Let Us Approach God

Go To Meeting

Eduardo Elizondo—September 24, 2022

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This message is based on Heb. 10. Let's go there and start studying this topic of approaching God. We're going to read a few verses here as an introduction and backdrop for what we're going to be studying together.

The Apostle Paul is explaining what is the difference now with the sacrifice of Christ vs the sacrifices that were carried out at the temple that God also commanded.

Hebrews 10:11: "Now, every high priest stands ministering day by day, offering the same sacrifices repeatedly, which are never able toremove sins."

We're not going to get into all the technicalities of all of these things. We're not going to the Old Testament to do a comparison study of this part, but this is a good introduction to back up what Paul is talking about and where we are going; all of us in our calling and relationship with God. This is the foundation of all of that. The high priest was ministering day-by-day and offering the same sacrifices. But Paul was clarifying that those sacrifices do not remove sins.

Verse 12: "But He… [Jesus Christ our High Priest] …after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." This is God the Father and we understand that from Psa. 110!

Verse 13: "Since that time, He is waiting until His enemies are placed as a footstool for His feet."

This is very important because this how we know Who God the Father is, and Jesus Christ is. From prophecy and what They declare, God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord and High Priest, sits at the Father's right hand "…waiting until His enemies are placed as a footstool."

Verse 14: "For by one offering He has obtained eternal perfection for those who are sanctified. "

If we stop here and think about it, what is eternal perfection? It's our destiny; what God really wants for each and every one of us! He wants eternal perfection. God the Father and Jesus Christ want us to be perfect.

That is exactly what He has for us. He has obtained eternal perfection and for those who are sanctified—and we know that we are sanctified—in the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ. We are sanctified and cleansed.

Verse 14: "For by one offering He has obtained eternal perfection…" There is nothing else lacking, missing or needed in addition to that!

Obviously, we have to continue in this way of life, but as far as the sacrifices and forgiveness, the only thing that can really forgive our sins and really blot out our iniquities and all of that is that offering of Jesus Christ! By the offering of His own blood, the perfect Creator God through Whom everything was made! By His offering He has obtained eternal perfection for us! That's what God wants, eternal perfection!

But we know that this perfection is a process, and we're going to get to the verses that we are going to study in detail. This is a backdrop:

• to remember Who is our High Priest
• to remember what the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is; the perfect sacrifice for all humanity

But it has to be accepted and you have to enter into a covenant with God!

Verse 15: "And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after He had previously said, '"This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days," says the Lord, "I will give My Laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds"'" (vs 15-16).

That's the witness that we have with God's Holy Spirit in us! God is doing that! He is giving us His Laws in our heart, and He's inscribing them in their mind. But it's a process! It's not automatic, not right away. This is a process that takes time. That's a covenant that we have made at baptism. The covenant is that we are God's and we belong to Him. He has paid the price for us and we are 'bond slaves' to Him, to God the Father and Jesus Christ. He is the One Who sanctifies us because He is our High Priest in heaven above.

As we're coming closer to Atonement and what all that means—and there have been a lot of messages about that—this is just a little bit of that as far as the High Priest.

Verse 17: "And their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again."

He does not when we repent and come before Him, because that sacrifice is applied upon repentance to all of our sins. He does not remember our sins when we come and repent before God. He is full of mercy. We have forgiveness and we have to remember that we have God's Holy Spirit in us, and His Laws and commandments in our heart and mind to be transformed by those laws and commandments. They're not just requirement—yes, they are requirement—not only that, they're actually the tool that God uses to transform us. We can walk now in that newness of life!

Verse 18: "Now, where remission of these is, it is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices for sin."

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a perfect sacrifice. He has obtained eternal perfection for us, but we're not fully perfected, yet! Then Paul encourages us:

Verse 19: "Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is, His flesh)" (vs 19-20).

It's explain what the shadow was of the high priest in the temple offering those sacrifices and entering into the Holiest on the Day of Atonement only after having made the sacrifices and carried out what was needed of Him to go into that Holy place.

Now Jesus Christ has done that. He has consecrated through that, which is His flesh.

Verse 21: "And having a great High Priest over the House of God."

