God's Promise of Help — Jim Cymbala

How do you know when he speaks to you? How do you know when he's leading you? What has he promised to do in our lives that we could never do for ourselves? How does he relate to the father and the son?

Can you know someone who's invisible and so on and so forth I? Grew up the Holy Spirit was an it to me because they were using the King James. Not Holy Spirit, but Holy Ghost so they referred a lot of times to it.

The Holy Spirit Is a Person Who Speaks and Works

Like the force is with you it. He's not an it. He's a he he has his own way of expressing his plans. His will for our lives. He communicates the things of God to our soul. It's not by might nor by power, but by my what everything God is going to accomplish here on earth.

He accomplishes in Jesus name through the power of the Holy Spirit. Everything name one thing God does that's good. It's the Holy Spirit name one thing you're convicted of sin before you become a Christian Holy Spirit.

Jesus is made real to you. Holy Spirit preacher preaches a good message. Totally the Holy Spirit. You feel love in your heart towards somebody Holy Spirit. You're generous Holy Spirit. Name anything in the world a miracle is done you get faith in your heart Holy Spirit.

There's nothing just everything is Holy Spirit. Anything just name anything that God does it's totally the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father he's coming back one day.

But right now he sent the Spirit to accomplish everything to glorify Christ extend his kingdom. I Go a lot of places and in some places I go they're welcoming the Holy Spirit. It's beautiful. Some places I go they're neutral on it.

The Church’s Need for the Holy Spirit

They've grown up in a tradition where We can have church without the Holy Spirit. We can receive blessings without the Holy Spirit. Let's just go through church. Let's go through the motions. Let's do church tradition have a Baptist meeting Pentecostal being Lutheran meeting, but whatever.

I don't want to name too many names here. Some other places I go the best I can discern. They are enemies of the Holy Spirit. They are opposed to the Holy Spirit. It's a Christian Church. They have the Bible.

They're not neutral. They are against any mention of the Holy Spirit. We can do church without some intervention and invasion of the Holy Spirit. But boy, I'll tell you what makes all the difference is when the Holy Spirit comes to church how many say amen and Visits us and helps us.

Makes the things of God real. So he's gonna help me Holy Spirit. Please help me. To give you probably in my judgment one of the three most important verses Found in the Bible for believers once you become a believer.

I'm speaking I'm assuming we're all believers here. If you're not a believer, you need to receive Jesus. You don't need to hear about the Holy Spirit. The message for you is Repent confess your sins put your faith in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved and then the Holy Spirit will come and live inside of you and Then you can learn all kinds of things about the Holy Spirit and what Jesus did and what he continues to do through the Holy Spirit, but these are three most important verses to me hands down someone disagrees I'm not gonna argue but to me you don't understand this verse you miss out on so much and it's a verse missed out by a lot of people by a lot of us when I sign a book if someone walks up to me where I'm traveling and They bring up a book I wrote fresh wind fresh fire some other book or someone just recently on Sunday was visiting from another country and they said would you?

Sign my Bible. I'm not so comfortable with that. But if it make them happy I signed. And then I put a verse my signature won't help them, but the verse will help them and obviously, I Have a lot of verses I could choose from that are in my head.

Although I'm not a great memorizer of Reference verses. I know what verses say, but if you ask me, where's the reference the chapter and verse? I'm not so strong on that. But I got a lot in my head. I Make this one one of the top two or three that I write.

Approaching the Throne of Grace Through Jesus

Hebrews 4 16. Jim Symbola Hebrews 4 16 and this is what it says Hebrews 4 16. Let us then Then see that's an important word in the King James. I think it says therefore. So now the modern way is saying let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence.

So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Would you say it out loud with me? Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence. So that we may receive Mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The then or is it therefore Refers to something before if I give you a bunch of facts or truth and I say so Then that means because that's true. Then let's do something the wherefore before that therefore is basically what Hebrews is about.

The great high priest that we have Jesus Who was also the Lamb of God and he died on a cross to take away the sins of the world. And now we are Christians. We are part of the family of God. We have a much better deal going for us than the Jews had in the Old Testament.

