The Tearing of the Veil

0:00As we continue our series on living an unveiled lifestyle, we're going to take time today to look at the tearing of the veil at Jesus' death. While all things are not yet restored, today we're going to discover that the closeness humanity was missing with God has been restored. You and I are the temple of the Spirit. This presence is with us. May we gain a deeper knowledge and experience of God's closeness today as we study the tearing of the veil. Welcome to the first 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from Matthew 27 verse 51.

1:10Scripture says, and behold, the curtain of the temple was torn into from top to bottom and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Matthew 27 verses 45 through 54 says, now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, that is my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And some of the bystanders hearing it said, this man is calling Elijah. And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.

2:14And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn into from top to bottom and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. And the Centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place. They were filled with awe and said, truly, this was the Son of God. At the death of Jesus, God turned what was the world's greatest tragedy into our greatest triumph. With every crack of the whip, the bonds that entangled you and me to the sin and darkness

3:17of this world became a little looser. And with Jesus' final breath, the earth shook and the rocks split under the magnitude of the power of Christ's sacrifice. Only God could take the greatest injustice and turn it into the world's greatest good. Only God could take death and produce abundant life for all. Out of everything that resulted from Jesus' final breath, none was more important than God's tearing of the veil. The veil that signified the necessary separation between God and man was ripped into from top to bottom, from God down to us. The greatest chasm over which no man could cross was now covered by a bridge created by God's wrath poured out on Jesus.

4:18The tearing of the veil represents the very purpose for Jesus' death. That God could now once again have restored communion with His people. No matter how many or how horrendous our sins might be, Jesus' death gained victory over it all. Just as the saints who had fallen asleep were raised at Jesus' death, you and I have been raised to newness of life. We are caught up in the glory of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. God has made unveiled face-to-face relationship with Him, available to us once again. If God would pay the price of Jesus' death to have restored relationship with us, encountering Him face-to-face must be the absolute best way for us to live. If God considers restored relationship with you, worth the death of His only and blameless

5:23son, He must place His highest value on total communion with you. Maybe the concept of having real, tangible encounters with your Heavenly Father is new to you. Maybe He feels distant. Maybe you come in and out of His presence day to day. Wherever you are in relation to God, know that nothing can separate you from Him any longer. The death of Jesus was more powerful than any sin, lie or belief. His death paid the entirety of your debt. There is nothing left to pay. Seek out a revelation of what it looks like to encounter your Heavenly Father unveiled as we take time to pray together today. Maybe the Holy Spirit guides you into a lifestyle of continual face-to-face, unveiled encounters

6:26with the living God as we pray. As we begin, start by meditating on the chasm that separated you from God as the result of sin. Take a few moments to reflect on your status prior to salvation, to find a greater appreciation for what Jesus has done for you today. Romans 512 says, Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin.

7:28And so death spread to all men because all sinned. And now, meditate on the power of Jesus' sacrifice. With his death on the cross, Jesus carried you across the great chasm that separated you from your Heavenly Father.

8:29Hebrews 912 says, He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. And last, worship Jesus for the newness of life available to you through Him.

9:32Give Him thanks and praise for His love. Now your affections to be stirred up toward Him by the truth of Scripture. John 316 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Never doubt the grace of your Heavenly Father toward you.

10:39Jesus has paid the price for every sin you will ever commit. He bore the weight of all of our sins on the cross. He poured out the entirety of His wrath over our sin on Jesus. All that's left for you to do is live out the abundant life to which you have been called. Enjoy God and glorify Him in response to His great love. May you be a child of God overcome by the goodness of your Father in heaven.

11:40Thanks for listening to today's podcast. I'm Josh with Verse 15. The best thing we can do in response to the great lengths God has gone to for us is to simply open our hearts and abide in Him. If you're looking for more ways to walk in nearness to God, head over to the article section of our website at firstsafeteen.org. We have resources there with more practicals on what it looks like to experience the fullness of God's presence in different facets of life. Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek Him.