Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast
Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast
A Friend in Heaven
When Scripture cuts close to the bone, what happens next? We open with Hebrews 4:14–16 and trace a path from exposure to embrace, from honest conviction to bold approach. The thread running through every moment is a Person—Jesus, our great High Priest—who knows our weaknesses from the inside and invites us to draw near for mercy and grace.
We talk about the original audience of Hebrews—a community in crisis—and why the writer insists that Jesus is better than angels, Moses, Abraham, and the Levitical priesthood. That “better” is not theory; it’s fuel for endurance when faith feels thin. We explore how the living and active Word doesn’t just inform but transforms, exposing motives and calling for a real response. The Nathan-and-David moment shows how God’s truth breaks through our defenses; Psalm 51 shows what a soft heart does next.
From there we linger on the humanity of Jesus. He felt heat, hunger, betrayal, and fatigue; He was tempted in every way yet without sin. That shared experience isn’t a footnote—it’s the foundation for His sympathy and advocacy. Because the Son is seated at the right hand of the Father, we approach a throne named for grace, not terror. We unpack the difference between mercy (pardon) and grace (power), why Paul’s thorn teaches us that grace often sustains more than it removes, and how God sometimes stills storms and sometimes stills us while the storm rages on.
If you need forgiveness for yesterday or strength for today, the door is open. Come as you are, ask boldly, and receive what you truly need in this time of need. If this conversation helps you take a step toward the throne of grace, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find it.
You are my strengthman, I am with you and a treasure that I seek you my all in seeking you as seeking you as a precious you know to give a baby of you my holiness precious lama singus precious your names in Jesus precious your name homage Jesus precious Hebrews chapter number four Hebrews chapter number four and while you're turning there let me just say it's good to be here.
SPEAKER_01:I hope you feel the same way. And if you're visiting, I want you to know that these doors swing open and welcome hinges. That's just to say there are no strangers here, only friends who've not yet met. Hebrews chapter number four. From verse fourteen to verse number sixteen. The text says, therefore, since we have a great high priest who is passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. If you read that, say amen. We have a friend in heaven. We have a friend in heaven. That's the symbolic title for this morning. But before we get there, I need you to understand that the book of Hebrews is a special book. It's special because it's written to people experiencing crisis, people who are struggling with their belief, struggling with their faith, struggling with holding on to Jesus. It's written from that perspective to encourage them not to abandon the faith. It's written to encourage them not to abandon the Lord and the Savior Jesus Christ. It's written to tell them we need you to keep running this race set before you, even if it comes with difficulty. To this end, the Hebrew writer begins by setting up Jesus as better than anything you've experienced in Hebrews chapter number one, verse number one. He says, God who had sun dry times and in diverse manner spake unto the fathers by the prophets, had in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world, who is the express image of his nature. And he goes on in verse number four to say, Who has inherited a better name than the angels? And he lets you know that Jesus is better than the angels because God never referred to an angel as his son. So he says, Jesus is better than the angels. In chapter two, he he makes it known that Jesus is better than Moses. He goes on to say that Jesus is better than Abraham, Jesus is better than the Levitical priesthood, Jesus is better. His entire argument is Jesus is better than anything and anyone you could put next to him. So that he wants you to think about what you're going through, your circumstances, or even the good things you have in your life, and put Jesus next to it, and he believes that you will conclude Jesus is better, Jesus is more than Jesus is worth it. And because you believe that Jesus is better, he's encouraging you not to abandon your faith, not to leave Jesus, because if he's better, then what are you turning to when you leave him? Where we are in our text is interesting because what he does begins in chapter 3. We're in chapter 4, verse 14, and it begins with the word therefore. Anytime you see the word therefore, you need to read what went before the therefore, so you could understand what the therefore is therefore. I'll say it one more time slowly. Anytime you see therefore in scripture, it automatically tells you read what went before. Because there's a reason for the therefore being there. We don't have time because many of you expect me to be done within a certain allotment of time to read chapter number three all the way to chapter number four. But let me try to condense it for you. In chapter number three, he says the reason why Israel is not blessed is because they did not listen to his word. The reason why Israel did not make it to the promised land, the reason why Israel did not find rest, the reason why Israel was not blessed was because Israel failed to listen to his word. He says twice, once in chapter three, today, if you hear my word, do not harden your heart. Then again in chapter four, he repeats it today. If you hear my word, do not harden your heart. Then he meets us in verse number 12 to say that the word of God is quick and powerful, living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. The reason why he says this is the way you hear God's word is by reading his word. Let me say that again. The way you hear God's word, his voice, today, if you hear his voice, harden not your heart. The way you hear his voice is by reading his words. But what that means then is when you read God's word, he expects a response. Every time you encounter the word of God, God is trying to bring about some transformation in your life. So you're not reading