You would answer, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? You would answer, nothing but the blood of Jesus. And that's exactly right. And our access to the very throne of God is because of the blood of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Mind you, that's real blood. was shed. Some would argue it wasn't the blood of Christ that made the difference, it was his death. Well, I would disagree. I would say it was his blood and his death. In fact, it was his death by the shedding of blood. Absolutely essential according to the scriptures. So we have this boldness through his blood. Now notice in verse 20, there's something that you could easily just sort of Passover. There is a word in this next verse of scripture that is only used this one time in the entire New Testament. And because it's somewhat of a familiar word, speaking with reference to time, we might just leave it there and not understand what is involved. But I want to share that word with you tonight and I want you to see it. Now notice in verse 20, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated or initiated for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh. Now there are two words there that are very important. By a new and living way. In fact, those two words are closely connected in this text of scripture. I want to read a verse of scripture to you. You might want to turn there if you wish. It's found in the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation. John, of course, is on the Isle of Patmos. God has given them these wonderful visions of the glory of our Lord and all that God has prepared for His own. And in chapter 5, a part of this vision, He's telling us what He saw. Now I want you to notice. And I beheld, this is verse six, chapter five, the book of Revelation. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns. Stood a lamb as it had been slain, Now, immediately your mind would go, of course, to the resurrected Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and rightly so, the Lamb of God for sinners slain. But notice how John writes for us this vision that he saw. standing as it had been slain. Now that is, I believe, an illustration of the word that I referred to back in Hebrews chapter 10. That word is new. Now I want to tell you what that word means. It does not just mean new in time, though there is a time reference to the word. But it's new in type. as well as new in time. In fact, the word means freshly slaughtered. freshly slaughtered. It is a word that would be used in the day and time of the writings of Scripture in the language of the New Testament Scripture as the Spirit of God laid upon those who penned the very Word of God. It is a word that would be used perhaps in the marketplace Someone looking for a piece of meat, a cut of meat in the marketplace. And they would express, I want a piece of meat that is freshly slaughtered. I mean one that has not been around to start that decaying process. Freshly slaughtered. That's the word that is used here. By a new, a freshly slaughtered and living way. That's our blessed savior. In fact, in the expression that is given us in this text, it means that one who is a new way, was slain. For sinners he gave his life. He died on Calvary's cross. He was buried in a tomb and he rose again, thanks be unto God. Someone said the only thing we'll see in heaven made by man would be the scars from the wounds in the body of our Lord Jesus that he received here on earth. There may be a lot of truth to that, but this text of scripture tells us that this one by whom we have access was freshly slain and is alive forevermore. He's our risen Lord. So think of it when you read this text of scripture. Think of it. Get the picture in your mind's eye of Calvary. Get the picture of one suffering in agony, bearing the penalty of your sin and mine so that he might give us access to the very throne of God. through his life and the shedding of his blood, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated, or which he has inaugurated, which he has brought into reality, consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh, by means of the giving of his body on an old rugged cross. that we might have access to the living God by a new and living way. And then the text moves quickly into the advocate that we have. The access is spoken of. Now the advocate. And having an high priest over the house of God. Having a high priest. Having one who represents us before the Father. Having one who bears the burden that we have, the one who takes that petition that we offer to Almighty God, that's why we pray in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He's the one that has provided for us an entrance into the very presence of God. Back in the book of Deuteronomy, speaking of Moses, the great servant of God, A wonderful thing is said about him. It would remind us of several incidents in Moses' life, but in that particular text in the book of Deuteronomy, it says, Moses, a man whom the Lord knew face to face. Face to face. In the text of scripture and having a high priest over the house of God, the very first challenge that follows all that has made this possible reminds us of that very thought. We'll look at it in just a moment. But let me caution you before we do. It's a wonderful thing to know, to really know what God has done for us. It's a wonderful thing to know that all of this access to the very throne of God, this forgiveness and cleansing from sin, all of this that