Lightened And No Reproach

I. EXORDIUM:

Does your face show GOD's Presence?

Yes. 2 Corinthians 3:12-16

2 Corinthians 3:12-16

Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.

Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].

In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.

Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.

But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that GOD's Presence makes our faces shine, making our lives lightened up and reproach and shame are removed from us.

IV. TEXT:

Psalms 34:5

They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.

King James version:

Psalms 34:5

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You carried our shame and disgrace and placed it on the cross.

Hebrews 6:6

If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance—[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace.

Hebrews 12:2

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

VI. TITLE:

Lightened and no reproach

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Authors: Authorship of many is uncertain, generally attributed to King David.

B. Date written: c. 1440 to 450 B.C. ( From Moses to Ezra)

C. Purpose: 150 songs to praise and worship GOD

D. To whom written: Sometimes to GOD, sometimes to author

E. Main Themes: praise and worship, prayer and praise

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Those who looked to JESUS were radiant or lightened

"They looked to Him and were radiant;"

Isaiah 45:22

Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Hebrews 12:2

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalms 123:1-2

A Song of Ascents. UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.

Our lives are made light for easy and as proof our faces shine with the radiance of the LORD JESUS because we look to JESUS not on the elements like the wine and the bread, not on the cross but on CHRIST.

Illustration: I know of a large church in the Philippines that has a huge cross complete with clothes that hang on the middle pertaining to the LORD JESUS CHRIST but I have bad news for them, the LORD is not on cross, it's a bitter experience of the LORD in the past that brought to our redemption but the LORD JESUS never needed the cross to save us, He can save us with or without the cross. But this huge church, looks to the cross and thanks the cross, bowed to it, and even kneel in front of it so that their members will be delivered from vices like smoking and drinking. A very funny incident for me.

Luke 10:20

Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.