It's Not What You Know, But Who You Know 07-04-2010 Pastor Bruce Plummer

This message is all about thrones, the seat of authority in any kingdom.  In Hebrews 4, God tells us that believers are invited to go boldly to the throne of grace, where God Himself is seated.  Our privilege is that we can go there any time to get the help we need in every sense.

It’s Not What You Know, But Who You Know. 

Hebrews 4.11-16

Were you ever in a position where you wondered if there was someone you could talk to for help behind the scenes? A benefactor that could give you a leg up in a difficult situation?

Chunlei and Xiaojian.

Photo of the Chinese emperor’s throne.  

God sees, rules and overrules everything for His purposes.  He sits on a throne.  Everything about a throne says ‘authority.’  It’s not a Barkolounger.  It’s not an easy chair.  It’s not a driver’s seat in a car or an office chair.

 What is said by someone on a throne is final.  It’s definitive.  God’s Word from the throne where He sits at this moment, is extremely sharp.  Divides beyond the borders of the physical.  Down to soul and spirit, thoughts and intents.  All things living and not, are completely and clearly seen.  I don’t know if you’d want to go there if you could.  You wouldn’t want to appear before the IRS, let alone.

Could you approach the head of state in any country and ask for help?  Don’t even think about it.  Go to Washington, walk up the White House steps and knock on the President’s door.  Remember the story of Esther. Even more so for the Lord.  You cannot approach His throne, even though He rules everything including you.  Until He calls for you. 

And call He does.  A teenager dies in a college prank.  A young mother dies of cancer.  A man in his fifties has a heart attack.  A elderly woman passes away in a nursing home.  And where do you appear?  His throne.  You will get the call.

But…

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest.  There is a Figure who at the door of the throne room.  He’s a High Priest and He’s also the Son of the One Who sits on the Throne. 

The human High Priest went into the earthly throne room once a year.  He offered the blood of a substitute sprinkled on an earthly throne.  Instead of a throne of judgment, it was a mercy seat.

But there’s a real one.  And you can go there when you’re not called.  Jesus, the High Priest, who sympathizes with your weaknesses and offered His blood after living a perfect life, meets you at the door.  He turned the throne into a mercy seat if only you know the High Priest, the Son.  And you are welcome to go there and speak freely to the One in command, because of Him. 

Because we know Him, because He is perfect, has offered His blood as a sacrifice, is the Son and sympathizes with our weaknesses; we go boldly to that throne of grace.  There we get the favor we need in life, the audience with the One in charge.

So…

What are you doing with life’s challenges?  Where are you going with concerns, needs, for others, your family, yourself?  Are you filled with faith that you can have an audience with him at any moment?