So, it is Jesus Christ Himself Who is our High Priest in heaven above! He has given us all of this freely; this is an amazing gift that we have, the gift of forgiveness and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from our sin and make possible the transformation of every person that comes to God and made a covenant with God at baptism like most of us have. And have the Holy Spirit within ourselves. That we can then keep those laws and commandment in the spirit of the Law in addition to the letter of the Law.

They're not done away with, but they're magnified! We can understand the meaning of all of those and the operation of all of those. The title of the message is based on this verse:

Verse 22: "Let us approach God with a true heart…"

• because of all of these other things
• because Jesus Christ, the Creator, came and gave His life for us
• because He came and died and shed His blood for all of us

He has opened up the door for us to go into the Holiest place. That's the presence of Jesus Christ and God the Father, and it's through Christ's blood that we can come into His presence. Every time we kneel down we are before the very Throne of the Most High!

We come in the name of Jesus Christ, as He instructed us to pray. It's something amazing to really just think about and meditate on the access that we have to God the Father. Where before, in the Old Testament, nobody could go into that Holiest place except for the High Priest, and only once a year and under certain conditions.

We know that the veil was torn when Jesus Christ died, so that everybody could see and it's basically showing that now there is access to that through His blood and sacrifice. We understand that, but to know how important that is, and what a blessing it is to come before the Throne of God the Father.

Paul is encouraging us here in v 22 and here is where we're going to majority of the time and what all this means, and other Scriptures that go along with this.

This is just the backdrop of all of these thing, and that's many, many messages in and of themselves. Many have been given on the subject.

In fact there is an In-Depth Study of Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews {truthofGod.org} and I highly recommend that where Fred Coulter goes into detail through all of this.

Verse 22: "Let us approach God with a true heart…"

• What does that mean?
• How do we approach God with a true heart?

Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

We know that, and that's why Paul is encouraging us to come before God and "…approach God with a true heart…"

But God Himself says; v 10: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

That fruit of our doings and our ways is everything! It's not only the things of the external, but the internal is who we truly are!

That's why it says that 'I search the heart.' It's interesting this combination, because it says, v 10: "I the LORD search the heart…to give to each man according to his ways…"

It's to what it is in their heart, because we can do one thing on the external, on the outside, and it might be good and people may think that we're a good person, but God says, 'No! He says, "I search the heart, I try the reins…" because what He's concerned about is that heart!

That's why the Apostle Paul says, "Let us approach God with a true heart…"—because God is the One Who searches the heart and He tries the reins! That results into our ways and according to our doings!

But it's not only the external; there are a lot of ways and lot of doings in our heart and our mind! A lot of thoughts, emotions, feelings and a lot that goes on in our heart and mind that nobody else knows about. But the Lord is the One Who tries the heart and the reins, which is our inward parts. It's really our feelings!

"…even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings" (v `10).

The Apostle Paul is encouraging us to approach God with a true heart!

Proverbs 17:3: "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tries the hearts."

It's not only that He searches them, not only searching our heart to see whether we have a true heart or not, but it's also that He's refining it. He is trying our heart. He's not just testing it, the refining of the silver and the gold is to make those metals as few as possible. That's the refining!

The trying of the heart here is the same thing. It's not just searching it and it's not just unto judgment. That's part of it but not all of it. It is that God is trying the heart! How does He try the heart? The trials, tribulations, but also the successes and the blessings! He tries the heart with everything that He does, with everything that He allows to happen in our lives. He tries the heart to see how we're going to react. We have seen that with all the prophets and the kings, especially the kings. God wanted to see how they were going to react. He would put them in special situations when Israel had to fight their enemies or had an attack from somebody else.

All of these things were trying the heart! That's what God did with them, but He does that with every single one of us. He wants to see what we're going to decide:

• Are we going to cleave to Him?
• Are we going to come to Him?
• Are we going to put our trust in Him?
• How are we going to react in the trials and tribulations?
• How are we going to react in the good times and the blessings?

Our nature is that we tend to forget about God, or go our own separate way with things when their going well.

That's what God wants to see: Do we have a true heart? A sincere heart toward God? It says that the Lord tries the heart! These are trials and tests and afflictions!

