1 00:00:07,050 --> 00:00:09,210 We're going to take a pause and mark today. 2 00:00:10,130 --> 00:00:14,130 So we won't turn there. We'll continue in that series in 3 00:00:15,010 --> 00:00:18,290 the weeks to come. But today I want to I want to 4 00:00:18,290 --> 00:00:24,730 answer a particular and important question that applies 5 00:00:24,890 --> 00:00:26,570 virtually to every single person here. 6 00:00:27,890 --> 00:00:30,850 And it's very likely that this question is something that has 7 00:00:30,850 --> 00:00:33,880 bounced in your mind on different occasions since you 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,080 became a follower of Christ. And it's even possible for some 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,160 that this question was not just a visiting thought, but 10 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:45,440 something that you have wrestled with to the point perhaps, of 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,200 discouragement or even frustration, because you've 12 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,920 never arrived to a satisfying conclusion. 13 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,560 And it could be that the question that I'm going to 14 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,320 present to you is no longer a source of reflection to you. 15 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,000 Because I hope this is the reason you have arrived to your 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,840 answers through the word of God. Which is a wonderful 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,320 possibility, because we live in a time and we live in a nation 18 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:15,600 where you can have access to the complete revelation of God's 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,160 Word. But it can also be that this 20 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:25,920 question is no longer something you consider anymore because 21 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,720 it's been buried. It's been buried by busyness. 22 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,400 It's been buried by distractions. 23 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,600 It's been buried by the responsibilities you have 24 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,400 inherited throughout the natural course of your progression in 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,640 life. But my prayer is that this 26 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:51,560 message would for you, if you are here, not having answers to 27 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:57,320 what I'm about to revisit. This message would dig up that 28 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:02,200 consideration, Dust it off, and that it would be crowned once 29 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,080 again upon your affections and your priorities as a follower of 30 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,919 Jesus Christ. And more than that, that you 31 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:16,120 would leave those doors soothed. Because not only has this 32 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,400 question now revived in your heart, but you also have the 33 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,720 answers with it, to have the confidence to know how you can 34 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:28,680 walk in it. The question that I am referring 35 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:36,560 to sounds something like this. How can I, to the greatest 36 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:41,080 degree possible, glorify God with my life? 37 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:48,480 Every true born again believer in Jesus Christ has experienced 38 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,680 A yearning related to that thought. 39 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,560 Like Paul who asked the Lord after being encountered by him 40 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,200 on the road to Damascus, you not only inquire who are you Lord, 41 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,240 but you ask what shall I do, Lord. 42 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,160 Those are the two questions that every true person who's 43 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,520 encountered Christ will ask, not just in the moment that they've 44 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,120 met Christ, but perpetually as they walk with Christ. 45 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,840 Who are you Lord? And what shall I do Lord? 46 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,320 Now, it's possible that though that desire has been birthed in 47 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,680 your heart because the Holy Spirit inhabits the forgiven 48 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,120 soul and he brings with his occupation all these things, 49 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,320 it's possible even for a genuine believer to not be concerned 50 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,640 with that at some point, even for a long periods of time, for 51 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,400 a variety of reasons, that that doesn't become your chief 52 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,520 ambition. That doesn't frame everything 53 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,640 that you do and everything that you decide and everything that 54 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,200 you contemplate about. But I'm, I'm not here to discuss 55 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,240 about the variety of causes for that. 56 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,800 Instead, I want to buy the scriptures. 57 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,920 Present to you a blueprint from the scriptures that would give 58 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,560 you the confidence to know that you are in fact walking in a 59 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,800 manner where you are glorifying God day by day. 60 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,400 And this is something that should excite us, because you 61 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:19,480 and I can live in the reality of maximally glorifying God without 62 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:22,840 a shadow of a doubt, no matter who you are. 63 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,280 In fact, that's really the title of what I want to speak about. 64 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:34,440 How can you glorify God no matter who you are? 65 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:41,440 Because you have good hearted, passionate Christians and this 66 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,200 is especially true when you first come to Christ. 67 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,440 But it's even true for those who go on through life and walk in 68 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:54,200 with the Lord that you can't make the greatest impact for the 69 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:59,320 Lord unless you are in full time vocational ministry, unless you 70 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,480 sell everything, get on a flight and go to a foreign mission 71 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,520 field, and even plan to be a martyr. 72 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,160 You you have people who think that this is the only way that I 73 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,160 can make the most of bringing pleasure to God's heart. 74 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,240 People live under that conception and they love the 75 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,640 Lord and and they're part of their local church and they 76 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,760 serve in some kind of ministry. But they always have this 77 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,240 nagging thought. I don't know if if I'm like that 78 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,080 guy who's preaching to me every Sunday. 79 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,320 I I don't know if I'm bringing greater delight than these 80 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,640 conference speakers that I hear from or these books that I read 81 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,960 about these missionaries and these. 82 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,240 Whatever the case may be, you have people who live with that 83 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:49,840 nagging thought. The Scriptures make no such 84 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:56,560 claim that there is a separate category of Christians who bring 85 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:02,200 him greater honor because they serve him in the context of 86 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:07,920 dedicated full time ministry. That is a way of glorifying God, 87 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:13,400 and God equips some people to occupy that lane and to exalt 88 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:17,520 him in that place. But you, as a person who may not 89 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:22,760 be in that sphere, should never for a moment think that you 90 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:28,360 can't bring equal, if not even more blessing to the heart of 91 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,640 your master. You think just because people 92 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,680 are in full time ministry, they're glorifying God. 93 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:35,880 You don't even have to be in ministry. 94 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,400 When you're in ministry, you can you can see a lot of things. 