Will you please turn to the book of Hebrews, chapter 10? We will read from verse 19 through verse 31.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;
and having a great priest over the house of God;
let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for He is faithful that promised:
and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:
of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know Him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Dear Heavenly Father, we do thank Thee for Thy precious Word. We ask, O Lord, that Thou wilt breathe upon Thy Word and make it living to us. We pray that, as we go into Thy Word, we may hear Thy voice speaking to us directly. To Thee be all the glory, in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
It has been some time since we were in this book of Hebrews, and I am a little bit fearful that perhaps you have forgotten what we mentioned before. So I have to use maybe five minutes to roughly bring you to this point that we are going to share this morning.
The book of Hebrews is a letter of exhortation. You will find that in Hebrews 13:22. The writer says that he wrote this letter as a word of exhortation.
Now, exhortation in the Scripture means calling attention to, warning against, and encouraging unto. In this letter to the Hebrews, we find five distinctive exhortations. All these exhortations are centered upon some important theme because of the importance of what the author is presenting to us. Therefore, on the one hand, he encourages us; and on the other hand, he warns us.
The first exhortation is found in Hebrews 1 and 2. The theme is so great salvation. Salvation is not a little thing; salvation is so great. Why? Because it is concerned with glory. The Son of God will lead many sons into glory.
Because of the importance of this, the writer encourages us that we should pay special attention to what we have heard, lest it slip away from us.
The second exhortation is found in chapters 3 and 4, and it is centered upon this matter of the heavenly calling. We are called with a heavenly calling. We are called to be the house of God. We are called to be companions of Christ. We are called to enter into His rest.
Because of such a calling—a heavenly calling—we are encouraged to consider Jesus, the Apostle of our confession. We are encouraged to encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today. We need to encourage one another lest we are deceived by sin and lest we fall away.
The third exhortation is found in chapters 5, 6, and 7, and this is centered upon the theme of perfection. We need to grow into full growth. It is not the will of God that we should remain as babes. Having laid the foundation, we should build on it.
In connection with that, we are encouraged to press on. We are to consider Jesus as the High Priest of our confession, because He is able to succor us, to support us. He ever lives, making intercession for us, and He is well able to save us to the uttermost.
In view of that, we are warned against being sluggish, because by faith and patience we shall inherit the promises.
This morning we will enter into the fourth exhortation. The fourth exhortation is found from chapter 8 through chapter 10. Here, in chapter 10, we read, “Having therefore, brethren.”
Now, “therefore,” we know, is a word that shows us that this is a continuation of what has already been said. So, if you read from chapter 8 through chapter 10, you will find a number of things there. These things are for the sake of enabling us to enter into the holiest of all.
I wonder how much we understand about this matter of entering into the holiest of all. You know, in the Old Testament, God wanted to dwell among His people. To do that, He commanded Moses to build Him a tabernacle.
The tabernacle had an outer court, a holy place, and the holiest of all. Now, the holiest of all is actually the place where the glory of God abides.
To enter into the holiest of all simply means to enter into the very presence of God: to live in the very presence of God, to behold His face, to commune with Him, to have fellowship with Him, and to abide in Him.
This is a privilege that people did not have in Old Testament times. Why? Because in Old Testament times, people had to worship God far away. They could enter into the outer court to offer sacrifices to God, but they were not allowed even to enter into the holy place.
Only a few people—the priesthood—could enter into the holy place to serve God. But they were not allowed to enter into the holiest of all. Only the high priest, one man in all the nation of Israel, was allowed to enter into the holiest of all once a year.
He entered with blood and the smoke of incense to cover him, to go behind the veil, to offer blood of atonement for the whole nation, and only for a little while.
According to the interpretation of the Holy Spirit in Hebrews, we find that this simply means the way to the holiest had not been opened. In other words, no one could see the face of God. No one could enter into His presence, much less live in His presence. That was a privilege never granted in Old Testament times.
