Sermon March 11, 2007
Hebrews 4.16 Draw Near
Grace is the spiritual strength that we need for life.
Grace is what God has for us if we’ll come to His throne.
What does it mean to come…to draw near?
A. GOD IS TELLING US TO DO SOMETHING
1. Grace is God’s free gift to us
2. But we have to put ourselves in the place where we can receive it
B. GOD IS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT FAITH
1. To draw near is to have faith [Hebrews 10.22; 11.6]
2. To draw near is to have faith in Jesus Christ [John 14.6; Hebrews 7.24-25]
3. To draw near is to live each day by faith [Galatians 2.20]
C. GOD IS TELLING US HOW TO CONNECT OUR FAITH WITH HIS GRACE
1. Prayer
Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God
for things agreeable to His will…[Westminster Shorter Catechism]
God gives His grace and Holy Spirit
only to those who pray continually…asking God for these gifts…[Heidelberg Catechism]
2. The Word of God
a. The Word is a powerful means of grace [Hebrews 4.12]
b. The Word will fill us with grace and enable us to do great things [Hebrews 11]
c. The Word of grace goes with us after we’ve read it [Hebrews 13.25]
3. The public worship of God
a. Singing praises to God [Colossians 3.16; Psalm 22.3]
b. Fellowship
c. Sacraments
4. Submission to God’s providence
a. God causes all things to work together for our good [Romans 8.28]
b. We need to be careful not to miss God’s grace when He works [Hebrews 12.5-6, 10-11]
c. We receive grace when we submit in humility to God’s work [1 Peter 5.5-7]
John Olson