95 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,360 But even if you're not in ministry with this Internet age, 96 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,560 you realize that not everybody in ministry is doing it for the 97 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,720 glory of God. And so here's how we're going to 98 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,720 move forward with this very straightforward, intensely 99 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,400 practical message. I just want to give you some 100 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:02,800 overarching principles that can clarify and give you the 101 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:09,480 assurance that I know that I am living for the glory of God. 102 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,080 I know it. I know it because the Bible 103 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,600 tells me how to do it. And these practical steps that I 104 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,960 want to present to you today will be the manners in which you 105 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,440 and I can know that we are praising and we are bringing 106 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,160 pleasure to the Lord. And here's what you're going to 107 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:27,760 realize of every single one of these things. 108 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:32,760 They are all achievable by every single one of us, whoever you 109 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,280 are in this place. What I'm about to tell you today 110 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:41,320 is accessible, which means that we are all invited into that 111 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:48,240 awesome privilege of bringing delight to God and not thinking 112 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,760 or doubting for a moment that if I just get there, or if I just 113 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,680 do that, or if I could just get rid of this, and if I position 114 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,120 myself in this way, then I'm there. 115 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,360 Now, I want you to understand that what you're going to hear 116 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,920 today can give you the rest. That for the rest of your days 117 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,760 you're giving everything you can to the Lord. 118 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,040 And hopefully this is a memorable message, because 119 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,120 there's three points here, and each of these points begin with 120 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,360 the letter C And so I want to speak to you about. 121 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,240 Though these are not exhaustive, I always have to give that 122 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,320 caveat. These are not exhaustive, but 123 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:31,920 they are major components, major askings of God for you to be 124 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,280 able to know. Yes, I'm living for his glory. 125 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,360 Turn with me to 2nd Corinthians for the first point. 126 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:48,760 Second Corinthians, chapter 3. What must I do no matter who I 127 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,720 am? A student? 128 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:54,880 A businessman? A stay at home mom. 129 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:03,020 A nurse? How can I know that I'm 130 00:09:03,020 --> 00:09:04,620 glorifying God? Well, here's what you have to 131 00:09:04,620 --> 00:09:12,380 first do #1 Cultivate, cultivate, and maintain a 132 00:09:12,380 --> 00:09:17,460 devotional life. Cultivate and maintain a 133 00:09:17,460 --> 00:09:23,600 personal, intimate, devotional life with your Saviour. 134 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,280 In this chapter, Paul gives a few reasons why the New Covenant 135 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,880 is superior to the old, and he does so by making a very bold 136 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,000 comparison. He declares how we are as a new 137 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:41,400 covenant people at a better advantage than those who were 138 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,960 under the Old covenant and not just the nation of Israel. 139 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,360 He even goes as far to say that you and I have a greater 140 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,440 advantage and we have been invited into a greater 141 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:58,000 experience than the man of God. Moses himself, the Jewish people 142 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,400 prized and championed Moses among other prophets of that 143 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,080 time. But for Paul as a Jew to come 144 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,000 now and say to these believers, hey, you've probably heard of 145 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,120 Moses, Do you realize that where you are today, because of 146 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,760 Christ, you actually are enjoying something more than 147 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:21,920 what he experienced? And the apostle here makes these 148 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,920 incredible parallels between the two covenants in this section of 149 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,160 Scripture. And I want to just give you one 150 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,960 example of that. Look at verse 13 of chapter 151 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:32,600 three. Since we have such a hope, we 152 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:38,280 are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his 153 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,680 face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of 154 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:43,800 what was being brought to an end. 155 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,840 Now this would be familiar to those who have studied the book 156 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,360 of Exodus, that at one at one point in the wilderness there 157 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,200 was Mount Sinai. And Moses, as the mediator of 158 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,840 this old covenant, would ascend and descend this mountain to 159 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,800 receive instructions from the Lord and then convey that to the 160 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,960 people. But something interesting 161 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,920 happened at one point when Moses would visit the Lord's presence 162 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,200 and then come down and explain to the people what he required 163 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,040 of them. At one point he he goes, and 164 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,880 then he makes his way down into the valley and the people notice 165 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,440 something. His skin was shining. 166 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,840 This is a supernatural manifestation. 167 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,280 There was a glow coming from his face, and we're told they're in 168 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,800 Exodus, that the people were afraid and did not come near to 169 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,360 him. And so Moses and perceiving this 170 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,880 does something. He veils his face. 171 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:36,720 He covers his face. Now that's what we assume of why 172 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,920 Moses covered his face, because he didn't want it to be any 173 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,240 hindrance for them receiving what God wanted to say. 174 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:42,920 And so this was out of his control. 175 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,520 But whatever he could do, he could and so he just he veiled 176 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,360 himself. But what Paul does here is that 177 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,560 he gives a deeper meaning to why Moses veiled his face. 178 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:53,880 You read it in the Exodus account. 179 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,120 You would think it's because he doesn't want to spook out the 180 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,040 people. But what does Paul say? 181 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,120 Paul says the reason why Moses veiled his face. 182 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,640 Look at it again. Is so that the Israelites might 183 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,120 not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 184 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,440 You see, something was happening and it's there in Exodus. 185 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,280 And let me read this to you from Exodus 3433. 186 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,080 Just listen to it. When Moses had finished speaking 187 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,360 with them, he put a veil over his face. 188 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:28,440 Something happened as time went on. 189 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,360 When Moses was among the people, yes, he came down and that light 190 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,240 was shining bright. But over time it would dwindle 191 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,680 and it would faint. And Moses, according to Paul's 192 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:45,640 Holy Spirit inspired commentary, did this because he did not want 193 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,520 the people to see how this glory was fading. 194 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,560 And so he would wrap his face and he would make his way up to 195 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:56,720 the mountain, and then he would experience the presence of the 196 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:57,680 Lord. And then he would be, in a 197 00:12:57,680 --> 00:13:00,200 sense, recharge, if I can use that word, and then revisit the 198 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:01,680 people. And that would be a cycle. 