Removing the Veil

            Long ago there was a man named Moses.  He was a righteous man and the Lord’s strength was made evident through his weakness.  By the might of the Lord’s hand, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and out of slavery.  Even though the Lord was doing mighty works among the people, they could not understand.  They feared for their health and safety, believing that Moses had led them into the wilderness to starve and die.  The Lord continued to provide, but the people continued to complain.

            And the Lord heard His people’s cry.  He spoke to Moses, saying “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”

            Three days later thunder and lightning shook the mountain.  The sound of a loud trumpet blast resounded and a thick cloud covered the mountain in darkness.  All the people in the camp trembled as      Moses brought them out to meet God

            And God spoke, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me.”  In a thundering voice, God spoke ten commandments to His people.

            Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off.  They turned to Moses, saying “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”  The people stood far off while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

            Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord.  His face shone, radiating glory because he had been speaking with the Lord.  The people answered with one voice, saying “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.”  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

            In those days the Lord’s covenant with His people was written in stone.  The covenant painted a beautiful picture of what a life completely surrendered to the Lord might look like.  It was righteousness and justice inscribed in stone for God’s people, but they always failed to live up to those standards, and so the law served to condemn them.

            Years passed, each of them marked by blood and sacrifice offered to the Lord by His people for the forgiveness of their sins.  The Lord, faithful to forgive and restore, said “The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with my people.  It won’t be like the covenant I made with them when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.  They broke that covenant, though I was faithful.”

            With His plan for our salvation in mind, the Lord said “This is the new covenant that I will make with my people:  I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.  And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  This is God’s word.

            Many years passed, years of poverty and years of prosperity, years of defeat and years of victory, years of revival and also years of silence.  Then one year God’s Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus, the Son of God, made our Heavenly Father known to us.  While the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  We moved from the ranks of servants to be called friends of Jesus when he made the Father known to us.  

Before Jesus endured the cross he emphatically made the Spirit known to us, who is the guarantee of the new covenant.   He reassured his disciples “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

In these days the Lord’s covenant is written on the hearts of His people.  We have received the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  By a wonderful grace that is scarcely comprehended, God’s Word is spoken into our hearts by His Spirit, therefore we may be shown redeemed and righteous not by the letter of the law but by the renewal of our hearts.  The veil has been removed.

We are confident in Christ.  We stand before the Lord and before others declaring Christ’s sufficiency and not our own.  Through our weakness God’s strength is shown.  The Spirit moves and we are made ministers of this new covenant!

We are bold because we have confident hope in our salvation.  God is glorified through us, making us lights to a dark world.  We will not hide this light as Moses did when he placed the veil over his face.  That veil hid God’s glory as it was reflected in His law, but now we have received a much greater glory.  It is the glory of the veil being removed.  Christ removes the veil for everyone who turns to the Lord.

Jesus set us free for the sake of freedom.  Everywhere the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, and we now have that Spirit within us!  We are free, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into His image.

The veil has been removed once and for all.  That’s a big deal.

Modern Day Prophets

What is a prophet?  Are there modern day prophets?

            Let’s break prophets/prophecy down into two main forms:

1.      1.  Communication of revelation from God that is already established and authoritative.

2.      2.  Communication of revelation from God that is new and whose authority must ultimately be held accountable by God.

The first is one who communicates revelation from God that has already been established.  This is the general communication of truths that have already been spoken, namely by the word of God and by Jesus.  Think of these as people who use the words of Jesus and of the Bible, two authoritative and established sources, to communicate a message to an individual or congregation.  The aim of their prophecy is for “teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.”  [2 Timothy 3:16]

The second is one who claims to have new revelation from God, presumably for the benefit of the God’s people.  Undoubtedly, there were these types of prophets in the Old Testament.  The aim of this study is to explore the place of this second type of prophet in modern times. 

Prophets Then and Now

            Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.                        [Hebrews 1:1-2]

            The biggest change in human history occurred when Jesus was crucified and resurrected.  No longer did God communicate to His beloved children through “many ways”, but through a single way – Jesus!  Image of the invisible God, we can look to Jesus to draw near to God.  The veil was torn and we are allowed to enter the Lord’s throne room boldly because of our great High Priest, Jesus.  Jesus is better.  Better than any prophecy past, present, or future.  Jesus is the mark we’re aiming for. 

We aim for Jesus because of the work of the Holy Spirit.

            Jesus wanted his disciples to understand that He was leaving His ministry with them, and that they could only hope to pursue it through the work of the Spirit.  He said “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”                  [John 16:12-14]

            Before we endeavor to explore the role of a modern day prophet, be certain of this:  our pursuit of the Lord rests on the work Jesus has completed for us and the work the Holy Spirit will continue to complete in us.

Discerning Modern day Prophets

            Whether or not true modern day prophets exist, there are people who claim to exercise the gift of prophecy.  It’s important to know how to discern whether the prophet is true or false.  As always, this is carried out by the work of the Holy Spirit.