But thank God, today we find that we are able to enter into the holiest of all.
Why? Because as you read chapter 8, you find that under the old covenant of law—the Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not”—these are the demands of God. Yet no one can fulfill such demands. Under the law, everyone was condemned.
But thank God, God has covenanted with us in a new covenant. In that new covenant, it is a covenant of grace. In other words, it is no longer, “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not,” putting all the responsibility upon man. It is, “I will,” and “I will.” It is a covenant of grace.
God says, “I will do everything for you. I will forgive your sins. I will forget your iniquities. I will dwell in you. I will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know Me. I will give you My own life, that you may have the power to obey Me.”
In other words, you find God promised that He will do everything for us. This has been sealed by the blood of our Lord Jesus. It is a covenant that cannot be broken.
In the old covenant, because the responsibility was upon man, when they failed to fulfill their responsibility, God abolished the covenant because it did not work. But in the new covenant, God put all the responsibility upon Himself, and thank God, He never fails. Therefore, this covenant can never be broken.
Under the new covenant of grace, we can enter into the holiest of all.
If you read on to chapter 9, you will find that under the old covenant there were sacrifices. Why? Because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. That is the reason why the children of Israel had to offer sacrifices again and again—day after day, month after month, year after year.
The Bible tells us that the blood of bulls and goats really cannot wash our sins away. In other words, they served as a type, as a shadow. All the blood of bulls and goats only covered, as it were, our sins before God for a time.
But the next year, the blood of bulls and goats had to be offered and brought within the veil to make atonement before God again. In other words, the sins had not been forgiven; they were just covered for a time.
Until one day, the blood of our Lord Jesus—He offered Himself through the eternal Spirit, without blemish unto God—and once for all He cleansed us from all our sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, it is the blood of the Lord Jesus that washes all our sins away, forever, once and for all. It is finished.
In Old Testament times there had to be many sacrifices, but here we find in the New Testament that through the offering of our Lord Jesus just once, it is perfected. He has perfected eternal redemption for us.
Under the old covenant, you find priests—human beings, just as we are. They were weak too. They were priests according to the order of Aaron, and they helped the people to offer sacrifices. But their priesthood was often interrupted by death.
Here, in the new covenant, we have a Priest: Jesus Christ. He is after the order of Melchizedek, in other words, after the power of an indissoluble life. He lives forever, making intercession for us, that He may save us to the uttermost.
In Old Testament times, when they offered sacrifices, once a year the high priest entered into the holiest of all. But now the shadow has passed away. It is the reality now. Why? Because our Lord Jesus has taken His blood—His own blood—not into a man-made sanctuary, but He brought His own blood into heaven itself.
We have the reality now. So, dear brothers and sisters, the time of shadow is past. Now Christ has brought us into reality.
The reality is that we are able today not only to enter into the very presence of God, but by His grace, we are able to dwell in His presence. This is the highest privilege that man may ever enjoy, and thank God, it is ours.
The writer of Hebrews says that we may approach, that we may enter into the holiest of all boldly, with boldness. No longer with fear and trembling, far away, but now we can draw near to the very presence of God with holy boldness.
Now, this boldness is not based upon ourselves. If it were based upon ourselves, it would be presumptuous. In Old Testament times, even two sons of Aaron presumptuously tried to enter the tent of meeting to offer incense to God with strange fire, and they were burned to death.
So, brothers and sisters, it is not by any boldness in ourselves, because in ourselves there is no good. We are not worthy. We cannot stand under that impenetrable light. We cannot stand the light of God, the holiness of God.
But thank God, our boldness is in Christ Jesus. Here you find that we have boldness for entering into the holiest of all by three things.
First, by the blood of the Lamb, we are able to enter into the very presence of God and stand before Him with boldness. Why? Because the blood of the Lord Jesus has been shed. His blood has washed all our sins away.
When we stand before God, God can see no iniquity in us. It is all washed away by the blood of our Lord Jesus. That is where our boldness is.