scripture simply to say you read scripture, you're not reading scripture simply to say that you could memorize scripture. The reason why you're reading scripture is because you believe this is the word of God, and you believe that God has something to tell you, and when you read it, he's speaking, and when he's speaking, you're listening and ready to respond. Every time God speaks, he expects a response. What that means then is every time you encounter the word of God, you should not simply read it and leave without thinking about what is God asking of you, what is he commanding of you, what is he expecting of you. If at times I'll tell you that was the failure of Israel, that they heard God's word, but they never responded to the word that they heard. The problem sometimes in church today is that we come hoping that the preacher is in a good mood so he could preach with enthusiasm and excitement, and I get a good word that makes me feel good, but it doesn't transform my life. The goal of Sunday morning, the goal of me speaking to you right now is not just to fill time, but so that I could help you connect with God's word so you could hear God's voice and then you respond. Every time he speaks, he expects a response. I know that's right in this text because if you know verse number 12, it tells you that the word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword piercing between making a uh a split between joints and marrows, thoughts and the discernments of the heart. The word could reach in places that nothing else could. But verse 13 helps you understand why he said verse 12. Verse 13 tells you that there is no creature hidden from his sight, and all things are laid bare or exposed. What that means then is God's word is a tool to expose you, to show you and I who we really are, how God sees us, but then tells us how God expects us to be different. So the word is a tool that God uses to actually expose us. Here's one thing that I've learned in my short time in ministry. We don't like to be exposed for anything. We don't like being exposed, and so what happens is because our nature is one where we don't like being exposed, we are even resistant towards God's word when it's designed to expose us. You're looking at me funny. Let me give you an example. David committed a sin with Bathsheba, and the prophet Nathan came to him to tell him to expose him. What you did is a sin. But it was interesting as I was remembering the account of David and Nathan, that Nathan did not come to him directly and simply tell him you have sinned. Nathan decided to tell him a story about sheep. I'll wait. Why is Nathan telling him a story about sheep? Because Nathan knows that David does not want to be exposed. Not just that, David is a king. And if David does not like the words of Nathan, he could kill Nathan. In fact, David already killed somebody because he didn't like their actions. So Nathan is worried about his life because he knows that our nature is one where we don't like to be exposed. So he tells him this elaborate story about sheep. And David gets worked up because the one thing we do like is stories. You like a good story, whether it's in picture form or book form, all of us like a good story. So he tells him this really good story, and David gets invested in this story enough so that he says the wicked man needs to die off with his head, and Nathan is now in a position to expose him and tell him, You are the man. So David just heard the word of God, and I just told you every time you hear God's word, it demands a response. That's why David penned Psalm 51. Here's his response God, against you alone I have sinned. Create in me a clean heart, and do not remove your spirit from me. That's his response. You look at scripture, and every time God speaks, he expects a response. Look at the New Testament. Every time Jesus speaks, he expects a response. The Hebrew writer then tells you the word that we read is still living and active because it's the word of God and it still demands a response. So there are times that you read the word and it exposes us for who we are. That could seem like bad news until you read verse 14, 15, and 16. Now we could start discernment. Because the word exposes us, sometimes it shows us our wretchedness, our unrighteousness, our unrighteousness, our unholiness, our ugliness. And when it does that, verse 14 says, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, and the reason why he says this is to make your mind think about a high priest under the Old Testament system. The high priest in the Old Testament was the person that you would bring your offering to, and who would who you would confess your sins to. He would then take your offering, he would then take your confession, and he would go into the tabernacle, into the holy of holies, where God's presence is, and he would offer sacrifice on your behalf. So he helps you when you are exposed to find forgiveness from God. The Hebrews text then says, instead of a Levitical high priest, we have a high priest who has not gone into a tabernacle but has passed through the heavens and is now in God's actual presence, as opposed to the Levitical High Priest who was in the tabernacle that represented God's presence. We have a high priest in God's presence, and then he gives you his name, Jesus, Son of God. What that means then is without saying anything else, Jesus is not just a savior, he is, but he's also our high priest. He's the guy you turn to when you've been exposed. When confronted with God's word, when confronted with sin, when you see your wretchedness, you need to find your high priest. But there's a reason why you need your priest. Says, this high priest who's called Jesus, the Son of God, and I don't have time, just Son of God would take 45 minutes to explain that Son of God here means that he is God's anointed, specially chosen king. But you don't have 45 minutes for me just to explain, son of God. Jesus, son of God, has passed through the heavens and he's now in the presence of Yahweh Himself, God Himself, he then says that this high priest is able to sympathize with your weaknesses. Okay, I realize what my problem is. I didn't say that without Jesus, God in his godness does not know what you're going through. Hold on, I know that sounds like blasphemy. Let me explain. I'm not saying God doesn't have an intellectual knowledge, what I'm saying is he doesn't have the physical experience. That's the the the differentiating mark that I'm making. God knows all things, but hasn't experienced all the things that he knows. Let me make that make sense. If Jesus had not come in the flesh, God would have never felt hungry. God in his godness has never been hungry one day in his life. God in his godness has never been tired one day in his life. God in his godness never had friends who didn't answer the phone when they called. He has never been betrayed, he has never been insulted, he has never been spat upon. Verse 15 says, We have a high priest who can sympathize with us and our weaknesses because he was like us and at all points tested like we were. What that brings out is Jesus' humanity, not his divinity, and that gets me excited. