You Are An Incredible Testimony of Mercy

Carter Conlon from the historic Times Square Church in New York City. You are an incredible testimony of mercy. Do you know that you may not feel that way but you hopefully will by the time we get to the end of this that's Carter, with the preview of this week is a call to the nation program in the Old Testament the mercy of God was available, but it was hidden.

They remained a mystery to most people, the high priest would be the only one allowed to go behind the veil and he would cover the Mercy seat with blood, sacrifice on behalf of the people. It was the only way sin could be covered, but because of Jesus Christ. Believers now have been put in public view, as an incredible testimony. Mercy. Let's join now to learn more about this amazing second Timothy chapter 1 beginning at verse six.

Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings of the gospel according to the power of God was saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ was abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel to which I was appointed a preacher and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For this reason, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I'd committed to him until that day.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words what you've heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed to you.

Keep by the Holy Spirit dwells in you always think Timothy the hand of God came on you if you go to the verse actually before he starts us as I remember the tears member the tears in your heart the day he realized that God loved the day he realized for yourself.

Yes, your mother and grandmother had faith, but the day you realized that their faith could become yours through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God steered you and gave you a gift and you know today that everyone who's here in the sanctuary you're called with a unique and a divine calling of God to do something for his glory in this generation that you are uniquely called to do.

Not only uniquely called mature enabled by God to do it your given that inner power of the life of Christ through his Holy Spirit to do the very thing is called you to do the only thing that can keep you from doing it is fear and unbelief fear that God could use such would you such a frail vassal as ourselves and unbelief. Tragically, that God created the universe with the word of his mouth could actually do such a thing in us drawing back and somehow not believing that with God all things are possible except for you and me.

That's the frailty of the human heart.

Paul knew Timothy was a fearful young man and was a fearful time that they were living in somewhat similar to our day is a deep hostility in the culture towards the gospel of Jesus Christ and Paul's hovering over the stays ahead of the church which he was a part of it that time and you know that Timothy had discrete is disposition to fear, but he told Timothy God hasn't given you a spirit of fear. He gave you power a put a love inside of you that will transcend all the fear that will come your way along the cast of fear, the beloved apostle John said in one of his epistles and give you a sound mind Timothy to know these things are true, that you are uniquely called of God, you have something to God is prescribed through your life that will bring his name to glory, and so stir up the gift of God. If ever there was a time my friend to stir up the gift. It's now if ever there was a time that you and I need to shake off everything that comes to we can.

Everything that's occupying our time. That is of no profit to return it lead to shake these things off and stir that gift is so the question is how do I stir the gift of God within the I read my Bible more do I pray more. Get those are good things, and those are things we need to do.

But here's here's one method that God showed through Paul. This young man Timothy in verse eight.

It tells him. Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and others. You have nothing to be ashamed up, you have the truth that stands above all other thoughts abiding within your life. So let the perishing of this world scoff at them score. Let them vilify. Let them deride your message what you stand between them and death and eternal death on Christ's behalf, and you are fighting for their eternal souls. You have nothing to be ashamed up nothing whatsoever you have found the meaning of life you found truth in found eternity you found redemption you found freedom from sin, you found eternal purpose and everything that hell has that will sought to fallen humanity through the frailty and thoughts even of your own hard to try to get you to convince it somehow give something to be ashamed up, sit down tower don't raise your voice don't stand for those because the going think you're foolish, a famous world is going to spend eternity in hell is going to think that you are fully because you stand and say have found a way to eternal life.

I know who God is, he is transforming my heart is transforming my life day by day. I'm not yet what the fullness of what God called me to be but by God's grace are not what I was yesterday.

He is changing my life.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

Secondly, in verses nine and 10. He said was saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to his own works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before time began, and now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ was abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. In other words, he has brought something in the view that was formerly hidden your calling is holy. It's appointed in its divinely enabled in your stint as a testimony. The death is abolished and eternal life is come into view.

You and I was a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Jesus called us the light of the world. We are enabled to do what we do and it's a holy, it's appointed by God before the world began were not ashamed of that when I going to take a light in this generation and hide it under a bushel, and be quiet when neighbors are dying in the sin facing eternal hell and all that means.

When we have the hope the truth and the enablement of God to do the very thing the guards goal is to do to glorify his name in our time, Paul says to Timothy in verse 13 hold fast the pattern of sound words, which you heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed to keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us you need nothing new.