199 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,520 Now, what's interesting about what Paul is saying here is 200 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,520 because he takes that fading glory and he applies it not just 201 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,400 to this special manifestation that occurred at one point in 202 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,240 Israel's history. No, it was a picture of the 203 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,400 fading glory of the old covenant. 204 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,160 So in the same way that this glory was diminishing, it really 205 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,720 spoke of the diminishing glory of this covenant that God made 206 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,880 with the nation of Israel. There was a glory, but it was 207 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:33,280 not a permanent glory. It was 1 to soon be replaced by 208 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:37,560 an eternal covenant, one that would last and one that would 209 00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:41,480 remain with no plan of obstruction or replacement. 210 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,960 And this is what Paul's trying to say to these believers. 211 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,880 Here's the practical implication of it. 212 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,840 By saying this in the beginning of verse 13, he wants to 213 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,280 encourage the people. We are not like Moses. 214 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,920 We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to be ashamed of 215 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,720 concerning our covenant. Because this gospel truth 216 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,240 outshines everything. It outshines the old covenant. 217 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,680 It outshines every philosophy and man made religion since 218 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:15,000 then, and anything that would develop, be developed after. 219 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:20,360 This is a covenant that is ours and it is permanent and nothing 220 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,000 can touch it, delete it, or eclipse it. 221 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,720 So you're bold, be bold, be encouraged. 222 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,040 Understand the privilege that you have in conveying the truth, 223 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:32,000 living for this truth, defending this truth, we have a better and 224 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,920 more glorious covenant. But then he takes this symbol of 225 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,600 a veil and he does a lot with it in this chapter. 226 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,760 He goes here and he goes there, and he even applies it in this 227 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,200 way, in the very same chapter. Look how he borrows Moses 228 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,920 veiling of his face and connects it to the New covenant 229 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,840 experience. As a parallel in the contrast, 230 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:57,560 look at verse 18 of chapter 3 and we all with unveiled face 231 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,960 beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the 232 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:05,720 same image from 1° of glory to another, for this comes from the 233 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,520 Lord who is the Spirit. So again, Paul's pointing to 234 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,560 Moses veil, but from a different angle. 235 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,720 Because remember now, when Moses would go up to that mountain, he 236 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,800 had because God allowed it the confidence and the liberty to 237 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:26,720 unveil his face and with open face, behold the glory of God 238 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,360 and talk with God and commune with God. 239 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,680 Was that privilege shared by anybody else? 240 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:37,040 Absolutely not. Not even the leaders, not even 241 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,120 the chief elders could go where Moses went. 242 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,360 Nobody could dare entertain and ascend that hill without being 243 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,160 struck down. And if anybody tried to do, and 244 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,320 even got a Glipse, they would never be able to live to tell 245 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,440 about it. This was exclusive to this one 246 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,880 man. This was reserved for this one 247 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,600 individual. He could approach the glory of 248 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,440 God and behold it with unveiled face. 249 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,400 And here's Paul as an ambassador of the New Covenant, now writing 250 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,800 to these believers, and look what he dares to say by the 251 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Spirit in verse 18. And we all with unveiled face, 252 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:17,480 we all have You ever read the Book of Corinthians? 253 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,080 If you're ever discouraged about your local church, just read the 254 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,920 Book of Corinthians and you'll sober up. 255 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,160 They're not the most pleasant group of Christians. 256 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,600 They had a lot of issues. And yet Paul can say, because of 257 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,920 the power of the blood of Jesus Christ, that positionally puts 258 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:38,360 us in a place that you can't even imagine. 259 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:44,240 Can say we all, and we all with unveiled face, What can we do 260 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:49,280 now, Paul, because of this new glorious covenant beholding the 261 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,000 glory of the Lord? So now you and I are invited to 262 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,880 do something that only Moses could experience, and that is to 263 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:00,280 come before the presence of the Lord and to witness something 264 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,440 that is even better than what Moses saw singing. 265 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,440 Is this real? It is real, and you won't even 266 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,720 begin to enjoy it and know it for yourself unless you first 267 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,640 believe it. Because everything's accessed by 268 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,160 faith. And this is what he's trying to 269 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,839 pump in their hearts. We all would unveil faith. 270 00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:20,760 Not some, but all. And who are they all? 271 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,839 Well, look at verse 16. What does it say in verse 16? 272 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:28,840 And say, Sir, But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is 273 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,160 removed. So if you want to be among the 274 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,560 company of those who have unveiled faces, giving you 275 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,600 through the eyes of your heart access to deeper glories in God, 276 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,520 the requirement is that you got to turn to the Lord. 277 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,200 That's called repentance and that's called faith in the Lord 278 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,800 Jesus Christ. And earlier, I won't get into 279 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:49,920 it. He talks about how there is this 280 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,120 metaphorical veil over the heart of the Jews. 281 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,800 They can't see this glory because that veil remains and it 282 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,600 can only be removed when Christ removes it. 283 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,320 One person turns to the Lord Jesus and faith, even simple 284 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,320 faith, miracles can take place. But here's the point that I'm 285 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:09,000 trying to get across. Moses, Moses with an unfailed 286 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:10,440 face and go. And now, because of Christ, we 287 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,880 can all go in, and we can not only have access to the glory of 288 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,560 the Lord through the means that He has provided to us, namely 289 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:18,880 through His word, namely through prayer, that gives us access to 290 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,280 His presence. Not only can we have access to 291 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,680 that, but listen in the same way that Moses directly experienced 292 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,720 a reflection of that glory. You and two, now you 2 now have 293 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:33,600 that access, not just to be in there, but for it to do 294 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:37,000 something to us and look at it again. 295 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,560 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, 296 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,800 are being transformed into the same image from 1° of glory to 297 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,240 another. So you can continue this 298 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:48,560 contrast. Moses went up there. 