1. Jesus – the way in to the presence of God A Superior Covenant, Tabernacle & Sacrifice Hebrews 9-10

2. Melchizedek – God’s minister TO Abram Blesses Abram Identifies God’s role in Abram’s life Receives a tithe on behalf of God from Abram If Melchizedek can be God’s chosen priest, how much more God’s Son Jesus Christ ! Genesis 14:17-20 Psalm 110:4

3. Explanation of Jesus as our Great High Priest 7:11-8:2 New priest needed because the Aaronic priesthood could not bring perfection to the people represented by it, v.11, 17-18; His right to this office depends on his indestructible life not on human ancestry vs13-16 His ordination was by sworn testimony of God himself, vs.20-22. His priesthood is eternal and so the effect of his work is perfect, complete and eternal, vs. 23-25

4. Explanation of Jesus as our Great High Priest 7:11-8:2 His personal holiness means he has no sins of his own to first cleanse before cleansing ours, so he is a perfect high Priest, vs.26-28. He serves not in the sanctuary in Jerusalem but in the true (actual) presence of God 9:11 He is the only High Priest who has (a) sat down having truly completed the work 8:1-2. (b) seated in the very presence of God, on the throne.

5. The Superior “Tabernacle” 9:1-10 The Superior Tabernacle Jesus entered is heaven itself T he first Tabernacle was effectively out of bounds for all except the High Priest. There was never any access to God for the people, only representation by the High Priest - 9:8 (now in Christ we can go in 10:19-22; Matthew 27:50-51) T he first was man-made and physical 9:1-5; 11, 24 but where Christ entered is the real place, uncreated 9:11, heaven itself 9:24

6. The Tabernacle Shekinah glory – the presence of God = the Holy Spirit

7. Ark of the Covenant The Tabernacle The Holy Place The Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) 2. 3 4 1.

8. Day of Atonement Bull – sin of offering of the priest Goat – sin of offering for Israel to the LORD Goat – “scape-goat” to carry Israel’s sins away into the wilderness Leviticus 16

9. Day of Atonement High Priest enters once per year only Blood of the sin offering sprinkled on the “Mercy Seat” on the top of the Ark of the Covenant Twice on the day – for his own sin and for the sin of the people

10. The Superior Sacrifice 1. The Old order of sin offerings and sacrifices The blood of animals 9:12, which make a mere outward cleansing 9:13, sufficient for the earthly but not for the heavenly tabernacle 9:23, impossible to make people perfect 10:2, impossible to remove sin 10:4, they were a reminder of what sin is and does 10:3 9:11-10:18 Jesus the High Priest who offers himself

11. Echoes of Genesis 22:8 2. The new, once for all sacrifice:- Jesus’ own blood 9:12, without the shedding of which there is no forgiveness 9:22 His life 9:16-18 His body 10:5-10 Once for all time 9:12, 24-26, 28; 10:10, 12, 14 The Superior Sacrifice 9:11-10:18 Jesus the High Priest who offers himself

12. 3. Resulting in;- eternal redemption v.12, cleansing of our consciences (removes the inner guilt of sin) v.14, sets us free from sins, to put/take/bear away sin 9:26, 28 (John 1:29), makes us holy 10:10; 2:11, makes us perfect forever 10:14 makes us to be priests v.14 (13:15-16) The Superior Sacrifice 9:11-10:18 Jesus the High Priest who offers himself 10:19-22 Summary

13. Priests - two key aspects of worship A doration-Worship – Proskuneo The “fall flat on your face” before the Transcendent God (the God who is total different from us) S ervice-worship - Latreuo The “get up and go do something” for and with the Imminent God (the God who is so close to us) Heb. 9:14

14. Practical outcome …. 12:28-29 “Offering to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” How can I serve/worship the All-consuming Fire Acceptably? Chpt 13 substantially details out what it means to serve God acceptably and how to do it;-  Love one another  Be hospitable to strangers  Care for the suffering  Honour marriage, sexual purity  Be content with what you have  Respect your leaders  Be willing to be despised by the world for following Jesus