Timothy only what God has given you so don't run around looking for some new thing you have everything you need, the fullness of Christ through his word is Holy Spirit the redemption he offers is already yours that is your assignment that is your mission that is my mission on the earth. You don't need a new thing and only researching for a new thing. It's all been given to you. This incredible testimony and he will keep you until your work on earth is finished both thanks be to God, thanks be to God, he will. I'm not afraid of the arrow by day and the terror by night, or vice versa. I'm not afraid of it because I am until God says I'm not I'm not in the hands of anybody but God Bible says he knew my day when I was born when Monty knew the last beat of my heart. It was all pre-counted was all precalculated by God, I can't turn one here black or white by worrying is nothing I can do except release myself into the hands of God, as Paul said to Timothy.

I'm persuaded that that which I've given to him. He's able to keep until that day when he takes me home and deposits me at the throne of grace for all of eternity. I am until God says I'm not let that be sown so deep in your heart you cannot be taken out of this world before the time and if you are taking out God appointed for a specific reason.

I don't need to understand everything in this life. I need to believe the one was faithful to make it so we stir up the gift by understanding not only who we are, but what we are. Do you know what you are to this world. You might know who you are, the redeemed are cleansed, you have the spirit of God upon you and give things of God to do something that glorifies him give a holy divine enabled calling you have a testimony of grace and mercy and that's much of who you are, but let me tell you know what you are doing fallen world.

In the Old Testament the mercy of God was available but the working of mercy was hidden behind the veil and remained a great mystery to most of the people in the temple there was a was a tabernacle in the words implements in the tabernacle it represented the totality of God's provisions covering his grace, his ability to bring life out of death was all inside the tabernacle the words of God were there as well above the tabernacle was a mercy seat and on that mercy seat at prescribed times throughout the year, the high priest alone would go behind the veil and he would cover that mercy seat in the blood of an innocent sacrifice an animal that had to be sacrificed on the behalf of the people. It was God's remedy was the only way that sin could be covered and forgiven and then the Shekinah glory, the glory of God would come down upon that mercy seat and would be such an incredible vision but was hidden from the people they can only stand in the outer court with the fear of God upon them because the Scripture tells us clearly that the high priest did not properly prepare himself before going behind that veil. If there was sin there was on the tone for unrepented of willful in his life he would die in the presence of a holy God and the people outside that they were afraid because if they knew that veil somehow fell from its moorings. The presence of a holy God without the covering the blood would cause him to immediately die in the presence of a holy God. Leviticus 16 to its as the Lord said to Moses to learn your brother not to come at just any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die frog will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. Imagine it's only a prescribed times it's only one person covering the mercy seat in the blood of an innocent sacrifice who could see the glory of God's mercy and his power working in beautiful operation together but it was hidden from the masses.

Nobody can see it it was it was a something that would had to try to picture in their minds because there was no testimony of the was all hidden behind a veil and is wonderful as it was the masses of the people can only hear the report, but they could not see this glory and mercy of God in operation.

Hebrews chapter 9 verses 7 to 9 says, but into the second part, the high priest would loan once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance, the Holy Spirit, indicating that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him perform the service perfect in regard conscience. How wonderful it must've been, which imagine if you and I were in this template were standing outside wondering what mercy looks like. What does mercy look like we we have this conceptual forgiveness high priest comes out at his prescribed time and declares us forgiven and says you have received mercy, but what does it look like what does mercy look like what is a vision of mercy and remained behind the veil would remain hidden until the day that Jesus Christ is our high priest himself entered into that holy place, not with the blood writer of Hebrews says of calves and goats which has to be repeated and repeated and repeated over and over again. No I wanted with his own blood, replace that blood on the mercy seat and it was received as the covering for those who would trust in his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary is sufficient to pay the price for their sins.

It would be a once and for ever covering of mercy that would come into the hearts of those who would choose to believe in Jesus Christ.

Christ himself as a high priest. Hebrews 911 of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is not made of this creation, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered into the most holy place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption by his own blood.

No one. He did this when he wanted when he paid the price.

The Scripture tells us the veil that separated this incredible work of God's mercy from the general populace. This veil that allowed only one man at one prescribed time. Generally once a year to go in, behind, and see this and have a visual declaration of this incredible mercy of God. When Jesus took his blood in behind the veil, figuratively speaking and laid it on the mercy seat. God received the separation between God and man was over. God did not dwell with people without then fearing dying in his presence because there was a covering of the blood and when Jesus did this.

