Don't Miss Out: There's More to Come

Introduction (5m)

Are you one of those people who has never visited the places that your town/area is famous for?

These things/places so familiar to us we hardly even see them

The disciples had been with Jesus for almost three years - declared him Messiah, but didn’t truly understand what that meant

Matthew 16:15–16 NLT

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Explanation (5m)

It took a change of perspective - a mountaintop experience - to begin to see Jesus as he really is

Matthew 17:2 NLT

As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

What happened = mystery, but transfigured - metamorpheo - transformed (tadpole - frog / caterpillar - butterfly)

Face shone like the sun - like Moses when he came down from Sinai = J has authority of the Law and the Prophets

His clothes became as white as light - Jewish literature - divine beings appearing on earth in dazzling clothing = J is divine

Jesus man transfigured / metamorphasised / transformed into Jesus deity

Author and Teacher, Douglas O’Donnell:

Matthew—All Authority in Heaven and on Earth This High Mountain

The Shekinah glory that led Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21), came upon Moses at Sinai (Exodus 24:15–18), and filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34, 35) and temple (2 Chronicles 7:1–3) is here.

The disciples response to this spiritual mountaintop experience is to want to do something - it proved they still didn’t get it!

Matthew 17:4 NLT

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter starts talking and cannot stop! He wants to build three shelters.

Wrong - because this was only a temporary mountaintop experience, as many of them are - Jesus had already been talking to them about the journey he must take

Wrong - three tents suggests Peter thinks Moses, Elijah and Jesus are equal.

If Peter had carried on babbling about his tents and exposing his misunderstanding - what would he have missed?

Matthew 17:5 NLT

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Thunder or the still, small voice?

There is a time for stillness, contemplation, wonder, adoration, awed reverence in the presence of Jesus

Sometimes, we are too busy doing when we should be silent, listening, wondering, adoring - what do we miss?

Mountaintop experiences - moments of intimacy, serenity, peace, nearness to God

Revival at Asbury College

What started as a normal service for university students at Asbury University in Kentucky USA (with close ties to TSA) has now turned into a revival which has been a none stop 24 hrs praise and worship and prayer since last week Wednesday morning.

Professor Jason Vickers:

Around 2:30 this afternoon, I crossed Lexington Avenue and made my way up the stairs of Hughes Auditorium, slipping into a seat on the back row. I wanted to see for myself what was happening. The following is a blow by blow account of what I experienced for the next hour and a half.

I had been seated in the auditorium for less than ten minutes when I came to, by which I mean to say when I suddenly found myself having conscious thoughts about my surroundings and about what I was experiencing. The best way I know to put this is to say that it was as though in just a few short minutes, I had completely zoned out.

Upon the resumption of deliberative conscious thought, two things stood out to me. First, there was a noticeable lack of tension in my body. I was completely relaxed. There was also a complete lack of mental tension or distraction. My mind was at utter peace. And I had only been there for ten minutes.

The second thing I recall thinking is that I could sit here in this chair forever. The desire to linger indefinitely was quite unexpected. I had planned to pop in for a few minutes before returning to work. Suddenly, work was the farthest thing from my mind.

I wound up staying for well over an hour. In the time that I was there, I could not get over certain distinctive qualities about the atmosphere. The words that came to mind were: gentle, sweet, peaceful, serene, tender, still. Some people were singing. Others were talking. Many were praying. But there was something like a blessed stillness permeating the place. No one was swinging from the chandeliers. In fact, it was right the opposite. What made this so wild was just how un-wild the whole thing was ... is.

Application (5m)

Are you in need of a change of perspective? A mountaintop experience? A revival? If you keep doing, what might you miss?

How could you make time for stillness, contemplation, wonder, adoration, awed reverence in the presence of Jesus during this Lent period?

Can’t dictate when God will show up, but we can position ourselves to be in the right place at the right time, with the right perspective

You could prioritise worship

When William Booth accepted an invitation to a church service > surrendered his life to God: “God shall have all there is of William Booth.”

John Wesley: “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death”.

You could prioritise spending significant time with the Bible and in prayer

Samuel Brengle, 11 Jan 1895: “I opened my Bible and, while reading some of the words of Jesus, He gave me such a blessing as I never had dreamed a man could have this side of Heaven. It was an unutterable revelation. It was a Heaven of love that came into my heart. My soul melted like wax before fire. I sobbed and sobbed. I loathed myself that I had ever sinned against Him or doubted Him or lived for myself and not for His glory. Every ambition for self was now gone. The pure flame of love burned like a blazing fire would burn a moth.

I walked out over Boston Commons before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved! In that hour I knew Jesus, and I loved Him till it seemed my heart would break with love. I was filled with love for all His creatures. I heard the little sparrows chattering; I loved them. I saw a little worm wriggling across my path; I stepped over it; I didn’t want to hurt any living thing. I loved the dogs; I loved the horses; I loved the little urchins on the street; I loved the strangers who hurried past me; I loved the heathen; I loved the whole world”.

No doubt that such a mountaintop experience is available to each one of us if we position ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually for it because with God there is always more to come!

Next Steps

SB 359 - Eternal God, our song we raise

Eternal God, our song we raise In thankful, overflowing praise, For men of faith whose power was thine, Whose love no barrier could confine; They humbly offered Christ their bread And lo, the multitudes were fed! 2 We thank thee for the fruitful years, The sacred gains of toil and tears, For mighty works through weakness wrought, For souls who led in deed and thought; They followed Jesus in the light And their loud anthems thrilled the night. 3 O may no longing of our own Obscure the path by Jesus shown! We would not thirst for earth?s reward And lose the blessing of our Lord: His cup of pain and grief and strife That yieldeth up the gift of life. 4 Our Father, we beseech thee now: Receive again our first pure vow To stand though fire and tempest rage, Nor fear the terrors of our age, To love thee with a constant mind And lose ourselves to save mankind. 5 Our great Redeemer liveth still, His love sustains us in thy will; Because he conquered, we shall win, His cross before, his joy within; Our cheerful banners are unfurled, For Christ has overcome the world. Christ has overcome the world; Christ has overcome the world. Has overcome the world! Catherine Baird (1895-1984) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 135015 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 359