1 00:00:30,259 --> 00:00:35,419 Amen. Amen. Blessing. Appreciate that, Ms. Sylvester, very 2 00:00:35,419 --> 00:00:39,499 much and enjoyed hearing the new piano played as well. God's really 3 00:00:39,499 --> 00:00:42,819 blessed us with some wonderful musicians. Turn if you would in your 4 00:00:42,819 --> 00:00:46,939 Bibles tonight to 2 Corinthians, chapter three. And yes, 5 00:00:46,939 --> 00:00:50,659 we will get back to Obadiah, but not tonight. Second Corinthians, 6 00:00:51,139 --> 00:00:57,519 chapter three. And we'll be in verse 18. For some of you, this is 7 00:00:57,519 --> 00:01:03,919 a verse we have traversed several times. And I believe Brother 8 00:01:03,919 --> 00:01:07,079 Stewart, when he comes in March this next year, I'm going to 9 00:01:07,079 --> 00:01:12,759 have him go back and do the sermon series on the glory and the 10 00:01:12,759 --> 00:01:14,839 glory of God. It's been a while since we've done that one. 11 00:01:15,799 --> 00:01:19,279 Usually about every seven or eight years we repeat that one. It's 12 00:01:19,279 --> 00:01:23,369 such an important, important truth. Tonight we'll cover some of 13 00:01:23,369 --> 00:01:26,049 that. And as I looked at, I actually went through and count, 14 00:01:26,049 --> 00:01:28,609 not counted the audience, but just kind of looked through, see 15 00:01:28,849 --> 00:01:32,409 who's heard this principle before. And about half of you have, 16 00:01:32,409 --> 00:01:37,969 but half of you haven't. And so this will. I'll give you the conclusion. 17 00:01:39,009 --> 00:01:44,609 Read your Bible. That's the conclusion. We're dismissed. All 18 00:01:44,609 --> 00:01:48,999 right, but you'll see as we go through this, Second Corinthians, 19 00:01:49,079 --> 00:01:54,399 3:18. But we all with open face, beholding, as in a glass, the 20 00:01:54,399 --> 00:01:57,959 glory of the Lord. Again, we talked about many times over the 21 00:01:57,959 --> 00:02:01,759 years, the phrase glory of the Lord means who and what God is. Who 22 00:02:01,759 --> 00:02:06,719 and what God is are changed into the same image from glory to 23 00:02:06,719 --> 00:02:11,159 glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, even as by the Spirit 24 00:02:11,159 --> 00:02:13,439 of the Lord. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord again help 25 00:02:13,439 --> 00:02:17,139 us to see this wonderful truth tonight. And may we read our Bibles 26 00:02:17,139 --> 00:02:21,779 with your Son in view. We'll thank you in Jesus name, Amen. As 27 00:02:21,779 --> 00:02:24,779 I read my Bible this morning, I was reminded again of how important 28 00:02:24,779 --> 00:02:29,699 it is as we read our Bibles to think about Jesus, to focus on him. 29 00:02:29,699 --> 00:02:34,179 Somebody has said that you can tear the pages of the Bible in any 30 00:02:34,179 --> 00:02:37,779 page and it'll bleed the blood of Jesus. And that's true Old and 31 00:02:37,779 --> 00:02:42,909 New Testament. He is found in all the Scriptures. As we think about 32 00:02:42,909 --> 00:02:47,309 this particular passage, we find in chapter three, because again 33 00:02:48,669 --> 00:02:52,269 we find in chapter three that Paul is comparing the Old and New 34 00:02:52,269 --> 00:02:56,149 Testament. He's comparing the Old and New Testament. He's comparing 35 00:02:56,149 --> 00:03:01,789 again the Old Testament covenant as a stone, if you would. 36 00:03:01,789 --> 00:03:05,949 And I'm going to tables of stone and then the New Testament 37 00:03:06,109 --> 00:03:12,339 as a spirit or a heart, you know, a fleshly heart. So tables 38 00:03:12,339 --> 00:03:15,859 of stone, Old Testament, a fleshly heart the New Testament. 39 00:03:16,099 --> 00:03:20,219 He's comparing the Old Testament as letters that kill the 40 00:03:20,219 --> 00:03:25,779 New Testament as the Spirit of life. And then he can again comparing 41 00:03:25,779 --> 00:03:31,059 the Old covenant with the new covenant. And then he goes on in 42 00:03:31,059 --> 00:03:37,349 chapter three to continue to say the New Testament covenant is 43 00:03:37,349 --> 00:03:41,389 far more glorious than the Old Testament covenant. Covenant again 44 00:03:41,389 --> 00:03:44,989 is contract. The Old Testament contract versus the New Testament 45 00:03:44,989 --> 00:03:49,669 contract. The New Testament is far more glorious, Far more glorious. 46 00:03:50,069 --> 00:03:53,669 And then in verses 13 and 16 of chapter three, look back with 47 00:03:53,669 --> 00:03:57,869 me. In chapter three, verses 13 through 16, the Bible says there 48 00:03:57,869 --> 00:04:01,749 and as not as Moses which put a veil over his face, that the children 49 00:04:01,749 --> 00:04:04,819 of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end that 50 00:04:04,819 --> 00:04:08,779 which is abolished, but their minds were blinded. For until this 51 00:04:08,779 --> 00:04:12,259 day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the 52 00:04:12,259 --> 00:04:16,459 Old Testament which veil is done away in Christ. So Paul here 53 00:04:16,459 --> 00:04:21,059 speaks about Moses as he went into the tabernacle. And as he spoke 54 00:04:21,059 --> 00:04:24,499 with God, when he came out, his face would glow, his face would 55 00:04:24,499 --> 00:04:29,299 shine. It's amazing. And he said, it's not as though Moses could 56 00:04:29,299 --> 00:04:33,539 go in and talk with God. And but he's saying that the children 57 00:04:33,539 --> 00:04:37,219 of Israel because of the veil that was upon the veil that Moses 58 00:04:37,219 --> 00:04:40,419 had to put on to protect the people, not protect them, but keep 59 00:04:40,419 --> 00:04:43,899 them from being scared, that same veil is over all their faces 60 00:04:44,139 --> 00:04:47,579 in that they are blinded concerning Jesus being the Messiah. 