The Transformative Power of the New Covenant

In today’s world, the Church of Jesus Christ holds immense potential to transform lives and communities. This potential is often overshadowed by the struggles and darkness present in society. However, understanding the power of the new covenant and its implications can guide us toward a brighter future. This blog explores the significance of this covenant, its ability to change lives, and the role of tribulations in our journey to the Kingdom of God.

The Light in the Darkness

The title of today’s message is “The Darkness is Passing Away in the Light.” This powerful statement is rooted in scripture and reflects the conviction that there is more for the Church than what is currently visible. The belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and King underpins this understanding. His coming to Earth was not merely a historical event; it was a divine act of reconciliation that has the potential to change everything.

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Many people look to various sources for hope, especially during challenging times. However, the root of the world’s problems lies in sin, and it is through Jesus that we find resolution. The world needs Jesus, and astonishingly, He is revealed through His Church. There is an untapped potential within the body of Christ that, if unleashed, could lead to incredible transformations.

Authentic Encounters with Jesus

While many Christians today have had genuine encounters with Jesus, it seems we are not hearing enough about lives being radically transformed. For instance, consider the testimony of someone who, while in a hospital detoxing from addiction, cried out to Jesus and experienced immediate healing. Stories like this abound, yet they often go unheard amidst the noise of superficial Christianity.

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Authentic Christianity exists, but it is crucial to recognize that there is so much more to be experienced. The goal is not merely to fill church pews but to bring about a kingdom that reflects God’s design for humanity. When we align our lives with God’s purpose, we begin to see the fullness of life that He intended for us.

The Kingdom of God

Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. This prayer signifies our desire for God’s reign to manifest in our lives and communities. It is not just about church growth but about the transformation of society as a whole.

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Every believer has a role in this transformation. God has designed us to reflect His goodness, which leads others to repentance. The examples of loving parents, compassionate business owners, and faithful communities serve as testimonies of God’s character, drawing others to Him.

Repentance and Revival

For true revival to occur, repentance must precede it. This means a change of mind and direction, leading us to turn back to God. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates this concept. Despite being educated in a foreign culture, their character and faith remained intact due to the revival they experienced under King Josiah.

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This revival instilled in them a vision of what it meant to walk with God, enabling them to stand firm in their convictions even in the face of death. True revival leads to cultural transformation, affecting not just individuals but entire communities.

The Role of Tribulations

Paul emphasizes that through many tribulations, we will enter the Kingdom of God. This message is critical for believers to understand. Life is filled with challenges, and as Christians, we are not exempt from hardship. However, these tribulations serve a purpose—they refine us and strengthen our faith.

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We often seek comfort and ease, but the reality is that growth often comes through trials. Jesus himself faced immense suffering, and it is through His example that we learn to endure. The light shines brightest in the darkest moments, and our response to adversity can serve as a beacon of hope to others.

The New Covenant’s Power

Paul’s writings reveal the transformative power of the new covenant. He contrasts the old covenant, which was based on the law, with the new covenant, which offers grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. This shift allows us to experience God in a personal and profound way.

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In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul speaks of the light that shines in our hearts, giving us knowledge of God’s glory. This light is not meant just for us; it is meant to be shared with the world. Our lives, transformed by the new covenant, become vessels of His light, illuminating the darkness around us.

Overcoming Darkness Together

As believers, we are called to be the light in a dark world. This calling comes with responsibilities. We must be willing to endure hardships and remain steadfast in our faith. Paul reminds us that all who desire to live godly in Christ will face persecution. Understanding this truth prepares us to face challenges with courage and grace.

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The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. This light is not just a metaphor; it is the embodiment of Christ’s love and grace. By loving one another and reflecting His character, we can impact the world around us.

The Call to Action

In conclusion, the Church has a monumental task ahead. We must recognize the potential within us to bring about change. This starts with a commitment to living out the realities of the new covenant, embracing the trials that come our way, and reflecting the light of Christ in every situation.

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Let us pray for the release of the full potential of the Church in this hour. The world is broken and lost, but through Christ, we can shine brightly. Together, we can transform lives and bring hope to the darkest corners of society. Let us be the agents of change that God has called us to be.

The Darkness is Passing Away in the Light

(Sermon Outline)

1. I have a deep conviction in my soul that there is far more potential for the church of Jesus Christ to transform the world than we are currently experiencing.
   1. What I see with Christianity – people experience God, are delivered, love Jesus and Word.
   1. What I believe is lacking – “upside down” – history – possibility
   1. What is the goal?  
      1. The Kingdom and setting at liberty the captives – as in heaven & obedience of the faith – Lord of all, not just Lord of the church
      1. The fatalism and bondage of paganism vs. the hope of the gospel. A world from darkness to light
         1. I want to see that world pass away – the darkness is passing away
   1. Repentance precedes revival which precedes transformation
   1. An educational conference asking the question about the three Hebrew captives in Babylon and Daniel. – the revival under Josiah that was inaugurated by finding the law.
   1. Today I want to consider a point that Paul made when strengthening the church: Acts 14:21–22 (NKJV) — 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” – CROSSLESS CHRISTIANITY!
2. Crossless forms of Christianity
   1. The prosperity gospel
   1. The self-esteem love gospel
   1. The hell in a handbasket but we are out of here gospel.
   1. The great hero and the greatest moment of heroism in history
   1. The light shines brightest in the darkness
   1. I want to explore 2 passages, one in 2 Corinthians and the other in Romans that ties this together.
3. Transforming the world by transforming lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   1. Preceded by the passage of the glory of the new covenant
   1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) — 6 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. (To us or the world? Or both?)
   1. 2 Corinthians 4:7–12 (NKJV) — 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
   1. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NKJV) — 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 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.
   1. Do you see how the Christian life is described and the expectations set?
4. The world delivered from the bondage of corruption through the revelation of God’s sons
   1. A pattern here of new covenant excitement and vision – see the connection?
   1. Romans 8:28–29 (NKJV) — 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
   1. Romans 8:31–32 (NKJV) — 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
   1. Romans 8:35–39 (NKJV) — 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. The darkness is passaging away in the light that is in the world
   1. It is in the darkest of times that we have the opportunity to shine in this world.
   1. Total surrender to Jesus Christ is the way through the darkness
      1. The 3 Hebrews
      1. My own personal experiences
   1. Preparing us to shine
      1. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) — 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
      1. 1 John 2:8 (NKJV) — 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. (LOVE)
      1. The Presence
      1. The living water that satisfies
      1. The life we gain that makes a living sacrifice light.
      1. Galatians 6:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.