Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
Here are three things that can be seen from this verse:
- The Nature of the Throne
“the holiest”
Before any believer can ever come before God in prayer, it needs to be remembered that no human has any natural right to approach God. We all are sinners and deserve Hell (Romans 6:23).
Old Testament believers never could approach God directly in the Tabernacle or Temple. It was reserved for the High Priest alone – and that was only once a year. If the High Priest was not clean (having confessed sin and offered the right sacrifice beforehand), they would die when they entered the Most Holy Place.
Anytime a believer would seek God in prayer, it must be remembered that He is holy. It means that if there is unconfessed sin in your life – it would be foolish to think you would have your prayers answered: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).
The good news is that if we honestly confess our sin to Him with the intent to turn from them (I John 1:9), He will gladly hear your prayers and cleanse you. I had a pastor friend some time ago who once told me that the one thing he feared more than anything was that God would not hear him when he prayed. Sin can cause God to turn a deaf ear to your prayers.
- The Right to Access the Throne
“the blood of Jesus”
The only thing that gives any believer the right to come before God is the all-sufficient “blood of Jesus” to cover and pay for our sins. Like the Passover, it is His blood – and only His precious blood – that enables us to be passed from death unto life (Leviticus 17:11).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, our sins are put away and we have been made the children of God. Being that salvation makes us the children of God now, we can come anytime into His presence and have our prayers heard.
- The Boldness Enjoyed Before the Throne
“boldness to enter into the holiest”
Christ’s blood gives us access to God at any time. Believers do not need to be afraid to come to God – even when they have sinned. The exception is when you want to harbor some known sin in your heart.
Because God loves us with an everlasting love, and because our sins are forgiven, we can come before Him in prayer. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit.
When your heart is right with God, you will discover with David that: “He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me” (II Samuel 22:20).
Christian, does God delight in you because you obey Him and seek to do what is pleasing in His eyes? Can you pray to God right now and expect to get an answer, or would you have to do a lot of confessing first? If not, why not take a few minutes right now and get on praying ground again?