Another Level Text: II Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
John Wesley said, “What a beautiful contrast is here! Moses saw the glory of the Lord, and it rendered his face so bright, that he covered it with a veil; Israel not being able to bear the reflected light. We behold his glory in the glass of his word, and our faces shine too; yet we veil them not, but diffuse the luster of His love which is continually increasing, as we fix the eye of our mind more and more steadfastly on his glory displayed in the gospel.”
As you reflect the image of Jesus Christ you in return are showing Him living through you. There isn’t a clearer picture of Christ than you! Our faces are not veiled; therefore, the world should see the gospel of Christ reflecting through us from one degree of glory to another!
I Corinthians 3:13-17 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Moses didn’t want the children of Israel to see what was passing away; however, this world needs to see Jesus! Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out; “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (These men are turning the world upside down for Jesus Christ!)
These men were a hodgepodge of nobodies. They consisted of fishermen, tax collectors, political zealots, and other nondescript people.
They had little but God, yet they changed their world! I Cor. 1:26-29 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Arthur Fretheim, an Evangelical Covenant pastor who during his career planted six new churches in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Illinois ( the last one when he was 65 years old), said to fellow pastors, “ One thing you learn quickly in church planting is this: All you’ve really got to offer people is Jesus. You don’t have a great choir in the beginning days; you don’t have a youth group; you usually don’t even have a nice building. The only ‘draw’ you’ve got is the Savior. And guess what- that’s enough!”
As a person looks at the first century church there are a few things that will stand out:
1.It was a praying church! Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2.There weren’t time limits on their prayer or fellowship! These men and women waited 10 days until the Holy Spirit came.
3.These men and women were totally focused! Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (They had one purpose and that was to wait for the Spirit to come and stay.)
What happens at our church that can only be explained by the power of God?
You’ve heard the saying, “What happens at Vegas stays at Vegas.” Well here’s another good and true statement, what happen’s at Church shouldn’t stay at church; it belongs to the world!
Moses had to cover his face because he didn’t want the Israelites to see the glory fading, but you and I have Jesus’ glory and it’s time for Him to shine through us!
So what are you waiting for? Let Him shine!