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but the reason why you get grace and mercy is not because of his divinity, but because of his humanity. But just hold on, stick a pin there, I'll explain it. Jesus comes in the flesh so that he could experience the throes of humanity. And as he experiences the throes of humanity, he has family that thinks he's mad. He has friends that have betrayed him. He has people that have rejected him. He walked in sun, like Arkansas summer, and knew what it was like to have to reach by a well and rest because he's tired from the heat. He knew what it's like to be thirsty. He knew what it was like to be hungry for bread after fasting 40 days. He knew what it's like to be tempted, but he overcame all of it. Here's the beauty. He did it in his humanity. The reason why that should get you excited is because you could do it too. If he did. That's all right. That's all right. But the text continues to say, because he could sympathize, because he could feel, because he understands what you are going through, where you are, because he knows, because he experienced these things, verse 16 then says, therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace. I could now come with confidence before God, the Father, because of Jesus being human. Okay, okay, okay. I need two chairs. Jimmy, let me borrow you. I I want to borrow you, but but I also want a chair. I want two chairs. Oh, I didn't plan this. This just happened. Okay, so while he helps me out with that, see this is why preachers stick to a script. Because sometimes you have to plan, and there are things you may not account for, right? But I don't like scripts. Um just put them right in front of this table here, and then sit on one, and today you will be God. Amen. Amen. Let me pick on somebody else. Drew, come and take the other seat. But before Drew does that, Drew, I want you to sit right here. Jimmy is the father. What the Hebrew writer is setting up is this. When I am exposed, when I'm told that I have sinned and I need grace or forgiveness, if I just come to the father because he's holy, because he's righteous, because he's God, there's a side of him that says, the soul that sins, it shall surely die. There's a part of him because he's righteous and holy that says the wages of sin is death. But there's someone seated at his right hand side. So I think I need you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So what happens now is I'm still coming before the throne, and I'm still saying, Father, forgive me, for I have sinned. I'm still saying, Father, I need help. But before he renders judgment, I have a friend in heaven. I have a friend who says, Before you pronounce judgment, let me just tell you something. I was there, and that sun is hot. I was there, and I know what it's like to be tempted, I know what it's like to be hungry, I know how difficult it is or was for Anderson to go through what he went through. And so I'm asking you: instead of condemning him, give him grace. Instead of condemning him, be lenient and give him mercy. My friend intercedes on my behalf with his dad. And when he does that, I then get grace and mercy instead of condemnation. I just wish I had a church right there. If it wasn't for my friend in heaven, I would not be a recipient of forgiveness, of grace, or mercy. I would only receive the right due for my unjust behavior. So when he says in verse 16, come boldly, I could come confidently before God now, even though God is holy and righteous, because I know next to God is the high priest. But that high priest is my friend. And because my friend is the high priest, he will petition the father on my behalf. But I also have an inside track because my friend, who's the high priest, is also the son of the judge. I'm ready to run around this church. Y'all don't see what watch this, watch this, watch this, watch this. See, it's one thing that my friend understands me. It's one thing that my friend is functioning as a high priest, but it's another thing altogether to know that my friend has a friend. Because the judge is his daddy, he knows that he could get the air of his father at any time. I have his heir, but he has his dad's heir. So that every time I come to his dad, I know he is right there interceding for me. And because he's interceding as a high priest, as a friend, but also as a son, his dad will listen. So I am confident to get grace and mercy because I have a friend, and my friend has a friend. Does that make sense, Church? You all sure? All right, thank you guys. Let's just read verse 16 again. Make sure it makes sense, and we can go home. Some Bibles have boldness. It's the idea that even though I'm coming before a holy and righteous God, I'm not scared. Even though I'm coming before a king, I'm not scared. This is not the same thing as not having reverence. I'm still respecting him because he's God. But I'm not scared to approach him. And I'm coming to him, verse 16, the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace. Mercy and grace are not the same thing. Remember, we started saying that we're exposed. I'm exposed, I'm undone, I'm wretched. There's something sinful in me, with me, around me. So I'm approaching him. The first thing you need is mercy, leniency, forgiveness. So I'm coming because I stand in need of mercy. When you get mercy, you also find grace. Grace here, we only speak of grace one-sidedly. So that if I was to poll you now, what is grace, you would say it's the