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2. Our Crowned King Jesus Who Serves As Our Interceding Priest
Our Crowned King Jesus Who Serves As Our Interceding Priest! Hebrews 4:14-5:10
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV84) 2 2

3. The hope that we have in Christ as our Ascended King and Priest will get us through the most difficult of times we can ever experience on earth. 3

4. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“For the Christian, joy is a central factor of his or her existence and sorrow is only a peripheral one.”
G.K. Chesterton 4

5. Four fundamental questions in life.
Origin: How did I come into being?
Morality: How can I determine what is right and what is wrong?
Meaning: What is the purpose of life itself?
Destiny: What happens to a human being when he or she dies? 5

6. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
How do I find meaning and purpose in life?
What happens to a human being when he or she dies? 6

7. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
Gospel Song:
“There is a balm in Gilead.”
“What on earth is a bomb in Gilead?” 7

8. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“My dad has said I’m going to be a failure.”
“If I just took my life, that would solve it.” 8

9. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“Not only did I not know how to live. I didn’t even know how to die.” 9

10. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“As I lay in that hospital bed, a man came to the door. I recognized him because he was the man who sang, ‘There is a balm in Gilead.’ ” 10

11. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“I’ve come because the most important thing I can give your son is right now in my hand.”
John chapter 14 11

12. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.”
“Because I live, you also will live.” 12

13. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“Something in here tells me You are the Author of life and You are what life is all about.” 13

14. The testimony of Ravi Zacharias
“For the first time in my life I had what I believe was meaning.” 14

15. The hope that we have in Christ as our Ascended King and Priest will get us through the most difficult of times we can ever experience on this earth. 15

16. This is Ascension Sunday, celebrating the event of Christ returning to His Father in heaven.16 16

17. To prepare an eternal home for us.
John 14:1–2 (NIV84) 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
To prepare an eternal home for us. 17

18. He would send His Holy Spirit to take His place.
John 16:5–7 (NIV84) 5 “Now I am going to Him who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
He would send His Holy Spirit to take His place. 18

19. Luke 24:25–27 (NIV84) 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
Old Testament prophets said: Christ would suffer, die and return to heaven. 19

20. What qualified Jesus to ascend to the throne in heaven?
Hebrews 1:3 (NIV84) 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 20

21. Revelation 5:1-4 (NIV84) 1 Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 21

22. Revelation 5:5 (NIV84) 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 22

23. Revelation 5:6-7 (NIV84) 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 23

24. Revelation 5:8-10 (NIV84) 8 And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 24

25. This Lamb is the incarnate Son of God!
Only Jesus Christ is able to execute the plan of God.
Seven horns = complete authority. Seven eyes = complete vision. 25 25

26. Revelation 5:11-14 (NIV84) 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 26

27. The throne in heaven is the throne of God and of the Lamb!
God rules the universe through the Lamb!
“The Mediator has been invested with the office of King over the universe.”
William Hendriksen 27 27

28. Jesus is preparing a place for us! John 16
Why is it important to us that Jesus Christ rules the universe from His throne in heaven?
John 14
Jesus is preparing a place for us!
John 16
His Holy Spirit as another Counselor who empowers us to be messengers of hope and conquerors of evil!
He makes us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God! 28

29. Why is it important to us that Jesus Christ rules the universe from His throne in heaven right now?
We are able to face all the challenges life throws at us as conquerors!
Because our future is secure and we need not fear death!
Death does not remove us from sharing in His victorious Kingdom! 29

30. Revelation 12:10-12 (NIV84) 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! . . .” 30

31. To be attached to Christ is really all that matters.
Christ’s role as the Great High Priest is to prepare God’s people for difficult times in life. 31

32. Hebrews 4:14–16 (NIV84) 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 32

33. Jesus did His priestly duty right here on the earth without sinning!
Verse 14
This great high priest has ascended through the heavens to be crowned King!
Verse 15
Jesus did His priestly duty right here on the earth without sinning!
Verse 16
We are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence! 33

34. We now live in Christ’s conquering victory over sin!
Christ empathizes and sympathizes with us and understands accurately our struggles as we wait for His return to bring us home! 34 34

35. Hebrews 5:1–5 (NIV84) 1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” (quoting Psalm 2:7) 35

36. Jesus was indeed a high priest!
Psalm 2
Jesus was indeed a high priest!
The Messiah, Christ the King, will rule the nations with an iron scepter! 36

37. Psalm 110:1 (NIV84) 1 The Lord says to My Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Psalm 110:4 (NIV84) 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 37

38. Hebrews 5:6–10 (NIV84) 6 And He says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered 9 and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. 38

39. He bears some similarity to Aaron’s priesthood.
He was vastly different from Aaron’s priesthood 39 39

40. “To believers now who were suffering …
Quoting David Bryant
“To believers now who were suffering …
give them a vision of the supremacy of Christ, of His rule and reign at this very hour, so that they would have the courage to do what it takes to stand up for Christ and the Gospel in the midst of all kinds of opposition.” 40

41. Quoting David Bryant
“In the new creation, Christ is totally Lord and He has no competitors.” 41

42. “What He is Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of now.”
Quoting David Bryant
“What He is Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of now.” 42

43. Celebrate the Kingship and Priesthood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. He is indeed worthy of our worship and our obedience! 43

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