Access By Grace
From the Old Testament, every scripture ultimately points to Jesus. Right from the story of Adam, we see that God’s heart has always been for us, not against us.
April 20, 2025
From the Old Testament, every scripture ultimately points to Jesus. Right from the story of Adam, we see that God’s heart has always been for us, not against us.
Access Lost in the Garden
When Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t just lose access to paradise—they lost access to God’s presence. Genesis 3 tells us that when God sent them out of the garden, He placed an angel with a flaming sword to guard the way back. That sword signified that no one could return without a sacrifice.
Since then, man has been trying, in his own strength, to get back to that place. But even then, God’s heart was for us—He made a way. The flaming sword demanded sacrifice. That’s when humanity discovered the secret: when you sacrifice, heaven and earth connect.
Jacob’s Encounter and Generational Sacrifice
Jacob, running from his brother, lays his head on a stone and dreams of angels ascending and descending (Genesis 28). He wakes up and realizes this is a divine place. Why? Because, though Jacob didn’t know it, his grandfather had sacrificed there. Sacrifice opens portals between heaven and earth.
What Sacrifice Accomplishes
The first thing sacrifice does is cover a guilty conscience. Remember when Adam and Eve sinned? God still came to meet them, but they hid.
Genesis 3:10 – “We hid because we were afraid.”
Their sin-consciousness separated them from God. Sin doesn’t just separate us from God—it separates us from each other. Before sin, Adam called Eve, “Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.” But after sin, he blames her: “The woman You gave me made me eat it.” That’s what sin does—it turns us inward, and it breaks relationship. But sacrifice covers sin-consciousness. It gives us boldness to enter His presence. In the Old Testament, every time people sacrificed, they encountered God.
The Role of the Priesthood
When Moses had to lead Israel, God instituted the priesthood through the tribe of Levi. The priests would represent the people to God and offer sacrifices on their behalf. In turn, they would represent God to the people.
Understanding the Tabernacle
Let’s break down the tabernacle:
- Outer Courts – Open to all Jews for offerings and blessings.
- The Tent – Contained two areas:
- The Holy Place – For priests.
- The Most Holy Place – Accessible only by the High Priest, and only once a year.
The Most Holy Place, behind a thick curtain, contained the Ark of the Covenant—God’s presence.
Exodus 33:20 – “No man can see Me and live.”
Anyone who entered God’s presence with sin consciousness could die.
The high priest entered with bells on his robe. If they stopped ringing, it meant he died. A rope was tied to his ankle to pull him out. His survival meant God accepted the sacrifice. His death meant the nation’s sins were not forgiven.
The System Was a Shadow
Let’s look at Hebrews 10:1 –
Hebrews 10:1 – “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”
Christ is the substance. The law was a shadow. Would you want my shadow or me?
Hebrews 10:2 – “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?”
The old system could not remove sin-consciousness. It only temporarily covered it.
Hebrews 10:3–4 – “But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
The old sacrifices reminded people of their sin, but couldn’t remove it.
Jesus: The Final Sacrifice and High Priest
John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus doesn’t just cover sin—He takes it away. And He’s not just the Lamb—He’s the High Priest too. Jesus didn’t enter an earthly tabernacle. He entered heaven itself.
Hebrews 9:12 – “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Once and for all. Jesus secured eternal redemption with one offering.
What His Blood Does
Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more will the blood of Christ… purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
The blood of Jesus removes guilt, removes fear, and gives us confidence. That’s why Hebrews 4:16 says, “Come boldly to the throne of grace.”
Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
The blood is your confidence. Not your behavior. His blood silences your inner accuser.
The Body of Jesus: The New Curtain
Hebrews 10:19-20 – “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,”
The veil that separated God’s presence was torn when Jesus died.
Matthew 27:51 – “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”
His body became the curtain. His flesh gave us access.
That’s why Jesus said in John 14:6 —
John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Resurrection: The Proof of Payment
Jesus’ death was the payment. But how do we know the payment was accepted? Think about a bill—you pay, and they give you a receipt. The resurrection of Jesus is your receipt. It’s your proof that the sacrifice worked. When the high priest came out alive, the people knew their sins were forgiven. When Jesus rose on the third day, it was heaven saying: PAID IN FULL.
Romans 4:25 – “Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
His resurrection is proof that you are now righteous.
Silence the Accuser
But even after the resurrection, the enemy still comes. The devil is called “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). He wants to remind you of what you did, where you failed, and why you’re not worthy.
But the blood of Jesus speaks louder than your past.
Hebrews 12:24 – “And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
Abel’s blood cried for justice. Jesus’ blood cries out, “Mercy! Forgiven! Righteous!”
1 John 3:20 – “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows everything.”
When the devil accuses you, point him to the empty tomb. Point him to the blood. You are no longer under condemnation. You are no longer a sinner trying to be righteous. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
So walk boldly. Walk forgiven. Walk free. Because the sacrifice has been made… The blood has been shed… And the tomb is empty. So now you have to train your minds.
