The Face of God
Brian Long emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the living, personal face of God, calling believers to seek His face with wholehearted devotion rather than merely seeking His blessings.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking the face of God diligently and earnestly, highlighting the contrast between those who spit in God's face through sin and those who diligently seek His glory. The speaker urges the audience to remove the masks of deception, seek God with honesty, and diligently pursue His presence with all their hearts. The message underscores the need to forsake sin, seek God's face with an unveiled face, and diligently pursue His presence like searching for a lost child. The ultimate call is to be part of the remnant that seeks God's face and experiences His glory.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Face of God Revealed in Jesus Christ
- Jesus is the exact representation of the Father
- God has a personal face shown in Jesus
- Jesus is fully God and fully man
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II. The Rejection and Spitting on the Face of God
- Jesus was despised and rejected by men
- Sinful man literally spat on the face of God
- This reveals the depth of human depravity
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III. Two Camps: Those Who Spit and Those Who Seek
- Some continue to reject and insult God
- Others are redeemed and seek His face
- God calls His people to seek Him wholeheartedly
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IV. The Call to Seek the Face of God
- Seeking God for who He is, not just what He can do
- Prioritizing intimacy with God over service
- Fruitful ministry flows from personal relationship with God
Key Quotes
“God has a face, and that face is the person of Jesus Christ.” — Brian Long
“When you seek His face first, then your service becomes fruitful.” — Brian Long
“God is looking for a people who will seek His face, who will seek His holy face, who will seek to see His glory.” — Brian Long
Application Points
- Prioritize seeking God's presence and knowing Him personally over merely asking for blessings.
- Recognize the seriousness of rejecting Jesus and respond by embracing His grace and forgiveness.
- Allow your relationship with Jesus to transform your service and ministry into fruitful work empowered by the Holy Spirit.