15. “Worship before service” !? A false dichotomy

16. Dual meaning … Luke 4:8 Worship and service are synonymous Jesus perspective:- “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

17. Two key aspects of worship A doration-Worship – Proskuneo The “fall flat on your face” before the Transcendent God (the God who is total different from us) S ervice-worship - Latreuo The “get up and go do something” for and with the Imminent God (the God who is so close to us)

18. 1. Adoration-Worship – Proskuneo Hebrews 1:6; John 4:20-24 This “Awe-full” worship is based on a sense of who God is and leads to:- Adoration of God Submission to God Wholehearted Devotion to God John in Revelation 1:17 Paul in Acts 9:

19. Needing experiences of God that bring us face down before Him. Getting on our knees before Him when we are at the end of ourselves. 1. The Holy Spirit & Proskuneo “I’m on my knees again …” 1. The Holy Spirit & Proskuneo “I’m on my knees again …”

20. 2. Service-worship - Latreo Latreuo service which is inherently religious in nature;- Heb. 9:1 the old covenant had regulations for this type of worship Heb 8:5 work of the Priests in the sanctuary Heb. 9:9 action of the people in bringing sacrifices The “get up and go do something” type of worship

21. 2. Service-worship - Latreo This is why God redeemed us Hebrews 9:14 So that we each serve God as priests 1 Peter 2:4-5 The “get up and go do something” type of worship

22. 2. Service-worship - Latreo  Romans 12:1  Phil. 4:18  Heb 13:15-16 We each serve as priests of God,1 Peter 2:4-5.

23. 2. Service-worship - Latreo We each serve as priest of God,1 Peter 2:4-5.  Romans 12:1 Our bodies, a total sacrifice of our daily lives  Phil. 4:18 Giving generously and helping the needy  Heb 13:15-16  Praising God through our speaking  Doing good works  Helping others with our material possessions

24. The worship that serves So as a church, we are truly a Proskuneo-Latreuo Church if we are:-  Prostrate ourselves in God’s presence “lost in wonder love and praise” AND  Active in service of one another as unto Christ “serving one another in love”

25. 3. Duty-worship - Leitourgia a worship that permits Communication & Guidance specific acts of service done in God’s presence  Liturgy – in fulfilment of an office Acts 13:1-4 the leaders carried out their liturgy and heard God speaking to them Based on Acts 2:17-18 the key characteristic of NT age prophecy, God communicating with his people through each of his children, irrespective of age, social status or gender.

26. The Concept of “Open Worship-Service” 1 Cor 14:26 – the concept here seems to be an unstructured (but not chaotic) period during a meeting of believers, when each is allowed to share what is on their heart. 1 Thess. 5:19-22

27. The essential points are:- Any believer in fellowship with Christ is free to speak. We are each seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit, who both enables and empowers the gifts We exercise control, and wait for each other. Learning both when to start and when to stop. Understanding that at certain times and in certain situations one needs to remain silent. The overall purposes is to “worship together” to blend our differing gifts to build each other up and glorify God in what we do.

28. The Concept of “Open Worship-Service” When? Prayer times (monthly, small groups) House Groups Prayer in Family Services Sunday Evening services Communion Services General openness for contributions

29. Command of Christ, Luke 22:7-22 Specific occasion to worship Acts 2:42,46; Acts 20:7,11 Work of the Holy Spirit to make Christ real to us John 16:13-15 Requires a genuine “togetherness” communion with Christ & one another 1 Cor. 11:17-34 Communion Service “I’m on my knees again …”

30. Some practical considerations Prepare yourself for communion Be on there before time 10.30 am for 10.40 am Be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading Speak or not to speak that is the question Communion Service “I’m on my knees again …”

31. Identifying the “House of God” The Apostles took the teaching of Christ to mean that the Triune God is to dwell in us:-  The whole Church as one Body, the Universal Church, Eph. 2:19-22  The local body of Christ in any geographic location, local churches, 1 Cor. 3:16-17  The individual believer, my own body, 1 Cor. 6:19-20