Looking Up in Encouragement

Hebrews 10:19-25

(PSALMS 5:3) MY VOICE SHALT THOU HEAR IN THE MORNING, O LORD; IN THE MORNING WILL I DIRECT MY PRAYER UNTO THEE, AND WILL LOOK UP. Last week as we talked about Looking Up in Confidence. We learned that we can look to God in confidence in His place, power, and plan. Regardless of the circumstances we can look to Him in confidence. This week I want to talk to you about Looking Up in Encouragement. I have often told you of my childhood. My father did not come to know the Lord until after I had left home for the Navy. My mother would often make excuses for him. His father had passed away when he was only 6 yr. old; so she would tell me, "He never really knew his dad so he doesn't know how to be a dad." That was little consolation to me as I sought his approval and encouragement. I left home with the thought that nothing I could do would be good enough for him. Now the Lord saved him, and then he allowed me to rebuild my relationship with dad. I am very thankful for that. But listen, every child looks up to his father for encouragement. Why? I believe that we do because God has instructed His children to look up to Him.

All of us need encouragement to get through life; it is what keeps going when the going gets tough. Encouragement for the believer comes from Christ and we have direct access to Him. Ephesians 3:12 says that through Him "we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him."

Before we go too far, we want to consider what the writer of Hebrews is telling us this morning. He speaks of boldness to enter into the very presence of God. This is something that is unique to our dispensation. In the O.T. the general population was not allowed to enter into the holy of holies. As a matter of fact, not even the priests had access, but only the high priest…and even he could only enter on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat. But all of that changed with the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Now, every believer in Christ…every saved person…every individual who has come to God through faith in Jesus Christ can enter with confidence or boldness. In truth, God has invited us to come boldly to the throne of Grace and find grace in time of need. (Heb. 4:16) That is really encouraging to me! I know that I don't have to try to make it alone!

Don't miss this! It isn't because of who I am. It isn't because I am so good or so holy. It really isn't about me at all! It is Jesus who has opened the way to God! The writer declares that He did this through the "veil" of His flesh. In the temple it was the veil that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple, but now that separation has literally been opened through Christ's sacrificial death on Calvary. Remember that one of the significant events that took place during the crucifixion was the veil in the temple was 'rent' or torn open. In our text this morning we find three keys to finding our encouragement in the Lord.

I. We Must Draw Near to God (v.22).

II. We Must Hold Fast to Faith (v.23).

III. We Must Stir Up Each Other (v.24-25)

To be encouraged or to be an encourager:

We Must Draw Near to God

We Must Hold Fast to Faith

We Must Stir Up Each Other