61 00:04:48,139 --> 00:04:51,899 All right, so that veil is taken away by way of the New Testament. 62 00:04:52,059 --> 00:04:55,139 But even unto this day, verse 15, when Moses is read, the veil 63 00:04:55,139 --> 00:04:57,749 is upon their heart. In other words, when the Old Testament is 64 00:04:57,749 --> 00:05:03,469 read, the Jews do not see Christ the Messiah as the Messiah 65 00:05:03,469 --> 00:05:08,709 in the Old Testament. They're blinded to it. All right. Nevertheless, 66 00:05:08,709 --> 00:05:12,468 verse 16, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken 67 00:05:12,468 --> 00:05:15,309 away. And I'm looking forward to that day. One day the veil will 68 00:05:15,309 --> 00:05:18,749 be lifted for the Jew and we're going to cover that in Obadiah 69 00:05:18,749 --> 00:05:23,389 next Wednesday night, the veil will be lifted and all the Jew as 70 00:05:23,389 --> 00:05:26,109 a nation, the Jewish nation. And each individual will come to 71 00:05:26,109 --> 00:05:29,069 know Jesus Christ as their Savior. When the veil is lifted, 72 00:05:29,309 --> 00:05:32,989 the Jewish nation as a whole will accept Jesus as their Messiah. 73 00:05:33,789 --> 00:05:38,869 It's going to be a great and glorious day. Verse 17. Now the Lord 74 00:05:38,869 --> 00:05:43,509 is the Spirit. Notice capital S. And where the Spirit of the Lord 75 00:05:43,509 --> 00:05:48,309 is, there is what liberty. But we all with open face beholding as 76 00:05:48,309 --> 00:05:51,949 in a glass. That glass there means mirror. We all with open face, 77 00:05:51,949 --> 00:05:57,549 we're looking into our face into a mirror. The glory of the Lord 78 00:05:57,949 --> 00:06:02,829 are changed, transformed into that same image from glory to glory, 79 00:06:02,829 --> 00:06:07,029 even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So again Paul comparing Old 80 00:06:07,029 --> 00:06:10,549 and New Testament. The Old Testament was glorious. Verse 10 81 00:06:10,549 --> 00:06:14,149 says of chapter 3, I'm going to read that. For even that which 82 00:06:14,149 --> 00:06:17,309 was made glorious, talking about the Old Testament had no glory 83 00:06:17,309 --> 00:06:21,289 in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth. So that 84 00:06:21,289 --> 00:06:25,169 he's saying the Old Testament had glory, but by reason of the New 85 00:06:25,169 --> 00:06:29,329 Testament that excelleth. In comparison, it had no glory. It had 86 00:06:29,329 --> 00:06:34,449 glory. But the New Testament far exceeds the glory of the Old 87 00:06:34,449 --> 00:06:41,169 Testament. Again, out the Old Testament illustrated for us, Moses 88 00:06:41,169 --> 00:06:45,649 face, he would go into the tabernacle. As he talked with God, 89 00:06:45,649 --> 00:06:49,359 his face would. He would come out of the tabernacle. His face is 90 00:06:49,359 --> 00:06:54,559 glowing. The Bible tells us that as time went on, his face would 91 00:06:54,559 --> 00:06:59,079 dim, he'd go back in the tabernacle. It's kind of like a recharge. 92 00:06:59,079 --> 00:07:03,799 His face would glow, come back out, face would dim and go back in. 93 00:07:04,679 --> 00:07:07,919 That's what happened in the Old Testament. And he's given that 94 00:07:07,919 --> 00:07:14,289 by way of illustration. And in that we are not transformed outwardly. 95 00:07:14,289 --> 00:07:17,729 When we get saved, we're transformed inwardly. The outward 96 00:07:17,729 --> 00:07:22,129 conformity that is illustrated is what happens to us on the inside. 97 00:07:23,409 --> 00:07:28,689 Right? Think about that. The inward man is renewed day by day. 98 00:07:28,689 --> 00:07:33,849 The New Testament tells us day by day that the star arises in our 99 00:07:33,849 --> 00:07:40,049 heart. As we study and read our Bibles, the day star rises in 100 00:07:40,049 --> 00:07:45,089 our hearts. And so the Old Testament, outward conformity, but 101 00:07:45,089 --> 00:07:50,169 the New Testament is an inward transform. Transformative. No, transforming. 102 00:07:50,169 --> 00:07:53,689 All right, so the Old Testament worked from the outside. 103 00:07:53,689 --> 00:07:57,129 In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit works from the inside out. 104 00:07:59,769 --> 00:08:05,629 Far more glorious. Far better. Far better. Here's the illustration. 105 00:08:06,509 --> 00:08:12,309 Raising kids, right? Some of you parents in here got your kids 106 00:08:12,309 --> 00:08:16,509 in Master Club tonight. Some of you grandparents. What do you 107 00:08:16,509 --> 00:08:21,789 do when the kids, you know, a tiny, tiny human being. How do you 108 00:08:21,869 --> 00:08:26,909 get them to obey? Well, you get them to obey, but it's outward 109 00:08:26,989 --> 00:08:33,749 conformity. Yeah, yeah. A two year old, they don't get it. So they 110 00:08:33,749 --> 00:08:38,429 don't inward conform. They outwardly conform. And on the inside 111 00:08:38,829 --> 00:08:42,669 they're still, you know, they're still, they're still mad. 112 00:08:45,229 --> 00:08:49,949 I mean, this is it. As they get older, four or five, they still. 113 00:08:50,109 --> 00:08:53,749 Again, it's mostly an outward conformity. You're. Until a kid is 114 00:08:53,749 --> 00:08:58,239 5, 6, 7 and sometimes 8, we always pick on Micah in here. And 115 00:08:58,239 --> 00:09:00,239 especially since he's helping in master clubs, we'll pick on him 116 00:09:00,239 --> 00:09:05,079 again. Most kids you can get Them to conform outwardly around 117 00:09:05,079 --> 00:09:12,319 that 5, 6, 7, 5, 4, 5, 6, some of them. But Micah was 8, I was 12. 118 00:09:12,319 --> 00:09:17,639 I think my dad might testify to that again. But it's just outward 119 00:09:17,639 --> 00:09:23,049 conformity, you know, they're still on the inside. They don't want 120 00:09:23,049 --> 00:09:26,689 to do what you've asked them to do. There's no inward conformity. 