Embracing the New Covenant: Transformation and Generosity

First, we have a new heart. What did we read just now? Now, God said, I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. Israel didn't know the law. They didn't know even how to begin to follow the law. What did they have to do? They all had to get together and build a stage for Ezra to read it to them because they didn't know. They didn't know. They didn't know how to move forward after they rebuilt things. But God said, I'm going to do something better. I'm not going to write it on tablets or scrolls. I'm going to write it on your hearts. [00:11:00] (40 seconds)  #HeartWrittenLaw

It's a heart change that it's always pointed to. To know it, you don't have to read it. The Spirit works in you. When the new covenant came about and the Spirit descended upon the disciples, what were they doing? They were hiding. They did not know what to do. They did not know what the next step was. But once the Spirit entered them, they were changed. Something changed. A switch was flipped dramatically. They went from hiding to preaching in the streets where thousands were converted who trusted in Jesus. [00:11:53] (53 seconds)  #SpiritTransformsBoldness

``It's not about your effort. It's not about your effort. You don't need to try harder. You need to trust harder. Remember, we talked about that. You can try as hard as you want, but it's not you that does the work. You have to trust God to accomplish the work. [00:12:46] (20 seconds)  #TrustOverEffort

This new covenant is not based upon our faithfulness, but upon God's faithfulness. God makes us His people. We do not earn the position. You cannot earn that position. God chooses us and makes us His people. And in that, we also have intimate access to God. [00:14:24] (27 seconds)  #ChosenByGrace

Because God's presence was once stored in the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could enter. But Christ's sacrifice of Himself was once and final. And through Him we can enter into God's presence anytime, anywhere. And we're all welcome and wanted. He wants you there. Do you realize that? [00:16:20] (29 seconds)  #WelcomeInHisPresence

In this new covenant through our high priest Jesus we have righteousness. We have righteousness. Not just any righteousness. God sees us as pure. As clean. As if we had never sinned. It's not simply forgiven. Right? We can forgive, but I'll never forget. Right? That's something we say. We'll forgive you, but I'm going to remember. It's going to be back in my mind. I'm watching you. What you're going to do next. That's not what God's saying. That's not what He's saying. You are pure and blameless. Do you understand how incredible that is? [00:16:58] (52 seconds)  #PureAndBlameless

When God sees you, He does not see your sin. He does not see your rebellion. What He sees is the works of Jesus, the perfect life He lived, the sacrifice He made, the work of our great high priest. That's incredible. That's incredible. If that doesn't floor you and hit your heart like a knife, realizing that, you need to spend some more time thinking about it. You need to spend some more time thinking about it, because that's an unimaginable, incredible gift we have been given. [00:18:47] (54 seconds)  #RoyalPriesthoodIdentity

He said He won't remember our sin. What does that mean? He's not going to give you what you deserve. He's not going to act on your rebellion. He's not going to give you the wrath and the punishment that you deserve. He doesn't remember it. He doesn't act. Because Jesus took it for you. Because Jesus took it for you. [00:19:56] (32 seconds)  #RadicalGenerosityFlows

Without fail, a revival of the Spirit, a revival of your heart, becoming the royal priesthood, results in radical generosity. Without fail, radical generosity is a result. Because it's a result of the radical generosity you've received. You've received this radical generosity. If you truly grasp it and understand it, how can you not be radically generous as well? With your time, with your money, with your talents. How can you not be? And how can you not tell about the generous Lord we serve? How can you not proclaim Jesus as Lord? [00:22:50] (60 seconds)  #BringManyJars

We are called to remember. The question is not, will God remember us? That's no longer the question. That's not the question. He remembered and He acted. But will we remember? Will we remember what He has done? Will we remember the new covenant? Will we remember not for fulfillment, but for benefit? Will we remember and act not to make it happen, but to enjoy and participate in it? The covenant is fulfilled and not dependent upon us. But we do have to decide to participate in the blessings. [00:30:12] (51 seconds)