We Can't Stop Here...

We Can’t Stop Here

Pray

[pic of transfiguration]

Pray

[pic of transfiguration]

I love Peter. It seems like we give him a hard time sometimes, but I do love him. I love him for all the anger, for the misunderstanding, and for all those moments when I can see me so clearly in all that he thinks, says and does.

And that is important. So often we look at what others do. How others react. What others think. And we never ask ourselves what we think. What we are doing. How do we respond to the situations God puts us in.

I love Peter. It seems like we give him a hard time sometimes, but I do love him. I love him for all the anger, for the misunderstanding, and for all those moments when I can see me so clearly in all that he thinks, says and does.

That is the value of Peter for me. You see, when I see Peter react, I get all judgy. I get that way, because I have the benefit of the full story. I wasn’t there in the moment, right? I wasn’t feeling what he felt, and seeing what he saw. And because of that, I can find fault in what he says and does.

And that is important. So often we look at what others do. How others react. What others think. And we never ask ourselves what we think. What we are doing. How do we respond to the situations God puts us in.

But thankfully, God reminds me that I can’t stop there. I can’t just see his reaction and preach about that - even though it is in all likelihood what most of us have heard preached when we get to this text. I mean, Peter’s reaction is important, and it informs us of our tendencies, but it isn’t what this story is all about.

That is the value of Peter for me. You see, when I see Peter react, I get all judgy. I get that way, because I have the benefit of the full story. I wasn’t there in the moment, right? I wasn’t feeling what he felt, and seeing what he saw. And because of that, I can find fault in what he says and does.

[pic of moses on mountain]

But thankfully, God reminds me that I can’t stop there. I can’t just see his reaction and preach about that - even though it is in all likelihood what most of us have heard preached when we get to this text. I mean, Peter’s reaction is important, and it informs us of our tendencies, but it isn’t what this story is all about.

[pic of moses on mountain]

This story is about the mountain.

Now I know what you are thinking, you are probably thinking I have lost it, right? I mean this story isn’t about a mountain! That’s just the place. Well I haven’t lost it. I’m not sure I have ever had it, to be honest. But I am sure that the more I read this text, the more I think the mountain is everything.

You see, mountains are a constant thing is scripture. People hide in them. Cities are built on them. Praises rise from them. But no matter the use of those mountains one thing remains. One thing happens. Every time we see scripture bringing us to a mountain, there is one inevitable feature to that story.

God is going to be encountered.

You see, mountains are a constant thing is scripture. People hide in them. Cities are built on them. Praises rise from them. But no matter the use of those mountains one thing remains. One thing happens. Every time we see scripture bringing us to a mountain, there is one inevitable feature to that story.

[picofmountaintoparms]

God is going to be encountered.

And that is what we see here. Jesus brings these disciples to this mountaintop not to show off, not to build some place to contain God and His messengers, but to bring these men to a place where they would encounter God!

[picofmountaintoparms]

And that is what we see here. Jesus brings these disciples to this mountaintop not to show off, not to build some place to contain God and His messengers, but to bring these men to a place where they would encounter God!

Maybe some of you are thinking right now that they could encounter God anywhere. After all, God in flesh was always right there with them! And you are 100% correct.

That is why the mountain is so important.

Maybe some of you are thinking right now that they could encounter God anywhere. After all, God in flesh was always right there with them! And you are 100% correct.

That is why the mountain is so important.

You see, the mountain is not only where we encounter God, but it is where we are changed. Decisions are made. Lives forever shifted toward the God who calls to us from those proverbial heights, to a place where we must encounter Him!

Moses met God on a mountain and left his life behind to serve God and save his people. Elijah, hiding from the world that was against him in that mountain, didn’t find a resting place, but a God calling out to him. God rests Noah’s Ark on a mountain top. David captures the great city on a hill - Mount Zion - a place that eventually becomes the first temple of God.

You see, the mountain is not only where we encounter God, but it is where we are changed. Decisions are made. Lives forever shifted toward the God who calls to us from those proverbial heights, to a place where we must encounter Him!

Moses met God on a mountain and left his life behind to serve God and save his people. Elijah, hiding from the world that was against him in that mountain, didn’t find a resting place, but a God calling out to him. God rests Noah’s Ark on a mountain top. David captures the great city on a hill - Mount Zion - a place that eventually becomes the first temple of God.