Psalm 44:20 this is a testimony about God: "If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god, shall not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart" (vs 20-21).

We are to approach God with a true heart, knowing and understanding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the High Priest that we have. Also, being very aware that:

• it is God Who searches the heart
• it is God Who tries the heart
• it is God Who knows the secrets of the heart

He knows that and we know that! But sometimes for us it's easy to deceive ourselves and think that God is looking away or He's busy with other things. NO! He's always:

• looking at the heart
• looking at the intentions

We will be judged according to the things that are in our mind: our thoughts! That's what we're being judge by, according to that.

That's what He says in Jer. 17:10; He searches the heart to give to each man according to His work. It's also the thoughts. It's not just the outward things that we do, but our intentions, as well. Sometimes we don't even know that there are things that God wants to take out of our heart and cleanse them, purify them, just like the furnace of fire that tries the gold and silver.

That's what God wants to do with us, because He knows the secrets of the heart. He knows! He knows what's deep in us! He also knows how we've been hurt in the past—we all have—by many people. Sometimes the people we love the most hurt us the most. That's true.

God wants to cleanse all of that! He wants to take out everything that's in our heart to make it flourish and make it bear even more good fruit and good works. But He also wants to take all of the hurt, the pain and anguish—all of these things—anger that we may have in our heart. He wants it out. Not out in a vengeful way; He wants it out to cleanse it!

He wants it out so that we know that He is God, that He is the One Who cleanses us and tries our hearts. He knows the secrets! He knows what's going on! We cannot hide from God!

I think we know that intellectually, but I think it's important to meditate on that and not just intellectually but do a meditation of that. Pray about it!

• What are these thoughts and emotions?
• What are these things in our heart that are preventing us from have a true heart?
• From having a clean heart?

It says in Psa. 51, 'create in me a pure heart'!

Part of approaching God with a true heart doesn't only mean just a clean heart. He wants to create that in us, but we have to ask Him to do that. It also means approaching God with what we truly have in our heart and laying it all before the altar so that He can cleanse it, so that He can purify our heart and refine it.

When we have anger, resentment, pain or sadness—we have all those things—God wants us to approach Him with that true heart, good and bad, because He's going to purify it, try it, and test it. It's not just an affliction, not just pain, sometimes it's in blessing and comforting us. Even through His comfort He cleanses our heart.

It's another thing we know intellectually, but do we really feel it, believe it and know it, and believe according to that. Believe Him and know that

• He has compassion upon the poor
• He binds up the wounds of the brokenhearted

We are all brokenhearted to one degree or another. We are all broken and have pain and things that we have suffered, and things that we have brought upon ourselves because we're broken! Sometimes because of that hurt, we also in turn hurt others. That's why we have to forgive others, and we have to be forgiven. That's the condition that God put us in so He can forgive our sins; that we would forgive one another. We have to approach God with a true heart!

Hebrews 10:22: "Let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith…"

Conviction is to be convinced! To be convicted completely! That we know and we know that we know!

Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

"…with full conviction of faith…" that He gave you life and a purpose! He didn't just create us just to live this life and go through the motions and die and that's it. Knowing that we are His workmanship, that's what it is. We are His workmanship and:

"…that He Who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (v 6).

He will complete it when our Lord Jesus Christ returns! We have to have that full confidence of faith when we approach God! That's an important and essential part!

Hebrews 11:1: "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen."

Faith is a substance! We know that the promises of God are sure. We know and are convicted of things not seen:

• we cannot see our salvation
• we cannot see the Kingdom of God, yet
• we cannot see how we're going to be transformed into spirit beings

But that's a promise; that's what it says!

• we cannot see how we're going to be part of the Family of God

The only thing we can see is that we're created exactly in His image, and that we're being shaped into His likeness! That we can see!

But faith is really being convinced and convicted. That's what Jesus Christ told Thomas and all His disciples: Blessed is the one who believes and has not seen! That's what we have to do when we approach God! When we approach God it has to be with a true heart, with all of our heart. Good and bad! We don't have to be perfect when we come to God. In fact, He knows we're not perfect.