Second, you find that it is by His opening for us a new and living way through the veil—His own flesh.
When our Lord Jesus was crucified on Calvary’s cross, at the moment when He died, something happened in the city of Jerusalem, in the temple. There, the veil which separated the holiest of all from the holy place was rent from top to bottom in two.
Through the breaking of the body of our Lord Jesus on Calvary’s cross, the veil that stood between the holiest of all and the holy place was rent in two. The way to the presence of God has been opened.
This is through the broken body of our Lord Jesus. He was broken on Calvary’s cross to open the new and living way for all of us to enter in and to live in the presence of God.
Third, you find that today we have Him. Our Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the house of God. He is now seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for us, praying for us, supplying us with His own life, with His Spirit, with His power, that we may live a life that will be pleasing to God.
So, brothers and sisters, how we do thank God that through our Lord Jesus—by His blood, through His broken body, and through His living forever for us as our High Priest—we have the boldness to enter into the holiest of all.
Today, it is a reality that we can live. Not only enter—we do not need to enter in and, in a few minutes, withdraw. No, we can live, dwell, abide, and make our home in God, in His very presence, and have loving fellowship with Him day by day, moment by moment.
This is what the Lord has done for us. Dear brothers and sisters, is this not a marvelous privilege? Today we do not need to worship God from afar off. We do not need to be in fear and trembling when we think about God.
Today we can come into God, dwell in Him, hold communion and fellowship with Him, love Him, worship Him, gaze upon Him, and be transformed by the Spirit of God, that we may be conformed to the image of Christ. This is our portion, our privilege.
Now, seeing such a tremendous privilege, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to approach. Since we have such a privilege, why do we stay out?
It cannot be imagined that, having such a privilege—that we can live daily in the presence of God, with God, holding communion with Him in sweet fellowship with Him—and yet we stay away from Him. It cannot be imagined.
So the writer encourages us to approach. Let us approach. Let us draw near. Let us draw near with a true heart.
Brothers and sisters, it is a matter of heart. It is not a matter of outward appearance. You remember the Lord Jesus said that the hour has come, and now is, when you do not worship God either in Mount Gerizim or in the temple in Jerusalem, because you worship God in spirit and in truth.
In other words, today it is not a matter of outward appearance—where or how. No, it is a matter of heart. Today we approach God with a true heart.
Thank God, we do have a true heart today. Why? Because our heart has been sprinkled by the blood from an evil conscience. Formerly, in our heart there was an evil conscience. Whenever we thought of God, our conscience would accuse us, and we fled from God. We were afraid of God.
But thank God, our conscience has been cleansed. We have a conscience without sins before God. So today we can approach God with a pure heart, with a true heart—a heart that really desires God, a heart that really loves God. We can approach God with our heart.
In fulness of faith. Three things characterize this life within the veil, this life in the holiest of all, this life with God in the presence of God. Actually, it is a life of faith, of hope, and of love.
Therefore, you find in Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith.” Now, there is a little strength that we need to add to that translation, because according to the original, it is not merely the full assurance of faith; it is the fulness of faith.
There is a vast difference between full assurance of faith and fulness of faith. I do not have time to explain it today because we have a baptism later on. But anyway, you find that it is the fulness of faith.
What is the fulness of faith? The fulness of faith means all that God has done in Christ objectively for us, and our subjective trust and belief in all that He has done for us. In other words, fulness of faith means that whatever the Lord has done for us, we believe and appropriate. That is fulness of faith.
Faith, as we find in Hebrews 11:1—now I am reading from a new translation:
Now faith is the substantiating of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Now, what is faith? Faith is the substantiating of things hoped for. Faith looks forward. It is something that we hope for; but even though it is something that we hope for, it is brought to us now. So it is called the substantiating of things hoped for.
Let me use an illustration. We have a beautiful picture here. Now, the picture is hanging there. How is it that it becomes something that you can enjoy personally?