121 00:09:26,689 --> 00:09:31,089 There's no want to, to obey the mom and dad. The relationship 122 00:09:31,089 --> 00:09:35,609 is not there yet. The love per se is not there yet. They're just 123 00:09:35,609 --> 00:09:41,609 outwardly conforming because what fear. They don't want the Board 124 00:09:41,609 --> 00:09:44,889 of Education to the seat of understanding. By the way, if you 125 00:09:44,889 --> 00:09:48,269 are disciplining your kids properly biblically, you're going 126 00:09:48,269 --> 00:09:50,429 to apply the Board of Education, the seat of understanding. 127 00:09:50,589 --> 00:09:53,469 The Bible says if you do not spank your child, you hate them. 128 00:09:54,109 --> 00:10:01,869 That's pretty, pretty, pretty straightforward. Also says if you 129 00:10:01,869 --> 00:10:05,589 use the rod and they cry, they're not going to die. That's 130 00:10:05,589 --> 00:10:08,469 what it says. I'm just summarizing, but they're not going 131 00:10:08,469 --> 00:10:13,149 to die. They may sound like it, but they're not going to die. 132 00:10:13,619 --> 00:10:16,979 This is Solomon speaking. You know, he's the wisest man who ever 133 00:10:16,979 --> 00:10:19,859 lived. Why wouldn't you take the wisest man who ever lived rather 134 00:10:19,859 --> 00:10:24,659 than some, some psychologist or some guy from, you know, Barnes 135 00:10:24,659 --> 00:10:30,259 and Noble, you know, and of course, there's a big difference 136 00:10:30,259 --> 00:10:35,419 between spanking a child and beating a child. So I don't have 137 00:10:35,419 --> 00:10:40,299 time to go into all that tonight. But it, but it is fear when 138 00:10:40,299 --> 00:10:46,539 a child is really small that that gets them to conform. And you're 139 00:10:46,539 --> 00:10:50,619 applying pressure to get them to conform. And I am for also positive 140 00:10:50,619 --> 00:10:54,179 reinforcement. You can offer them M and M now and again, too. 141 00:10:54,739 --> 00:11:01,379 Not just the Board of Education, but as time goes on and 142 00:11:01,379 --> 00:11:05,939 as you train, by the way, if you're doing corporal punishment 143 00:11:05,939 --> 00:11:11,419 right, it's training. If you do it wrong, it's bullying, it's 144 00:11:11,819 --> 00:11:16,659 beating right? And there is a difference. Man. I want to go into 145 00:11:16,659 --> 00:11:22,939 that, but I'm not going to. But fear, We've preached from the 146 00:11:22,939 --> 00:11:27,459 pulpit many times and the Bible clarifies this. Fear is a motivator, 147 00:11:27,459 --> 00:11:31,139 but it's not the greatest motivator. In the Old Testament, 148 00:11:31,139 --> 00:11:34,989 you had the letter of the law. You had the letter of the law, the 149 00:11:34,989 --> 00:11:39,509 Bible, what Paul's saying here is the stone, the stone of the letter 150 00:11:39,509 --> 00:11:44,029 of the law. It kills. Well, the Bible tells us that it is the 151 00:11:44,029 --> 00:11:48,869 law that brings us to Christ. It's the law that without the law, 152 00:11:48,869 --> 00:11:52,149 we wouldn't Know we were sinners. That's what Paul said. Without 153 00:11:52,149 --> 00:11:57,509 the law, I wouldn't know I was a sinner. But the law came in. The 154 00:11:57,509 --> 00:12:03,689 law shined the light. The law showed me. The law showed me that 155 00:12:04,009 --> 00:12:07,809 I was a sinner. Of course, the Holy Spirit convicting us. But without 156 00:12:07,809 --> 00:12:11,689 a law, there's nothing to break. And sin is breaking the law. 157 00:12:12,809 --> 00:12:17,649 The New Testament summarizes that law. Jesus did do unto others 158 00:12:17,649 --> 00:12:20,049 as he had them do unto you. Whatsoever you would that men should 159 00:12:20,049 --> 00:12:23,169 do to you, do ye even also to them. For this is all the law and 160 00:12:23,169 --> 00:12:28,019 the prophets. Matthew 7:12. And so the law is our schoolmaster. 161 00:12:28,019 --> 00:12:33,059 That brings us to Christ. The Old Testament conformity. The Israel 162 00:12:33,059 --> 00:12:40,779 conformed primarily because they were afraid of God, right? I 163 00:12:40,779 --> 00:12:45,139 mean, the fire on top of Mount Sinai, the thundering, the lightning, 164 00:12:45,779 --> 00:12:49,379 the cloud. They were told not to approach Mount Sinai. They actually 165 00:12:49,379 --> 00:12:52,139 fenced off the whole mountain to keep the children of Israel from 166 00:12:52,139 --> 00:12:54,339 touching the mountain. Because the Bible says if you touch the mountain. 167 00:12:54,339 --> 00:12:56,659 Jesus said, God said, if you touch the mountain. By the way, it 168 00:12:56,659 --> 00:13:00,949 was Jesus, if you touch the mountain, you're dead. So they. I 169 00:13:00,949 --> 00:13:09,589 mean, it was something. A lot of fear. A lot of fear. What Paul's 170 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:13,508 saying is that the Old Testament was glorious and you had 171 00:13:13,508 --> 00:13:16,069 the Law and God giving the law and giving the moral, giving the 172 00:13:16,069 --> 00:13:20,909 Ten Commandments. But the New Testament, he says, is by far greater. 173 00:13:22,429 --> 00:13:27,669 It is far, far more glorious. And he said, in comparison to the 174 00:13:27,669 --> 00:13:31,229 Old Testament, the Old Testament has no glory. He says it 175 00:13:31,229 --> 00:13:33,429 has glory. Then he says, but in comparison to the New Testament, 176 00:13:33,429 --> 00:13:36,909 it has no glory. How many y' all want to live in the Old Testament? 