299 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,160 Yes, he was the only one who had access. 300 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:53,160 And because he has the only access he has, only He was the 301 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,200 only one that had the benefit of seeing his face the way it was, 302 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:57,680 and for other people to witness it. 303 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,440 So unlike manner, when you behold the glory of the Lord, 304 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,920 something's going to happen to you, and it can happen to any of 305 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,280 us, because what's the condition? 306 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,480 We all. Who's the we all? 307 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,280 If you've turned to the Lord, so we all have access. 308 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,040 But not everybody has the experience. 309 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,400 Can I tell you why? Because it's not enough to just 310 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,120 turn to the Lord. That's the first step. 311 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,960 The second step is what people fail to do. 312 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:31,320 Behold him. I must consciously, and I must 313 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,720 with effort and desire, and even with some kind of discipline, 314 00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:40,160 behold him beholding the glory of the Lord. 315 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,760 And here's the result. What you witness, like a mirror, 316 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,440 will now reflect off of you. And what's that mean? 317 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,600 I'm going to sparkle physically. No, something better. 318 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,040 What glory is, is Paul conveying here? 319 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,600 What kind of glory is it that's going to rub off on me as I 320 00:19:55,600 --> 00:20:01,840 behold the glory of the Lord? His moral elegance, the 321 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:06,120 attributes that make him holy, are now shared with the one who 322 00:20:06,120 --> 00:20:09,480 beholds him. You know what the word behold 323 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,120 means. I'll tell you what, it doesn't 324 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:14,600 mean this. That's a quick glance. 325 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,240 That's not what this word is speaking about. 326 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:24,680 Means to stare at it implies to study and to look at it long 327 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,160 enough for it to have its effect on you. 328 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:34,080 And he's saying if you do this, then you will know some kind of 329 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,240 reflection of his glory. And what more can we do to 330 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,120 glorify the Lord? How can I glorify the Lord? 331 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,640 What more can you do in the reflect His glory? 332 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,640 Well, how do I have access for me to reflect his glory? 333 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,200 Here's what Paul says. You got to take time to behold 334 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:59,960 him. And This is why Satan will fight 335 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:06,680 you, and he will frustrate you, and he will dangle things before 336 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:13,160 your face that you would never even give a minute to beholding 337 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,960 the glory of the Lord. Because he knows what he can do. 338 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,960 And that's why you and I have to build up the faith by the Word, 339 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:26,800 to believe that as I take the time to behold him, it's going 340 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,880 to do something to me. It's going to shape me, it's 341 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,440 going to chisel me, it's going to carve me. 342 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,480 And here's the encouragement, Not that we have access, not 343 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,360 that it's it's going to reflect on me, but that it's a progress, 344 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:44,120 It's a gradual thing. Don't think that if you just 345 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,680 have one week of beholding the Lord consistently that you're 346 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,400 going to come out shining. No. 347 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,800 What does he say from 1° of glory to another? 348 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:55,240 I thank God that even in this supernatural transaction, it 349 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,880 still takes time. That's a comfort to me. 350 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,920 That's a comfort to me because I don't always come out of my time 351 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,320 with the Lord and His word that this is, by the way, the main 352 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,120 way in which we will behold His glory. 353 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,320 I don't always come outside of my time and sitting at the feet 354 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:18,760 of the Lord looking like Moses. No, but I I trust that as I do 355 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,560 this, and as I give myself to it, even though everything that 356 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:28,600 morning is fighting me to stay in my warm bed or occupy myself 357 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,520 with 100 different things, I must behold him. 358 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,960 I must behold him. If I want to glorify him, then I 359 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,600 must reflect his glory. And if I'm going to have any 360 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:45,720 chance of reflecting his glory, I got to make time to ascend the 361 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:53,800 hill of the Lord and to look at him as beholding the glory of 362 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,480 the Lord. A conscious practice in your 363 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,840 life, The veil has been removed because of your faith in Jesus 364 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,760 Christ. But where are your eyes looking? 365 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,120 I get it, and I'm getting it more and more as I'm advancing 366 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:12,320 in life. Life can get hectic and life can 367 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:17,080 get crazy. But I have to understand that if 368 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,840 I'm going to have any chance of having the confidence that I can 369 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:26,880 long term, actually lifelong, glorify God, then I have to. 370 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,120 I have to make this a pillar in my life. 371 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:34,560 Cultivate and maintain a time with the Lord where I'm able to 372 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:39,400 without distraction, behold him and you'd be made to know what 373 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:43,320 you are able to give to. The Lord can do miracles in your 374 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:48,480 life, you are able to do it. This is accessible to all of us, 375 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,760 and that's the first thing. Cultivate and maintain a 376 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,360 devotional life. Paul by the Spirit says this is 377 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:57,160 the way to knowing transformation. 378 00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:00,920 But it's not just that. Let's look to another place. 379 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:15,990 Go to Romans 15 with me, please. And let's go to chapter 15 and 380 00:24:15,990 --> 00:24:27,790 verse 5. Paul again says to these Roman 381 00:24:27,790 --> 00:24:34,520 believers, he's really praying for them in this May. 382 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,640 The God of endurance and encouragement. 383 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,280 Pause. Aren't you happy that one of the 384 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,480 titles that God gives himself is that he is the God of 385 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,600 encouragement? You want to be more like God? 386 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,720 Be more encouraging. He's an encouraging God. 387 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,720 He's an encouraging God. In fact, when you read about the 388 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,000 gifts of the Spirit and you speak about prophecy, it's 389 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,080 supposed to encourage you. Well, we we can't get into that 390 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,040 now. Romans 15/5. 391 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:05,720 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live 392 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:11,680 in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus. 393 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,800 Look at this very carefully in verse six, that together you may 394 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:20,240 with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 395 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,480 Christ. Therefore, welcome one another 396 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:28,320 as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. 