They had Moses we have Jesus. They had the blood of animals goats and sheep. We have the blood of the Son of the Living God. They had Aaron the shaky brother at times up and down. Vacillating of Moses as their high priest how many know who our high priest is Jesus.

They could only from afar have fellowship with God. The Hebrews is let us draw near and have fellowship with God. We have the promise of eternal life. So the covenant we have is better by far than the Old Testament Covenant of the law which is passing away has passed away for us.

We're not under that covenant. We're under the New Testament covenant covenant of grace, which has all these benefits the blood of Jesus Shed washing not only washing away our sins that God said. I'll not only forgive him.

What did he also say? I'll forget them. Aren't you happy about that? So when the devil tries to remind us of sins just remember he's trying to make us do something that God won't do. God won't remember them.

Oh, wouldn't that be wonderful? We all received that and Understood that God forgot it but he wants us to think about it. How many of us have wasted hours and days and weeks and months and been held back by Condemnation and fear because we're thinking about something.

God has already put out of his mind their iniquities. I will remember. No more. So now because of all of that let us then that's what comes before Jesus has done all that he did now the writer who is unknown the writer says so now let's take advantage Of it.

Here's the blessing that Christ secured when he died on the cross. Rose again from the dead and went back to heaven. Seated there at the right hand of God. So because of all of that let us then not buy a Mercedes not let us then party all night.

Let us then take advantage in the deepest spiritual way of what Christ has done. Because Christ can do this but you won't take advantage of it if you don't understand this that's for all of us. Let us then not go to Tahiti or to Puerto Rico or to Trinidad and Tobago.

He's got a better place for us. Let us then Approach God's throne of grace. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace. There's a place he wants us to go, but you don't go there with your body has nothing to do with your feet.

It's go there with your heart. Go come boldly with confidence because of what Jesus did to the throne of grace. What is that? That's the place of prayer notice. That's approaching God to receive good things.

It's not a throne of judgment for us. He's not saying let's go to the throne of God so that he can judge us and condemn us. And burn us up with his holy fire. Who would want to go there? He's saying therefore come boldly approach God come on do it get there.

Get there live there make constant visits there because it's the throne of grace. Grace means a lot of things. I'll give you a few definitions, but here. Let's just start with God's unmerited favor. God wants to show you and I favor he wants to give us things, but it has nothing to do with your track record.

It's God's unmerited favor if we have to merit it. It's a salary. They pay you salary for work. This is all gift. It's grace if you have to do something for it. It's not grace. How many are happy God calls us tonight to a throne of grace right not just tonight?

Not just the prayer meeting this is not just for morning devotions. This is 24 7 3 6 5. Keep coming boldly to the throne of grace. Jesus made the way. Wouldn't it be shameful if Jesus made the way at such a cost to him the cross the suffering the Blood.

And what if we didn't go where he gave us entrance would not not be sad it is for so many of us. We don't take advantage of the way that he has made to the throne of grace. So therefore let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence or with boldness.

Confidence is better. In other words you be assured that Jesus made the way and God's waiting for you there. Just think of that. God is waiting for me tonight. Although I've been at the throne of grace with you for a lot of different things.

Amen, but God is waiting for people to come to the throne of grace with confidence. Don't be looking in be looking out. If you look in you won't get there. Look at Jesus. Jesus will help you get to the throne of grace.

If you look in know what I should be if you look at your relatives. They're so mean you're not going to get a thing thinking of that get to Jesus get to the throne of grace and Come with confidence. I'm not wasting my time here.

He's the one who invited me. Do you think the Lord would invite us someplace and frustrate us? Would he invite you to a party and when you knock on the door? Sorry don't want you, but I got an invitation.

No, I didn't mean it. I'm a liar. Would God ever do that to us. No. He says come with confidence. Don't come hoping it'll work. Let's see maybe I'll give this a shot. Come with confidence to the throne of grace.

Prayer as God’s Appointed Means of Help

All the action that God does on the earth happens at the throne of grace. It's almost as Luther said God does almost nothing, but in answer to prayer. He does nothing, but that someone has to ask for it.