177 00:13:37,549 --> 00:13:40,189 How many live under the Old Testament covenant? Nobody does. 178 00:13:40,989 --> 00:13:48,229 Who wants to live under that? So again, we see this as you're raising 179 00:13:48,229 --> 00:13:51,549 kids when they're little, you're getting them to conform by 180 00:13:51,549 --> 00:13:57,669 way of fear as they grow up. There has to be and needs to be a 181 00:13:57,669 --> 00:14:01,269 transition as you spend time with that child, because love is 182 00:14:01,269 --> 00:14:04,949 spelled T I M E. And as you training this child and developing 183 00:14:04,949 --> 00:14:08,109 a relationship with them, the transition should take place, the 184 00:14:08,109 --> 00:14:12,869 transforming should take place. When the reason they obey 185 00:14:12,869 --> 00:14:15,549 and the reason that they're doing what you've asked them to do 186 00:14:15,949 --> 00:14:20,229 is not necessarily out of fear, but out of love. Because they 187 00:14:20,229 --> 00:14:23,469 love you, because you do have a personal relationship with them. 188 00:14:24,109 --> 00:14:27,789 And as that develops as a child gets older, rules without reason 189 00:14:27,869 --> 00:14:31,949 and relationship produces rebellion. And so as we train them, 190 00:14:31,949 --> 00:14:34,709 as we're teaching them, as they get to the place where they 191 00:14:34,709 --> 00:14:37,789 can reason, we are reasoning with them, by the way, when they're 192 00:14:37,789 --> 00:14:40,229 a little bitty. You don't reason with a two year old. What 193 00:14:40,229 --> 00:14:47,409 are you thinking? I don't understand parents sometimes, well, 194 00:14:47,409 --> 00:14:54,689 little. The child doesn't understand what you're saying anyway. 195 00:14:55,809 --> 00:14:59,969 But as they get older they do. And we as parents ought to take our 196 00:14:59,969 --> 00:15:04,489 time. And as we do apply discipline, they ought to be told 197 00:15:04,489 --> 00:15:09,849 why. And as they do, we do apply the training. There should 198 00:15:09,849 --> 00:15:15,019 be a reasoning with them. And that doesn't work unless you've spent 199 00:15:15,019 --> 00:15:18,419 time with them, unless you develop a relationship with them. 200 00:15:18,419 --> 00:15:24,099 That's why we tell mom and dad again, time is the best way to show 201 00:15:24,099 --> 00:15:28,859 your kids love, not stuff. And really, is that extra four or five 202 00:15:28,859 --> 00:15:32,179 hours at work and that extra money that you're earning, is that 203 00:15:32,739 --> 00:15:37,139 going to make your kids love you more? No. Now if you needed to 204 00:15:37,139 --> 00:15:39,979 do it to pay bills, that's one thing. But if you're doing it so 205 00:15:39,979 --> 00:15:44,089 you can have a bigger house and a better car, you need to change 206 00:15:44,089 --> 00:15:49,489 your philosophy. The kid wants to spend time with you and what a 207 00:15:49,489 --> 00:15:56,889 difference it'll make as you see your child transform into a teenager 208 00:15:56,889 --> 00:16:03,129 whom you can enjoy and whom you can have a wonderful time with. 209 00:16:03,689 --> 00:16:06,889 Not saying they're perfect, my kids weren't either. But man, what 210 00:16:06,889 --> 00:16:11,519 a joy it was to have teenagers whom I wanted to be around. And maybe 211 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:16,799 they wanted to be around me, I don't know. So everybody see the 212 00:16:16,799 --> 00:16:21,479 difference, right? There's this conformity because of fear, 213 00:16:21,479 --> 00:16:24,879 conformity because of love. Which is better? Well, we know that 214 00:16:24,879 --> 00:16:28,359 New Testament is far more glorious. Our love for Jesus. The 215 00:16:28,359 --> 00:16:32,799 Bible says it's the love of Christ that constrains us. It's a 216 00:16:32,799 --> 00:16:35,679 love of Christ that compels us to do and to serve and to do what 217 00:16:35,679 --> 00:16:39,699 we do. We're not thinking of God as a Zeus that's going to strike 218 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:42,779 us down with lightning because we didn't read our Bible this morning 219 00:16:42,779 --> 00:16:47,579 or because we decided not to do whatever. But no, but we conform 220 00:16:47,579 --> 00:16:51,939 and we do because we love the Lord. Why? Because he first loved 221 00:16:51,939 --> 00:16:55,939 us. Because His Son came and died on the cross and was buried 222 00:16:55,939 --> 00:16:59,619 and rose again for us, giving his life for us. So again, the New 223 00:16:59,619 --> 00:17:02,019 Testament is speaking about a transformation. And we can go through 224 00:17:02,019 --> 00:17:06,129 the caterpillar analogy and the transformation that takes, the 225 00:17:06,129 --> 00:17:08,809 metamorphosis that takes place there. And that's what happens to 226 00:17:08,809 --> 00:17:15,089 us when we get saved. So here we are again, comparing the Old with 227 00:17:15,089 --> 00:17:18,569 the New Testament. In the Old Testament, Moses went before God. 228 00:17:18,569 --> 00:17:22,609 In the New Testament, we all can go before God. In the Old Testament, 229 00:17:22,609 --> 00:17:26,089 the priests were only allowed to go before God. In the New Testament, 230 00:17:26,329 --> 00:17:31,409 we all can come before God. And that's awesome, isn't it? That's 231 00:17:31,409 --> 00:17:36,969 what verse 18 says. But we all with open face. Not just the Moses 232 00:17:36,969 --> 00:17:41,289 and the high priest, but we all could come before him. Jesus 233 00:17:41,289 --> 00:17:44,689 Christ, our great high priest versus the Old Testament high priest 234 00:17:44,929 --> 00:17:50,409 and Hebrews really is. The theme is Christ is better. Christ 235 00:17:50,409 --> 00:17:55,129 is better than the Old Testament priesthood. You know, New 236 00:17:55,129 --> 00:17:57,449 Testament priests. The Bible says, First Peter 2, 9 says, but 237 00:17:57,449 --> 00:18:02,539 ye are a chosen generation. A what? A royal priesthood. I know 238 00:18:02,539 --> 00:18:05,499 we use this same thing all the time, but we don't have to go to 239 00:18:05,499 --> 00:18:09,139 somebody else in order to get our, you know, our message to God. 240 00:18:09,859 --> 