397 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,120 Twice in these verses, Paul speaks about glorifying God and 398 00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:37,360 notice that they are both connected to a certain 399 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:44,520 condition. They are a glory connected to 400 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:51,240 the context of a togetherness. In other words, this particular 401 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:55,360 glorification of God in and through our lives cannot be 402 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:01,120 separated, is exclusively accessed with other believers. 403 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,520 How can I know, no matter who I am, what job I have, where I 404 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,680 live, how many kids I have, what's in my bank account, what 405 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:13,040 my giftings are, How can I have the assurance that I am living 406 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:14,920 for the glory of God? Well, number one, you have to 407 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:16,320 cultivate, maintain a devotional life. 408 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,360 That's step one. Number two, you have to commit 409 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:23,320 to the local church. You have to commit to the local 410 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:29,040 church, because notice here in verse six that together you may 411 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:34,040 with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 412 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,320 Christ and look at the the surrounding instructions in 413 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:43,400 verse 5 to live in such harmony with with you, by yourself, no, 414 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,440 no, with one another. And then he speaks about 415 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:48,120 together, glorifying God with one voice. 416 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:51,560 And then verse 7. Therefore welcome one another, 417 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,800 so one another, one another together. 418 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,400 And So what Paul is conveying here here is that there is a 419 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:02,320 particular praise unto God and a particular lever of pleasure we 420 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:07,880 give to God in my life that must be connected to other believers. 421 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,520 You, if you desire to glorify the Lord, cannot afford to do 422 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,480 this solo. I don't care how much time you 423 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,320 spend alone beholding the glory of God in the place of His word, 424 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:24,480 in the place of prayer, you will never be able to know a certain 425 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:28,600 level of glorifying him apart from giving that sacrifice of 426 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,520 glory on the altar of the local church. 427 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,840 And besides, the glory that you get and I get from Beholding is 428 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:40,960 meant to shine on others, right? And so here's the point that I 429 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,840 want to make from this When a person chooses to have zero or a 430 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,680 shallow relationship with the church, he is denying, she is 431 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,520 denying a level of glory that God deserves. 432 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,440 So how am I because I'm looking at these verses? 433 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,160 How am I able to obey these scriptures? 434 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,640 For example, if I can't identify, if I can't identify 435 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,400 with a local assembly and say here are the people that I'm 436 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,880 called to live in harmony with. And here are the people that I'm 437 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:13,320 called to with one voice glorify the Lord every time we gather. 438 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,640 And here are the people that I'm invited to open my heart to and 439 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,880 be hospitable to and to interact with in a Christ, Christ like 440 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,360 manner. Who are those people in your 441 00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:24,520 life? Where are those people in your 442 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,520 life. And this idea here is not that 443 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,040 if you attend church services and you'd be nice to people on 444 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,600 your way in and on your way out, that God is looking in and from 445 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,000 heaven with a clipboard in His hand saying, OK, you're you're 446 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:38,840 here this week and check it off, good job you're you're 447 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,640 glorifying me. Good job man. 448 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,760 Keep it up. That's not what he's after, 449 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:44,840 because pay very close attention to this. 450 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:50,240 Instead, When you practically invest your life into the body 451 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:56,400 of Christ, you unlock hundreds of ways of glorifying God. 452 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:02,160 All these avenues now open up because God has designed and 453 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:06,280 intended the church to be the arena where we experience a 454 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:08,320 place of glorifying Him in a special way. 455 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,520 So, so many things begin to open up in the one simple place, the 456 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,520 awesome place of a church on Canfield, so to speak. 457 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:23,280 Thanks for the time being where God expects us to glorify Him in 458 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,880 a special way. And and how many ways can you 459 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,080 and I glorify and remember, how can I glorify God no matter who 460 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,400 I am, no matter who you are? Again, so many ways, and this is 461 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,160 the one example that that came to mind. 462 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:36,720 So turn there to 2nd Corinthians 9. 463 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:40,320 I want to show you one, one among many, one among the great 464 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:44,400 catalogue of opportunities to be able to bring delight to the 465 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:53,130 heart of God. 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 9. 466 00:29:53,690 --> 00:29:55,850 In this chapter, Paul is reminding the Corinthian 467 00:29:55,850 --> 00:29:59,970 believers of their willingness and commitment to help some of 468 00:29:59,970 --> 00:30:02,850 the Saints in Jerusalem financially. 469 00:30:02,850 --> 00:30:08,530 Actually, And he says it's in 2nd Corinthians 913 to stir up 470 00:30:08,530 --> 00:30:11,290 their affections and their convictions toward this. 471 00:30:11,290 --> 00:30:15,280 Again, he says in verse 13, by their approval of the service 472 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:21,240 they they will glorify God because of your submission that 473 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:25,080 comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ and the 474 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:28,160 generosity of your contribution for them and for all others. 475 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,120 So he says, look Corinthian believers, you have an 476 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:36,600 opportunity as a church to glorify God as you extend help 477 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,480 in this way. And he says you'll do it in two 478 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,000 ways. One, because these Saints will, 479 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:47,360 who are Jewish believers, witness your submission to your 480 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:51,120 confession of the gospel. Remember, the Jews already had 481 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:55,040 issues with these believers being grafted in. 482 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:56,520 You see that in the book of Acts. 483 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,680 And Paul, mindful of this, says you have an opportunity, you 484 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,120 Gentile believers, to show that your confession of Christ 485 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:03,840 actually brought change in your life. 486 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,040 You can. And so this is a way for these 487 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,000 believers who have much to boast about a much more foundation 488 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:15,960 than you do, to say no, Our Messiah did a work in these 489 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:20,480 Gentiles as well and it will say something of the authenticity of 490 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,800 your confession but not just that he's like not only will 491 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,040 they be able to glorify God because of that, like hey guys, 492 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,760 look what just came in. Surely God is doing a work among 493 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:35,280 the Gentiles but that also look and the generosity of your 494 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,440 contribution for them and for all others. 