THE RIGHT TO APPROACH

‭Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT‬
[19]”And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. [20] By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. [21] And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, [22] 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.”

God has not given just anyone permission to barge into His presence with requests and demands. This is disrespectful at worst and dangerous at best.

Since we are only creatures and He is the Creator, He has the right to prescribe His requirements for approaching Him. He is a holy God. He does not tolerate sin in His presence.

‭Habakkuk 1:13 NLT‬
[13] But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil….

How can He permit filthy sinners to come to Him?

‭Romans 5:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

It’s all about blood. “We can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” Jesus’ blood, shed for us, in our place, forgives, cleanses, and removes our sin. We can stand in God’s presence without fear, GUILT, or shame because of the blood of Christ. By faith, we receive His gift of perfect righteousness. We are acceptable to Him, “holy and beloved” because of Jesus.

We stand in His grace because of Jesus.

‭Romans 5:2 NLT‬
[2] “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (grace) where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

We are His children because of Jesus.

‭Romans 8:15-16 NLT‬
[15] “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” [16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”

God has done everything through Jesus to restore us to the privileged position which allows us the freedom to approach Him in prayer. We must never forget, then, that we may only boldly approach God’s throne because of Jesus.

‭Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT‬
[14] “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

What about the prayers of unbelievers? Does God allow those who do not believe in Jesus to approach Him? Does He listen to their prayers?

The Bible doesn’t say much about this. We know that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners of their sin. Jesus told a story about two men who prayed. One boasted about his goodness, the other prayed for forgiveness. Which one did God hear? The sinner who asked for forgiveness!

So, it seems that God listens to the sinner who approaches Him with the right attitude. God hears anyone who approaches Him with humility and repentance, and accepts them, too, because of Jesus. Does He hear a cry for help? Yes, He does because of His mercy and, very often, that cry for help leads to faith and a new life.

Attitude, then, is a big factor in the way we come to God in prayer. We can approach the Father boldly and confidently only if we know our place as frail creatures and rely on Jesus, our mediator, to represent us to the Father.

We dare not make demands or try to manipulate God by using His Word to get what we want. We come under His authority always, seeking His will and praying what He desires. We spend time with Him, soaking in His love and goodness, and we go out armed with the assurance that He hears us as we pray His will, and with the passion that His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.