He makes promises, but then he says now pray that promise Jesus said when you pray ask and you'll receive. Not just when you run around it's going to come automatically. God has made this the system of supply.

We have needs he supplies. Where does he supply? How does it happen only one place not at the Brooklyn Tabernacle at the throne of grace. God says you get there? You will not believe what I'm going to do for you.

But you got to get there and stay there and wait there because sometimes I have to make adjustments. So I can pour everything I have for you. Don't do a drive-by you come and stay. That's what they told me once at the prison town the first time I went to Angola.

I came and ministered. I love those guys so much and as I was leaving. They're so cool because they don't hold anything back. They just talk. Hey pastor Jim. We're so happy you came. Don't be a drive-by.

You come back again and again, don't you just drive by once. That's what God is saying to us. Come to the throne of grace with confidence. I'm talking about the most essential truth you and I could understand and you're gonna see why in a moment Jesus accomplished all of that not just to get us to heaven so that while we're here on earth facing battles and Difficulties and problems.

He said I'm not gonna leave you alone. I'm gonna be with you and I'm gonna help you where look where will he help us at the throne of grace? Not gonna help you when you're cursing or or bemoaning your fate or when we're depressed and Feeling bad for ourselves.

Hey, there's no promise for the anything from God. You know, we don't understand that like we should. God says I'll do it. But here's where I'll do it. It's I've at the place of my choosing the throne of grace.

You can't get saved unless you go to the throne of grace. You have to go to God and say have mercy on me. Do you not? How many got saved at the throne of grace? Well, of course nobody gets saved except you ask God into your heart therefore because of all that Christ has done let us then Approach or come to God's throne notice its movement.

Don't stay where you are in your mind and your emotions. Get into your spirit and let that spirit your heart get to God's throne of grace. Satan wants to paralyze us. So we just stay feeling bad for ourselves or try to intellectually figure everything out.

Just get there and you'll see what God will do. But it's not a movement of your body. It's a movement of your heart. You can sit in the same chair and be depressed or you can sit in the same chair and go to the throne of grace.

You didn't even move but your heart moved to the throne of grace and heaven is open and God starts pouring stuff into your life. Starts answering prayers around the world and you never moved out of the chair.

Come on. Let's say amen to that. Therefore come boldly. Like we started the meeting and I told you let no evil plan. Against the church prosper and we prayed our hearts went. Do we believe the building?

No, but our hearts went to the throne of grace. Hundreds of you were there with me at the beginning when I came down here early we went to the throne of grace. To do what? Let us approach with confidence the throne of grace so that we may receive and that we may find notice what Christianity is about it's about receiving things not about doing things.

Receiving because until you receive you can't do the whole System of spiritual life that God has created is I am supplier you are receiver. Keep receiving keep coming to the throne of grace. You try to go out without doing that and do something on your own.

You fall on your face. You run into a brick wall. No Christianity is about receiving. What is salvation a gift? What is the blood cleansing us a gift? Everything is gift. Unless God does it we're not going anywhere for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his Good pleasure.

Everything has to be received. God says I will give you nothing to keep on your own. I will only give you things as a gift from me and then you when you run out of it and get empty you keep Coming back.

I'll keep giving you keep coming. I'll keep giving and that's why Satan hates what I'm saying right now. It doesn't want a soul here to pray because when we pray and come to the throne of grace like little children with confidence.

He knows that we're gonna get God's resources and we're gonna be victorious over him. He says no worry try harder gossip about someone. Criticize whatever just anything but don't pray. Don't go to the throne of grace.

Go to Puerto Rico. Go to Trinidad have those roti, but don't go to the throne of grace. How many know he's defeated when we live at the throne of grace? Why. Because we're receiving God's resources. Why do you think Paul said I can do all things to Christ who strengthens me because he was at the throne of grace.

Getting strengthened people think if they just quote that verse something's gonna happen. Where would you get that from the Bible that we just sloganize whatever that means? Sloganized Christianity. I just confess it and all that.

That's not what the Bible says. There's a time for confession, but it all begins at the throne of grace. Why. Because that's where you receive. Someone says I need money. Can you help me? I don't have that cash, but there's an ATM.

