Here's how you know God is with you because he gives you peace when you're not supposed to have it. Dr. Tony Evans says real peace isn't the absence of trouble. It's the presence of God in the middle of it. Peace does not mean nothing is wrong.
Peace means everything is wrong, but I'm okay. This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. When life feels overwhelming, it's tempting to give up and retreat. But today, Dr.
Evans reminds us of our help desk in heaven, access to the one who understands our struggles and offers grace to keep us going. Let's join him in the book of Hebrews as he explains how to find the strength we need. He comes to the last verse. Verse 16, the last verse of chapter four, and he concludes his thought. One your Sabbath rest, what God has pre-prepared for you to enter into.
Let's work with this. He starts out with, therefore, that's one of our famous words, isn't it? Therefore, in light of what I've just said. What has he just said? There is a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
You must stick with the word of God, not the word of man. Therefore, if you Pursue the rest.
Okay. based on the word and not the world. Therefore. Let us draw near with God. confidence.
Therefore. Since you got somebody ready to work on your behalf. Don't stay away. As bad as it feels and as hot as it is. This is not the time to keep your distance.
This is the time. to extend your closeness. Draw near. Don't say because it's rough. I'm going back.
It's because it's rough, you're getting closer. Draw near. Yeah. Yeah. When you are sick.
And it is clear that Walgreens and CBS. Is insufficient. to resolve your problem. If you have any sense, you're going to draw near to the doctor. You're not going to say, well, I'm sick.
So, I'm going to stay away from the doctor. If you're sick and you can't resolve it, you want to draw near to the doctor because you know he has some assistance to provide you that you can't provide yourself. Because if you could have provided just yourself, you wouldn't be this sick this long. With this much.
So what do you do? You make an appointment. You want to go in to see them because you want to draw near. The author of Hebrews says, when the weariness of life sets in, You're tired, you're weary due to circumstances or sin. Draw near.
Don't stay away. Don't let your problems keep you away. Don't let your failures keep you away. He says, No, no, no. That's the time to draw near.
That's the time. To get close. That's the time. To cash in on this. Relationship, he says, draw near.
Now the question is. How do you do that? How do you draw near? What's the methodology of? drawing near getting Close.
in crisis. Because a lot of times you don't. Feel like getting close, you know, motivated to get close. But he says, no, when it's weary, I don't want you to give up, I want you to draw near. Mm-hmm.
The most exhaustive discussion of drawing near is in James chapter 4, verses 1 to 10. In verse 8, he uses the same word. He says in verse 8 of James 4: draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Now, if you begin with verse one, he says: the first thing I want you to do is pray with the right motivation. He says, I want you to communicate with me. For God is near to the brokenhearted, Psalm 148, verse 18.
So, if you're hurting, if your heart is broken, if your circumstances are doing you in, he says, I want you to draw near. I want you to communicate with me. I don't want fake prayers. I don't want now. I lay me down to sleep.
Pray the Lord, my soul will keep. If I die before I wake, pray the Lord my soul to take. No, no, no, no, no. He says, I want you to come raw. I want you to come and I want you to tell me.
What's going on? And then he says, but when you come to me in James chapter four, he says. Don't bring the world with you. He says, when you come to me, leave the world at home. In other words, the secular thought doesn't belong in this conversation.
I want you to come raw with me, and I want you to come to me on my terms so that you're not, what he said in verse eight, double-minded. Double two, mind thought. Don't come to me with two different ways of thinking. Don't come to me and ask me to compromise with your worldview, your background, your history, your race, your culture, your political aspirations. Don't come here with that.
Come here from my point of view. Don't be double-minded. Come here. giving me permission to clean you up. He says, cleanse your hands, you sinners, because he says, I am a jealous God.
You say, but Satan is beating me up. God says, I know. That's why you got to surrender. Because if you surrender, then you resist the devil. He will flee from you if you submit to me first.
Yeah. So there must be surrender. without negotiation. This is not A negotiation. the mere fact that you're miserable the mere fact that you're challenged the mere fact Of your circumstances or your sins that are overwhelming you.
This is not a negotiation. You need all of me if you draw near to me. Before seatbelts were required, you always knew the couples that were close. Before seatbelts were required, you knew the couples that were in love. Because then it looked like only one person was in the car because she was all up under them, all just all up under, you know, just.
Yes. Two people behind the wheel, because she all up. But you also knew when they weren't getting along, because she was at the door. And he was behind the wheel. There was one couple.
The lady was at the door. He was behind the wheel. She says, Do you remember when we used to be close? Do you remember when we used to sit next to each other? Do you remember when we were just so tight?
He looked over at her and said, yeah. And I haven't moved. God says if we're not close, it's not because I moved. You've moved. Draw near to me.
I want you to draw near to me. I want you, in your struggle, in your weariness, in your tiredness. In your circumstances, draw near to me. He says, draw near with confidence. Draw near with boldness.