495 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:41,800 Notice the connection between this is just one example of how 496 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,080 who no matter who I am, I can glorify God. 497 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:48,040 In the context of the Church, generosity is connected to 498 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,640 glorifying God. Do you see that that through 499 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,040 your generosity, your contribution, they will glorify 500 00:31:55,040 --> 00:32:00,600 God? I reminded of a brother who 501 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,680 experienced something like this. It was on his heart to to give 502 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:09,680 in a particular way and it was just impressed randomly and 503 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:11,640 towards somebody that he knows that's serving a ministry in a 504 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,400 certain capacity. And so it was in a time where 505 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,200 there was other investments that he had to make. 506 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,560 So I don't know if there was hesitation or what but 507 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:24,800 eventually made that move and just without announcement just 508 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,960 God bless you and within a few minutes received the message and 509 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:29,880 that message was something along the lines of you don't 510 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:34,480 understand we've been praying and we're we're thinking of 511 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,520 doing something fresh and and and and this came in around that 512 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,480 same time and this is to us a confirmation that we're moving 513 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:45,240 in the right direction and my heart is so moved. 514 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,200 What happened there? You had one individual that was 515 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:53,680 prompted to do this, not knowing why at this time, not knowing 516 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:58,160 the reasons for it, does it and receives report that this was a 517 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:01,840 confirmation beyond just the simple donation and what took 518 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:06,760 place that person expressed, glorifying God. 519 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:15,760 That's just 111 sliver among so many threads that your hands in 520 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:21,800 the church can weave to bring a masterpiece of glorifying God as 521 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,280 you partner with others in the place that God has called you. 522 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:27,400 How can I glorify God no matter who I am? 523 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:30,240 You have to you. You will not know heights and 524 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,760 you will not know depths until you can say this is where I 525 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:36,760 serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Among these people and with 526 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:46,000 these elders and these deacons, there is a final way, not 527 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,480 limited this of course. Cultivate, maintain a devotional 528 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:56,640 life, walk beholding him, commit myself to the local church, and 529 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,320 watch the opportunities. Open up. 530 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,320 So many opportunities for you to be like this is awesome. 531 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,000 Lastly, and this is more general, but it covers really 532 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,280 everything. Conform. 533 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:13,239 Conform to Christ, likeness in every and any context you find 534 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:17,880 yourself in. So cultivate, commit, conform. 535 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,120 Because as you are aware, there are many practical ways that you 536 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:24,719 and I can explore and discover of how we can glorify God. 537 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:27,320 But I believe Paul summarizes it in a particular space of 538 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,880 Scripture. What's really the ultimate aim? 539 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:35,800 How am I to glorify God if there's one word or one phrase 540 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,719 to really summarize it? Be holy. 541 00:34:42,199 --> 00:34:44,040 What did the Lord say? Be holy. 542 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,639 For I am holy. Be set apart like I am set 543 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:52,719 apart. But I wonder if we know what it 544 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:59,560 means to be holy, What does it look like for me to walk? 545 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:00,960 Well, I mean, let me put let me put it this way. 546 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:06,120 When you hear that man is holy, please don't answer out loud. 547 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:13,920 But what comes to mind? My mother is a holy woman. 548 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:22,320 What comes to mind? Paul writes not only about how 549 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,480 holiness is achieved, and I believe a way that we often 550 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:27,400 overlook. He actually talks about a 551 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:31,640 certain standard of holiness. He talks about a place where you 552 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:36,360 and I can be listen to this, blameless in holiness. 553 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,800 What does that mean? To be blameless, to be free from 554 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,320 any accusation, to be free from any condemnation. 555 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:49,200 And he's actually speaking about being blameless in holiness when 556 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:53,920 we stand before the presence of the Lord upon His return. 557 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:58,840 I know that you and I and I praise God that positionally in 558 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:03,000 Jesus Christ we are holy. But it does not cancel out nor 559 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:07,840 negate our ambition to be practically holy and practically 560 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:10,320 prepared to meet the Lord. That's what Paul is getting at. 561 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:12,240 He's not talking about your positional standing before God. 562 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:16,720 Christ did that. But I want to really know, Paul, 563 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:20,960 are you communicating that it's possible for me, no matter who I 564 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:25,000 am, to actually be blameless in holiness? 565 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:30,320 I want that not because I'm afraid of hell, not because I 566 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:33,720 have a lack of security in my standing before God, but because 567 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:38,960 I want to glorify God. So tell me, Paul, how is it that 568 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:43,120 I can arrive at a place where I, in the sight of God, can be 569 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:48,160 blameless in holiness? What do you think, stuffing 570 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:52,680 yourself in some room for hours and fasting? 571 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:59,840 Praying slavishly, doing things to the neglect of your own body 572 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:01,720 and health and the relationships in your life. 573 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:03,600 What do you think it means to be blameless and holy? 574 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:15,250 Let me show you in First Thessalonians chapter 3 First 575 00:37:15,250 --> 00:37:19,730 Thessalonians chapter 3. Let's begin together. 576 00:37:19,730 --> 00:37:30,720 In verse 11. Paul writes now another prayer. 577 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:35,920 May our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our 578 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:42,080 way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in 579 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:46,560 love for one another and for all as we do for you. 580 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,720 Pause. That's not that's not the main 581 00:37:49,720 --> 00:37:51,240 point. But I can't help but stop and 582 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:55,200 make a couple of comments. Notice here that he's He's 583 00:37:55,200 --> 00:38:02,120 telling them and he's asking God to increase this God love in 584 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:05,920 them. And notice where he wants that 585 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:09,280 love to manifest, that you may increase and abound in love for 586 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,520 one another, but not just for one another. 587 00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:14,440 Where else and who to us and for all. 588 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:21,800 So the deposit of God's love in my heart is to primarily 589 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:27,560 manifest and be shared and experienced here in this place 590 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:31,160 toward one another, receiving and giving that kind of love. 591 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,160 But this is where it begins. And Paul says it's going to 592 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:36,640 begin here. This is where it's going to be 593 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,280 fostered. But this love is so strong, it's 594 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:43,360 so real. It's a current that should, that 595 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,440 should occupy your soul, that it spills over into the others. 