Looking Beyond The Veil

INTRODUCTION

Review of previous sermonThe message from last Wednesday spoke of the veil that was rent on the Cross. The rending of that veil symbolized humility and surrender to God’s will. To rend the heart means to be broken for our sins, and for the salvation of other people.

This message is about looking at things beyond the veil of the flesh.

Questions to answer:

what kinds of “veils” should we be tearing down?

how can we look beyond the veils that hinder our spiritual sight?

What’s behind the “veil”?

Behind the veil of the tabernacle of God

the Ark of the Covenant

the Glory of God

Behind the veil of Moses’ face

the glory of God that shone

Behind the veil of flesh

the Presence of God

Hebrews 6.19

Hebrews 6:19 NKJV

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

MAIN POINTS

The Veils that Hide

Exodus 34.29-35 - The face of Moses shone with the glory of God when he came down from Mount Sinai

Exodus 34:29–35 NKJV

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

Moses put a veil over his face, NOT so that Israel will not be afraid

Moses did not cover his face until he was finished talking with God or with Israel

Moses put a veil over his face to HIDE the fading glory.

2 Corinthians 3.7 - a glory that was passing away

2 Corinthians 3:7 NKJV

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,

2 Corinthians 3.13 - “so that” Israel will not see the “end” of the fading glory

2 Corinthians 3:13 NKJV

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.

The veil remained in the hearts of Israel

2 Corinthians 3.14 - their minds were “blinded” - grk. poroo, petrify, harden

2 Corinthians 3:14 NKJV

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.

Veil no. 1 - “hardened mind”

the Jews continued to hold on to the Law, (falsely) believing that it continues up to this day.

the veil of the hardened mind makes you believe and hold on to things that are already past, over, finished.

the veil of the hardened mind keeps you from seeing the “real things”.

2 Corinthians 4.1-4 - the preaching of the Gospel does not make everyone see the light of God.

2 Corinthians 4:1–4 NKJV

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Satan has put a veil over the minds of the unbelieving world.

2 Corinthians 4.4 - their minds were blinded - grk. tuphloo, to make blind

2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Veil no. 2 - “blinded mind”

the Gentiles cannot see the light of the gospel

the veil of the “blinded mind” keeps people from “understanding the purpose of God in Christ”

The Veils must be Taken Away

The veil is taken away only in Christ

2 Corinthians 3.14

2 Corinthians 3:14 NKJV

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.

First, one must “turn to the Lord”

2 Corinthians 3.16

2 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Then, God will command the light to shine in our hearts...

2 Corinthians 4.6

2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

UNLESS THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY FIRST, NO AMOUNT OF STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURE WILL RESULT IN TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Looking Beyond the Veil

Jesus took away the veil (He rent the veil of His flesh) so that can see the glorious beauty of spiritual things.

We should begin looking beyond the “veil” of the flesh.

Stop looking at things that are seen, and begin looking at the things that are unseen.

2 Corinthians 4.16-18

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NKJV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

visible things - material things

invisible things - things of God, things above

they are eternal

2 Corinthians 5.1-4 - a house not made with hands

2 Corinthians 5:1–4 NKJV

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Stop walking by sight, and begin walking by faith

2 Corinthians 5.8-10

2 Corinthians 5:8–10 NKJV

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

it means to live a life that is well-pleasing to Him

Stop regarding your brothers and sisters according to the flesh, and begin regarding everyone in Christ as a”new creation”.

2 Corinthians 5.14-17

2 Corinthians 5:14–17 NKJV

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Paul, et al, has long “stopped” "knowing Jesus “in the flesh”

the love of God should compel (grip, press, hold fast) to look at the “spiritual side” of our brothers and sisters

CONCLUSION

If we are serving God with a “veil” over our hearts...

we are blindsided

We are trying to hold on to temporal things are hope they last forever.

we are missing great things from God

If we will turn our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ…

He will take away the veil and help you see glorious things, eternal things,

He will help you see at your brothers and sisters as “new creations” in God

(songs to sing)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Within the veil