Let me go to the ATM. I'll give you what you need. No, I don't want you to leave me then I won't give you a thing. I don't have the cash you need. But I can get it at the ATM and then what I receive from the ATM I can then give to you.

God says I got an ATM, but it's my account not your account. I'll give you everything you need but you got to come to the aid. Listen, this is so essential that the devil has blocked us from understanding it.

It's try harder. Obey the commandments. No, listen. Everything is a gift from God. Salvation is by grace. Grace means gift some of us. It hasn't sunk in yet speaking of myself. Because I grew up around do-do-do-do-do-do and it's receive receive receive receive so you can do-do-do.

So what do we do we receive? What do we receive first mercy at the throne of grace the first thing you can get just ask for it is mercy. Why do we need mercy because we sin? No, but now I'm a Christian.

Yeah. How many here since you've been a Christian? I know I I don't want to lose respect for you. So I'll close my eyes. But how many have sinned at least once since you become a Christian, come on, come on, come on, let's be real.

Receiving Mercy for Sin and Condemnation

Notice how God knows us and he wants to keep the channel open. Because sin when it festers breaks up the channel that God wants to send stuff down through so he says You'll receive mercy. Just say forgive me if we confess our sins.

He is faithful and just. To forgive us and cleanse us from all and righteous. Where do we confess our sins and ask for mercy at the throne of grace? Not a throne of judgment. He doesn't want to hurt us if you want to hurt us.

He would have done it by now if he gave us his son won't he give us everything we need? Come on, let's say amen to that. This is why I write this verse. Then my name won't mean a thing to them. But boy if they say what verse is that he wrote in let me read that.

Oh my goodness if God gives them enlightenment He'll help them like he's helping me and I need to know it better. So mercy that humbles us all we need mercy. Don't cover up your mess. Don't cover up your lie your angry word to your wife.

Whatever you did. You're a Christian now go get mercy. Oh, no. Why would I need mercy because you need mercy. But I'll tell you where it's waiting at the throne of grace. That's where you receive mercy the place of prayer place of humility and God delights in mercy.

He can't wait to give it to you. I Wish someone would have told me that when I was young that God delights in mercy and wants to forgive you and yet I know it's true because my children mess up and if they come as they're growing up and say, I'm sorry I don't begrudgingly say I don't know if I could forgive you.

No. Oh, yes. Come on Chrissy. Come on Sue come on James. Let me hug you. I want to show mercy. I don't want to hold a grudge against my own kids. You think God wants to hold a grudge against you? That's Satan talking to you.

God's helping me speak tonight because he wants you to get this. I feel his help right now. I'm speaking and I didn't know I was gonna really talk about this. Have no notes as you see. But he wants you to get this.

He wants to forgive you. So why cover it. Why hide it. Person who hides his sin will not prosper. You have to confess it to me. You have to shame yourself. Give it to Jesus. Give it to God at the throne of grace.

That's where you receive mercy. All that burden will be lifted. You'll sleep like a baby tonight. Don't cover it confess it at the throne of grace. Notice not only receive mercy but find grace. What's grace mean?

Grace as God’s Gift for Every Need

So notice what happens at the throne of grace? There's mercy and there's grace. There's grace at the throne of grace. That makes sense. There's also mercy. What is mercy mean? God not giving you what you deserve.

Mercy is God not giving me what I deserve. How many are so happy that God does not give us what we deserve. I mean, that's mercy. What is grace. God giving you what you don't deserve? Listen again, what is mercy.

God not giving you what you deserve. Not giving me what I deserve. He shows mercy. Continually, he's full of mercy. He's the God of mercy. What is grace? That's God's love in action. God doing for us what we can't do for ourselves.

God's love being made manifest through a love gift. Love gifts are called grace and it's based on Nothing that you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. Grace is getting things that you don't deserve so that you give God all the glory.

We give God all the praise. How many wave your hand at me. You praise God for all. How many have had a lot of grace from God in your life? I mean, I've had times he's listening to me now. He would know if I would lie.