Learning to Discern the Voice of God
You have to train your minds to discern between God’s voice and the devil’s voice. Because God does not condemn us. He does not use the language of shame, fear, or accusation. He corrects us—but the enemy tries to twist even that correction into condemnation.
When God disciplines you, the devil will whisper, “See? He’s condemning you. You’re not enough.” In those moments, you need to tell the devil, “Shut up and leave.” The Bible says:
Hebrews 12:6 – “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”
If you’re a legitimate child of God, you will be disciplined. So ask yourself: When was the last time you were corrected by the Lord?
When Discipline Comes, Joy Should Follow
Correction from God should never bring fear, guilt, or shame—it should bring joy. You should be able to say, “My Father spoke to me! Now that I’ve received His correction, I know I’m walking into blessing.”
Let me give you a personal example. During the first year of my marriage, I was washing dishes. We had two separate scrubs—one for glasses and another for regular dishes. I used the wrong one. My wife gently corrected me: “Hey, don’t use that. Use the other scrub for glasses.” That’s all she said.
But in my head, I heard: Are you stupid? What are you doing? Don’t you know better?
That’s how the enemy works. He twists simple instructions into accusations. He hijacks the voice of God and filters it through shame and insecurity.
Maturity Embraces Correction
The maturity of a believer is seen in how they respond to correction. A mature heart receives discipline with joy. I know people who regularly come to me and ask, “Pastor, is there anything you see in me?” They’re not doing this out of fear, but from a place of hunger. That’s a posture of humility and growth. How much more should we do that with our heavenly Father? Lay aside your assumptions. Say, “Father, I know You love me. Jesus is my access. Is there anything in me that I can correct so I can walk in greater blessing?”
Sometimes, it’s not that we aren’t blessed—it’s that we have holes in our lives, and the blessing leaks out. Correction seals the leaks so blessing stays.
Confidence in God’s Correction
Even when God says, “Son, what you did was wrong,” come into His presence with confidence. He’s not trying to destroy you—He’s trying to build you.
Don’t come pretending to be the best worshipper or the perfect Christian. Come as you are and say, “Lord, I’m here. Whatever You want to say, I’m ready to hear it.” Sometimes His instructions won’t make sense right away. But when you obey, understanding will come.
Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
The Gift You Bring to the King
Jesus’ sacrifice gave you access to the presence of God once and for all. But no one goes before a king empty-handed. You come with a gift—a gift of your heart.
Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Your offering—whether time, money, or worship—is an extension of your heart. If you want to know where your heart is, check where your money goes.
The Power of Covenant: A Story of Exchange
I heard a story from Pastor Thomas about Dr. Stanley, a missionary in Africa. He couldn’t succeed in business because tribal leaders opposed him. Someone advised him to make a covenant with the most feared tribal king. Stanley had a white goat—the only thing he could eat or drink from, due to his weak stomach. But the king asked for it during the covenant ritual. The priest said, “Give it to him, or you’ll be cursed.” So Stanley gave the goat. In return, the king gave Stanley his spear. Stanley rode back with the spear, confused. But when the villagers saw the spear, they bowed before him. The spear meant he was under the king’s protection. That’s the power of covenant. What’s mine becomes His. What’s His becomes mine.
The Access We Often Forget to Use
Many of us know we have access to God’s presence, but we don’t take full advantage of it. Jesus’ resurrection is the receipt that grants us access, but we often treat it like a religion instead of a relationship.
Why is it only on Sundays we’re eager to hear His voice, when we have access 24/7? The Israelites became legalistic, not because of the law, but because they didn’t have a relationship with the One who gave the law.
Psalm 119:97 – “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”
The problem was never the law—it was the lack of intimacy. When there’s no relationship, instructions feel like burdens. But when relationship exists, every instruction feels like a prophetic insight.
Stop Striving, Start Resting
God does not give instructions to limit you. He gives them so you can fly. Ask yourself, “What is the Father speaking to me?” You don’t need to wait for a crisis. You don’t need a burning building to pray. God is a person—a Father. Not a vending machine. Even when we treat Him like one, He answers. But there’s a better way—a way where you’re not striving from fire to fire, but resting in Him every day. Start your day with Jesus. Ask, “Lord, is there anything I need to change? Any instruction You have for me?”
Make God Your Priority
How do you make God your priority? Three simple things:
- Time
- Energy
- Money
Give your best to the Lord in all three.
When God comes into covenant with you, everything you have belongs to Him—and everything He has belongs to you.
Sacrifice Opens the Door to the Supernatural
I’ve seen people come to church with sacrifice and receive more than they ever gave. One girl sacrificed three paydays to attend a meeting. I saw a supernatural joy in her—it wasn’t natural. She had opened her heart to receive everything heaven had for her.
I’ve had moments where I was physically exhausted and spiritually dry. Yet in worship, I gave my best offering—not money, but my heart’s desire to see God move. And I ended up preaching for six hours straight, with no break, full of supernatural energy. Why? Because sacrifice activates supernatural flow.
Yes, Jesus secured your access. But when you come with a heart of sacrifice, you’ll receive so much more than what you gave.
About the author