unmerited favor of God. Like you rehearsed it. That's true. Grace is not just favor, grace is also God's ability, his sustaining help and ability that you receive in difficult times. So it's not always favor. Grace here is not God giving you favor, but God giving you what you need to make through this difficulty. Okay. There's a guy called Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter number 12, who says that he has a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. And this Paul says, I sought the Lord three times that he would remove this thorn in the flesh. And Paul said that God responded to him by saying, My grace is sufficient. Grace day does not mean favor. Grace day means that while you're dealing with this thorn, I'll give you the resources, I'll give you the ability to endure, to sustain, to overcome without me removing it myself. So grace looks differently depending on where it is in scripture. Does that make sense now? So the grace here, if you keep reading, it makes sense, so that you will get mercy and find grace to help. Grace here means God bestowing upon you whatever you need as you're dealing with whatever you're dealing with, so that you could sustain, so that you could endure, and then you could overcome. So I come to God boldly after being exposed, and He gives me mercy, leniency, and forgiveness, and then gives me grace so I could sustain, endure, and overcome. Find grace to help, last few words, in a time of need. The reason why we should be praying, people, one of the reasons, is because as you pray, you have a friend in heaven who petitions the God of heaven so that he dispenses grace and mercy towards you, so that as you're dealing with whatever you're dealing with. I personally love the fact that it says that you get mercy and find grace to help in time of need, and he didn't say in time of financial distress, or in time of marital dispute, or in time of children's disobedience, or in time of fill in the blank, because it doesn't matter what your need is, he has grace and mercy for your need. Oh, that's good. So, what that means here, right now, is we could have a kaleidoscope of people with multitudinous needs. Your need doesn't have to be mine. Somebody could just need God's peace because they're going through turmoil. Somebody else could need God's healing, his intervention in their marriage, his intervention in their life, in their finances. It doesn't matter what you need, he has grace and mercy to help you in time of need. That's good news. But it means that I need to be connected to his voice so I could be exposed to find out when I do have a need. So I could then come boldly before his throne and have a friend who then says, give Anderson mercy and grace to help him in this time of need. Here's why I like scripture. Because I could take a message like this and then say something like, It does not matter who you are, where you are, what you're going through, God has mercy and grace for you even now. All you need to do is draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. So that's my encouragement to you on this morning. If you're going through something, I know someone who could supply all your needs. And even when he doesn't answer the way that you want him to, we'll give you mercy and grace in your situation. Because here's the truth: sometimes you ask God to quiet the storm, and he's not interested in quieting the storm. Sometimes he's interested in quieting you while you go through the storm. See, most of us were familiar with him saying, Peace be still. But we forget there was a time where his disciples were caught in a storm on a boat, and he was walking on water intending to pass them by. But then they bawl out, and Jesus said, It is I don't be afraid. But when he said that, the storm is still raging. When Peter said, Lord, if it is you, ask me to come so that I could walk on water. When Peter said that the storm was still raging. When Peter began walking on water, it wasn't because he stilled the storm, but because he stilled Peter long enough for him to find faith to rise above what was previously holding him back. He does not always still your storms. Sometimes he wants to still you. But whether he stills your storm or stills you, he's going to give you mercy and grace for both. And that's good news for all of us. If you're not yet a Christian, this does not apply to you. And so if you're not yet a Christian, you can get grace and mercy to help. But it begins with you saying, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If you are a Christian, you just need to hear the words and believe it. And remember that the warning of Hebrews is, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, so that your response, even now, should be coming boldly before his throne, asking for mercy and grace to help you in time of need. Let me help you with that. Let's all stand. Don't sing yet, let's just stand. I am a firm believer in taking positive steps, even in church. So I don't want you to wait until you reach home or you leave the sanctuary to then say you want to draw near to God. This is an opportunity, even now. We just heard his voice in Hebrews. We have an opportunity to respond. Don't wait until later. And so now, if your response is to accept Christ and become a Christian, don't wait. Do it now. If you're already a Christian, don't wait until you reach home to pray about whatever you want to pray about or to ask for grace and mercy about whatever you want to ask for grace and mercy about. Now is a good time. We're going to sing. And while we're singing, if you need grace and mercy to help you in your time of need, I want you to meet me on the front row, your left, my right. Preacher, what are we going to do? Nothing. I just want you to stand here. I'm not going to ask you what your need is. I'm not going to ask you to tell me anything. Because I believe God is God enough that He already knows. So you don't have to confess a thing to me or anybody else inside here. I'm just asking, do you have faith that you want to start praying about it now? If you do, meet me here and we'll pray together that we get grace and mercy to help us in our time of need before we even leave the sanctuary. If you're subject to the words that you just heard, meet me in the front while we sing the song of encouragement.