It would be pretending that we don't have trials, and pretending that we don't have things we're struggling with. That's why we have to approach with a true heart. He wants to create a new heart, a pure heart, but the requirement for when we approach God in the Holist is to approach Him with a true heart, with full conviction of faith and not doubting! Not ever doubting His promises. Knowing that He is going to carry it out.

One of the things I often think about when remembering the promises is just remember that you didn't ask to be here. You're not here because you wanted to have life or be born. You had nothing to say with  you being born and into what family, what time, what country, what circumstances; you had nothing to do with that!

So the One Who gave us life is God by His own will! So, He has a purpose and we know that He is good. We know that He is righteous and He has a wonderful purpose for us. We have to be convinced in our heart; convinced that this is His will and that He's going to carry it out to completion!

He's not going to take an incomplete product! He's not going to leave us behind:

• if we are really doing this
• if we are really approaching God
• if we really have that relationship with God

With full conviction of faith!

Hebrews 10:22: "…our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience…" How?

This is a process; we're not there! Our hearts are constantly being purified, but as far as the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that's done! Our part is to come before God and repent. Our part is to continue to be purified!

Knowing and understanding that there is the law of sin and death within us, knowing and understanding that we're going to continue to sin, continue to 'mess up'! but that we're going to come before God every time and we're being purified. That we come with a true heart confessing our sins before God.

How are we purified? Dan. 12—Daniel was asking what shall the end of all these things be (v 8)

Daniel 12:9: "And he... [the angel Michael] …said, 'Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.'" That's the time we're living in right now!

Verse 10: "Many shall be purified, and made white and refined. But the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand."

It's interesting because it says, "Many shall be purified, and made white…" That's us! We're being made "…white and refined…."

Next time the question comes up as to why there are so many trials and afflictions, so many prayer requests, so many people going through so much, this is the reason why. "Many shall be purified, and made white…"

That purification and being made white, that refinement… that's what it says! As the gold and silver is refined. But the Lord tries the heart and then it says, "Many shall be purified, and made white…"

We know that tin Revelation it talks about that fine white linen are the pure actions of the saints. That's the purification and refinement.

We read in Prov. 17 says that 'the Lord tries the heart' that He refines those hearts. That's what the terms He was using for gold and silver. That's exactly what it's saying here in Daniel that "Many shall be purified, and made white and refined…."

That's what's going to happen but there's a prerequisite. That we approach God with a true heart and full conviction of faith! We know that this requirement, this requisite continues to build up. It's not just one thing; it's several things when we are approaching God. Many different things and He's adding one to the other. We will see that this is a process and sequence of what God is carrying out.

This is what it talks about: purification. "Many shall be purified, and made white and refined…." At the time of the end!

That's right now! All the trials, afflictions and tribulations is because of this; we are being refined and God is not going to let us not be perfect. He's not going to be satisfied with a product that is substandard, that is not perfect.

Romans 2:28: is talking about the purification; what God is desiring: "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…"

Why? Because the Lord searches the heart, tries the heart and He knows everything, the secrets of the heart!

"…neither is that circumcision which is external in the flesh; rather, he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart…" (vs 28-29).

That's the beginning of this conversion process where He's changing our heart. But we have to approach God with that true heart every time that we come before Him.

"…in the spirit and not in the letter…" (v 29).

The letter of the Law is the outward stuff that will come, those are visible fruits. It's not the letter of the Law that changes us, it's the spirit and the intention of the Law, because that's what's in our heart and mind. That's what Paul wrote as we read in Hebrews.

But He will make this covenant with us, writing His commandments and His laws in our heart and mind.

"…whose praise is not from men but from God" (v 29).

Men can only see the external. What happened to those who were seeking praise from men? Jesus Christ did not approve of them!

That's what happened in the Gospels, because they—the Pharisees and scribes—were seeking the glory of man and not the glory of God! They were seeking praise from men! That's why Jesus Christ instructed that when you pray, pray in private, and when you fast don't let anybody know. Just do it yourself.

What is important is that 'I look at the heart'; that's what He said. Your Father Who is in heaven, Who is in secret, which goes back to what we read in Jeremiah and Psalms, that the Lord tries the heart and knows the secrets of the heart. He will reward you outwardly!