In other words, draw near expecting something. It out. Don't draw me, you know, Mamby Pamby. He says, uh-uh, no, uh-uh, no, you draw near expecting me to respond. In other words, I want you to be serious about drawing near.
I want you to draw near, expecting it. It was like the folks who were praying for rain: Lord, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. They were praying and praying for rain, but it didn't rain. They all left. A few hours later, a little boy came out and prayed, Lord, let it rain.
And he had an umbrella. Yeah. He was expecting something. See, a lot of times we talk to God, but we're not expecting something. He says, come boldly.
with confidence. Because I'm not just up here. doing nothing. I'm up here waiting to respond to people who want to enter their rest because that's his subject, and who are committed to my word. Because if you're not committed to my word, I can't take you to my rest, because it's my rest.
For you.
So I want you to draw near. I want you to. Make Your spiritual connection with me, your priority, he says. Mourn over your failure and over your sin. And then he uses this word in verse 10 of James 4: humble yourself.
You're not all that in a bag of chips. Humble yourself. Come to me dependent on me. because he says earlier in that chapter, I oppose the proud.
So I'm going to resist you. If you're trying to inform me with what the world taught you. I'm going to resist you. Yeah. Because that means You don't know who I am.
And then you don't know who you are. I resist the proud.
Okay. who want to inform me. No, but if you come humble to me, but with confidence, and you're drawing near to me, wanting to deal with the things in your life, you've got my undivided attention. And what's the purpose? I want you to keep going.
I want you to enter. My rest that's for you. More on that when doctor Evans returns in just a moment. First though, today's message is the final installment in Tony's encouraging four-part series called Ready, Set, Rest, a collection that explores how God invites us into spiritual rest even when life won't slow down. In this series, Dr.
Evans reminds us that the help we need isn't far off. It's just a prayer away. If you'd like to revisit this powerful message in the future or hear the complete series, we'll send you all four full-length lessons as our thank-you gift when you make a donation to support the ministry of the alternative. We'll also include a copy of Kingdom Stewardship, a popular book from Dr. Evans that offers practical insight on how to live with purpose, freedom, and peace by managing God's resources His way.
This is the final day we'll be offering this special package on the broadcast, so make your request right away at tonyevans.org, where you can find all the details right on the home page. Or if it's more convenient, just give us a call at 1-800-800-3222. I'll repeat that contact information after part 2 of today's message. Here's Dr. Evans picking up the teaching in Hebrews chapter 4.
Therefore, let us draw near with confidence. To the throne of grace. Oh, wait a minute. We have a high priest. Verse 14 and 15.
Sure. Who also sits on the throne. Yeah. Wait.
So he's a king.
Okay, remember Melchizedek? Yeah. Well, he spends all of chapter seven of Hebrews talking about Melchizedek. I'm just going to give you the first three verses of Hebrews seven. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth, a tithe, part of all of his spoils, first of all by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days or end of days, but made like the son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
Let's work with this a little bit. He says, your high priest is also dealing with the throne. Yeah. So not only can he represent, he can make final decisions. because the king was the final authority.
How do you know? When you're a priest Who sits on a throne? is working for you. even when your circumstance has not yet changed. Because their circumstances hadn't changed yet.
He's telling them to keep going. Because there is a rest for the people of God. He says, because your high priest, like Melchizedek, is also. A king who sits on a throne, which means he possesses authority.
Well, what kind of king is he? He's the king of Salem. But he tells you what he means. Salem means peace.
So he's a king who sits on the throne of peace. Peace since Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek.
So Jesus is in the line of Melchizedek.
So he's likened unto Melchizedek, who is a priest and a king. And remember, of the most high God means the God who overrules. But he is a king of Salem that gives peace.
So here's how you know God is with you, even when your situation has not yet changed. You know he's with you because he gives you peace when you're not supposed to have it. Peace does not mean nothing is wrong. Peace means everything is wrong, but I'm okay. That's why the Bible calls it A peace that passes understanding because you don't understand why you have it in light of what you're dealing with.
So that means the king has shown up as the king in the midst of your situation. He has calmed the waters, even though the situation has not yet changed.
Okay?
So that lets you know that the king is in the midst. Of his priestly duties from his throne. And what comes from his throne? He calls it the throne of grace.
Now, grace is the word that distinguishes Christianity from every other religion. Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is the favor of God that you cannot earn, you can't buy, you can't work for it. Grace always is apart from works. Grace is what God does for you independent of you.
Okay. So grace is simply what he What he gives. You can't force grace. You can't make grace come. Grace is just what God gives.
It is free, undeserved favor.
So watch this, there is enough fuel to get you to God's destination. If you're operating from the throne of grace, you won't run out of gas on the way. He's going to take you the full distance because grace is sufficient.
Now stay with me here. Shh.
So that We may receive mercy. I see. and find grace to help. Yeah. In time of need.