The Scripture tells us in Matthew 27 verse 50. Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Now we know what he did because writer of Hebrews tells us he went in behind the veil.

He put his blood on speaking and figured in type on that mercy seat and what he did. This is is, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

The earthquake, the rocks were split, and graves were opened. In other words the mercy of God that had been hidden, the fullness of it was hidden from the day that Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. But when Jesus wanted behind the veil.

That veil was torn. The rocks were split. Graves were opened.

In other words the mercy of God came in the public view within not power to shape the R and raised and dad. It's important for you and I do understand this essay will how do I fit into all of this is by understanding not only going on, but also what I am. I am you are a visible demonstration to fall in mankind, of that which was once hidden to them.

You are the mercy seat you are that place that is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, you are that place where that Shekinah glory of God rests upon you. You are demonstration now in type of that which was hidden behind the veil. We understand your life being brought out by God. Appointed before the foundation of the world. Life called with a calling that as well. Only the tenant be taken away.

Nobody can stop you from what God called you to do.

You have been put into public view is an incredible testimony of mercy and grace. Did you ever wonder why in acts chapter 2 Windows hundred and 20 came up out of the upper room and into the public sphere that 3000 people who had a belly full of religion. Most of their lives, but they had lived on the other side of the veil. Now they sought mercy. They stop our place on the that's why you couldn't be quiet now.

That's why you must never be hidden.

I'm a type of the mercy seat and so are you. I'm not the emergency dog is the minimum type of the mercy seat uncovered by the blood of Jesus Christ on forgiven the glory of God's spirit is upon me, and then me and I live I live God's spirit is upon me, and I live that there was no covering.

I would die the moment the Holy Spirit touched me, but because there is a covering of God's thought upon my light through his son Jesus Christ, his only spirit getting the inside to make 10 because he lives there. I live through therefore I'm unashamed of who I am. I'm unashamed of the Christ within. I'm unashamed of this testimony that God himself is given me this power of his endless life that he is chosen, the plant within my I'm not living the Scripture live behind the veil. I'm not going to be. That's why the Scripture says if your testimony is hidden, it's hidden from those that are lost running through this world still looking for mercy, but still living in the wrong side of the veil, but all thank God that I am as you are holy. I'm appointed and divinely enabled. My testimony is not about me if it was, nobody would want it. Trust me, my testimony is about mercy. That's the testimony of the Christian church. That's why you don't have to be perfect. Open your mouth in this generation because people will point out your fault in the marketplace and in your family you lost your temper last Thursday and I saw what you did over there and I'll hardwood you did over there and you can say is it's all true, but it's not about me it's about mercy. Mercy affects my life in another. See the mercy of God that is touched me and I am divinely appointed by God to bring that mercy to your testimony that mercy don't get me one was covered look at the one was a naval ability to walk was coming inside my life and as I said earlier I am not yet what I ought to be, but I'm not what I was yesterday leaving those things behind, I'm pressing onto the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Mr. the gift of God by not falling into the trap of thinking that I have to be walking in human perfection before I can open my mouth.

You have a divine and appointed calling you are an incredible testimony of mercy. So don't let the devil or anybody else stop you from speaking. It's all about mercy when I was a lost man and I met a Christian I wasn't looking for perfection.

I was looking for reality. If we present perfection in ourselves. People can attain to it. So even if they find themselves marginally in agreement they can't make the step because it's I could never be like him or her. Why would even try the testimony. Mercy requires humility. It requires the ability to say on are not everything you see I have struggles like you do wouldn't.

I got trials I get depressed and I get Madden and sometimes I do things I shouldn't do, but I want talk to but this incredible covering of mercy because, in my life is: will it because I have believed in the sacrifice of God's son on the cross for me and I'm not playing games with God.

I'm sincere in my faith in Jesus Christ and he responded to my sincerity by giving me his Holy Spirit was come into my life and always changing change me daily because is a God of mercy. My life is a testimony of the mercy of God. Let that be your testimony.

Let that be your song and you want to. Many people want to come to the place where you worship. Whether it's untied about both your prayer closet place where you serve God or your church where you attend. If you will let that testimony be yours to be amazed if you absolutely amazed at how hungry people in this generation really are, for the truth of Jesus Christ you been listening to Carter Conlon from Times Square Church in New York City. For more information and resources to help you in your walk in Christ. Log on to TSC.NYC NTSC.NYC, be sure to be with us next week for a call to the nation with Hunter,