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Hebrews 10:22 – It is Good for Me to Draw Near to God – audio

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Scripture Reading: Psalm 73:27-28 KJV

Lesson Text: Hebrews 10:22

Introduction

A. In this message, it is my goal to encourage you to draw closer God that you might have a right relationship with God, instead of being alienated from Him – Psalm 34:18.

B. A broken heart, and a contrite heart are minds whom have allowed the Spirit of truth (to crush or bruise their spirit), to convict them of their sins with sorrowful remorse.

C. Discussion concerning Peter and his remorseful spirit – Matthew 26:75.

D. Many people fail to draw closer to God because they have an obscured view of God.

(1) Some have a transcendent only view of God as being far, distant, and uninvolved, due to God’s power and his infinite knowledge – Psalm 147:5.

(2) Others do not draw close to God because they blame him (God) for all the thorns and briars in their lives – James 1:17; John 10:10.

(3) A great number will not draw near to God because they have become friends of the world and enemies of the cross of Christ – James 4:4; Philippians 3:18-19.

a. It is always difficult to get close to someone whom you are at odds with!

E. It is good for me to draw closer to God:

(1) because it is through the sacrifice of Jesus, that I can be reunited with God and have everlasting life – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

(2) I can have my sins forgiven and be made whole through Jesus – Ephesians 1:3, 7.

Body

I. Let Us Draw Near with a True Heart in Full Assurance of Faith

A. One of the essentials of becoming a Christian and drawing closer to God is having a pure heart – Hebrews 10:22.

(1) This is a heart free from, or mixed with anything which defiles or contaminates the mind such as the sinful things of this world – Matthew 6:24; James 4:4.

(2) In Psalm 24:3-5, the word of the Lord describes the type of character who will dwell with the Lord – James 4:8.

a. This type of character, having a true heart, will require you to deny yourself and follow Jesus to gain the blessing of having a right relationship with God – Mark 8:34-38.

b. In (Matthew 19:16-22), the rich young ruler wanted eternal life but he fail to deny himself and follow Jesus.

B. We draw closer to God by having true heart in full assurance of faith in God – Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6.

(1) This is a complete trusting in what God says is true, and acting on it by obeying God (You know what you know is right because God said it).

(2) Noah and Abram trusted God and obey Him and where blessed – Proverbs 3:5-10.

II. You Hearts Must be Sprinkled from an Evil Conscience and Washed in Pure Water

A. The Hebrew writer says to draw closer to God your hearts need to be sprinkled from an evil conscience (repentance) – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.

(1) In the Old Testament the blood of an animal was sprinkled by the priest on the altar to make atonement (Leviticus 1:1-9;1:10-13).

(2) In the New Testament your sins are made clean through the blood of the Lamb – Revelation 1:5-6.

B. To draw closer to God, we must recognize there is a barrier called sin keeping us separated from God.

(1) You and I can be brought near to God through the blood of Jesus Christ – Ephesians 2:13.

(2) We do this by having our bodies washed in pure water being baptized (immersed) into Jesus death, the place where His blood was shed – Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21.