But we have to come with a true heart! If our intention is only get praise from men (Rom. 2:29) that's not going to be pleasing to God. That doesn't cut it; that's not enough! The challenge is much higher than that. We see what the condition is:

Hebrews 10:22: "Let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith… [being convinced of what He's going to do] …our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience…"—through the circumcision of the heart!

When there's circumcision there comes purification. That's what God wants to do. It's when there are not things hidden. That's what it means. That's why He does that spiritually, that there is not:

• anything unclean
• anything hidden
• anything that we don't want God to see
• anything that we don't what Him to get to

That's why it says that we have to be purified from a wicked conscious!

Sometimes the conscious has to be trained. If we have not been trained we have a wicked conscious. It's really our carnal nature to sin and to have these things in our mind. What are the things we do?

• we tend to talk about other people or gossip
• we tend to be angry at somebody, not letting them know

There are a lot of things! But we have approach God with a true heart so that He can purify us from that wicked conscious! Through His Spirit He can let us know what is wrong. I know it's just a thought in your heart, but:

• you have to take it out
• you cannot do that
• you cannot condemn your brother
• you cannot do that because only God sees the heart, not us
  • when it comes to the brethren
  • when it comes to others, family, whoever

"…having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water" (v 22). Notice the progression here:

• a true heart
• a conviction of faith
• our hearts are being purified
• our bodies are washed with pure water

So, it starts in the heart! It starts with a true heart, with conviction of faith and then our heart is purified and that wicked conscious and then our entire bodies are washed with pure water.

Everything that we do, everything that we say and do and think, because that's the level that God expects and wants. That's what He said. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ He has obtained eternal perfection for all of those who are being changed and transformed right now!

Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your own wives, in the same way that Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; so that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the washing of the water by the Word" (vs 25-26).

That's the power of the Holy Spirit; that's the washing of the water. That's why water is always involved with the Holy Spirit. He washes the Church, and the Church is every single one of us; every one of our bodies. That's why it says our bodies are cleansed with that washing.

We are also collectively the Body of Christ. That's why He says that He might sanctify, having cleansed it with the washing of the water—through the Holy Spirit—by the Word: the Word of God and the Spirit of God. That's how we're cleansed!

That's the operation that God is carrying out in each and every one of us, and collectively, as well. We have to approach God with a true heart and the full conviction of faith, and then our heart is being purified and our whole body is being cleansed!

Col. 1 talks about the same thing, and that's why we started in Heb. 10 talking about our High Priest and how there are no longer sacrifices at the temple in the physical. But it is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself and how we can approach God the Father in the Holy of Holies! That's what we will do, and what we are doing every day when we come on our knees.

The Day of Atonement reminds us of that! Reminds us of the ripping of the veil and coming into the Holy of Holies! That we have this access to God, but there are those conditions; those things that that God expects of us and wants of us. Even if we're not doing it perfectly, yet, but we're growing in all of these things!

Colossians 1:21: "For you were once alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works; but now He has reconciled you… [How? Like our hearts being purified from a wicked conscious.]: …in the body of His flesh through death…" (vs 21-22)—through Christ's death and sacrifice! He paid the penalty so that we can be:

• free to obey
• free to approach God
• free to really share with Him, with God

Approaching God before His Throne! Truly! Not pretending like we're perfect. Not putting on a façade or trying to do good works on the outside, which is good and those things are good fruits.

But it's really having that freedom to come before God as we are, not wanting to stay as we are, but for Him to change us through His laws and commandments. To have that true freedom!

Mainstream Christianity talks about freedom and all of these things, but from a different angle:

• when they set aside the commandments of God
• when they set aside the very tools that God ordained for us to be transformed

He has reconciled you and me in the body of flesh through death!

"…to present you Holy and unblamable and unimpeachablebefore Him" (v 22).

That's what He's doing! He has reconciled us so that He may present us this way!"…unblamable and unimpeachablebefore Him"—with a clean heart!

• that's His work
• we are His workmanship
• we are the product

but

• we have to cooperate
• we have to do our part
• we have to yield to God
• we have to let Him guide us through His Spirit
• we have to let ourselves be washed
• we have to let our heart be circumcised
• we have to let our bodies be washed

Be cleansed in that! This is what He's going to do, but there's a condition:

Verse 23: "If indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast…"

This goes together with full conviction of faith; knowing that the things in the Scriptures are true and are going to come true. But this is a requirement; "If indeed…" is a condition!

