WEBVTT 00:00:01.449 --> 00:00:04.910 This is your daily reminder. God has not run 00:00:04.910 --> 00:00:08.609 out of mercy, not for you, not today. Welcome 00:00:08.609 --> 00:00:12.259 to the New Mercies Podcast. Welcome back. Today 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:16.100 is Thursday, March the 26th. I am excited to 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:18.980 be here today. If you are new to the podcast, 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:20.699 I want to encourage you to follow, subscribe, 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.760 like, do all the things. Our audience has been 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:27.719 growing every day. We've had a few more kind 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:30.000 of trickle in. And so it's awesome to see that 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.340 this may be encouraging some people out around 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:36.159 our community and around the world. So thank 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:38.719 you for following. And as always, if you want 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.140 to donate or help To keep this podcast running, 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:44.219 you can do so in the episode description. There's 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:47.859 a link you can donate if you feel led or compelled 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:52.299 to. Now, today our reading is in Hebrews chapter 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.579 10. I love the book of Hebrews very, very much. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:59.380 And as we jump into it today, here's what I want 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:01.299 to do. I'm not going to read a lot of verses 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:03.159 within this chapter. I want to give you a little 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.620 explanation of how Hebrews as a whole is understood 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:09.879 and explained, and then talk a little bit about... 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:12.159 where this sits, this chapter sits within this 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:14.400 book. So if you've ever read through the entire 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.939 book of Hebrews, I preached a whole sermon series 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:20.920 on it through in maybe 2024 or something. It's 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:23.599 been a couple of years ago now, but I love the 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:25.719 book of Hebrews very, very much. And part of 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:29.239 it is because it's just better. It's just better. 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:32.640 The writer is encouraging believers. We have 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.180 a better everything. Jesus has made everything 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:40.060 better. Here's how the book kind of lays out. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:42.760 I believe it lays out in three parts. The first 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:46.519 part is the first two chapters are part one, 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:51.140 and that is Christ is. better. Hebrews chapters 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:54.859 1 and 2 just talks about how Jesus is better. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:59.579 And then chapters 3 down through chapter 10 is 00:01:59.579 --> 00:02:02.680 the second part that I call the cross is better. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.840 It gives an explanation that Jesus' sacrifice 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.599 is greater than all the sacrifices of the Old 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.240 Testament. Jesus is greater than all the prophets 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:13.960 of the Old Testament. Jesus is better than all 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:16.860 of those great leaders from before in the Old 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:19.669 Testament. next section here about the cross, 00:02:19.830 --> 00:02:21.909 it talks about the sacrifices, how he's a greater 00:02:21.909 --> 00:02:24.789 priest, he's a greater everything. Chapter 5 00:02:24.789 --> 00:02:28.469 talks about how he is a greater priest than any 00:02:28.469 --> 00:02:30.250 that have come before, than Aaron, the first 00:02:30.250 --> 00:02:33.370 one, or he's coming in the order of Melchizedek, 00:02:33.430 --> 00:02:36.590 and just the powerful, incredible idea and truth 00:02:36.590 --> 00:02:40.349 that Jesus is just better in the sacrifice that 00:02:40.349 --> 00:02:42.750 he makes. Why? Because priests in the Old Testament 00:02:42.750 --> 00:02:46.030 had to go over and over repeatedly, and they 00:02:46.030 --> 00:02:48.650 were the access to God. You'd have to take your 00:02:48.650 --> 00:02:51.430 sacrifice to the priest. The priest would go 00:02:51.430 --> 00:02:55.009 and do the ritual duties of a priest, the spiritual 00:02:55.009 --> 00:02:57.330 holy things, and then you would have access to 00:02:57.330 --> 00:02:59.389 God at that point. But the priest was really 00:02:59.389 --> 00:03:01.729 