When you see that picture, your eyes substantiate it. The picture is there, but your eyes substantiate that picture within you. In other words, it brings that beautiful scenery into your mind, and because it brings it into your mind, it gives you such enjoyment.
Now, that is what faith is. Faith substantiates all the promises of God. Faith brings all that Christ has done for us into our very life and makes them our experience so that we can enjoy them. That is faith.
Brothers and sisters, what is the life within the veil, the life in the presence of God? The life in the presence of God is not a life by sight; it is a life by faith.
Today, if you live by sight, you live externally. You live by the circumstances around you, by what you see around you. As a matter of fact, what you see around you today will not give you much enjoyment. It is a sad sight.
But, dear brothers and sisters, we do not live by sight. If you live by sight, you are outside the veil. We all live by faith. Why can we live by faith? Because we see Him.
We do not see other things; we see Him. Or may I put it this way? We see all things through Him, and that makes all the difference—every difference.
A life in the presence of God is a life of faith, a life that sees God continuously, looking off unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. The more you look at Him, the more your faith increases. The more you are able to appropriate all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. It is a life of faith.
Secondly, this life in the presence of God is a life of hope. So here it says, in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for He is faithful that promised.”
It is Robert Govett who makes a distinction between profession and confession. There is a difference between profession and confession. Profession is made among people who are friendly. Confession is rendered in the presence of the enemy.
In other words, what is confession? Confession is that you confess something, you acknowledge something, you declare something among people who are not friendly. That is confession.
The confession of hope, unwavering. Now, what is the confession of hope that we have? We have hope. The world does not have hope. In Ephesians 2, we find that they have no hope and are without God.
But we have a blessed hope: Christ in you, the hope of glory. We have hope. What is our hope? Our hope is that we may gain Him, that we may know Him, that we may know the power of His resurrection, that we may be conformed to His death, and that we may arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have tremendous hope before us. We have the hope to be transformed and conformed according to His image. We have the hope to rule and reign with Christ. We have the hope to be joined with Him eternally, to be one with Him. We have tremendous hope before us, and this is the hope that we confess even today in this world.
It is true: we have to hold fast the confession of our hope unwaveringly. Why? Because we are surrounded by adverse situations. The whole world, everything around us, is trying to destroy our hope and trying to shake our hope.
But thank God, we shall hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. Why? Because our God is faithful. We know that He will bring us to the end.
Actually, you find that in Hebrews 12. We are on an obstacle course. One brother found that, in the beginning, just passing through these obstacles was nothing. But our life is such a big obstacle course. There are so many obstacles that we have to overcome.
But let us run with patience. Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us. Look off unto Jesus, and run with patience, knowing that our Lord Jesus has already run that race and He has won.
Even if we have to suffer a little bit for it, it is worth it. Do not forget that God, in His wisdom, is training us as children, that we may be made partakers of His divine nature. Think of that blessed hope that is before us.
So, brothers and sisters, a life in the presence of God is a life of hope.
Then, of course, the third thing is in verse 24: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.” It is a life of love.
A life in God is a life of love—not only in the sense of loving God, but also loving one another. That is what you find in Hebrews 13: that we need to love one another, to be hospitable to one another, to remember those who are in bonds, to submit ourselves to the leaders, to go outside the camp to join with Christ, and so on and so forth.
So here you find that it is a life of love, a life of love. These are the things we are encouraged to do.
Brothers and sisters, just remember: we are to approach, draw near to God, and live this life of faith, of hope, and of love.
Because of the greatness of the privilege, you find that it brings to us also a tremendous responsibility. If we fail in our responsibility, then, of course, we are warned that there will be serious disciplinary action waiting for us.
Here, the writer of Hebrews not only encourages us to approach with a true heart, in fulness of faith, in confession of hope, and provoking one another to love and good works; immediately following, he begins to warn us.
Knowing that we have such a privilege, if we abuse the grace of God, if we despise the grace of God, then what will happen?