What we have here at our church is a help desk. At this house desk. If you have an IT problem. You call or you email the help desk. And you say, we got an internet problem somewhere on campus.
And we need help. Yeah. The help desk is always available. But it only responds to a phone call or An email. In other words, If you don't tell it.
that you need it. The desk. is not assisting you. Yeah. Because the assumption is you don't need it because you haven't asked for it.
And therefore, it's going to sit there until somebody else needs it. Jesus is your help desk. He says to find help in time of need. But you must be drawing near. You cannot have a long distance.
You know, when you're driving a long distance, the further you get away from the radio signal, the more static, you know, the choppy. You don't get it, you turn around, you come back the other way.
Now you pick up the signal again. Why? Because you close the distance. If you have a long-distance relationship with the Lord, don't be surprised. That you're not getting help from the help desk.
He says you got to draw near. Uh He wants to know that you want his point of view, even in the situation or misery that you face. And he is there to provide help in times of need. I wonder if there's anybody here that needs mercy. You ever been you ever been uh Pulled over by a policeman and you were guilty.
Tell the truth and shame the devil. Yeah. You were guilty, you were speeding. The policeman comes out. With his little pan.
Ready to write. And you say Give me a break. That's a sophisticated way of saying, have mercy on me. In other words. I deserve a ticket.
But would you relieve me? of this financial burden I'm already feeling. Or in a courtroom. When a guilty person throws themselves on the mercy of the court. They're saying, don't give me what I do deserve.
Don't give me what my actions have earned. Many a child has pled for mercy from his parents. When it came time for correction, don't give me what I deserve if the truth be told. The room would be empty if we got what we deserve. But mercy stepped in, driven by grace.
He says. To find help in time of need, when the need is there, if you're drawing near because you want to enter into what he's preset up for you and you're tied to his word, he says you can come with confidence and expectation because that's what I do. Yeah. Verse six. It says this.
In Psalm 18, verse 6. In my distress, I called upon the Lord. and cried to my God for help. He heard my voice out of his temple. And my cry for help.
before him came into his ears. When you are drawing near. God hears your cry for help. God, I'm in a situation now I can't fix. I'm in a circumstance I can't change.
I need grace to let mercy know. He's in trouble over there. But am I near enough that God knows I really want him? Or am I just placing an Amazon order? Am I just saying this is what I want you to ship?
My life right now, and don't bother me. I'll let you know when I need you again. In other words, I'm not drawing near to him. I'm just wanting the situation changed. And so he says.
to find help. in time of need. Yeah. This is Jesus' intercession. I read it or referenced it last week, but chapter 7, verse 23 to 25.
The former priests, on the other hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing. But Jesus, on the other hand, because he continues forever, holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to rescue, to save forever those who draw near to God through him. since he always lives to make intercession for them. Did you know Jesus has a full-time job?
It's called the doctrine of the ascension. Yeah. When Jesus Christ ascended and went to heaven. The Bible says he sat down. Yeah.
When an earthly priest went into the Holy of Holies, there was no chair. There was no place for him to sit down because his work was never finished. But when Jesus Christ died and rose, it says he sat down because he said on the cross, Tatelestai, it is finished.
So I can now chill. I can sit down, and what is he doing in his full-time job from his chair? He is excathy from the chair. He's sitting in the chair and he's making intercession because anything you ask from God, Jesus has to sign off on. Yeah.
That's why people don't notice, but we most of the time in our prayer in Jesus' name, here's what you really should be meaning by that. Jesus, what I just asked God, will you please sign off on it so he'll give it to me? In Jesus' name means, will you sign off on this? Because anything you want from God the Father must be approved by God the Son. That's why you can't be ashamed of God the Son, because He won't approve you going for something from God the Father.
He's got to sign off on it. He ever lives, his full purpose up there until he returns to come back down here is to be your rep. Before the Father. your representative so that you keep going. I know you want him to pay your bills.
I know you want him to keep you healthy. I know you want him to give you a new car, a new house, new clothes, new. Those things have their place. But his concern in Hebrews chapter 4 is getting the help to keep going when life has become too weighty on you. Dr.
Tony Evans, pointing us to the one who offers the help we need to keep going when life feels too heavy to bear.
Now, before I tell you about what's coming up on Monday, don't miss your opportunity to get Tony's encouraging four-part teaching series Ready, Set, Rest. It's a concise collection of lessons that will help you rediscover peace, purpose, and perspective, even in life's most chaotic seasons. And when you make a contribution to support the alternative, we'll also send you Tony's book, Kingdom Stewardship, full of biblical wisdom on how to handle what God has given you His way. Request this special resource package today at tonyevans.org or call 1-800-800-3222. That's tonyevans.org or 1-800-800-3222.
Yeah. When life gets chaotic, prayer often becomes an afterthought instead of our first response. But next time on the alternative, Dr. Evans explains why talking to God should be our automatic reaction. whether we're walking through trials or celebrating blessings.
I hope you'll join us for that.
