2 Corinthians 3:14-18 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Mark 15:37-38 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
We often referred in our preaching to the moment when Jesus died, and the veil, closing off the most holy place of the temple where Gods presence abode in Old Testament days, simultaneously ripped wide open.
Ephesians 3 speaks of a mystery that was only made known since the time of the crucifixion.
Ephesians 3:4-5 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;It was not made known in other ages.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:We go back to Eden, before any separation of nations occurred.
The moment Jesus Christ died, with its simultaneous rending or ripping
of the veil, is a monumental event signified by that rending.
The veil that ripped in the temple had picture s of cherubims sewn
into it, according to Exodus 26: 31
Something that is veiled is said to be something that is HIDDEN.
It is a MYSTERY.
In fact, the term REVEALED literally means UNVEILED.
REVELATION means THE UNVEILING
It is a mystery that has been made known.
That is the reason we read:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,BY REVELATION HE MADE KNOWN THE MYSTERY.
BY UNVEILING HE MADE KNOWN THE MYSTERY.
SOMETHING THAT WAS SECRET WAS NO LONGER SECRET.
So you could say that if the GARDEN had CHERUBIMS blocking its entrance,
...And Cherubims were on the VEIL,...
THEN When God opened up the MYSTERY, He opened up the GARDEN.
THE garden CAN BE SAID TO BE THE EMBODIMENT OF ALL THAT GOD HAS REVEALED
WHEN JESUS CHRIST DIED.
And the linking note in all of this revelation and unveiling to people is the following:
Ephesian 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.We COMPREHEND or UNDERSTAND the mystery....
ITS A UNIVERSE according to Pauls words:
DEPTH, BREADTH, LENGTH AND HEIGHT.
We can know the love of GOD THAT PASSES KNOWLEDGE.
It passes knowledge because it GOES INTO THE HEART AND NOT JUST THE
HEAD.
IT PASSES AGREEMENT.
PASSES UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEING WITH THE BIBLE.
PASSES MENTAL AFFIRMATION.
You can understand and agree with the Bible and NEVER OBEY IT.
The veil keeps you away from eternity, from a Garden of revelation and mystery so precious that God preserved it in Himself until Christ should come, leaving entire ages outside the opportunity to know it.
When your heart locks onto it, and you take the step of making it a
part of your LIFESTYLE....
THEN the truth floods in.
When the veil ripped, Jesus died.
Luke 23:46 repeats the words to us that Jesus cried at that moment.
FATHER INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.
I COMMEND MY HEART!
Now, we also know that a Christian is one who has died, been buried
and risen with Jesus.
So if the Gospel says that we must die with Jesus....
And if when Jesus died, He said FAITHER INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND
MY SPIRIT...
THEN DYING WITH JESUS CAN ONLY OCCUR WHEN YOU COMMEND YOUR SPIRIT
INTO GODS HANDS!
NOT UNTIL YOUR HEART GETS INVOLVED, ....
Not until you go past understanding it and agreeing with it...
...DO WE DIE WITH JESUS.
Burial occurs after death.
So true baptism only is valid after we truly commend our spirits to
God.
After we really get our hearts into it.
After we choose to not merely AGREE or UNDERSTAND it but to put our
very lives into it all the way!
True baptism only occurs when we are buried with him in faith and believe with ALL OUR HEARTS!
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.Believing with all our hearts is more than just casual belief and understanding and agreement.
BELIEVE TO THE POINT OF PUTTING WHOLE LIFE INTO IT.
SPIRIT in the Bible is another word for LIFE.
Commending your spirits is PUTTING YOUR LIFE INTO IT.
TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.
The reason some people cannot stay away from sin is because they either feed themselves with those thoughts so much, or else they only go so far in agreement with the Bible, or mental affirmation.
You can understand and even choose to get baptized, but never really
put your HEART into it.
You did not get baptized into Christs death, you got WET!!!
Such people tell Jesus, I never promised you a rose garden.
Ephesians 3:14-18 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;Only when we put our hearts into it to believe in all faith will Pauls prayer for us be answered.
2 Corinthians 3:15-16 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.When you TURN YOUR HEART, THE VEIL is removed.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.THEN and not before THEN will you see His glory.
He strengthens you.
Science cannot explain it because its BEYOND UNDERSTANDING (Paul).
Its PAST KNOWLEDGE.
FURTHER THAN MERE AGREEMENT.
ITS FAITH.
You cannot analyze this!
To analyze is to stand back and look at it from the outside OBJECTIVELY.
You make it SUBJECTIVE.
INVOLVE YOURSELF.
PART OF YOUR LIFE.
But those who come to understanding and agreement but never take the step to live it and put their hearts in it, GOD BECOMES ANGRY.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Hold truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. MADE KNOWN.
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. They knew to do it, but they would not glorify God.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:GOD GIVES THEM OVER.
TO SIN
TO FILTH
TO DESTRUCTION
As the veil ripped only when Jesus commended His Spirit to the Father, ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN is not opened up to you until YOU PUT YOUR WHOLE HEART into it and give it to God.
Look at the blessings of Psalm 91...
Psalm 91:2-8 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.But all of this is outside the reach of those who never put their SPIRITS into it.
BECAUSE....
Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.ITS THE SECRET PLACE opened up and unveiled only when your HEART is turned to him.
THE VEILED PLACE.
You may turn your MIND and your ATTENTION and your TIME to this.
Your UNDERSTANDING might be turned to this....
BUT UNTIL YOU TURN YOUR HEART, the veil stays on your heart where
it has been since you were born!
Hebrews 10:20-22 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.How?... WITH A TRUE HEART....
Until you turn your heart to Him, ETERNITY WITH GOD IS A VEIL AWAY....
So close but yet so far.....