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
Here is the warning. If we abuse the grace of God, if we despise what Christ has done for us, and if we sin wilfully, that is a serious thing.
Sometimes people say that what you read from Hebrews 10:26 through verse 31 refers to unbelievers. Whenever we reach something that becomes serious, we think that it refers to other people.
But if you read the context very carefully, you find that the writer of Hebrews is not talking to unbelievers. He is talking to believers. Why? Because he says, “For if we sin wilfully.” We—not only the Hebrews who received the letter, but even the writer of Hebrews himself.
Then you find, “after receiving the knowledge of the truth.” The word “knowledge” in Greek is epignōsis, which is full knowledge. It is not just surface or mental knowledge; it is experiential knowledge. In other words, you have already experienced the truth.
Who has received the full knowledge of truth? An unbeliever does not have such knowledge. It is a believer.
Then, if you read verse 29: “wherewith he was sanctified.” In other words, he has been sanctified by the blood of the covenant. He was forgiven. His sin was washed away. He had an experience of what we call salvation.
He has been sanctified by the blood of the covenant. And verse 30 says, “The Lord shall judge His people.” You are His people. So you find that these words are not spoken to unbelievers; they are spoken to believers.
Oh, brothers and sisters, because we have such a high privilege, therefore we need to be severely warned.
Now, the word “wilfully” means deliberate, determined, sustained, and continued. If we sin deliberately, decidedly, determinately, and continuously after we have known the Lord, after we are saved, after we know the truth, after we are sanctified—if we sin wilfully against all that we have already known and experienced of the Lord—that is a serious thing.
Of course, this sin does not refer to times when, under temptation, we fall. It does not refer to that. Nor does it refer to some sin that often entangles you. There may be something in your life that you are fighting against all the time, and yet you fail again and again. It does not refer even to that.
It refers to having received the full knowledge of God, and yet sinning wilfully against it.
If you want to know what kind of sin it is, you will find it described a little bit in verse 29:
Of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
In other words, he has known the Son of God, and yet he begins to tread the Son of God under his feet. Think of that. He has been sanctified by the blood, and the blood is holy; yet he turns around and esteems it as common, as nothing.
He has also insulted the Spirit of grace. The Holy Spirit has wrought in his life and brought grace to him, and yet he insults the Spirit of grace and despises the Spirit of God.
Now, brothers and sisters, what is it? It is apostasy—apostasy. In the Bible, you find warnings against apostasy. Apostasy is a possibility.
You read 2 Peter, you read Jude, and you find warnings against apostasy. In other words, people may have come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and yet turn around completely and act in such a way that is blasphemous.
They misuse the grace of God for a dissolute life, and they even deny their only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. In history, you find such cases, but thank God, not too many. But anyway, apostasy is possible, so we are warned against it.
If such a thing should happen, there no longer remains any sacrifice for sins—no more sacrifice for sins—but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fierceness of fire about to devour the adversaries.
The writer uses a comparison. He says that if you disregard Moses’ law, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, you will die without mercy.
That is true. If you read the Old Testament, you find that when a person sinned and knew about it, he could bring a sacrifice to God and ask for forgiveness, and the sin would be covered. But there were certain things people committed in Old Testament times under the law of Moses for which there was no sacrifice.
For instance, murder. In Exodus 21:12-14, you find that if a person should kill another person deliberately, there is no sacrifice for him. Even if he should flee to the city of refuge, he has to be taken out and put to death.
Or adultery. In Deuteronomy 22:22, there is no sacrifice for sin. In other words, there were certain things done deliberately against the law of Moses which, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, were punished with death.
If this was true in Old Testament times, how much more severe will it be in New Testament times, under grace, with such tremendous privilege, if people should turn around and tread Christ, the Son of God, under their feet?
How much more severe the punishment will be. The writer uses that as a comparison. In other words, it is even more serious than death.