Jesus preaches on a mountain, commissions the disciples on a mountain, heals on a mountains, prays for God’s will on the mount of Olives, is tempted and taken to a mountain, and is transfigured on a mountain by a God who then commands us all to “listen to Him!”

[We Can’t Stop Here...]

Mountains are everything. Understand that mountains were literal, but functioned for them, as for us, as figurative as well. Mountains are moments. They are those times of trials where we can choose to trudge on and encounter God or shy away and not be bothered to meet God. Mountains represent our ascent toward our Creator, an ascent that by its very nature, must culminate in a moment where we meet our God and are changed.

[We Can’t Stop Here...]

Mountains are everything. Understand that mountains were literal, but functioned for them, as for us, as figurative as well. Mountains are moments. They are those times of trials where we can choose to trudge on and encounter God or shy away and not be bothered to meet God. Mountains represent our ascent toward our Creator, an ascent that by its very nature, must culminate in a moment where we meet our God and are changed.

That is what it was for these disciples. But understand that God’s response is telling. It is a response that reminds us that this moment - whatever moment you might be experiencing - it is important, but you can’t stop there. This is just one of the mountains we will experience in life! You can’t stop! It might seem like a nice place to set up camp, but this ain’t it boss! This isn’t the end!

Faith doesn’t end there on those mountains, it begins. Our moments don’t stop once we claim belief! Our lives are not to be lived in that place! Life happens. Time keeps on ticking. We come down off of that mountain and God’s words must keep reverberating in our minds. “This is my son, listen to him!”

[MLK]

Faith doesn’t end there on those mountains, it begins. Our moments don’t stop once we claim belief! Our lives are not to be lived in that place! Life happens. Time keeps on ticking. We come down off of that mountain and God’s words must keep reverberating in our minds. “This is my son, listen to him!”

[MLK]

It is so easy, though, to just live out life on those mountaintops. To act as if our acknowledgement of Jesus divinity is enough. To not encounter God there in that place and be changed.

And not just in our faith, in our lives too. Too many times I get stuck imagining a life that's not my own. With surroundings and circumstances that aren’t the reality I face. I want to set up camp there. To build tents to live in and act as if that fantasy is my reality, even when it isn’t. I think we all do that. But we are here. On this mountain. And it is exactly where God wants us to be so that we can encounter Him.

It is so easy, though, to just live out life on those mountaintops. To act as if our acknowledgement of Jesus divinity is enough. To not encounter God there in that place and be changed.

And not just in our faith, in our lives too. Too many times I get stuck imagining a life that's not my own. With surroundings and circumstances that aren’t the reality I face. I want to set up camp there. To build tents to live in and act as if that fantasy is my reality, even when it isn’t. I think we all do that. But we are here. On this mountain. And it is exactly where God wants us to be so that we can encounter Him.

I don’t know if anyone caught it, but the title and idea for this sermon comes from Martin Luther King Jr’s speech offered in Memphis just before his assanation.

In it, he talks about a vision in which he sees God giving him the choice to live in any era. So he flies by Egypt and sees God’s people in slavery, and then crossing the Red Sea, but in spite of the significance of that moment, he doesn’t there. He sees all the great thinkers and philosophers gathered around the parthenon in Greece. Surely enough thought power to tackle the greatest of problems. But he doesn’t stop there.

I don’t know if anyone caught it, but the title and idea for this sermon comes from Martin Luther King Jr’s speech offered in Memphis just before his assanation.

In it, he talks about a vision in which he sees God giving him the choice to live in any era. So he flies by Egypt and sees God’s people in slavery, and then crossing the Red Sea, but in spite of the significance of that moment, he doesn’t there. He sees all the great thinkers and philosophers gathered around the parthenon in Greece. Surely enough thought power to tackle the greatest of problems. But he doesn’t stop there.

The Holy Roman empire, the Renaissance, Martin Luther’s 95 theses, all moments of huge importance and significance, but he doesn’t stop there.

As he puts it, “I would come on up even to 1863, and watch a vacillating President by the name of Abraham Lincoln finally come to the conclusion that he had to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. But I wouldn't stop there.”

He would see the rise of the industrialized world, a great expansion of the quality of life offered by the New Deal, and the often idolized life following WW2. But he doesn’t stop there.