Verse 23: "If indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast… [in the Word of God] …and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel…"

There have been many, many attacks on the Church, and no one is exempt from these attacks. That's why it's important that we "…continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast" in the Word of God!

"…and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel…" (v 23)—because there are many, many attacks from every side, internal and external, from Satan, the world, all angles!

We've seen it recently in many ways, with many people. But He wants for us to not be:

"…moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was proclaimed in all the creation that is under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a servant" (v 23)—meaning that:

• everybody knows that this is Intelligent Design at a minimum
• everybody knows that this world could not have come by happenstance

Even if they want to convince themselves otherwise with the theory of evolution and all these other lies, there's something in their heart—because He's put it in their heart—that wants to live forever.

There is something in our heart that is happy when we have greater purpose, when we have goals and things that are outside of ourselves and is greater than ourselves. Why? Because God designed it that way! We may not see it, or understand it, but that's what it is.

That's why it says: "…which was proclaimed in all the creation that is under heaven…"

In Psa. 19 that's what it says: The heavens declare the glory of God! They really are screaming out loud of the power, glory and majesty of God. They are! But people don't want to see it. It takes also something special. You and I have been the recipients of that special gift. We have been called!

Jesus Christ had been resurrected and He showed Himself to the disciples and at first they didn't believe that it was Him, but once they saw Him and He convinced them that it was He, and He ate with them.

Luke 24:44: "And He said to them, 'These are the words that I spoke to you when I was yet with you, that all the things which were written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.'"

He fulfilled all those prophecies concerning Him. It doesn't mean that He fulfilled the Law so you don't have to do it. All the thing things that were written concerning Him, the Savior, the Messiah. That Prophet Who was to come saying that it was Him.

Verse 45: "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."

If God does not open our mind, if He didn't do that, if He hadn't done that, we wouldn't know a thing!We're not better than anybody else. It's all by the grace of God that He has given us understanding: eyes to see and ears to hear, and a heart to love Him! That's what He wants. That's what He expects! He expects that we love Him in return, because that love is so amazing! That understanding, that sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those things are absolutely precious! They're tremendous! They're incredible!

We have to really stop and meditate on them, believe them know them and feel them! That's the reason that God made us with feeling, so that we would feel this. This is not just about feeling; there are things to do. There's a lot to do! But it's a spiritual operation, not physical and external! Those things will flow, but it's only the result of it.

1-Peter 1:10: "Concerning which salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you have diligently searched out and intently inquired."

This is that salvation, the gift; just kind of summarizing it all. That's what it's talking about, the salvation that the Prophets prophesied would come to us. All those Scriptures that we read in Luke concerning Jesus Christ, the Messiah, were fulfilled. He did the sacrifices, as we read in the beginning of Hebrews. All of these things are the promises. We have searched out and diligently inquired.

Verse 11: "Searching into what way and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was indicating, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and these glories that would follow."

So, the Prophets were all written beforehand so that it would happen exactly as they said. He was the same One—the Lord God of the Old Testament—Who inspired that! The One Who came in the flesh; the One Who became Jesus Christ. This is amazing when we read these next verses, because it explains it all and ties is all together.

Verse 12: "To whom it was revealed that, not for themselves, but to us they were ministering these things… [go your way, Daniel, this is not for you] …which now have been announced to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven…"

This is the operation of the Spirit of God, the preaching of the Good News, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

"…into which things the angels desire to look…. [Peter then tells us what to do, there are things to do]: …For this reason, be prepared in your minds… [that's how we're to approach God with a true heart and having our wicked conscious cleansed] …be self-controlled, and be fully hoping in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (vs 12-13). It all goes together!

Verse 14: "As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the former lusts, as you did in your ignorance."

Now you know; now you can be cleansed. Your heart can be tried and be purified, and your body can be washed with the washing of the water by the Word, because now you know.

• you know that there is a God
• you know that He is good
• you know that He loves you
• you know that He has a purpose for you
• you know that it's the most amazing thing that could ever be

We rejoice in that!