God has blessed me in certain ways. I won't go into the details and I have said to God Oh God, you can't. I'm not worthy of this. Haven't you ever felt so unworthy? Sometimes when you're not doing well at all God will just send so a gift of grace into your life and you you go.

Where's this come from? I didn't earn this. I didn't put in 40 hours. I didn't use the time clock and punch in and God says no I'm not paying you anything. I give gifts. I don't pay anybody anything. You want wages?

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. So God has gifts. How many want to receive some fresh gifts right and what's great about this so we have to wait for Christmas. God says I want to give you gifts.

A love gift. That's where you get at the throne of grace mercy so that your heart can be cleansed and you go home lighter and Grace, so what are these gifts of grace? How about this one? You're running out of spiritual energy.

The devil's attacking you. You need strength. God says I'll give you my strength as a gift. Just come to the throne of grace and ask for it. I'll give it to you because I have all strength. I'll give you my strength.

I have no peace. I'm tormented at night. I can't sleep. Oh, I have peace that passes all understanding. I'll give it to you. Where would I have to go? No, you don't have to go anywhere. Just come with your heart to the throne of grace.

Just get quiet before me and tell me what you need. I'll help you. No, I need love for this person who just stuck a knife in my back and so nasty I just have so much anger inner anger and resentment. God says no, I'll give you love and I'll give you a spirit that will forgive you don't have it.

Don't look inside. Don't try to get it. Come to me. I'll give you what you need. See this way God draws us continually to him. This is the whole throne of grace. Purpose in many ways he keeps us close to him.

He keeps us looking to him. We keep loving him more and we keep giving him more and more glory because every time he gives us something We have to praise him even more for what he gave us. If you do it yourself you forget about God.

So God says I'll give you mercy and grace. To help you and the literal Greek there is just at the right time. What does the verse have help us in our time of need? Literally it is just at the right moment.

You know, you see those bad guy is ready to kill the lady and her husband. But then the Lone Ranger comes with Tonto did it done that are done that are done. Didn't any of you ever watch the Lone Ranger.

Whoever watched Lone Ranger could I say? All right, when does he come? Just when she's out and the guy has the gun up and then Lone Ranger never killed anyone. He only hit him in the hand right from like 200 yards away.

He'd shoot and just hit their hand and knock the gun out. Just at the right time. God says I'll give you everything you need. Yes, I love you. I already gave you my son. I Don't want you to live guilty.

Get mercy, but you got to come to the throne of grace. I Got gifting for you. What do you need wisdom? You don't know what to do. Oh, you had to do at a crossroads. You got to make a decision about something.

I'll give you my direction as a gift. Don't try to earn it. Don't promise you'll do better. Don't try to read more verses to get it because then now you're into payback. I don't do payback. I don't do payback.

I do gifts. Isn't that liberating for somebody here in the building? God only does gifts. He's not into wages. So because of this what do you think the main weapon Satan would use against Christian churches would be stop prayer.

The Church as a House of Prayer

Stop prayer. Let the minister talk, but don't let him lead the people to pray his sermon. I don't like because it's the Word of God. Everywhere I'm talking about now not me just but don't let him lead the people to pray.

But Jesus knew all about what I just said. You know why he said my father's house shall be called a house of. Why because that's where everything is dispensed. You need mercy. You got it. Pastors you say that's so glibly.

I didn't say it. I'm reading the Bible to you come boldly with confidence. Oh, no I'm not worthy. God knows that that's why Christ died on the cross. Would you just come please? You should see the way the other day Levi walked into my office with some of his friends, right?

Other people knock on the door. They're careful as the pastor in some people when I asked to see him. They think they're going the principal's office and they are like, why do you want to see me? I said I just want to get to know you talk to you.

Oh. And I went that makes me feel so bad. Levi Just pushed the door open brought in his little posse in there four or five people and he's showing them my Fireplace and he's showing them and he said my papa has these vitamins like gummy bears, but they're vitamins well, some are for fruit some are vegetables you get your daily requirement from it and He's handing him out takes over my office.

Sits down in my chair like he runs the place just sits down. The friends are looking at him and me. Why that's my papa. He loves me. He'll give me every whatever everything I need. He'll give it to me.