596 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:49,360 Get this. Who very likely will not love 597 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:53,080 you in return. This place I should expect and 598 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:55,360 you should expect that there is a mutual love. 599 00:38:55,720 --> 00:38:57,960 But Paul says no. I'm praying that God would so 600 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:01,080 fill your heart with this love that it will actually overflow 601 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:04,280 into a place and with people that may not give it back. 602 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,160 You're saying that's that's a that's a tall order. 603 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:09,920 Yeah. It's the Christian life. 604 00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:14,120 And be encouraged that we're not left powerless with these tall 605 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:16,320 orders. Because notice that Paul says 606 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:22,440 may the Lord, may the Lord increase and abound in your 607 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:25,560 heart. His love, meaning that kind of 608 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,600 way of life, is absolutely impossible without supernatural 609 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,920 intervention. So I'm not here mustering up 610 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:33,200 that string. I'm not here trying to get 611 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:35,400 myself to love. I'm here to come before a God 612 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,800 who is love to give me his heart for others, not just here, but 613 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,600 towards those who, in our estimation don't deserve it. 614 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:46,040 And if you feel discouraged, or maybe you're even angry and 615 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:50,280 maybe something in you just recoiled and your defense 616 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:53,920 mechanisms went up, oh, just be like Paul and ask him. 617 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:58,560 Ask him to flood your heart with this love and you won't even be 618 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:02,400 able to recognize yourself. Another thing. 619 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:03,920 Here, look again. This is not my main point, but I 620 00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:05,840 can't help it. I can't. 621 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:10,240 The end of verse 12. Lord, may the Lord make you 622 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:14,080 increase and abound in love for one another and for all as we do 623 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:18,280 for you. I was meditating on this and my 624 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:22,640 heart was so stirred. As we do for you. 625 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:25,560 You know what Paul dares to do here? 626 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:27,960 And he's doing it with a clear conscience and with the approval 627 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:33,680 of the Holy Spirit. If you want to know by way of 628 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:37,840 example how you can walk in this godly love that God is able to 629 00:40:37,840 --> 00:40:43,920 help you walk in, look here. Look at how I have loved you. 630 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,600 Can you imagine arriving at a place again with a clear 631 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,360 conscience and with humility? It's kind of hard to imagine, 632 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:57,600 but Can you imagine? Try to walking in a way in which 633 00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:02,120 you can tell your children, spiritually, spiritual children 634 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:06,880 or physical children, and invite them to look at your life if 635 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:08,680 they need a model of how to love. 636 00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:14,720 Do you want to know how to love your wife? 637 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:19,400 Look at me. You want to know how to love 638 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:22,120 your brothers and sisters in the church? 639 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:27,800 It's been a few weeks with me. Do you want to know how to love 640 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:34,240 that irritating relative that seems to only add drama and 641 00:41:34,240 --> 00:41:37,760 frustration to your already busy life. 642 00:41:40,720 --> 00:41:45,160 Follow me. It almost sounds strange, right? 643 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:49,920 Who says that as we do for you, like, hey, I'm here, I can say 644 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:51,760 that as a leader, we're doing it. 645 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,560 And you might think, well, that's that's a little weird for 646 00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:56,320 somebody to say that about themselves. 647 00:41:56,480 --> 00:42:01,440 But I don't see it that way. I see it in this way that Paul 648 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:03,960 instead is communicating. If you want to know if it's 649 00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:07,680 possible for one to increase and abound in this love for the 650 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:11,160 believer, for the unbeliever, look no further than me. 651 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:20,960 It is possible, yeah. This is not the main point. 652 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:26,160 Those are just extras. Look at verse 13. 653 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:34,640 He says here so that He may establish your hearts blameless 654 00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:38,320 in holiness before our God and Father. 655 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:43,960 At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His Saints, you have to 656 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:46,680 be able to connect verse 12 with verse 13. 657 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:50,920 Verse 12 He talks about even praise for this love to be a 658 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,520 waterfall in their hearts, in their community, and outside of 659 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:58,480 their community of faith. And he gives the reason why he's 660 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,560 praying for it. I'm praying for this love to be 661 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:07,520 enriched so that verse 13, He may establish your hearts 662 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:15,840 blameless in holiness. If you want to know how you can 663 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:21,320 walk in a holy way, you cannot separate that from the pursuit 664 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:26,480 of love. What does it mean to be holy? 665 00:43:27,560 --> 00:43:30,360 According to Paul, in order to be established blameless in 666 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:34,680 holiness, your heart must increase and abound in love. 667 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:40,240 I'm not sure if we connect love and holiness, but the Bible 668 00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:45,040 does. So that's the equation. 669 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:47,120 So let me present it to you in this way. 670 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:51,600 How do I have the assurance that I'm living for the glory of God 671 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:56,280 no matter who I am? Well, the Bible over and over in 672 00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:58,080 different places says I'm called to be holy. 673 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,400 Ultimately, that that's the umbrella and it's all these 674 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:04,160 other things underneath it. Holy be holy, be like me. 675 00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:09,960 But if I'm to be holy according to Paul, then I'm to arrive 676 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:14,760 there through prayerfully and practically increasing and 677 00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:20,120 abounding in love. There are two words of another 678 00:44:20,120 --> 00:44:24,040 verse that make that charge very clear. 679 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:27,600 It's in First Corinthians 14. One, you don't have to turn 680 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:28,880 there, I'll just quote it to you. 681 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:33,400 Just two words. The 1st 2 words pursue, love, 682 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:38,440 pursue, love. You know what that word pursue 683 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:41,600 is in the Greek, It's a very intense word actually. 684 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:49,960 Chase after it, chase after it, run after it, run after love. 685 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:54,320 And one way that I can run after love living in me and living 686 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:55,760 through me. Well, I believe Paul provides 687 00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:59,160 one example that's that's going to occupy my prayer life. 688 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:04,200 I want to love better. Lord, I want to increase in this 689 00:45:04,200 --> 00:45:05,880 love. I want to abound in this love. 690 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:08,760 If I'm going to be rich in anything in this life, let it be 691 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:13,880 in this kind of love. And I'm also by the Spirit's 692 00:45:13,880 --> 00:45:19,360 help looking at again see how it all interconnects opportunities 693 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:21,240 around me. As Paul says, to love one 694 00:45:21,240 --> 00:45:27,040 another and even outside of this place, to love others, run after 695 00:45:27,040 --> 00:45:29,800 it. Here's we're going to end. 696 00:45:29,800 --> 00:45:31,520 I wasn't planning to end here, but let's end here. 697 00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:34,520 This is my final text. Go to 1st Corinthians. 