We're about to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets where the vengeance of God upon those who desolate the earth. Then we will celebrate Atonement, being at-one with God and the removal of Satan and sin! Purifying the world of that before the Kingdom is established and the Feast of Tabernacles, which we will celebrate, as well. Then the hope for all humanity in the Last Great Day! It's something that is amazing!

Verse 15: "But according as He Who has called you is Holy, you yourselves also be Holy in all your conduct."

• only He can make us Holy
• only He can cleanse us
• only He can purify us

We cannot do it of ourselves!

Verse 16: "For it is written, 'You be Holy because I am Holy.'"

• we are the children of God
• we have been begotten of God

We're not born, yet! We're not born of spirit, yet! But we are begotten! "…You be Holy because I am Holy." This is a process of cleansing and conversion!

This is the whole process, but we have to approach God, and it begins there. That's where it all begins, with approaching God with a true heart!

Many Protestants say, 'Come as you are.' You know what, Heb. 10:22 says to come as you are, but with a true heart!

• not with lies
• not with hypocrisy
• not what we pretend to be

NO! Come as we are, but not to stay there, not to ignore the commandments of God, not to ignore His love, His Laws, His Feasts and the entire Plan of God. No! that's the beginning, come as you are, so that God can change you with a full conviction of faith; growing in that!

Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess, for He Who promised is faithful."

That's what we just read in 1-Peter; that all of these things, the most amazing things that any human being could ever know and understand! And rejoice greatly; they're for us!

If He gave us life, He's not going to waste it! The only ones who can walk and decided to not go along is ourselves. Yes, there are going to be trials and tribulations; there's the enemy who comes. But at the end of the day we have to come to God. Because if we really love Him and really desire for Him to do His work; and He is faithful! Then after this He tells us what we are to do next after holding fast to the faith and approaching God.

To remind us of the greatest commandments that could ever be:

Mark 12:28: "And one of the scribes who had come up to Him, after hearing them reasoning together and perceiving that He answered them well, asked Him, 'Which is the first commandment of all?' Then Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel. Our one God is the Lord, the Lord"'" (vs 28-29).

There is no other God besides the Lord; there is none! It's God the Father and Jesus Christ, and it's not a monotheistic religion; there are two in the Godhead! So, what are we to do?

Verse 30: "'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."

That's what we have been studying in Let Us Approach God! Then what does it say?

Verse 31: "And the second is like this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Hebrews 10:24: "And let us be concerned about one another, and be stirring up one another unto love and good works."

This is what we have to do, but there's an order. The first order is everything that God has done for us.

• it's the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
• it's His blood
• it's His cleansing
• it's the operation that They do when They call us and open up our mind so we can understand the Scriptures

Then They take us into this understanding:

• knowing our heart
• testing our heart in fire/tribulations

and also in

• successes
• blessing and abundance

That's just as much of a test! That's all of these things

Verse 22: "Let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering…" (vs 22-23).

First it's approaching God and our relationship with God. That's the first and greatest commandment. But then there is the second in importance:

Verse 24: "And let us be concerned about one another…"

Caring about one another and asking how the other person is and helping each other in trials and tribulations! Lifting one another up as the Body of Christ!

"…and be stirring up one another unto love and good works" (v 24).

Ephesians 2:10—this is the process: "For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works… [those that we are stir one another up in] …that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them."

So, we believe in our heart, the cleansing of our heart and mind, the operation of the Spirit, but it's also stirring one another up into good works. But unless we're approaching God with a true heart, our carnality is going to surface first!

• carnal desires
• evil nature

All of these things are going to come first, and we're not going to be able to stir one another into love and good works.

Sometimes we try and try with good intensions, but we fall flat on our face! That has happened to me many times trying to encourage other into good works and love. But if it's coming from my own and not coming from God, if He's not giving me the wisdom to do it at the time, place and manner that He wants, it's of no avail!

IF we're not doing the first things, not approaching God first with:

• a true heart
• full conviction of faith
• being cleansed
• being purified
• being washed in the water by the Word
• holding fast without wavering
• being very anchored in the Word of God

We are not going to be able to stir one another up into love and good works!

