There's A Valley Coming
Notes
Transcript
There’s a Valley Coming
There’s a Valley Coming
Scripture Reading -
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
In the scriptures, mountains are significant. How often does the landscape, the scenery, the location change to mountains...
Abraham witnessed the salvation of his God - when he was commanded to offer his son Isaac up as a sacrifice - the Lord provided Himself a sacrifice - what a picture of our Savior & the love that God has for us...
Moses - received the tables of stone on a mountain
Elijah - the greatest victory in his ministry was up on Mount Carmel
Mountains were / are important places - but when we look at this mountain (the mount of transfiguration)- we often think about the 3 individuals who Jesus brought up to the mountain with him - but I wonder if we truly understand who this moment was for...
I have often looked at it and have always looked at this mountain top experience as a teaching time for the Apostles - and it is definitely the case… but just maybe, this time was as much for the Savior as it was for anyone else...
There’s a Valley Coming
There’s a Valley Coming
Pray:
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
If Jesus (as man) was tempted in all points “like as we are” … then we have to recognize the fact that if we were going through… were about to go through what the Savior was going to go through… we would need supernatural intervention in our lives...
This mountain top experience was one that he allowed some of his closest friends to experience with him - but maybe it wasn’t for them at all - maybe it was what God was going to use to help him through the coming days...
The Lord Jesus Christ - as He was up on the mountain, had a very real valley that loomed ominously before him.
What was it that was going to help him though this valley?
and we know how
1. Presence of God
1. Presence of God
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
mt17.1-
The Lord Jesus - 3 years into his ministry - and it - coming to a close has a ministry that has two bookends -
Baptism
Mount of transfiguration - Both which God the Fathers voice was heard -
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
The presence of God in your life on the mountain top gives strength for the valley to come!
You see - when you are in the greatest valleys of life - though God’s grace is always sufficient - His comfort is there… but the close intimacy of his presence is masked and veiled by the great sorrow of heart
On the Cross Jesus
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mt27.
The Almighty was always there...
The Almighty always loved His Son...
But there was a separation between God the Father and God the Son - I know theologically that it was because of the sin that Jesus became for us on the cross - the judgement of God on that sin / the separation that resulted...
But I also know that when people go through great sorrow in their lives, often times - they Know God is there- but do not feel his presence - there is an emptiness… there is a void… there is a silence in their walk w/ God...
Their faith is strong
They know God does not leave them - but they feel very alone...
Jesus - needed a mountain to help him through the coming valley....
“THERE’S A VALLEY COMING”
2. Power of God
2. Power of God
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Not only do we see / sense and need the Presence of God before a valley - we need to experience the Power of God...
What power Peter James and John experienced...
They witnessed: Moses, Elijah appearing before their very eyes
They saw - Jesus transfigured into his glorified body...
They HEARD - with their own ears the voice of Almighty God...
Mountain top experiences help us as we go through the rough trials and valleys in life...
Presence of God - personal - nobody can take that away from you
Power of God - The validation of God and his working in your life - (nobody can take that from you)
3. Purposes of God
3. Purposes of God
in coming days - Jesus was going to fulfill the very purposes of his coming to this sin cursed land...
Cup
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Crown of thorns
Cross
Crucifixion
All of this was before the Savior - The purpose of his coming… and blessed be God - He fulfilled every purpose that God had for his life -
not only the good - but the bad
not only the beautiful - but the painful and the ugly...
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Recognize that the mountain is there for a reason - “THERE’S A VALLEY COMING”
The Presence of God
The Power of God
The Purpose of God
4. People to reach for God
4. People to reach for God
There are always others who are in the valley - and they need help / encouragement...
man w/ a demon possessed son
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Disciples / Followers who were prideful and misdirected on their focus...
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
mt18.
1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
There are always other people who need what we learn on the mountain… but not only the others - it is what we get when we go through the trials in life...