The Veil of Unbelief Removed by Christ

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. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:14-18)

 

The old covenant restricted and separated men from God; the new covenant brings us to God and enables us to come boldly to Him. Before Christ died on the cross, bearing our sins, the old covenant required a blood sacrifice on the altar and the holiest of holies was curtained off so that only once a year the priest would go behind it to make atonement for all the tribe of Israel. Just as Jesus died on the cross the curtain in the temple was rent in half, signifying that all now could have access to our Heavenly Father at anytime.

 

Instead of the temple being a fixed place in one location, the temple now is each individual who has received the Spirit of God through accepting the atoning sacrifice of His Son. Jesus is the One who removes the veil of unbelief that lies over each person’s heart

 

Your heart is either veiled by unbelief or unveiled; there is no middle ground on this issue. You cannot believe just a little or cherry-pick what you want to believe about God and His promises. When the veil of unbelief is removed, we behold the glory of God that comes shining through. Just as God’s glory was all over the face of Moses, so it will shine in us and through us. The veil that Moses wore hid his face from the children of Israel so that they could not see God’s glory on his face. Consider the contrast of the passing glory and enduring glory behind Moses’ veil and now that is the concealed glory and revealed glory in each person today.

 

The Lie Whisperer will use any trick or device to hold up the veil so that one cannot see God through the redemptive work of His Son Christ. Pull down that veil of unbelief by believing what Jesus did for you and inviting Him to reside within you, and than you will see the glory of the Father. Shalom

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Exodus 34:29-35)

The Fragrance of Christ

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.   (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

 

The gift of smell is an amazing thing. There are times a smell will trigger a long-lost memory from years ago, whether it be good or bad. Fragrances can be pleasant or detestable. Incense was used by God’s direction as a form of worship at the altar in the temple; Leviticus 2:2, “And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.”

 

In the old King James verse 15 of our focus passage states that all those who have received Christ as their Savior are as a “sweet savor” to Him. Interestingly, the fragrance of Christ that is upon believers will be sweet to some and repugnant to those who reject God and His ways. Satan is repulsed by the fragrance of Christ, and he cannot stand in its presence. This tells me that there is a holy power in covering ourselves in His fragrance, and is something that should be desired by all those who follow Him.

 

Paul is describing the difference of the aroma of Christ between two groups of people based on Roman tradition of conquering generals during a parade when coming home. The parade would have high ranking political leaders at the front followed by trumpeters and those burning a victory incense; behind them would be those captured in chains smelling that incense, that too them would be a smell of death. However, to the general and his officers behind them that smell was the smell of victory.

 

I want to exhort all my brothers and sisters in Christ to be living your life in such away that it is a sweet-smelling fragrance, lifting up to our Holy Father in heaven. The signs are certainly telling us that His Son will soon be coming for His bride (the church); because of that all of His children should be striving to exude every ounce of His fragrance in this dark, smelly, evil world, so that others will be drawn to follow Him as well. May your life be a sweet smelling-fragrance unto Him!

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Exodus 30:7-9)

We Must Be Alert to Satan’s Schemes

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:8-11)

 

Apparently in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he had to address the church in regards of handling church discipline of a fellow believer. Sometime after the discipline the believer repented of his sinful actions. However, there were those in the church who struggled with receiving that person back into the fellowship, which caused all kinds of issues, which Paul was addressing.

 

It has been my contention over the years that the Lie Whisperer (Satan) is most active in and around the church (the body of Christ); therefore, we must be alert to his devious schemes. The Lie Whisperer despises anything that is of God and wants to destroy it; this is why he is most active around His people and anything that He holds claim to.

 

We are living in times that are seemingly more chaotic with each passing day, and because of that the church needs to be strengthened. Those of us at our church have been memorizing Colossians 3:12-17 for this year. This passage is powerful and dictates how we as believers should act toward each other, something the Lie Whisperer wants to destroy. We need to stop letting the events of the world dictate how we should be acting or responding, simply, because most times we are going to act in the flesh and cause more harm, pain, and possibly division in the church.

 

Instead, we as believers must react to the Word of God in all situations. Here is the truth! Jesus Christ is the only answer to all that is going on. The body of Christ must be prayerfully united and should love each other. In doing this we can than be ever alert to the schemes of the enemy. The Lie Whisperer wants us to be angry at what is going on; this works to his advantage. Instead, let us be saddened and grieved, so that we may pray more effectively and love just as our Savior Jesus does. We must be obedient in all things that He commands! Shalom

 

 

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up 2 Corinthians 7:15-16)

God’s Promises Are True

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Sil-va-nus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea. For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

(2 Corinthians 1:18-22)

 

We are currently living in an age where the truth is becoming more and more subjective. Believe it or not, this is exactly what the Lie Whisper craves. He is the master of lies and deception, so much so that he even persuaded a third of the angels to follow him in an attempt to overthrow his own Creator, the God of all heaven and earth.

 

My heart goes out to all those who have no relationship with Jesus Christ because they will be more easily deceived into accepting a lie over the truth. For those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit has entered into us and shines the light of His truth into our very being. As we open His Word, the Spirit of God reveals His truth to us and we see how every promise that God has given has come to pass, with only a few more prophetic promises that are on the brink of coming true; the main one being the return of Christ for His bride.

 

Followers of Christ who prayerfully study His Word are keenly aware that Jesus in the Gospels has prophesied the times we are living in. We know the Truth, because He is the Truth and we have been set free from the lies of Satan. With that being said, we still must be careful not to fall into the temptation of believing what might appear to be truth when it is not, 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Test all things; hold fast what is good. God is the only on who is good; stand firm with Him.

 

Battle lines are being drawn even now; stand firm in your faith. God’s promises are true; claim them as your own. Let us not get caught up in the current events of the world that it distracts us from seeking God’s will for all of this; instead, go to your prayer closet and seek what He would have you do, and remember His promises never have and never will fail. Maranatha!

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Romans 15:7-13)