God is the One Who does that through us! We are the conduit of that love! It's like a branch, as Jesus Christ said: 'I am the Vine, you are the branches'! It doesn't do anything other than carrying those nutrients. It's not the source and it's not the end result; neither are we. We're not the beginning nor the finisher, not the product to carry that love of God, the good works through the Spirit of God.

That's why the Spirit of God is likened unto water; that's what runs in the branches of the vines. We have to be concerned with one another and be stirring up one another unto love and good works.

Heb. 10:25 is a verse we talk about often, and it's very important.

Hebrews 10:25: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, even as some are accustomed to do; but rather, encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

We are to assemble ourselves together. We know this Scripture and we know what it tells us. We have to do it; we have to assemble together with brethren of like mind so we can stir up one another to love and good works. But the key is:

• we all have to be approaching God first with a true heart
• we all have to have full conviction of faith
• we all have to be washed

We're going through this process together! That's the reason not to forsake the assembling, because you learn from one another.

We all have responsibility to do that first. The strength of any group of brethren, besides the individual relationship that each one of us has with God.

The more that we study and pray, the more we draw near to God, that's the strength of the group. The more that God is going to give collectively, as well.

IF we're approaching God with a true heart and letting Him work all these things in us:

• cleansing
• purifying
• trying our heart
• seeing what is there
• seeing the secrets and cleansing it

Establishing us on sound doctrine in the Word of God; taking the Word of God at face value. We take it for what it says, and we have the understanding that God gives us through His Spirit and apply it in our lives.

Strive for that; strive to please God because we love Him! That's the very beginning, the first and greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength!

That's what we have to do. So, this "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…" sometimes goes both ways.

Sometimes we're forsaking the assembling of ourselves together is because we're not doing the first things. Sometimes in doing those things it will encourage us to do those other things, to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and then we will be truly rich.

We've maybe been in organizations, churches and congregations where the opposite is. You still gathered together, but there are none of this going; where we talked about everything except the Word of God. It's just a social club as Fred has described.

Why, because IF we're not approaching God with a true heart, drawing near to God, not being changed and cleansed, we have nothing to bring to the table when we are with our brethren.

If we're studying, praying and drawing near to God, He will provide the brethren, He will provide the assembling, He will provide the [??] anchored in His Word! Not to talk about things outside the Word of God or things that we cannot prove with the Word of God. They may or may not be the Truth, but their just speculation!

We cannot forsake the assembling of ourselves. It's not about how much we know. We could say that we could stay home and listen to five sermons and learn so much more. Maybe you can, but it's not applying it; it's not stirring one another to love and good works. It's actually where the 'rubber meets the road' is when we have to deal with one another, because we're all imperfect.

God is using this as a tool to shape each other out. God wants us to be together, but He wants us first to come to Him and be cleansed, and all of that!

By no means do I mean that you have to be perfect before we come to church, no! absolutely not! Otherwise nobody would be in any group. None of us are perfect, yet! But we have to do step one and then step two also. It's about what we do and how God is shaping us.

That's part of the training and refining when we're with our brethren. When we have to talk about some things, and some things might be challenging or difficult.

But have a true heart toward our brethren, as well, with love, compassion and understanding and mercy. That's what God wants.

So, as we come near to the fall Holy Days, v 22: "Let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water."

Let's do these things and approach God in the way that He wants for Him to do and complete His good work that He began in us!

Scriptural References:

• Hebrews 10:11-22
• Jeremiah 17:9-10
• Proverbs 17:3
• Psalm 44:20-21
• Hebrews 10:22
• Philippians 1:6
• Hebrews 11:1
• Hebrews 10:22
• Daniel 12:9-10
• Romans 2:28-29
• Hebrews 10:22
• Ephesians 5:25-26
• Colossians 1:21-22
• Luke 24:44-45
• 1 Peter 1:10-16
• Hebrews 10:23
• Mark 12:28-31
• Hebrews 10:24, 22-24
• Ephesians 2:10
• Hebrews 10:25, 22

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Psalm 110; 51
• Daniel 12:8
• Psalm 19

Also referenced:
In-Depth Study of Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews

EE:bo
Transcribed: 10/7/22

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