00:18:13,299 We don't have to sit in some confessional and get our, you know, 241 00:18:13,379 --> 00:18:17,819 sins forgiven. No, no, we are all royal priests. We go to God and 242 00:18:17,819 --> 00:18:22,899 we pray on our own. And of course you could go to, you know, 243 00:18:23,059 --> 00:18:28,049 someone you respect as a Christian to get counsel and help 244 00:18:28,049 --> 00:18:30,649 and all those things. But you do not have to come to the pastor 245 00:18:30,649 --> 00:18:36,009 to confess your sins. Amen. I'll have to confess mine to you 246 00:18:36,009 --> 00:18:44,409 and we'll just cry together. Amen. Right? We all have access to 247 00:18:44,409 --> 00:18:49,009 God individually. Bible says that Jesus Christ is our mediator 248 00:18:49,249 --> 00:18:54,349 between God and man. He is our great high priest. We all with open 249 00:18:54,349 --> 00:18:57,869 face beholding as a glass again. As Moses talked to God face 250 00:18:57,869 --> 00:19:02,509 to face, so can we. And we behold him. To see and behold, it's 251 00:19:02,509 --> 00:19:09,749 like taking, you know, a stone or a diamond or anything. It's. Beholding 252 00:19:09,749 --> 00:19:13,909 means to take an object in your hand and turn it in every direction 253 00:19:13,909 --> 00:19:20,409 to see every angle of it. We all with open face looking in the 254 00:19:20,409 --> 00:19:25,289 mirror, behold. We turn it at every angle to look at something, 255 00:19:25,769 --> 00:19:29,289 to see every side of it. And what are we looking at? The glory 256 00:19:29,289 --> 00:19:34,009 of the Lord. Who and what God is. Again, what a phrase that is. 257 00:19:34,249 --> 00:19:37,129 And you'll see that phrase in the Bible over and over and over 258 00:19:37,129 --> 00:19:40,249 and over again. The word glory is found 500 times in the Bible. 259 00:19:41,769 --> 00:19:45,769 That phrase glory, the God is found 100 times at least. And, and 260 00:19:45,769 --> 00:19:49,409 for you to know, the definition's important. Who and what 261 00:19:49,409 --> 00:19:55,129 God is, as I all of us can behold, as in a mirror, the glory 262 00:19:55,129 --> 00:19:58,369 of the Lord. We can behold him. We can turn and look at him. 263 00:19:58,689 --> 00:20:03,049 The Bible does throughout, from the old, from Genesis to Revelation. 264 00:20:03,049 --> 00:20:08,329 All it's doing is showing us Jesus, showing us that it's the unfolding 265 00:20:08,329 --> 00:20:12,459 drama of redemption made known. It's unfolding. It's the theme 266 00:20:12,459 --> 00:20:16,459 of the Bible is the Lamb of God. And it's just showing us different 267 00:20:17,339 --> 00:20:20,979 aspects, different angles, different characteristics. And I 268 00:20:20,979 --> 00:20:24,579 could go attributes and on and on and on. It should be we should 269 00:20:24,579 --> 00:20:29,259 behold him from Genesis to Revelation as we read our Bibles. 270 00:20:30,139 --> 00:20:34,299 That should be our goal. We are looking, focusing on Jesus Christ 271 00:20:34,299 --> 00:20:45,749 to behold who he is. Again, as we think about this important principle 272 00:20:46,709 --> 00:20:50,149 as we read the word of God, which we should be doing on a consistent 273 00:20:50,149 --> 00:21:01,469 basis, we are to look for Jesus Christ. We were all to take 274 00:21:01,469 --> 00:21:07,059 God's word. We were all to behold, to take hold and see, straining 275 00:21:07,859 --> 00:21:13,179 to see the person, character and deeds of Jesus Christ. You read 276 00:21:13,179 --> 00:21:16,579 your New Testament, you get to read a lot about his deeds, right? 277 00:21:18,259 --> 00:21:25,059 What a servant of servants he was. By the way, we're supposed to 278 00:21:25,059 --> 00:21:28,659 be a light as we preach Sunday. How are we to be a light? 279 00:21:28,979 --> 00:21:33,279 Well, we're to be a reflection of the light. Amen. And we can't 280 00:21:33,279 --> 00:21:35,079 be a reflection of the light if we've never received the light 281 00:21:35,079 --> 00:21:40,679 ourself. In other words, Moses had to go in and talk with God. And 282 00:21:40,679 --> 00:21:45,799 when he came out, he was a light. And every day the inward man 283 00:21:45,799 --> 00:21:50,519 is renewed. Day by day. We go in, we spend time with the Lord and 284 00:21:50,519 --> 00:21:55,759 it will be reflected in us. We want others to see Jesus in us. Then 285 00:21:55,759 --> 00:22:01,289 we need to come, to come to the Lord every day and get that renewal, 286 00:22:01,289 --> 00:22:05,129 not salvation. Once saved, always saved. Amen. No, we're talking 287 00:22:05,129 --> 00:22:08,849 about spending time with the Lord. And have we. As we spend time 288 00:22:08,849 --> 00:22:14,449 with the Lord, it is absorbed in us. It's the word of God, the 289 00:22:14,449 --> 00:22:20,409 spirit of God that takes and transforms us. We behold the Lord 290 00:22:20,969 --> 00:22:26,889 as we read our Bibles. We perceive him through the truth of 291 00:22:26,889 --> 00:22:31,569 his word. We feel him in his love. By our hearts. I mean, I don't 292 00:22:31,569 --> 00:22:35,769 know how many times I can look back in the past and say, man, I 293 00:22:35,769 --> 00:22:38,769 felt the presence of God here, I felt the presence of God there. 294 00:22:39,009 --> 00:22:42,369 I felt the nearness of the Lord. How many of you, I mean all 295 00:22:42,369 --> 00:22:45,249 of us could testify, if you haven't been saved very long, there's 296 00:22:45,249 --> 00:22:48,849 been times in your life where you have felt the nearness of God. 297 00:22:53,979 --> 00:22:57,819 So again, as we look at the verse, behold, as in the glass, the 298 00:22:57,819 --> 00:23:02,019 glory of the Lord are changed into the same image. From glory to 299 00:23:02,019 --> 00:23:05,939 glory again. This speaks about a transformation, a change that takes 300 00:23:05,939 --> 00:23:10,819 place again. Moses in the Old Testament, his brightness was only 301 00:23:10,819 --> 00:23:16,979 skin deep and it faded, it faded. And so he must go in periodically 302 00:23:16,979 --> 00:23:21,369 to talk with God. In order to get the recharge. To get the recharge. 