We have Confident Praying Because We have an Intermediary and We are Purified

Scripture: Hebrews 10:21-22

and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Insights: The third reason we have confidence in our praying is found in verse twenty-one.  We have a great priest over the house of God.  This great priest is Jesus.  In the Old Testament the role of the high priest was that of an intermediary.  Once a year they would enter the Holy of Holies and present a sin offering for the people.  They interceded for the people because they were not capable of approaching the Lord God.  Jesus is the one who takes our prayers and relays them back to the Father.  Because of this work we do not have to worry about our prayers being misunderstood.  Jesus perfectly knows how to pass the information on because He is the great high priest.  This truth gives us assurance of faith to know that we are heard and understood.  The final reason we have confidence in our prayers is because we are spiritually clean.  Our sins have been washed away and the Father no longer sees us in our sinful and guilty position, but rather sees the imputed righteousness and holiness of His Son in our lives.  We are no longer condemned, but have the confidence of one going before the Lord in purity of heart.  This confident praying is the first secret to a life of vitality.  We know by faith that our Lord hears our prayers and that makes all the difference as we traverse this life.  Beloved, prayer well for the Lord’s favor to be on your life and ask Him to teach you how to prayer.  I promise you, He will answer this request if you allow Him.

Questions:

1.  How does the knowledge of Jesus being your High Priest produce confidence in your prayer life?

2.  Have you asked the Lord to search your heart and to reveal any wicked way in you?

Prayer: Father, look into the depths of my heart and reveal anything that is hindering our relationship.  Thank You for providing me a good and glorious High Priest so that I can run to Him and allow Him to mediate my sinfulness that You reveal to me regarding my heart.  Thank You for Your mercies which are new every morning.  Amen.