Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Present Weakness and Resurrection Life  4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:17 – 4:6

A.  What are we called to?

1.  A personal beholding of the Lord Jesus: 2 Corinthians 4:6

2.  A personal transformation from beholding the Lord Jesus: 2 Corinthians 3:18

B.  What are we to behold in the Lord Jesus?

1.  God’s glory revealed in the fullness of His grace:  John 1:14

2.  God’s glory revealed in the fullness of his truth.  John 1:14

C.  What are the means to behold the Lord Jesus?

 1.  Scripture

 a.  Christ’s Gospel publicly heard:  1 Cor. 1:17, 1 Cor. 2:1-2

 b.  Christ’s Person privately sought: John 5:39, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:32

 2.  Prayer

 a.  Prerequisites to behold the glory of God in Christ through prayer

 –  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-centered: Matt. 6:9-10

–  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-dependent: 2 Cor. 3:18

–  Our prayer pursuit of beholding Christ must be God-seeking: John 17:1-3

b.  The Practice of beholding the Glory of God in Christ

–  Beholding the glory of God is a Trinitarian experience: Eph. 1:15-21, Eph. 3:14-19

–  Beholding the glory of God is a Weaning experience: Eph. 1:15-21

–  Beholding the glory of God is a Family experience:  Eph. 1:15-17, Eph. 3:14-17

c.  Praying to behold the glory of God

–  God’s will is for our transformation into Holy People: 2 Cor. 7:1, Eph. 1:3-4, 1 Thess. 4:1-4, 1 Peter 1:14-16,        Rev. 4:8, Eph. 1:15-19

TODAY

–  God’s will is for our transformation to be controlled by Christ’s love

1. The Character of God makes this transformation natural: 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16, 2 Peter 1:3-4

2. Our adoption as God’s children mandates this transformation: Ephesians 1:3-5, 1 John 3:14

3. God’s willingness encourages this transformation: 1 Thess. 4:9, John 13:1, 14-15

4. The command of God to love demands this transformation: John 13:34-35, 1 John 3:23

5. Our dependency on God for transformation points to prayer: 2 Cor. 3:4-6, John 15:5