At Mount Sinai, Israel asked for a middleman.

God came down on the mountain. The people stood at the bottom. And instead of drawing near, they pushed Moses forward.

"You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die."Exodus 20:19 (NKJV)

That instinct never left us. The flesh still wants someone else to handle the relationship. "Pastor, you get close to God. You pray. You hear from Him. Then tell us what to do."

It sounds humble. It is not. It is robbery, and you are the one who gets robbed.

Here is what changed everything. When Jesus died, the temple veil tore from top to bottom.

"Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."Matthew 27:51 (NKJV)

The barrier between God and ordinary people did not fray. God tore it. And Paul tells us what that opened.

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."Ephesians 2:18 (NKJV)

The word translated "access" is (prosagógé) προσαγωγή — "access, an introduction, the right to approach." It described the privilege of entrance into a king's presence. Through Christ, that privilege now belongs to every believer. Not to a class of clergy. To everyone.

Let's be clear about the distinction. We are not all equal in ministry, function, or calling. A pastor carries a different assignment than you do. But we are all equal in our standing before God. There is no such thing as "he is closer to God than I am." God hears your prayer in your kitchen as fully as He hears the prayer of the most respected pastor you know.

So pray yourself. Open the Word yourself. Bring your requests yourself.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

That invitation says "us." Not "the ordained." Not "the qualified." Us.

Your pastor can teach you. He cannot know God for you. That part was never transferable.

The veil tore so that the line to God would have no line in front of you.