Hebrews 10:19-20, 22 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,…. 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.
How are we doing in our relationship with God? How are we doing as a family? What are some adjustments or priorities that need to be made in our lives?
There are many Christians who want to have a formula, a quick fix, or an immediate bailout when they are in a crisis rather than developing a relationship with God. Pride, impatience, the love of the world is a great hindrance to our love for the Lord. Therefore, one of the valuable lessons we can learn from this pandemic is that we are not as powerful as we think we are.
What is the state of our relationship with God? Are we seeking for the gift or the giver? Are we pursuing religion or relationship? Are we seeking for a formula to get things from God rather than allowing Him to mold us and journey with us? Do we cherish the community of believers that He has placed around us? Many of us do not make God, the church, and the fellowship with the community of believers as one of the few priorities in our life.
Hebrews 10:23-24 (NKJV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
We should receive encouragement from the Lord and from fellow believers when we go through a hard time. Therefore, the vertical relationship with God and the horizontal relationship with fellow believers are very important. This is especially true during a time of crisis. We know who our friends are indeed when we are in need. We will experience the grace of God during difficult times when we seek the face of God to help us journey through our crisis.
God’s grace is sufficient for us because His strength is fully manifested in our weaknesses. We can do all things through Christ who strengthen us. All these are made available to us whenever we spend quality time in His presence. There is an infusion of God’s grace that acts like a cushioning effect when we are hard pressed between the rock and a hard place. The strengthening happens in the inner man, the inward man, or the heart of man. This is an invitation for us to be soaking in His presence daily. It is a wonderful privilege. We should take this opportunity to build deep in our relationship with God since we have time at home.
Sermon Series: Spur on One Another
Drawing Closer to Him 靠近祂
希伯来书 10:19-20,22弟兄们，我们既因耶稣的血得以坦然进入至圣所， 是藉着他给我们开了一条又新又活的路，从幔子经过，这幔子就是他的身体。 ……并我们心中天良的亏欠已经洒去，身体用清水洗净了，就当存着诚心和充足的信心来到神面前。
我們與神的關係如何？我們一家人過得怎么樣？在我們生活中需要作出哪些調整或排列優先事項？
許多基督徒当遭遇患难时都希望有一可以快速让事情转危为安的公式，或是即刻的救援，而非建立與神的關係。骄傲、不耐煩、贪愛世界是我們爱神的巨大阻拦。因此，我们能够从这次疫情中学到的宝贵功课就是我們並非如我們所以为的那般有能力。
我們與神的關係处于什么状态？我們尋求的是恩賜还是赐恩者？我們追求的是宗教還是關係？我們是否在寻求一个公式，好从神那里得到益处，而不是任祂陶造我们并与我们同行？我們可有珍惜祂建立在我們週遭的信徒團體？我們很多人都未把神、教會、與信徒團體團契放在生活中的優先順位。
希伯来书 10:23-24也要坚守我们所承认的指望，不至摇动，因为那应许我们的是信实的。 又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。
我們應當接受领受從神與信徒而來的鼓励渡過艱苦的時刻。所以我們與神的縦向關係和与信徒的橫向關係是非常重要的。尤其在遭遇危机之时更是真實。唯有在患难之中我們才会知道誰是真朋友。當我們尋求神的面來幫助我們走出危机時，就在这艰难时刻，我们将经历和体会到上帝的恩典。
神的恩典夠我們用，因為祂的力量充份顯現在我們的軟弱上。靠着那加给我力量的基督耶穌，我凡事都能做。這一切都在我們花时间寻求祂的同在時即可得到。当我们遭受压迫进退维谷处境艰难之时，就有神的恩典徐徐注入，起到缓冲作用。這种加力在內在靈人、內在自己或心中發生。這是在邀请我们每日沉浸于祂的同在里。這是個極美好的特權。我們既有在家的時間，就應當藉此機會建立與神更深的關係。
讲章系列：互相激励