the only one with that type of access, and he 00:03:01.729 --> 00:03:04.250 wasn't available all the time. And the access 00:03:04.250 --> 00:03:07.310 wasn't available all the time. So Jesus is better 00:03:07.310 --> 00:03:09.669 because he gives us full access all the time, 00:03:09.669 --> 00:03:13.069 100%. Incredible. So if the first couple of chapters 00:03:13.069 --> 00:03:15.990 in Hebrews is about Jesus is better or Christ 00:03:15.990 --> 00:03:18.979 is better, Then the second section, chapters 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:21.879 3 through chapter 10, which is where our reading 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:25.740 is today, is the cross is better. And then the 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:29.180 last few chapters of Hebrews gives the complete 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:32.120 understanding that Christianity is better. We 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:35.319 have a better walk by faith and how we're challenged 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:38.159 to continue on in this relationship with him 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.460 in the new covenant. This chapter today, our 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:43.979 reading, is in chapter 10 specifically. So it's 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:47.960 at the end of the cross section of the book of 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:50.139 Hebrews where it talks about Jesus' sacrifice 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:53.020 and how it is better. It goes and it kind of, 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:55.280 there's a little bit of a... tug of war, a little 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.120 bit of push and pull as you read the text today. 00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:01.159 And specifically, the writer is saying, why in 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.280 the world would you go back to a system that 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:06.879 doesn't give finality? It doesn't give a fullness. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:10.919 In Jesus's death, he gives a fullness. Once and 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:14.030 for all, he died. once and for all. He didn't 00:04:14.030 --> 00:04:15.629 have to go back and do it again. He doesn't have 00:04:15.629 --> 00:04:18.470 to do it again later to finish up who's born 00:04:18.470 --> 00:04:21.589 later. He did all of it one time. He's saying, 00:04:21.629 --> 00:04:23.910 why would you go back to a priest who stands 00:04:23.910 --> 00:04:26.730 at his post and then he keeps going back? He 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:28.790 says, listen, the Old Testament, the way it was 00:04:28.790 --> 00:04:32.050 before in the Old Covenant, the blood covered 00:04:32.050 --> 00:04:34.850 sin. That's what the blood did. So whenever you 00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:36.269 would take a sacrifice in the Old Testament, 00:04:36.410 --> 00:04:38.129 you would take it to a priest and it would cover 00:04:38.129 --> 00:04:40.370 your sins. You'd be forgiven of those sins. It 00:04:40.370 --> 00:04:43.100 would cover them. Well, in the New Testament 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:47.160 with Jesus, he cancels sin. It's no longer a 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:49.800 covering that won't last. It's a cancellation 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:53.399 that lasts forever. I love chapter 10 of the 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:55.199 book of Hebrews. I will end up reading a couple 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:56.540 of verses. I just wanted to read a couple that 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.459 stood out to me today as I read it. Listen to 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:01.879 what it says here in verse number 12. But when 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:05.220 Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:08.300 for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.759 waiting from that time until his enemies should 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:16.459 be made a footstool for his feet. This is a Christ 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:20.279 died once and for all. You know, I think that 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:24.019 whenever we read the Bible sometimes, we grossly 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:30.800 misunderstand or maybe have this false idea that 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:36.019 we're not enough or that something about us is... 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.579 Displeasing and because of that like we can't 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:41.519 be in right standing with God gee if it yes, 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.300 here's the deal We are nothing Jesus is everything 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:51.660 he took every sin Every sin. I'm a believer in 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:54.699 Christ, meaning I've been saved. I've been forgiven. 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:58.139 I've been made right with God because of what 00:05:58.139 --> 00:06:00.899 Jesus did. I didn't do anything in this process. