Intro:
We all know this Scripture very well, but break it down and don’t just
listen to it. Do It! "if my people, who are called by my name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land."(2 Chronicles 7:14). This brings me to a key verse
in all the Words that I get from the Lord. "Do not merely listen to
the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)
Do It! Let’s take in this word with an open heart and an open mind.
I know that we don’t come to church saying come on now here’s my toes
walk all over them but it happens. It always has happened, and it
always will happen.
First Point:
1. Do we live by the whole Bible? Yes! Do I see a parallel to today
from the Old Testament? Yes! But, of course, we are not a part of
the old Covenant of Moses. We are not like Moses. We are of the new
Covenant of Jesus Christ. Let’s go back to the story of Moses. "When
Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But
whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with Him, he removed
the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the
Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was
radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he
went in to speak with the Lord." (Exodus 34:33-35) But we are
ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We may not all be preachers
or youth pastors or what-not, but we are all called to be witnesses.
"Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like
some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You
yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by
everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of
our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living
God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." So you
see we are the chosen people of God Almighty to the rest of the world.
We are to show each other and council one another. Do It!
Second Point:
2. The old Covenant of Moses brought death. We are of the New
Covenant and shall have eternal life. See we are not like Moses. We
are in the Covenant of the Spirit. We should not hide who we are or
the work of God in our lives. "Therefore, since we have such a hope,
we are very bold. We are not like Moses who would put a veil over his
face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was
fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same
veil remains when the Old Covenant is read. It has not been removed,
because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses
is read a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the
Lord, the veil is taken away. (Hence eagerness upon Salvation) Now
the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
glory, which comes from the Lord who is Spirit." (2 Corinthians
3:12-18) So, take the veil off. Do It!
Third Point:
3. We should let the glory of the Lord shine in our lives. We may be
hated by the devil but blessed beyond recognition. "But we have this
treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) Our treasure in jars of
clay is not hidden but is well kept. Like a kid with a new baseball
card. But while we do have a treasure in jars of clay, "We are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2
Corinthians 4:8-9) However, while this is going on, we don’t have to
be down and out. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal
glory that far outweighs them all." The devil hates us doing the
Lord’s will. The devil may be the king of this world, but we don’t
have to do what the devil would have us do. "Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test what God’s will
is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Don’t do what the world and
it’s king wants you to do but test God’s will and… Do It!
Conclusion:
I’m going to end this on a prayer and a hope. It comes from David.
An anointed man of God, David was after God’s own heart. He really
was interested in doing God’s will. A praise and worship song from
the book of Psalms. "Commit thy way unto the Lord and He shall bring
it to pass." (Psalms 37:5)
Untill He Returns,
Anthony