303 00:23:22,649 --> 00:23:26,729 But we're changed from the inside out. 2nd Corinthians 5:17. 304 00:23:27,049 --> 00:23:29,409 Most of you know the verse, but since we're so close, look over 305 00:23:29,409 --> 00:23:35,289 there with me. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if any 306 00:23:35,289 --> 00:23:40,089 man be in Christ, he is what? A new creature, a new creation. Old 307 00:23:40,089 --> 00:23:43,369 things are passed away, and behold, all things are become new. 308 00:23:44,089 --> 00:23:48,099 We are changed, but unlike the Old Testament, we're changed from 309 00:23:48,099 --> 00:23:52,579 the inside out. We receive, according to 2nd Peter 1:4, we receive 310 00:23:52,579 --> 00:24:00,699 a new nature. We're partakers of the divine nature of God. And 311 00:24:00,699 --> 00:24:04,779 because of that transformation that takes place in our life when 312 00:24:04,779 --> 00:24:08,659 we get saved, there's been a great change in our life. That's 313 00:24:08,659 --> 00:24:14,229 what I said Sunday, too. When we get saved, of course, there may 314 00:24:14,229 --> 00:24:18,389 not be a feeling there. You don't have to feel when you get saved. 315 00:24:18,389 --> 00:24:20,909 You don't have to feel like, well, the Lord just jumped into my 316 00:24:20,909 --> 00:24:26,189 life, you know? No, but as time goes on and as you grow in the 317 00:24:26,189 --> 00:24:29,709 Lord, there is a feeling. Feeling does have a part. Because 318 00:24:29,709 --> 00:24:32,909 again, when something that big moves in, you're going to know it. 319 00:24:34,189 --> 00:24:40,269 Especially when we rebel against God and when we sin, his 320 00:24:40,269 --> 00:24:44,149 spirit bears witness to our spirit. You feel the conviction of 321 00:24:44,149 --> 00:24:46,309 your sin. You feel that convicting power of the Spirit of 322 00:24:46,309 --> 00:24:50,109 God in your life. In fact, first John says, if you don't feel 323 00:24:50,109 --> 00:24:55,469 that, I'm just saying what First John says, you're not saved 324 00:24:56,189 --> 00:25:01,229 because it's that conviction. Five things, and then one John gives 325 00:25:01,229 --> 00:25:04,629 us that proves or shows us that we're saved. And one of those 326 00:25:04,629 --> 00:25:09,439 is that spirit. Bear witness with our spirit feeling, that conviction. 327 00:25:10,639 --> 00:25:14,479 There's been a great change. I love. I won't sing it, but the things 328 00:25:14,479 --> 00:25:18,599 I used to do, I don't do them anymore, Right? The things I used 329 00:25:18,599 --> 00:25:21,519 to do, I don't do them anymore. The things I used to do, 330 00:25:21,519 --> 00:25:24,199 I don't do them anymore. There's been a great change since 331 00:25:24,199 --> 00:25:29,679 I've been born again. There's been a Y' all don't want to do Great 332 00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:37,109 change since I've been born. It's a great song. Transformation, 333 00:25:37,349 --> 00:25:45,109 a change Holy Spirit works in our life again, works in us, in us 334 00:25:45,669 --> 00:25:49,629 that he might work through us. And then we speak about again. The 335 00:25:49,629 --> 00:25:52,069 Lord has. We are changed in the same image from glory to glory, 336 00:25:52,069 --> 00:25:54,789 even by the Spirit of God Again. We're to be. Glory to glory. 337 00:25:54,789 --> 00:25:58,789 We're to be a reflection of the light. Moses reflected the light 338 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:05,719 outwardly but we should reflect the light again. That light 339 00:26:05,719 --> 00:26:08,719 that we have on the inside should be reflected, and that reflection 340 00:26:08,719 --> 00:26:12,999 is Jesus Christ. In other words, there should be a family likeness. 341 00:26:13,799 --> 00:26:16,919 How many of y' all think that the man back there in that corner 342 00:26:16,919 --> 00:26:21,479 is my dad? If you had never met us before and we were walking 343 00:26:21,799 --> 00:26:24,999 in, we'll just go ahead and say the hospital, because that's 344 00:26:25,339 --> 00:26:29,899 the last. It's. Anyway, we're in the hospital where we're at the 345 00:26:29,899 --> 00:26:33,179 doctor's office, and I am now getting. This is the phrase I now 346 00:26:33,179 --> 00:26:37,899 get from people. Is this your brother? No, it's not my brother. 347 00:26:37,899 --> 00:26:44,779 It's my dad. How old do you think I am? That guy's old. But they. 348 00:26:44,779 --> 00:26:48,179 But. But there's definitely a resemblance. I'll never forget when 349 00:26:48,179 --> 00:26:51,499 dad first moved down here, four or five, whatever it is now, 350 00:26:51,499 --> 00:26:56,319 years ago, he preached here in the pulpit, and somebody, I don't 351 00:26:56,319 --> 00:27:01,279 know who, did it, but they put it on Facebook. But the picture was 352 00:27:01,279 --> 00:27:04,399 a little bit fuzzy, and so I didn't see it until several days 353 00:27:04,399 --> 00:27:08,919 later. When I saw it, I thought it was me. I mean, I literally 354 00:27:08,919 --> 00:27:11,599 did. I thought it was me. And then somebody pointed out, that's 355 00:27:11,599 --> 00:27:19,169 your dad. I said, well, looks like. Looks like me. He's 25 years 356 00:27:19,169 --> 00:27:24,089 older than me, but there's definitely a family resemblance. 