Removing the Veil (2)

Beloved, before I take my text, some may not like my message tonight. Some may accuse me of adding too much sugar to the gospel. Not enough conviction.

I am first and foremost an encourager. I feel people need encouragement more than anything. The believe grace leads to salvation, not judgment.

I feel my best self when speak words of encouragement to your soul.

I wanted to end the year on an encouraging note. The Lord led me to this passage.

Isaiah 54:11–12 NKJV

“O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones.

The title for tonight’s sermon is,

REMOVING THE VEIL.

There is no veil is mentioned in Isaiah 54. it is obvious Israel’s sins blinded them to God’s unfailing love. The prophet Isaiah saw way into the future. Through his eagle eyes, The Lord gave his people visions of a new covenant relationship through the Messiah.

Oh, afflicted city, storm tossed and not comforted. What a description!

God’s people would be afflicted, tossed about like dirty rags with no one to help them. However, They would go from the dust of shame to the reigning glory of God.

Although God abandoned them for their sins, he would never abandon them again. Whatever trouble still remained, God would turn it around for their good. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication, declares the Lord.

The Lord brought a word of comfort to an afflicted city.

Jerusalem became the apple of God’s eye, God’s city. The Lord confirmed it to Solomon.

The Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yet, the inhabitants of God’s beloved city did not keep covenant with the Lord.

Moses warned them, “If you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you; You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.”

The children of Israel disobeyed the Lord, over and over again.

They were storm tossed by the Assyrians, The Syrians, and the Babylonians. They felt God abandoned them. In 587 B. C, When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 587, he tore down the walls of the city, destroyed the temple, removed all the sacred artifacts and took Israel captive to Babylon.

2 Kings 25:13-15 “The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried the bronze to Babylon. They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. The commander of the imperial guard took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—all that were made of pure gold or silver.” Total devastation.

The surrounding nations asked Isreal, Where is your God?” Yet, God’s redemptive love is unfailing.

2022 has been a year of chaos: Fires, wars, droughts, death and destruction, the sense uncertainty. People did not know what to trust in or who to trust. We seen increases in depression and suicide. Some have walked away from their faith. I hear God saying

I see the glory of God.

“I will lay your foundations with sapphires.” The Sapphire is the heavenly blue stone. It is called the wisdom stone. Its color is so captivating, it promotes inspiration and a desire for God.

When Moses and the 70 elders to Mt. Sinai, saw the Lord,

Exodus 24:10 NKJV

and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.

When the Lord called Ezekiel to prophesy, the appearance of his throne was that of sapphire.

Ezekiel 1:26 NKJV

And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

Jesus prayed that you and I would be one with the Father. “As I am in you and you are in me, may they be one with us.’ God’s plan is we will attain the knowledge of the Son of God and reach the full measure and stature of Jesus Christ. The apostle John said, “We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.”

I see the grace of God.

Only God can take a city in ruins and build its foundations with sapphires, make its walls of emerald and its gates of garnet. Only God can take a broken life and turn into something supernatural. Only God can take our faults and failures our sins and shortcomings and make them work together for our good. No experience is wasted in the Kingdom of God. God in his foreknowledge has seen everything from the beginning and uses everything about you to make you one day a vessel of honor.

Take pride that no one comforted you.

Afflicted city, lashed with storms and not comforted. I will lay your stones in colored gems. ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT IS, I WILL SET YOUR STONES IN CEMENTED JEWELS.

In 2022, Some of you have suffered afflictions. Some of you have been through storms and no one understood, or could enter into your affliction but Jesus.

Precious stones are made under pressure over many years.- Jeremiah has advice for you.

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.” Lam. 3:26-28.

David said, “It was good for to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.’”

God alone placed you in the furnace so you would come out as pure gold.

I see a life greater life in store.

“I will make your battlements of rubies.” Battlements are windows from the fortress. One translation says, “Your windows will be made of emeralds.”

Change your perspective and see your life through the eyes of the glorious Christ.

I see God’s glory resting on you.

You not only survived last year, your continence is beginning to shine. I see a deeper conviction and faith. David spoke of those who survived. Ps. 34:5 “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” The song writer said, “I see you in the future and you look better.”

You are precious to the Lord and close to God’s heart.

You are of great value to God. The high priest wore the stones of the tribes of Israel on the ephod. You and I are close to the heart of God. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. Everyone of you is the pearl of great price.

The windows with which we look upon the world will be colored by the good news of Jesus Christ. Our perspective on life is changing because we will see as God see us.

Something inside of us goes after the higher things of God. We can declare whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are good which of the things are pure and just this is our focus, I will lift up my eyes to the hills, not the valleys. We walk by faith and not by sight.

The veil of sorrow and sadness has been lifted.

“I will lay your foundations with sapphires.”

You will see no longer the dark clouds over your life. You will see the sun peaking through the clouds. You will no longer the sin and weakness that brought you down, you will see the blood working on your sanctification. God will do it.

David said, “I had fainted unless I believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Your gates will be made of precious jewels.

Your gates will be made of carbuncle. The Garnet Stone. The red stone. Gates lead to the wide open avenues of life.

I believe this is a promise of abundant success and prosperity. Not money but something more than money. Being right with God and in Christ Jesus.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; but thankful unto him and bless his name for The Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting and his truth endures to all generations.”

The Lord will bless your family. He will bless your children and their children. God will bless all going out and are coming in that he will bless our savings. Why? Because Jesus said, “I call you friends.”

Your gates will be made of the of the bloodstone of Christ. It is through his bloodstained banner that we stand, and it’s through his precious blood shed for us on the cross, we live, move and have our being. We can go in and out and find Pasture, because Jesus is the shepherd of our souls. He is the way the truth and the life..

If you lift up the Garnet up to the sunlight, it will sparkle life fire. You can see the very fire of God in the stone itself. You can see the power of God working in you.

Remove the veil. Those who do not lift the veil miss all the wonderful things of God. Paul described a veil over the eyes of the children of Israel, so they have missed the glory and wonders of Jesus Christ. I want to encourage you to do your part to believe to trust in the Lord to lift the veil that you might see what God has in store for you .

Jesus Christ is building an everlasting home for you.

When Israel lived in the desert, their homes were made of tree branches and mud. We live in tabernacles made of clay. When this earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, I have another building...

Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled...”

Look in faith to your heavenly home.

John said, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth…

There are 12 gates to the city named after the 12 tribes of Israel. The wall has 12 foundation named after the 12 apostles of the Lamb. They are all built of precious stones.

Will you be there? Will you enter God’s holy City? Will you be dressed for the occasion? Will you wear a crown of glory? Let Jesus wash your sins away before the year ends?

LIFT UP THE BOWED DOWN HEAD, STRENGTHEN THE FEEBLE KNEES.

REVOME THE VEIL FROM YOUR EYES FOR YOUR DELIVERANCE COMETH NIGH. GOD IS DOING A NEW WORK IN YOU.