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:03.720 Even he's the one that drew me into a relationship 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:06.600 with him. He drew me into a relationship. I just 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:09.620 said, I submit my life. Yes, Lord, I submit my 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:12.519 life to you. Why? Because Jesus died for me. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:15.600 He died for all the mistakes that I made, all 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:19.120 of my unrighteousness, and then he It makes me 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:21.939 holy. I get his goodness. That's what I get. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:24.279 And I get to have an inheritance, which they 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:26.060 talk about in the next couple chapters. But here's 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:28.120 where the writer is telling us, listen, Jesus' 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:32.339 sacrifice, him dying on the cross, is a huge 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:37.160 deal, life -altering deal. Read the text. Look 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:39.600 at how the writer is helping us understand. Listen 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.399 to this other verse I want to share that sticks 00:06:41.399 --> 00:07:11.779 out. It says this in verse number 19. Ryder again 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:14.300 leans back into the truth that he talked about 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:16.180 in chapter 5 about Jesus being this great high 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:19.100 priest, the person that's in between us and God 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:21.980 that connects us to God. He says, the curtain 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:24.560 has been torn. Now, this is referencing, whenever 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:28.060 we'll read in Luke chapter 23, when the curtain, 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.339 when the temple veil is rent in two from the 00:07:31.339 --> 00:07:34.399 top to the bottom, it's torn. That's the curtain 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:37.699 in between us and the presence of God. You couldn't 00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:40.220 go past that curtain except for a certain high 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:42.430 priest priest at a certain time of the year, 00:07:42.550 --> 00:07:45.949 and now that curtain has been torn in two, meaning 00:07:45.949 --> 00:07:48.649 access has now been granted. And the writer is 00:07:48.649 --> 00:07:50.529 telling us it's not just a piece of fabric that's 00:07:50.529 --> 00:07:52.689 been ripped. It was the body of Christ that was 00:07:52.689 --> 00:07:54.990 ripped, and now we have access to God. I want 00:07:54.990 --> 00:07:57.410 you to think about the reason we say at the end 00:07:57.410 --> 00:08:01.490 of our prayers, in Jesus' name we pray. is not 00:08:01.490 --> 00:08:03.810 because that's some magical term. It's because 00:08:03.810 --> 00:08:07.550 that's the only way to pray. It's the only way 00:08:07.550 --> 00:08:10.089 into the presence of God. It's through Jesus 00:08:10.089 --> 00:08:13.110 that we pray. It's through his sacrifice and 00:08:13.110 --> 00:08:15.509 what he did. And in Romans chapter 8, it tells 00:08:15.509 --> 00:08:18.350 us that he is interceding for us. Right now at 00:08:18.350 --> 00:08:20.889 the throne of God, Jesus is praying for you. 00:08:20.949 --> 00:08:23.050 Why? Because we don't even know what to pray 00:08:23.050 --> 00:08:25.430 most of the time. We go to him. I have tons of 00:08:25.430 --> 00:08:28.269 prayer requests on my docket today. I've got 00:08:28.269 --> 00:08:30.480 friends and church family members there. They're 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:32.740 in surgeries today and dealing with multiple 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.779 issues today. So I'm praying, and I've spent 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:36.220 some time praying, and I'm going to spend some 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:38.639 more time praying. And what happens to me is 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.379 I pray all these prayers. I don't even know what 00:08:40.379 --> 00:08:42.659 I'm praying. Yes, Lord, heal them, make them 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:45.100 better. I don't know. And God's like, I want 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:47.080 to do a great work in their life. So Jesus has 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.000 to intercede for me. He has to kind of translate 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.039 my prayers to the throne of God. But it says 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.879 right here, he's given us the access. It's him 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:59.259 that's given us access. I love Hebrews 10. Listen. 00:08:59.690 --> 00:09:01.309 I'm going to stop recording now, and I want you 00:09:01.309 --> 00:09:03.970 to go read Hebrews 10. Read it a couple times. 00:09:04.110 --> 00:09:06.509 Pray over it. Let the Lord speak to your heart 00:09:06.509 --> 00:09:10.149 today, and let's live like this high priest wants 00:09:10.149 --> 00:09:11.690 us to be connected to God.