Within the Veil
September 29, 2010
Opening Illustration
A If you’ve ever been in a bad thunderstorm, out in it, you know what it’s like not to fully aware of your surroundings.
1 Stuck in the middle of a lake when the sky broke open, rain in buckets.
a In between lightning strikes, can see the boat launch
b Imagine if...
aa You saw a group of 20-30 people (men, women, & children) trying to huddle in a shelter in the middle of the storm.
bb Some are working to improve the structure, keep water out...but they mostly look frustrated, frightened, & scared.
2 As the storm stops, the clouds continue to loom, & then it’s finally sunrise.
a Not a red sky, but rather a gray morning, thick with fog & moisture.
b Notice it’s not just one group of 20-30 trying to work on their shelter, but there’s about 30-50 groups of 20-30 frantically working on their worksites.
aa Disorganized, disorderly, disengaged
bb Groups don’t communicate with each other
cc Some are building so close that as they’re building a wall, the folks on the other side are tearing it down.
c Each group building is determined that their shelter is the best, strongest.
aa Some groups occasionally take workers from another group to work on their wall.
bb Some get hurt, damaged, even killed or are never seen again.
B As you see this confusion, crisis, you ask God, “Where is the church?”
1 He says, “You’re watching the church.”
a The storms that should have drawn us closer as the Church to Christ, each other, have instead resulted in exclusion, self-determination.
b For 2,000 years, many have built in partial illumination.
aa Past patterns that are now past prime
bb Not built in the Light of the Holy Place
2 Some have seen the light, pockets of genuine hardship.
a No reputation to defend, agenda to push, no other motive than love.
b Those churches are few & far between...anger!
C I also say to you that you are Peter , and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matt 16:18 (NASB)
1 Any church, ministry not built within the veil isn’t the church/ministry you’ve been given.
a Jesus said He’d build His church.
aa Not for the millennium, future generation
bb It’s a part of His covenential provision for you.
b Churches built on guilt, inflict pain, impose legalism aren’t built by Jesus.
aa Churches that revel in adultery, slander, gossip...not built by Jesus.
bb Churches where wolves are allowed to devour sheep...not built by Jesus.
2 Jesus isn’t building His church with the religious, legalistic, hypocrites.
a Broken people changed by His power & consequently yield themselves to His will.
b For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.12 "As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep , so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. Ezek 34:11-12 (NASB)
A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.9 No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; these will not be found there. but the redeemed will walk there...Isaiah 35:8-9 (NASB)
D The church Jesus is building looks different than most churches today.
1 It’s a place built from within the veil.
a Strong in love & compassion
aa There is a highway of holiness, the unholy can’t walk on it.
bb Free from the bondage/oppression of men
cc None to devour, no lion
b He’s the Shepherd, gathers
c The Spirit is stronger than any wall we could build.
aa I wonder what God could/would do at a church that didn’t have walls built?
2 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.14 "This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.15 "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.16 "Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. Psalms 132:13-16 (NASB)
a Jesus draws people to this church, the Church He is building.
b I can’t begin to imagine how weary the Lord is with excuses/lame attempts to condone what we have pitifully called His church.
3 Jesus wants to build His church-let Him! Here & now...the gates of hell can’t prevail.
a ‘Preacher, the devil is ravaging our church.”
aa A church built by Jesus can’t be touched by the enemy.
bb Groups might, people may be...but not His Church
b This is not good news for the carnal, who build the church in their strength.
aa Structures of wood, hay, & stubble have been built for centuries. They all leak, fall, fail: they can’t really protect.
bb So what, preacher?
E Be patient. He is determined to build His Church.
1 Not unfaithful, blemished...she’s about to emerge as the virgin church come to her Bridegroom.
a But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." Romans 11:4 (NASB)
And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen , fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.3 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality ." Rev 18:2-3 (NASB)
b When we see this beautiful church emerge she’ll be awesome in beauty, splendor, strong in character & purpose, & desperately in love with Jesus.
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Mike Fogerson