As he puts it, “I would come on up even to 1863, and watch a vacillating President by the name of Abraham Lincoln finally come to the conclusion that he had to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. But I wouldn't stop there.”

“Strangely enough,” he says, “I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy."

He would see the rise of the industrialized world, a great expansion of the quality of life offered by the New Deal, and the often idolized life following WW2. But he doesn’t stop there.

Such a strange thought. I mean at the time, as he even admits in the speech, the world was all messed up. The nation was sick. There was trouble in the land and confusion all around. Much like today.

“Strangely enough,” he says, “I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy."

But, that is the mountain he found himself on. And likewise, we find ourselves on our own mountains. Places that can be scary, and difficult. Places where things seem darkest. But we need to know, church, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

Such a strange thought. I mean at the time, as he even admits in the speech, the world was all messed up. The nation was sick. There was trouble in the land and confusion all around. Much like today.

But, that is the mountain he found himself on. And likewise, we find ourselves on our own mountains. Places that can be scary, and difficult. Places where things seem darkest. But we need to know, church, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

Deut 30:15-20

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 ESV

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Deuteronomy 30:15–16 ESV

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

Those mountains are everything. Those moments, moments when we can choose to encounter God, they mean everything for us. But we can’t stop there. There are choices to be made. There is a life to be lived for Him. A self - plans, likes, dislikes - that must die so that our life can be lived through and for Christ.

Much like Rev King’s final sermon alludes, Moses saw the mountain top. He was able to from that lofty height see the land of milk and honey, even though he would not enter it.

Those mountains are everything. Those moments, moments when we can choose to encounter God, they mean everything for us. But we can’t stop there. There are choices to be made. There is a life to be lived for Him. A self - plans, likes, dislikes - that must die so that our life can be lived through and for Christ.

Before that, though, he gave a last sermon to all the people. People he had loved and pastored for years. People who had grumbled, and selfishly followed preference instead of purpose. People who had wanted what they wanted, never caring for what God was saying or doing.

Much like Rev King’s final sermon alludes, Moses saw the mountain top. He was able to from that lofty height see the land of milk and honey, even though he would not enter it.

So just before he died, he offered this sermon point. [read]

Before that, though, he gave a last sermon to all the people. People he had loved and pastored for years. People who had grumbled, and selfishly followed preference instead of purpose. People who had wanted what they wanted, never caring for what God was saying or doing.

We hold that same decision in our hands. We come to our mountain, as a people, as a church, and we have to ask ourselves are we going to stop here? What do we do with our faith? What do we do with our life? You hold in your hands life and death! Every moment you live, you have the chance to bring life to yourself, and others, or to bring death - spiritually speaking.

So just before he died, he offered this sermon point. [read]

We hold that same decision in our hands. We come to our mountain, as a people, as a church, and we have to ask ourselves are we going to stop here? What do we do with our faith? What do we do with our life? You hold in your hands life and death! Every moment you live, you have the chance to bring life to yourself, and others, or to bring death - spiritually speaking.

Don’t stop there on that mountain, and in that choice, church. The only way to bring life is to keep moving! To encounter God in every moment and then choose to be obedient to Him - beyond our preference! To love Him more than we love ourselves! And loving Him, to then become vessels of that love for the world around us!

Phil 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Throwing away vain conceit and selfish ambition, and in humility valuing others as higher than self! Not looking to your own interests but to the interests of the others.

And in that relationship with others, having the same mindset as Christ Jesus. This one who was transfigured. This one who had been to the mountaintop. This one who not only was changed, but calls for us to be changed as well! “Listen to Him!” God tells us.

He doesn’t consider his nature - the fact that He was God - as something to be used for His advantage! Church, understand He could have stopped there! But He didn’t! He made Himself nothing by taking on the nature of a servant. Humbling Himself to death for us - even death on a cross!

Just imagine what this world - what our lives would be - if He had stopped there, at that mountaintop.

[pic]

But he didn’t. Praise God. And neither can we. We can’t stop here, church, because here might be where we need to be now, but it isn’t where God ultimately wants us to be. We must be transformed. We can’t stop where we are. We must become His instruments for this world. And that starts everyday as we choose life or death. Love of God, or love of self. Choose life. And bring that life to those around you.