698 00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,040 Lastly in Chapter 7. And this is where we're going to 699 00:45:37,720 --> 00:45:50,160 sign off together and go to verse 20. 700 00:45:54,720 --> 00:45:57,560 I've spoken about this before, but it does get to remind 701 00:45:57,560 --> 00:46:00,880 ourselves from time to time. People who wonder how do how do 702 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:02,240 I know what God's called me to do? 703 00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:04,720 How do I know what I'm supposed to do at this point in my life? 704 00:46:05,440 --> 00:46:06,960 How do I know what he's assigned for my life? 705 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:08,640 And actually, Paul speaks about that here. 706 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:12,680 And notice what he tells these believers who came to Christ. 707 00:46:12,680 --> 00:46:15,680 And because they had such wild backgrounds, they didn't know 708 00:46:15,680 --> 00:46:18,080 where to go from that place of believing on the Lord. 709 00:46:18,200 --> 00:46:20,520 What do I need to change? Where do I need to move? 710 00:46:20,640 --> 00:46:22,200 What do I need to do about my employment? 711 00:46:22,560 --> 00:46:24,840 Is that not a common question that people ask when they come 712 00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:27,360 to Christ? Yes, and the Bible knows that. 713 00:46:27,360 --> 00:46:29,440 And the Bible gives us something to comfort us. 714 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:32,280 And maybe you need this to comfort somebody else who might 715 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:35,480 be agitated and flustered about. I want to make sure I'm in the 716 00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:38,840 will of God and I don't have any clues or signs, but I just feel 717 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:41,880 like I need to do something because I'm not satisfied with 718 00:46:41,880 --> 00:46:43,480 where I'm at. I don't feel like this is what 719 00:46:43,480 --> 00:46:46,160 it is that I can do to really give him maximum glory. 720 00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:52,360 Look at verse 20. Each one should remain in the 721 00:46:52,360 --> 00:46:54,360 condition in which he was called. 722 00:46:55,240 --> 00:46:57,800 Were you a bondservant when called, Do not be concerned 723 00:46:57,800 --> 00:46:59,960 about it, but if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of 724 00:46:59,960 --> 00:47:02,560 the opportunity. For he was called in the Lord as 725 00:47:02,560 --> 00:47:04,120 a bondservant, as a freeman of the Lord. 726 00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:07,120 Likewise he was free when called as a bondservant of Christ. 727 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:10,760 You were bought with a price. Do not become bondservants of 728 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:12,760 men. Now look at this in verse 24 729 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:16,040 again. So brothers, in whatever 730 00:47:16,120 --> 00:47:22,440 condition each was called there let him remain with God. 731 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:30,120 So in whatever condition you were called when God rescued you 732 00:47:30,120 --> 00:47:34,200 from your sin, Paul says in essence, everybody calm down. 733 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:39,280 Everybody calm down because the context here is, well, now I'm a 734 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:40,800 believer, but I'm married to an unbeliever spouse. 735 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:42,440 Do I need to move on from this relationship? 736 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:44,400 Do I need to break off, calm down. 737 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:46,800 And he expands the application to even people in terms of 738 00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:50,040 employment, in terms of circumcision. 739 00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:57,440 And so if I'm in a place where I do not have a clear direction 740 00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:02,000 from the Lord about what to do, where to go, here's what he 741 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:04,680 says. Stay where you are and scroll 742 00:48:04,680 --> 00:48:07,480 back here to verse 19. For neither circumcision counts 743 00:48:07,480 --> 00:48:11,360 for anything, nor uncircumcision, but keeping the 744 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:15,720 commandments of God. So stay where you are and obey 745 00:48:15,720 --> 00:48:18,360 God to the capacity and the revelation that he has given 746 00:48:18,360 --> 00:48:21,360 you. That is actually you fulfilling 747 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:24,920 the will of God. Not being frantic, not not 748 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:28,320 pulling your hair, not wondering if I'm really glorifying God or 749 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:29,400 after. Yeah, I don't know if the Lord 750 00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:31,240 told me anything, but I feel like I need to do this and just 751 00:48:31,480 --> 00:48:36,720 burn everything to the ground. No, Stay where you are and obey 752 00:48:36,720 --> 00:48:39,000 God where you are. And here's the comforting part. 753 00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:40,680 Did you miss it? Look at verse 24 again. 754 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:44,520 In whatever condition each was called there, let him remain. 755 00:48:44,520 --> 00:48:47,320 He could have put a period mark there, but he didn't let him 756 00:48:47,320 --> 00:48:52,680 remain with God. God is with you there, and 757 00:48:52,680 --> 00:48:56,800 because God is with you there, you can cultivate and maintain a 758 00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:00,000 devotional life. You can commit to the local 759 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:04,200 church, and you can seek to by himself conform to Christ. 760 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:07,600 Like this in any and every context you find yourself in. 761 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:11,120 My prayer at the end of this message is really for all of us 762 00:49:11,120 --> 00:49:15,280 here to be able to give a sigh of relief and know based on the 763 00:49:15,280 --> 00:49:18,560 word of God, I can walk out of here in whatever condition I'm 764 00:49:18,560 --> 00:49:21,360 in and be confident that I am glorifying God. 765 00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:24,400 That's it. Let's pray. 766 00:49:35,440 --> 00:49:40,360 Lord, we love your Word and thank you for the reminder. 767 00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:45,880 Thank you for the realignment that your word provides. 768 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:51,080 Thank you, Lord, that we don't have to be in a particular place 769 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:57,320 doing something particular, trying to figure out this puzzle 770 00:49:58,280 --> 00:50:03,480 of how to be in the will of God. But you've confident us to know 771 00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:06,400 that no matter where we are, until you give a clear step, we 772 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:09,880 can be absolutely confident that we are giving you glory. 773 00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:14,080 So help us leave here in the words of Paul, with the 774 00:50:14,080 --> 00:50:17,600 simplicity of our devotion to Christ. 775 00:50:17,880 --> 00:50:25,080 You've made it so simple that no matter who we are, we can bring 776 00:50:25,080 --> 00:50:29,600 pleasure to your heart. And we ask, Lord, that we would 777 00:50:29,600 --> 00:50:32,440 do so, That you would bring these things to remembrance. 778 00:50:32,440 --> 00:50:35,160 That if there needs to be any change in these very areas that 779 00:50:35,160 --> 00:50:39,240 we discussed, that we would not see these things as options, but 780 00:50:39,240 --> 00:50:44,680 as necessary foundations of giving you your due low. 781 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:48,800 We pray that in this context, as Paul prayed for the 782 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:53,280 Thessalonians, that you would help us increase and abound in 783 00:50:53,280 --> 00:50:56,920 love for one another. It has to be from the help of 784 00:50:56,920 --> 00:51:01,000 the Holy Spirit and so low. We pray that as we grow 785 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:04,440 numerically, that we would more importantly grow in this 786 00:51:04,440 --> 00:51:06,560 affection with and for one another. 787 00:51:06,600 --> 00:51:09,160 Help us, Lord, Don't leave us to our flesh. 788 00:51:09,880 --> 00:51:12,880 Don't leave us to giving into the offences that harbor our 789 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:16,640 hearts to rehearsing pains and hurts. 790 00:51:16,640 --> 00:51:21,120 Lord, help us be overcome by this love and Lord we admit if 791 00:51:21,120 --> 00:51:22,880 you don't do it, then we're in danger. 792 00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:26,720 But if you do it, we will know wonders in our relationships to 793 00:51:26,720 --> 00:51:28,720 one another. And so, Lord, we want to now 794 00:51:28,720 --> 00:51:32,800 glorify you with one voice as one assembly. 795 00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:36,200 We want to give you praises and give you what is your do. 796 00:51:36,200 --> 00:51:38,520 In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. 797 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:45,080 Church, what we're about to do right now is a measure of 798 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:50,440 glorifying God. So come with your voices 799 00:51:50,600 --> 00:51:54,840 connected to a heart that realizes I am in a place and 800 00:51:54,840 --> 00:51:59,880 with a people where we are now giving to God the God of heaven 801 00:51:59,880 --> 00:52:03,200 and earth. Glory, please stand.