A Worshiper's Heart - Hebrews 10:22

Just a few thoughts on the way we draw near to the Lord:

Hebrews 10:22

NKJV

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.

NLT

let us go right into the presence of God

with sincere hearts fully trusting him.

For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled

with Christ’s blood to make us clean,

and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

• Worshipers have hearts that draw near

Ps. 73:28 says that it is good for us to draw near to the Lord; and James 4:8 tells us that when we draw near to the Lord, He draws near to us. Worshipers must be those who are always seeking to draw near to the Lord. We have the privilege of going right into the presence of God - worship is a journey into His presence.

• Worshipers have hearts that are true

The Lord looks into the intentions and depths of our hearts - not just our words. The Greek word for the word "true." is alethinos which means  real or genuine. True worship piurs out of a true heart. It is one thing to  praise God with our lips and actions, but the Lord is looking into our hearts. We might lift our voices and hands to worship Him, but make sure these are an truthful outflow of the passion of your true heart. 

• Worshipers have hearts filled with faith

Worshipers know that without faith it is impossible to please God - this verse in Hebrew 11:6 shows us the relationship between faith and worship: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This verse could correctly say: ...for he who comes to worship God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek to worship Him. 

We often think that faith is primarily about believing hard enough to receive things form the Lord, but the beginning of our faith is in giving ourselves to Him.

• Worshipers have hearts that are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus

In the Old Testament, the priests would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice as they would enter into the presence of God. Sin has separated man from God, and He has determined that pure sacrificial blood would make a way for us to enter in to His presence. The blood of animals sacrifices in the Old Testament could only cover sin...but the blood of the perfect sacrificial Lamb - Jesus - completely removes our sin and makes a way for us to be righteous and able to draw near to the Father. There is no sin that is ugly or powerful enough to escape the cleansing power of Christ's blood. Worshipers have access to the holy place because of Calvary. As we see in this verse, even sins of the heart and conscience are cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

• Worshipers have hearts that are washed in water

In the Old Testament times, the priests would offer a blood sacrifice, and then wash themselves in the water - found in the laver. When Jesus was on the cross, His side was pierced and blood and water flowed from Him. We have the cleansing from the blood and also the pure water. Our lives are justified by the blood, and sanctified by the water or Word of God (Eph. 5:26).

Maybe it is the blood that takes us up the hill to the presence of God, and the water that takes us into His holy place...to His face:

Ps. 24:3-4

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?

Or who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart…

7 Things - Reasons We Hide From, Or Avoid God's Presence

Adam and Eve heard God’s presence:

Gen. 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

On this occasion, God’s presence was made known to Adam and Eve as a sound—the sound of Him walking. They must have become familiar with the sound of His footsteps through all the encounters they had with Him. (I wonder what it sounds like to hear God walking.) What a shame that man’s first response to God’s presence in this instance was to hide. Men have been trying to hide from God ever since, but to no avail. He is omnipresent and knows exactly where we are, what we are thinking and all the works of our hands. We should see this as a source of comfort rather than a hindrance—He is a “very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

7 Reasons we hide from, or avoid God’s presence—

 

•  When we draw near to Him, we find that it is us who must change—not Him. We cannot control or manipulate God. We hate change; so we think that hiding is the easiest option.

•  In the presence of God we only have two choices—obey or disobey. We may be afraid of what God might ask of us. If we are already disobeying the Lord, we may not want to face Him.

•  Spiritual fear causes us to withdraw from the light of His presence. True openness before God is costly and exposing. We are naked and vulnerable when we come before Him.

•  The sight of God involves the sight of self. We are forced to face who/what we are—pretense is no longer an option. If you gaze upon God, you WILL be confronted with your humanity at some point – it is unavoidable.

 • We hide from HIm before He hides from us. Our humanity makes us afraid that the Lord might disappoint us—He might not desire to be present with us. We believe that others experience His presence, but “surely His favor is not upon me.” In other words – we attribute human responses to Him rather than taking Him at His word – that He loves us absolutely, completely, without reservation or pre-conditions.

•  Traditions can sometimes keep us from intimacy with God - that is if we place the traditions above personal faith and relationship with the Father. We hide behind our traditions by holding to the way things have been done for centuries rather than blaze the trail of our own passionate and intimate relationship with Him. Unfortunately, some churches practice “religion” rather than “relationship.” All churches are based on relationship, but that aspect of their beliefs may have dwindled in order to accommodate a “safer” or more publicly acceptable form of Christianity.

•  We may have an incorrect view of who God is and how He communicates with us. Just like the children of Israel in Exodus19–20 we sometimes withdraw from His presence because of fear and misunderstanding.

Draw near to God today - don't let anything keep you from the light and love of 

His presence.

Ps. 84:1-2

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty.

I long, yes, I faint with longing

to enter the courts of the Lord.

With my whole being, body and soul,

I will shout joyfully to the living God.