357 00:27:26,809 --> 00:27:29,809 Even my brother. My older brother, if you get around. Even 358 00:27:29,809 --> 00:27:36,009 though he's not built like me or my dad, but he's got the big old 359 00:27:36,009 --> 00:27:42,969 nose like us, there's no doubt that he's my brother. But then what 360 00:27:42,969 --> 00:27:48,329 happens? Then you hear us talk, you hear our voice. And if 361 00:27:48,329 --> 00:27:50,969 you hang around my dad very long and then hang around me, if 362 00:27:50,969 --> 00:27:55,249 all you did was hear me talk for a few minutes and him talk for 363 00:27:55,249 --> 00:28:03,009 a few minutes, you say, yep, y' all definitely can, right? Not 364 00:28:03,009 --> 00:28:11,259 only do my appearance reflect my genetics, but so even my voice 365 00:28:11,259 --> 00:28:17,459 does. In fact, there was a day that I could call my mom definitely 366 00:28:17,459 --> 00:28:22,699 could fool my grandmother, my dad's mom. I could call and they 367 00:28:22,699 --> 00:28:25,539 would think I was Danny. It was hilarious. They would think I 368 00:28:25,539 --> 00:28:29,819 was my older brother. And I would just let them talk because 369 00:28:29,819 --> 00:28:33,699 I thought maybe they'll say something. My mom would talk for, 370 00:28:33,699 --> 00:28:37,149 like, five minutes, and she'd be like, this isn't Danny, is it? 371 00:28:37,149 --> 00:28:47,669 No, that's not Danny. It's me. Just a family resemblance. And that's, 372 00:28:47,909 --> 00:28:52,669 again, illustrating when we get saved, there ought to be a family 373 00:28:52,669 --> 00:28:56,869 resemblance. Jesus Christ is our big brother. That's what the 374 00:28:56,869 --> 00:29:04,399 Bible says. That's not heresy. He's our big brother. We are joint 375 00:29:04,399 --> 00:29:07,879 heirs, the Bible says, with him. Joint heirs with Jesus. Yes, 376 00:29:09,719 --> 00:29:14,119 his inheritance is our inheritance. What a wonderful truth. 377 00:29:15,879 --> 00:29:26,039 But we, our likeness should be reflective of our family. And that 378 00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:30,529 family is the family of God. What happens when you get a magnet 379 00:29:30,529 --> 00:29:37,489 close to metal? Well, the piece of metal becomes magnetic, 380 00:29:38,369 --> 00:29:42,169 and then all of a sudden, you know, they stick together nearly 381 00:29:42,169 --> 00:29:49,329 all metals. We had the opportunity to buy a lot next to 382 00:29:49,329 --> 00:29:52,489 us. A man called, called me and said, hey, I'm going to sell 383 00:29:52,489 --> 00:29:55,509 this lot that's next to you. Do you want it? I had tried to buy 384 00:29:55,509 --> 00:29:58,909 a couple of years before that, not for myself, but for somebody 385 00:29:58,909 --> 00:30:02,589 else. And I said to the man, yes, I'd still like to try to buy 386 00:30:02,589 --> 00:30:05,229 it, if that's possible. I said, but I can't offer you what 387 00:30:05,229 --> 00:30:07,909 I offered you the first time. And long story short, we ended up 388 00:30:07,909 --> 00:30:16,069 buying it. We carried off 45,000 pounds of metal off a one 389 00:30:16,069 --> 00:30:24,279 acre lot. He was a hoarder. I learned how to be a scrapper. I mean, 390 00:30:24,999 --> 00:30:29,439 I got me a couple of magnets and I learned a magnet won't stick 391 00:30:29,439 --> 00:30:35,879 to aluminum. Take that magnet. We hauled off 2,000 pounds of aluminum, 392 00:30:38,119 --> 00:30:43,199 and now the magnets are in my truck. If I find something, especially 393 00:30:43,199 --> 00:30:48,169 on the side of the road, I think it's worth anything. Learned 394 00:30:48,169 --> 00:30:52,569 how to recognize what real brass is and real brass, not fake 395 00:30:52,569 --> 00:31:02,209 stuff. Just amazing how a magnet can really tell when it's 396 00:31:02,209 --> 00:31:05,249 the real thing. But the illustration here is more than that. 397 00:31:06,289 --> 00:31:12,299 When we're close to Jesus and we stay close to Jesus, we stay magnetized, 398 00:31:13,339 --> 00:31:18,979 we stay charged. But when you allow your, he doesn't move, we move 399 00:31:18,979 --> 00:31:24,739 right. But when you allow yourself to move away, the pull isn't 400 00:31:24,739 --> 00:31:29,019 as strong. And we want to stay as close to Jesus Christ as we can 401 00:31:30,139 --> 00:31:35,019 as we spend time with him, in order that we might become like him. 402 00:31:35,579 --> 00:31:38,859 And that's really where this comes down to. And some of you who've 403 00:31:38,859 --> 00:31:42,689 been in heritage a long time, you know that this is the crux of 404 00:31:42,689 --> 00:31:47,409 it that we as Christians ought to be reflecting, reflector of the 405 00:31:47,409 --> 00:31:53,929 light that God works in us in order that he might work through 406 00:31:53,929 --> 00:32:00,569 us. I Look at 2nd Corinthians 2, look at 2nd Corinthians 4, verse 407 00:32:00,569 --> 00:32:04,569 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has 408 00:32:04,569 --> 00:32:09,839 shined in our what? Hearts. To give the light of the knowledge of 409 00:32:09,839 --> 00:32:14,399 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Just a reminder 410 00:32:14,399 --> 00:32:17,159 that Jesus Christ said, if you've seen me, you've seen The Father. 411 00:32:20,039 --> 00:32:28,639 He is the Father. They're three in one. I am to spend time 412 00:32:28,639 --> 00:32:34,419 with God. As I spend time with God, he is transforming me into the 413 00:32:34,419 --> 00:32:38,699 image of who? Well into Jesus. In the image of Jesus Christ, who 414 00:32:38,699 --> 00:32:47,979 is God. We are to understand and know that as we read our Bibles, 415 00:32:48,779 --> 00:32:52,859 that as Moses was transformed outwardly, we are transformed inwardly. 416 00:32:54,539 --> 00:32:59,789 And then we become that reflection from the inside out. And 417 00:32:59,789 --> 00:33:06,069 we'll end this way. Contemplation. The only way we can 418 00:33:06,069 --> 00:33:10,869 reflect the light is if we have received the light and we need 419 00:33:11,029 --> 00:33:16,349 to be recharged every morning. If you look throughout the Old Testament, 420 00:33:16,349 --> 00:33:18,869 you'll find that all the patriarchs got up early in the morning. 