God has done for us, all that Christ means to us, it's a wonderful thing to know that, but knowing it is not enough. Knowing it is only part of it. If we don't follow the commands that God gives in this text of scripture, that knowing it will mean very little, if anything, to us. action that follows this blessed knowledge that God gives. Now, notice what it is. The first verse I call to your attention is verse 22, let us. Now, here is that expression, let us, that you may think is just sort of an invitation, a casual invitation. It is a command. It is a command of God. In fact, for you Greekers, this is a case of a hortatory subjunctive. And hortatory simply means a command, and that's exactly what it is. So, don't let that let us Escape your thought your mind. It is a command that comes from God. I Titled this message and you have sung the course. I'm sure After all he's done for me After all he's done for me. How can I do less? Than give him my best and live for him completely After all he's done for me Well, I just entitle it after all he's done for me. I We have just been reminded, just briefly, what Christ has done for us. Now comes our response. Now comes our activity. Look at it. Verse 22, let us draw near. That's interesting. Let us draw near. The expression really reminded me of Moses, a man whom God knew face to face. Because the expression here is that we turn as if to face the one we're approaching. And we move closer to that one so as to look face to face at that one. That's what it's talking about. That's the expression that's given to us. That we come as it were face to face with our blessed Lord. Let us draw near. Let us come face to face with our blessed Lord. with a true heart, a genuine heart, no hypocrisy, no hidden sin, just an open, true heart before God. That goes back to this access that we talked about. That goes back to what I read from the pen of John Newton some hundreds of years before. That's coming before God who has invited us to come. But we come with a true heart. We come with sincerity. We come with no hypocrisy. We come and just talk to him from our hearts, as it were, face we're to approach Him. Is that how your praying is? I have to ask myself, is that how my praying is? Do I come before my God like that, or is it sort of a mechanical process? Is it just sort of now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take. Well, I doubt if you quote that very often in your prayers. I hope you've grown beyond that. But our praying sometimes is just like that. It doesn't come from a sincere, true heart. It doesn't come expressing exactly what we feel going on in our hearts and in our minds. But we're invited to do just that. to come boldly before the throne of our God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. He that cometh to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. So when this talks about the full assurance of faith, it's talking about being grounded in the promises of God, believe in accepting the promises of God, and praying the promises of God, and claiming the promises of God. Oh, that puts me to shame in my weak praying. would to God that I would know the fullness of the reality of coming boldly before the throne of God, face to face with my blessed Savior, and with a true heart in full assurance of faith, believing that God will do exactly what He said. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Now, a lot could be said about that, but it takes us all the way back to the Old Testament worship, the sprinkling, the washing, all of that God did as a picture. A picture to portray to us in an Old Testament setting what a New Testament setting was going to be. What it's going to be like with the Lord. And we know then that the fulfillment of that is being washed in the blood of the Lamb. Being saved by the grace of God. Becoming a child of His. A new creation in Christ Jesus. And that's what we ought to read into the text because that would be the mind of the Jew reading this or hearing this. He'd be reminded of the rituals of Old Testament worship that were a shadow of things to come, this book tells us. And he would say, all right, then my, Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord, has fulfilled that. He's cleansed me from my sin, and even by the washing of the Word, as the Word of God cleanses our hearts and our minds. David prayed that and recorded it for us in that wonderful 119th Psalm. How is our praying? How is your praying? How is my praying in light of what God bids us do? Now, there's a second command that's given here. Look at verse 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. Holding fast the profession of our faith means make your profession your possession. Don't profess something you don't possess. Don't claim to be something that we're not. But by the grace of God, have a profession that relays to others the possession that we have. A child of God should act like a child of God. A new creation in Christ should display a new life in Christ Jesus. That's what he's talking about when he says, let us hold fast the profession of our faith. Be sure that what we profess to be, we are. Not a hypocrite. Not a pretender. In fact, the two strongest warnings that are given in the book of Hebrews are found first in chapter 6 and then in chapter 10. And if this verse should be a challenge in the context of chapter 6 and chapter 10, it ought to strike our hearts. It ought to, if there's a doubt of the reality of your profession of faith, you