Thank God, those who believe in the Lord Jesus, who have their sins forgiven, and who have received eternal life—God will never go back and take away His eternal life. God will never again throw him into the lake of fire as if he had never believed. No.
Because the calling and gifts of God are without repentance. That is true. But it is equally true that, even if God does not take away the eternal life, the gift that He has given you for eternity, if we wilfully sin and do not repent, a severe disciplinary action is waiting for us.
What is described there is a fearful expectation of judgment. As a matter of fact, that judgment is grace—true judgment. God will correct us; He will discipline us.
Let me use an illustration: David. David committed adultery and murder. You remember the story? After he committed this sin, God sent the prophet Nathan to him and pointed out to him what he had done.
As a matter of fact, David, a man after God’s own heart, had been smitten in conscience all the time, even before the prophet pointed it out. In other words, David really repented of what he had done.
God told Nathan that God had forgiven him. But do you think he got off that easily? No.
If you read Psalm 51, you find something there. Psalm 51:16:
For Thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it:
Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.
David knew that for the sin of murder and adultery there was no sacrifice for sins. He knew that. David said, “If Thou still desirest sacrifice, I will offer it.” But David knew that it was no use—no use. There was no sacrifice for sin.
But thank God, even though there remained no sacrifice for sins, David said:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
David offered the sacrifice of a broken spirit, a contrite and broken heart. Because of this, God did not despise him. God said, “I will forgive you,” but discipline and judgment would follow him and his house.
You find how terrible things happened to David’s house. Forgiven, and yet severely punished; severely disciplined. Brothers and sisters, it is the grace of God. It is still the grace of God.
The sin of apostasy is most serious. We do not know who has gone to the point of no return. We only hope that even those who have apostatized may still repent and come to God with a broken and contrite heart.
They will still be forgiven, even though they may have to be severely disciplined. But it is possible that in this life some people may go to the point of no return. If that is so, then in the age to come they will be severely disciplined.
A very famous case concerning apostasy happened at the turn of the century. There was a very brilliant man by the name of F. W. Newman. He was Cardinal Newman’s brother. He was a brilliant man.
In his early days, he was in constant company with such great men of God as J. N. Darby and others. He was in constant company with them. He was really saved, and he seemed to love the Lord.
But then, at a certain period of his life, he suddenly changed completely. For some twenty years or so, he became a skeptic. He began to oppose the truth of God, and he polluted and deceived many young people in the university. He began to apostatize.
But thank God, before he died, he repented. He asked that on his tombstone it should be written that he died trusting in the blood of the Lord Jesus.
So we feel that even though it is such a serious thing, God is so merciful that there is still opportunity for such people to return.
But anyway, you find the writer of Hebrews says—we have not read that portion because we did not have the time, but now we can read it—verse 32:
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;
partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.
For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.
Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.
For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.
But My righteous one shall live by faith: and if he shrink back, My soul hath no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition, but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.
So, dear brothers and sisters, it is a real comfort. Even though we find that the warning is so serious, we do not need to be afraid, because by the grace of God, He has supported us; He has supplied us, that we may continue on, endure with faith, and not draw back.
Brothers and sisters, just a little while. It will not be long. Even though it is difficult, just a little while, and He that comes will come. The righteous shall live by faith. So may the Lord help us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we do praise and thank Thee that Thou hast given us such high privilege, privilege that people in the old days could never have. But thank God that it is now our portion, that we may dwell in Thy very presence and have sweet communion with Thee daily.
Our Father, we pray that, having such privilege through the blood of the Lamb and the new and living way Christ has opened for us, with Him as our High Priest, truly we may draw near with boldness, with a true heart, in fulness of faith, with hope unwavering, and provoking one another to love and good works as long as it is called today.
Lord, we pray that this may be true with all of us. Deliver us from wilfully sinning against Thee, from turning our backs against Thee. Lord, we pray that we cannot keep ourselves, but we commit ourselves to Thee, knowing that Thou art able to keep us until that day. To Thee be all the praise and glory, in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.