            Jesus is the true vine.  Let the prophet be the tree, and the prophecy his fruits.  This is how we may discern between true and false prophets:

The Tree

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”                     [Matthew 7:15-20]

The Fruit

“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”       [Deuteronomy 18:15-22]

            Let the true prophet communicate prophecy of the Lord that proves true.  Let the healthy tree produce only good fruit, so that it will not be consumed in a fiery justice.  For the Lord, he restores all things by His righteousness and justice.

            Be wary of prophets who prophesy in a name other than the Lord’s.  Be wary of prophets whose prophecy proves false.  These may be false prophets, even if they look harmless as sheep.  Let your faith, hope, and love abide in Jesus Christ alone, by the work of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the eternal Father.

The True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”                   [John 15:1-17]

            Jesus calls us friends.  He calls us friends because he has made known to us everything that he has heard from the Father.  Recall that passage [John 16:12-14] where Jesus lets us know that he is leaving us the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit may guide us into truth.  Just as Jesus did only the Father’s will, the Spirit does only Jesus’s will, which is the Father’s will!

            Jesus has made known to us what had been a great mystery of God.  He is the singular sacrifice for our sins, and His word is the final word from the Father.  Everything that we have in Jesus is all we will ever need.  I see no need for modern prophets who claim to receive new revelation from God because Jesus has already delivered to us everything from the Father.  We need the Holy Spirit.  We need Jesus.  We need the Father.  We don’t need anything else.

Jesus is Better

            For many of us this can be the busiest time of the year.  Some of us are in school, some of us are working, some of us are involved in extracurriculars up to our ears, and some of us are juggling all of those things at once!

As our lives begin to pick up speed, it gets harder to stay focused on the things that matter.  I’ve struggled with this especially in the past few weeks.  The busier I get, the more sacrifices I feel I have to make.  My thoughts run away from Jesus and my spirit grows weary.

Luke 10:38 - 42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

            Notice that Martha was the one who greeted Jesus first.  She knew that Jesus was important and that he deserved her devotion.  So what does she do after greeting him?  She immediately begins to prepare everything for Jesus.  Martha was “distracted with much serving.”

            It’s possible to get distracted by doing very good things.  It’s possible to lose sight of Jesus even if we’re seeking to serve him.  When life gets busy and you’re easily distracted, turn your eyes to the cross.  That’s the single, once-and-for-all answer!

            Here’s the one thing I want to say to you tonight:  Jesus is better.

            Are you distracted?  Jesus is the answer. 

Are you worried or troubled?  Jesus is the answer.

Jesus is better than your greatest accomplishment.  Jesus is better than your greatest heartbreak.  Jesus is better and he asks us to abide in him so he may abide in us.  Don’t miss out today.  Use this opportunity to step away from it all and enter the presence of Jesus.  It is there that we will find the fullness of joy.

Journey: Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.                 [Galatians 5:13-15]

These verses have been profoundly influencing for me.  If you’re wondering about the name of this blog, it’s in these verses.  It’s my ambition to live out these verses, to Journey5.13.  Okay so let’s get on with it.

Each verse deserves the context of the others, and ultimately the context of the entire chapter, even letter (I highly recommend you go read it, like now).

Freedom from what?

            We’re called into freedom.  Freedom for freedom’s sake [see Galatians 5:1].  You were meant to live a life of freedom.  Whatever binds you, weighs on you, holds you back, Christ has set us free from those chains!  [see Hebrews 12:1-2]

            We’re called into freedom from being in competition with each other.  If this sounds stupid or too radical for you, think about it more.  If you bite and devour one another, if you only compete with one another, you will be consumed by one another.  We don’t need to compete because the ultimate victory has already been given to us!  Live a life of love and service, and you will find the freedom in that.  Try it for a week and you’ll believe.

            Competition is so ingrained in our culture that it’s hard to see how we may exist without it.  We compete in sports, for jobs, for affections, for many things.  We pour ourselves out in competition and we either win or lose.  If we win, we can gloat and feel secure until we lose.  If we lose, we may feel defeated and isolated.  It’s not a healthy lifestyle, but if we compete hard enough, we may do well enough to live comfortably enough.  This breeds materialism, greed, bitterness, judgment, and many other destructive things.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

            Find rest in this.  When love lends itself to humble service, we’re living into our God-created design.  Seriously, God created us to love him and to love others – when we fail to do this, we sin and things go badly. 

Inevitably, if we believe that there may be truth to this, we learn that the only way to do this is to live with an attitude of humility and trust.  Be faithful to what is in front of you and don’t speculate too much.  Always love.  That’s the constant, love for God and love for others.  As we do this, we see more and more shadows of heaven, of the design that God intended.  They are beautiful things that satisfy the soul more fully than anything this depraved world has to offer.  Experience the abundant life.  Love the Lord with all your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.