ought to get it settled before God because the warning is a severe warning if we're just professing and not possessing. And we can know that we're a true child of the King. Quickly now, hold fast our profession without wavering, interesting word, without sort of on the incline or the decline, or maybe put it in our vernacular, without laying down on the job. Too many Christians are laying down on the job. We're not diligent in what God has commanded us to do. And then he says, let us consider one another, verse 24, to provoke unto love and good works. That word provoke doesn't mean how we generally use it. He provokes me. Or she provokes me. Not that. No, this is to challenge, to love in good works. It's the expression that you may have looked at a particular website or blog or whatever it might be called, that's entitled, iron sharpeneth iron. That's what it's talking about here. It's talking about a relationship that we establish where we can be a help, an encouragement, a challenge to fellow believers. That is, and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. And then the last challenge is given in this text. I would that every member of Calvary Baptist Church were here to hear it. I would that every member of Calvary Baptist Church would really let this text speak to their heart because it is from the heart of God to the heart of His child. And you'll notice in the text, verse 25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. but exhorting one another. And so much the more, as you see the day approaching, there's some discussion among Bible scholars and Bible students as to what that day is. I believe it's the day of the Lord's coming. And for me, that first and imminent appearance of our blessed Lord is when he comes to the rapture of the church. It could be tonight. It could be tomorrow. Even so come Lord Jesus. It could be. Then of course we know of his second coming after that seven years of awful tribulation, time of Jacob's trouble. We know come in power and great glory and he'll rule and reign upon the earth for a thousand years. Righteous rule. What a difference that will be. But it certainly speaks of His coming, His coming. So what am I to do? I'm to exhort you, to encourage you, to provoke you to love and good works. I'm to come walk beside you, along with you. I'm to weep when you weep. I'm to rejoice when you rejoice. I'm to encourage. I'm to be an example. Not only am I to be that to you, but you are to be that to me. and to one another. That's a role that every child of God has to play. So our blessed text says, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together as the manner or the habit of some is. That's a sad story. Some have that habit of absenting themselves from the house of God. Not taking advantage of the opportunity to come and provoke one another, encourage one another, exhort one another in love and good works. Would you determine with me by the grace of God this year to let those strong commands given to us in this 10th chapter, verses 19 through 25, particularly the last part of the text, Let those commands really get a hold of your heart. Really change your life, really change your attitude, really make you one who can provoke in a good way toward that love, that comfort, that encouragement in the things of God to one another. Be an encourager by being here. Your absence, my absence, says something to those who are here. Wonder where he is. Wonder where she is. Wonder why they don't come. Wonder why we see them so seldom. Don't let that be said of you. God forbid that it be said of me. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner, the habit of some believers has become, or maybe even some who profess but don't possess. Oh, I trust that God will challenge your heart as he has mine in just taking a fresh look at these few verses of scripture in this 10th chapter of Hebrews. Let it be sort of a byword as you begin this year. Walk with God. Come boldly. Tell God what's on your heart and on your mind. Just speak freely before God. He knows your thoughts anyhow. Lay it all out before God. He has invited you to come. do it. And remember when you come, it's as if you're looking into the face of the blessed one who loved you and gave himself for you. Face to face with our savior. What a privilege we have. What a shame if we do not take advantage of that privilege that God has granted us. May it be so in our lives that we walk with God day by day. Father, I thank you for this text of scripture. I thank you, dear God, for the challenge to my own heart and life. And I pray that for each one of us here, no matter where we are in our Christian experience, no matter how mature we are in the things of Christ, or whether we're just a novice when it comes to the word of God, I pray, dear God, that every single one of us in this place tonight, as we begin this year that you've so graciously given to us, that we would draw near, that we would come boldly, that we would provoke one another to love and good works, that we would be faithful in our attendance. For we have a beautiful access, a wonderful advocate, an activity that we're to be involved in day by day, and an assembly where we can meet together with the children of God and realize that where two or three are gathered together, there you are in our midst. Make it so in my life, dear God, and the lives of each and every one of us that are here tonight. And we'll thank you and praise you for it. We ask it in Jesus' precious name. Amen.