421 00:33:19,109 --> 00:33:22,469 It speaks about Abraham getting up early, David getting up 422 00:33:22,469 --> 00:33:26,549 early. And again, maybe your work is the opposite. Maybe you have 423 00:33:26,549 --> 00:33:31,259 a night schedule and certainly doesn't mean you have to get up and, 424 00:33:31,259 --> 00:33:36,699 you know, but the majority of us can get up in the morning and 425 00:33:36,699 --> 00:33:41,459 read your Bible, so. Well, I don't have time, man. It's amazing 426 00:33:41,459 --> 00:33:45,619 what your phone can do. You ever thought about just letting the 427 00:33:45,619 --> 00:33:49,339 phone read the Bible for you and you listen. Some of y' all do 428 00:33:49,339 --> 00:33:54,719 that with books, right? You know, it's amazing, isn't it? And 429 00:33:54,719 --> 00:33:59,199 the Bible is a miraculous book. It has the ability to transform. 430 00:34:00,879 --> 00:34:03,679 And the Bible says, as we behold in the glass the glory of 431 00:34:03,679 --> 00:34:07,279 the Lord, we are transformed into that image. And the analogy 432 00:34:07,279 --> 00:34:11,279 Paul's giving us is as we look into the word of God, it is the mirror. 433 00:34:11,519 --> 00:34:15,999 What's in the mirror? The face of Jesus. He's on every page. And 434 00:34:15,999 --> 00:34:22,809 as we behold him in the glass, the Holy Spirit transforming us into 435 00:34:22,809 --> 00:34:28,809 the image. I get up in the morning, I go to the bathroom to 436 00:34:29,209 --> 00:34:33,849 fix myself, to try. It's very difficult now, but I don't have any 437 00:34:33,849 --> 00:34:37,569 hair to comb. So basically, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and 438 00:34:37,569 --> 00:34:41,889 I'm ready to go. But I do go to the mirror and try to transform 439 00:34:41,889 --> 00:34:45,009 myself into something. You know, that's what it's speaking. 440 00:34:45,009 --> 00:34:48,278 It's talking about going to the mirror. But as we look into the 441 00:34:48,278 --> 00:34:53,238 mirror, we're seeing Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is transforming 442 00:34:53,238 --> 00:34:58,638 us into that image as we spend time with God. Moses spent time with 443 00:34:58,638 --> 00:35:02,638 God, and outwardly, it made his face shine. We spend time with 444 00:35:02,638 --> 00:35:09,078 God, and inwardly it gives us light. And then that light is reflected 445 00:35:10,038 --> 00:35:15,629 in every area of our life throughout the day, every area, we 446 00:35:15,629 --> 00:35:21,029 are transformed. The illustration would be, we know, y' 447 00:35:21,029 --> 00:35:25,029 all know the moon is a reflection of the sun. Get up sometimes, 448 00:35:25,029 --> 00:35:27,109 and there's a quarter of a moon. Sometimes there's a half a 449 00:35:27,109 --> 00:35:31,029 moon, sometimes a 3/4 of a moon. Sometimes it's a full moon 450 00:35:31,029 --> 00:35:35,549 and just kind of a reflection of our own lives. How are you a quarter 451 00:35:35,549 --> 00:35:38,229 of a moon? Are you half a moon? Are you three quarters of a 452 00:35:38,229 --> 00:35:46,109 moon? Are you? You? Are y' all moon, full moon. Spending time with 453 00:35:46,109 --> 00:35:50,269 the Lord is so important. And then some of y' all know the expression. 454 00:35:50,269 --> 00:35:52,069 By the way, Brother Stewart didn't come up with this expression. 455 00:35:52,069 --> 00:35:55,309 Jason L. Baxter, as far as I know, did. When the child of God 456 00:35:55,789 --> 00:36:01,309 looks into the word of God and sees the Son of God, he is changed 457 00:36:01,789 --> 00:36:04,989 by the spirit of God into the image of God for the glory of God. 458 00:36:05,619 --> 00:36:09,459 As we look into the word of God, it's the Holy Spirit who transform 459 00:36:09,459 --> 00:36:14,859 us into the image of Jesus Christ that we might live out the 460 00:36:14,859 --> 00:36:20,739 life of Jesus, the selfless life of Jesus Christ. What a transformation 461 00:36:20,978 --> 00:36:23,819 that will make in our marriage. What a transformation that 462 00:36:23,819 --> 00:36:29,019 will make in raising kids. What a transformation that will make 463 00:36:29,019 --> 00:36:32,699 with our next door neighbor as we as we interact with them and as 464 00:36:32,699 --> 00:36:36,019 we interact at work. What a transformation it will make in our 465 00:36:36,019 --> 00:36:40,859 lives if we are living out the life of Jesus. What a transformation 466 00:36:40,859 --> 00:36:48,139 it'll make, man. What a transformation happened when we got 467 00:36:48,139 --> 00:36:51,779 saved. And then the Holy Spirit just continues to work in 468 00:36:51,779 --> 00:36:59,649 us as we yield to him. Amen. Amen. Amen. Let's all stand. We'll 469 00:36:59,649 --> 00:37:04,769 have a verse invitation and we'll sing. Page 10. I have decided 470 00:37:04,769 --> 00:37:10,249 to follow Jesus after we pray. Lord, we thank you for your love 471 00:37:10,249 --> 00:37:14,849 for us and for the Holy Spirit you gave us at the moment of salvation. 472 00:37:15,089 --> 00:37:20,729 The Holy Spirit that works in our life and Lord encourages us, 473 00:37:20,729 --> 00:37:26,159 strengthen us, comforts us. But Lord also has that transforming 474 00:37:26,159 --> 00:37:30,159 power to change us into the image of your dear son Jesus. And 475 00:37:30,159 --> 00:37:35,159 Lord, may we be consistent in our daily life, our daily walk with 476 00:37:35,159 --> 00:37:39,799 you and Lord. I just pray though, that we would be a wonderful 477 00:37:39,799 --> 00:37:42,679 reflection of your son to those around us. We love you and 478 00:37:42,679 --> 00:37:44,519 we thank you in Jesus name, Amen.