To Be, or Not To Be? Pt 7
Notes
Transcript
Prayer:
God, show me the way to the cross.
It is still hard to understand why the Son of God would let mortal men condemn Him to such a horrible death.
But what love you demonstrated in that act!
Lord, Show me how to demonstrate that same love to the world’s needy.
Give me your power…to do your work…as I set out on your mission.
Help me to understand who you are.
Help me to be and do what you want me to do.
Father, Give me eyes to see the world…to see people…as you see them.
I commit myself totally to you.
I will take up my cross and follow you…even into death. Amen.
To Be, or Not To Be?
In His book, In His Step, author Charles M. Sheldon considers one central question: “What would Jesus do if He were in my place?”
There was movement in the Church several years ago, that considered what essentially is that same question: “What Would Jesus Do?”
But.... That is the wrong question. Sheldon’s editor understood that, and so, upon publication he wrote: “The question we should ask is, ‘Lord, what will you have me do?’”
What will you have me do?
You see.... this Christian walk.... our walk....our witness within this crazy, messed up, broken world… is not about what Jesus would do.... It is about what Jesus would have us do!!!
Last week we said that “Taking up our Cross” — being committed to the Cross — meant finding out what Jesus wants us to do daily and DOING it!
That hasn’t changed!
God’s command to us is the same! We are to seek Christ DAILY to find out what He would have us do.... We are to seek Him out in every circumstance to find out what He wants us to do.... and we are to then do it!
To Be, or Not To Be?
To be committed to Christ, or not to be!!! There is no middle ground!
God has called each and every one of us — if you call yourself Christian — to live TRANSFORMED lives that SHOCK and ASTOUND the world around us, because our lives are so radically different!
That is what commitment to the Cross is!
To Be, or Not To Be?
— I know you hear me repeating that phrase a lot, but I want you to remember it! I want you to hear it so much, that when you hear it on TV, in movies, in a book, from someone else, …you remember this message! —
You see… unlike what some believe, a commitment to the Cross is a commitment to God’s chosen Son AND His mission, not a memorial of what we once experienced!
There are a lot of people in the world today — in the Church today — who are busy attempting to hold on to an experience they once had.... They treat salvation, and sanctification, as a one-time event… to be cherished and remembered.... As something to be looked back on…memorialized…held dear…defended…and fought for…
When what they should be holding on to is Christ Himself!
Nostalgia cannot change lives… Only Christ can!
To hold on to Christ is to embrace change…
To hold on to Christ is to embrace movement…
To hold on to Christ is to embrace growth…
We cannot hold on to Christ, and remain where we are!
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Eight days after asking the disciples that question of questions: “Who do you say I am?” Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him to the mountain to pray.
Why them? Why those three? Why not the rest of the disciples?
Because each of them — like Moses — has a role to play in the formation of the Early Church. Peter was faithful to the Cross, even after his failure before the Cross. James was faithful all the way to being killed for his testimony of Christ. John remained faithful all the way to the island of Patmos, where he received Christ’s Revelation of Himself.
But.... They needed to learn something first. They needed to learn what the true focus of commitment is....
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
I want you to notice something here — verse 29 tells us “as He prayed, His appearance changed...”
We like to think that Jesus took them up on the mountain, and transformed before their eyes, kind of like .....
But....that is not the case!
In fact, they almost missed it!
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Have you ever been so tired that even though you are awake, you really aren’t awake?! You’re really just “going through the motions”?
That’s where the disciples were. They were “weighed down with sleep.” They were praying, but not really… they were so tired, that it was more of a “well, Jesus is praying again guys” kind of stupor…
You see, they were so tired… they were worn out… they were exhausted… and so, they were just sort of going through the motions… waiting for Jesus to be done, so they could get some rest.
I wonder how often that is where we are? How often are we found just kind of “going through the motions” in life? In our walk with Christ?
How often do we miss out on the glory of God, because we are not watching, waiting, anticipating, eagerly waiting to see Him move?
My Brothers and Sisters — We will continue to miss the “glory of God” at work all around us as long as we fail to actively engage Him!
