Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Throne of Grace

Theme: Principles to Enjoying the Grace of God

Series: Grasping the Foundational Truths of Prayer

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

(Hebrews 4:14-16)

The confidence Christians may have in approaching the Throne of Grace

Today’s passage of Scripture lays the foundation for the confidence Christians may have in approaching the “Throne of Grace.”

Christ being in heaven and without sin builds a full trust in the child of God.

Christians who have Holy Spirit revelation and illumination on the truths found in today’s message have the blessings of assistance in overcoming sin and guidance throughout their entire Christian walk.

(The Expositors Bible Commentary)

I would propose to you that true prayer is spiritual business from beginning to end, and when offered in Jesus’ Name, according to God’s will prayer is powerful and effective.

(James 5:16; Barnes Notes)

What are three principles to enjoying the “Throne of Grace?”

It is imperative that we understand that 1.)

The Throne is of a holy God.

2.) The Throne is of a Sovereign God and 3.) Know what the Throne of Grace is.

Throne of a holy God

In approaching the Courts of God one must remember that it is the Throne of a holy God.

It should be approached in reverence.

There are several passages of Scripture that show the response of great men who received a divine grace from God.

In the year king Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Angels were flying above Him and calling one to another, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty...” (Isaiah 6:4)

In this Biblical record of the angels calling to one another we read of the prophet Isaiah getting a vision of God and receiving the commission of proclaiming a message to the Lord’s people.

Isaiah’s work was about to grow.

Perhaps the Lord saw fit to renew Isaiah’s commission through a vision because, like most prophets, he had seen very little of what man calls success in his ministry.

Maybe he had considered giving up so God saw fit to renew his commission through a vision.

Whatever was in the heart of the prophet Isaiah was overridden by what God wanted proclaimed about Himself, God is “Holy, holy, holy.

When something is mentioned in the Word of God three times the people of God had better take note of it.

Isaiah’s response while standing before the throne was, “Woe to me!...

I am ruined!” (Isaiah 6:5) Isaiah began to confess his sin and the sins of his people.

(Isaiah 6:5) Standing in God’s light allowed Isaiah to see himself and the Israelites for who they really were.

(Matthew Henry's Commentary)

I have noticed Christians who spend a great deal of time in the light of God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit just comes upon them and reveals to them what is in their hearts.

They confess and they receive a special grace from God as well as becoming broken hearted over what they see in their communities.

They have Holy Spirit Illumination of was written by the beloved John, “But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7) The Greek word for purifies (kathoriza) means in a spiritual sense to purify from the pollution of and the guilt of sin.

That is exactly what happened to Isaiah in his vision and commission from God.

After Isaiah’s confession an angel took a live coal, which came from the altar where sin had been dealt with, which is symbolic of Christ’s death.

The angel touched the mouth of Isaiah and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

(Isaiah 6:7) Isaiah understood that the throne of God, the temple, representing the place of God presence was to be entered in reverence.

God’s response to Isaiah’s heart was a cleansing that comes not because of what Isaiah had accomplished, but from that which represented the work of Christ.

The angel of God touched the lips of Isaiah with a “live coal” from the altar which symbolized the place where the penalty of sin was paid by a substitute offered in the sinner’s place.

Dr. Kay suggests that this fire is “the Divine love.”

The greatest love ever shown to mankind was when God sent His Son and Jesus came willingly to pay the ultimate price for sinners.

John the Baptist has great news for us.

In Matthew 3:11 he speaks of the future work of Christ to His church, “[Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

To the believer, the Holy Spirit as fire ministers warmth to the spiritual heart, bringing illumination and revelation that enable the child of God to obey.

He purifies and cleanses the soul.

Because the carnal nature of mankind survives the baptism of water, it takes the continued work of the Holy Spirit to assure a personal life of holiness.

(The Holy Spirit, L.Thomas Holdcrat)

While attending the North American Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Louisville, Kentucky, Bonnie and I attended a very large prayer meeting.

Nearly 2,500 evangelists and their spouses were seeking the Lord in true heartfelt prayer.

As we were praying the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon that service.

We were able to get past denominationalism, legalism, and traditionalism.

One man who was sitting not far in front of me went running to the front, fell on his face and began to weep and cry out to God.

This visitation of the Holy Spirit came on a day when had spent the whole day on the messenger of the gospel and his need for the holiness of God in his life.

Men from the Billy Graham organization went and put their hands upon him and prayed with him.

It was very evident the Lord was doing a cleansing.

Wonderful things happen when you seek the Throne of Grace and are willing to just let the Holy Spirit into the sanctuary of the heart to do the work of God.

Charles Spurgeon wrote it well: “In prayer we are to come to the Throne of Grace in reverence.

Rebels with unrepented sin in their hearts and those who will not leave their pride should not come before the Throne.”

The Body of Christ is to approach the Throne of Grace with the heart of the Psalmist who wrote; “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offense way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting.”

(Psalm 139:24) Walking in this foundational truth allows Christians to enjoy the Throne of Grace and enables them to walk in reverent fear of the Lord, knowing that He is holy.

Christians need to grasp the truth revealed to the Apostle Peter as the Holy Spirit moved him to write to God’s elect.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’"

(1 Peter 1:13-16)

Throne of a Sovereign God

The second principle to enjoying the Throne of Grace is to rest on the fact that it is the throne of a Sovereign God.

Psalm 103:19 in the New American Standard Bible says, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all.”

Sovereignty is a prerogative arising out of the perfection of the Supreme Being.

God is Spirit (John 4:24) and therefore a person, infinite, eternal, and immutable in His being.

He is perfect as Creator and the Preserver of the universe and everything in it.

The Spirit of the Living God reveals to us in Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.”

Let the Holy Spirit place this truth in your heart as you approach the Throne of God, “…His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.

He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:34-35)

In other words, the child of God who enjoys the Throne of Grace understands that He does not approach God saying, “What are you doing!

Why don’t you do it this way?”

But rather saying, “Father, you are loving and you know best, therefore, give me the will to want your will and pray accordingly.

A Holy Spirit led prayer warrior prays as King David prayed, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”

(1 Chronicles 29:11) When Christians fully have a Biblical view of God’s love and sovereign control they express a life that says, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; (Psalm 24:1)

From these passages of Scripture and many more we see what is plain.

1.)

The sovereignty of God is universal.

It extends over all His creatures from the highest to the lowest.

2.) God’s sovereignty is absolute.

There is no limit to be placed to His authority.

3.) It is immutable.

It can neither be ignored nor rejected.

It binds all creatures as inexorable.

This means that prayers cannot bind God to our will, but we should desire to pray His that will be done.

The Word of God as a whole teaches us that His sovereignty is exercised, 1.)

In establishing the laws, physical and moral, by which all creatures are to be governed.

2.) In determining the nature and powers of the different orders of created beings, and in assigning each its appropriate sphere.