Is he not right and think how we think about God? If you've been brought up in Catholicism or Legalistic Pentecostal ism. We were talking about that pastor Johnson and the rest of the pastors. You can really get bent in your head.

God wants to just hit me and when will I ever be good enough that I can come into his presence? No, you'll never be good enough. Jesus made the way you can come tonight right into his presence come right to the throne of grace.

Do Not Rush Away from God’s Presence

But don't rush away. Don't rush away. It's very early. Don't rush away. I'm glad God worked out the meeting this way because some of you need mercy and some of you need grace. But I don't have it for you, but I know who does have it.

God has it. Let me say man, but I know the only place he dispenses it the drug. The doctor can write the prescription, but you got to go to the drugstore. No, no doctor. You're the only one I'll write the prescription, but you got to go to the drugstore to get it and God is saying to us tonight.

Like I need help. Oh how many times I'm needed help strength. Oh everything just. Sometimes the longer I walk with God the weaker I feel, you know. And it's like Oh Lord, and then I remember his promise come with confidence.

I'll give you mercy for your mess-ups. I know but past simple. I'm a little nervous. I'm a little nervous. You know how many times I've gone there and asked for mercy. I'm like a little Little tense, you know when you come by for the 5 ,000th time.

I'm a little nervous. He's gonna say what you again. Come on some of you have thought that. But he delights in mercy. He's made happy when we come and his mercy has no they're new every day. His mercies have no end.

There's no bottom. Oh, no, I've been coming for 30 years asking for mercy. You could come for 30 ,000 years. You wouldn't even touch the surface. He's full of mercy. Is that hard for some of you to receive?

What are you going through tonight? Why that's why we have a prayer meeting for ourselves to pray for other people but God is saying what is Bradley Knight need as He playing his heart can go to the throne of grace.

You can come to church and never get to the throne of grace. You can stay at home because you're sick and you can get to the throne of grace without ever coming to the church that whole tradition. I got to get to the church.

I was speaking in the Dominican Republic. They kept interrupting my sermon because when the people came in they came right to the altar. They would not take a seat until they pray at the altar. But you can only pray at the altar why the altar is Santo Santo Santo.

The altar is holy I know but the man is preaching your major distraction. No, no, no, no, no. No, I'm gonna pray and I'm gonna pray in front of people some people like that and then at the altar. So I said to some at the end of the meeting, you know.

Like 25 people came up and interrupted the whole service by praying they were 45 minutes late for the meeting. But they would not take a seat until they prayed at the altar, but I'm speaking and all of that.

No, why because God answers at the altar. I refute that God answers at the throne of grace. How many say amen? You can be in the balcony you can be on the number three train. You can be taking a shower in the morning and your need for God will just go up to God and your heart Will go up and say God help me today.

I'm facing difficult decisions. God. Help me pastor Lincoln and I are Representing the church. We're working through some difficult things. We need God's grace God's wisdom and God is saying I got it for you.

Invitation to Receive Mercy and Grace

Don't live with too little live with everything that I have for you. But you you got to come to the throne of grace. Let's close our eyes if you're here today and say Pastor my heart wants to go to the throne of grace.

I know I don't have to move out of my seat because you just proved that but I want to come to the front. I want to stand there and recognize. To you and the pastors and deacons. I need a hand on my shoulder.

I need somebody to help me pray encouraged because I'm receiving mercy tonight. And I'm getting the grace that I need the gifting the strength the whatever the need might be. And maybe some of you have been coming to church, but the throne of grace is not a place that you visit that much.

Not only come and visit it, but stay there keep your heart there. Keep your heart there. Wait my soul upon the Lord. He works for those who wait for him be still my soul. My help comes only from God. Wait for God.

That's what the psalmist said wait for him. Mercy's there in a moment grace is coming too. So come out of your seat. Just come and stand there whether it's two of you or all of you. What does it matter?

You can come and have someone pray for you these deacons deaconesses. They're gonna stand gently. They're only gonna pray over view for about a minute. Then they're gonna go to the next person. Okay? Just come I'm down from the balcony if you want.