So, What Do You Want?

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He is our High Priest

He sympathizes because of His love for us and His own suffering

We NEED to go to Him

1 John 5:14–15 ESV

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

HE HEARS US

John 14:14 ESV

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

What do you want?

Proverbs 10:11 ESV

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Matthew 12:34 ESV

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:11 ESV

it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

“Do you know my Jesus?”

Where is your heart, O pilgrim? What does your light reveal?

Psalm 66:18 ESV

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

- if I regard sin in my heart the Lord will not hear

God is not obliged to answer any prayer from anyone that is not in accordance with His will

Our requests may reveal residual pride in our hearts

Turn to #206 in Songs To Remember -

1. If you believe mid-20th was the heyday of the church, you haven’t been attending CH on Sunday nights

2. If you ever heard that the problem is singing ‘new music’, here’s the counter-factual; it’s about content, not age

3. Even if it were the heyday, know that there is always garbage that comes along beside, in, and with

It seems to me that the author of this song skipped asking to be seated in honor for expecting it as part of his overtime pay

Do not seek to exalt self, or even your church

Maybe you will be like Esther who was put in a place of prominence for “such a time as this”, but she was reluctant.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Do not hesitate, but rather go boldly to tell The Lord what you want, and if it seems He continually does not answer, ask Him to help consider your own heart

Your Cup, Your Baptism -

Jesus speaks here of drinking and of baptism and yet intends nothing of liquids

Jesus’s Baptism

Luke 12:50 ESV

I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 24.82 βάπτισμα βαπτίζομαι

24.82 βάπτισμα βαπτίζομαι: (an idiom, literally ‘to be baptized with a baptism’) to be overwhelmed by some difficult experience or ordeal

to be immersed = to be completely covered

This is where the ‘optics’ prescribed by God begin to matter

Philippians 2:8–9 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

The exalting of Jesus by the Father is directly based upon His sacrifice on Calvary - not something we can, will, or are expected or asked to accomplish (There will be no overtime pay in glory)

Your Baptism is prepared

Mark 10:40 ESV

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Our own path, calling, ministry has been predetermined by God

Was not this the case with Jesus?

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

How much less then for us?

How Firm A Foundation - Anonymous 1787

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said— To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Let us serve - Mark 10:42-45

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not harm thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose, I will not, I will not, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Let us serve -

In light of the nature of the Kingdom of God - servant leadership as opposed to competitive / oppressive atuhority

In light of all that Christ has done for and given us

It is we who should ask - What can I do? What do you want me to do for you?

Had the Rich Young Ruler earlier in the chapter had this in his heart (been united to Jesus by faith), he would have gladly given all he had, for it is nothing compared to what Christ has given.

Truly Jesus came to serve. He gave His life in service to God and for our salvation. He invites us to ask of Him what we want and need, and in light of what we receive from Him to bless and serve others.

Related Media

Related Sermons