The disciples nearly missed Christ’s transfiguration.... that moment when His heavenly glory met His worldly body.... because they were not actively engaged in prayer… in what was happening right there in front of them!!!
How often do we do that? How often do we simply “go through the motions” of prayer? Is there any wonder that our prayer lives lack power?!
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Christ’s transfiguration was the result of “incarnational prayer”!
Now, go ahead and say it.....
But Pastor.... What is “incarnational prayer”? What does that mean?
(I’m glad you asked?)
Incarnational — “to immerse oneself in...”
We use the term “incarnational ministry,” that is ministry that is “up close and personal.” Incarnational prayer is the same!
Christ immersed Himself in prayer — in communion — with The Father — and the result was transfiguration!
Can I tell you this? We cannot spend true time — invested in BEING in the presence of God — and not be changed by it!
Exodus 34:29-35 tells us that after Moses had spent 40 days with God, that His face shone with the Glory of God so brightly that the Israelites couldn’t look at it, and so he had to cover it with a veil.
Church, we will not encounter Christ, as the disciples did here, is we do not engage in incarnational prayer!
We cannot be the light, if we do not invest ourselves in the very presence of God!
Do you want to change the world? Do you want to see people changed?
Then let me tell you....
You will not change the world by being a “facebook” warrior...
You will not change the world by throwing scripture at people...
You will not change the world by being in church every Sunday...
You will not change the world by giving money...
You will not change the world by promoting social causes… (no matter how “good” they are)
You will not change the world by holding on to past glory...
You will only change the world by engaging in “incarnational prayer”… Prayer that is spent engaging the presence of God!
Incarnational prayer results in transformation!
We should be at the altar… on our face… seeking God… every chance we get!
But… that’s not where the disciples were here...
Jesus — the Son of Man — was in the Presence of The Father, but… the disciples were (32) “weighed down with sleep.”
Have you ever been just so tired… so tired that you couldn’t… just couldn’t… couldn’t keep your eyes open…couldn’t focus on anything… couldn’t even think… then suddenly, something happens!
A sudden noise, a surprise event, jolts you from your slumber! In that moment, you go from barely able to keep your eyes open… to wide “awake” in a flash!
It takes a minute to completely wake up doesn’t it? It takes a minute for you to realize what is happening… to respond to it, right?
That’s what happened to the disciples!
They were tired…they were drowsy…they were honestly trying to pray… but… they just couldn’t focus… it was difficult to even keep their eyes open… sure Jesus is praying…all is well....when “BAM!!” There’s a bright light!
Jesus looks different.... Godly.... amazing! What’s going on?
Wait?! There are men with Him.... Where’ d they come from? Who are they? Oh, it’s Elijah... And… Is that Moses?!
What are they talking about? His time? His death? His departure? Wait what?!
Wait a second.... that’s Elijah! He was prophesied to return! And Moses! Is that him?! The deliverer…the one who brought us the Law!
Now, they’re fully awake! Awestruck! Wondering what is going on!!
Peter’s reaction says it all:
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
Peter realizes what they are seeing… he understands the importance, at least to him… this is Elijah, the great prophet, and Moses, the deliverer, standing with Jesus, the Messiah! Who better to learn from, to be with, to gain knowledge and direction from than these three?!
So, he says what the others can’t.... He suggests to Jesus that it is good for them to be there, and that they should put up shelters — build tabernacles — for the three of them to stay in.....
You see… he didn’t want to leave that moment! Peter wanted to hold on to it, to memorialize it! To remain there… and to keep it for themselves!
But.... Luke tells us: “(He did not know what he was saying.)” (33)
You see… in his excitement over what they were witnessing, Peter wanted to prolong the moment by memorializing it.
Who wouldn’t?!
Bob Utley states: “Who wouldn’t? However, they were needed down in the valley.”
And so are we! We cannot build tabernacles, because people need us out there!
A commitment to Jesus is not a commitment to a sacred place, with its sacred memorials. Commitment to Jesus is commitment to a mission that never lets a follower remain in the same place.
Building tabernacles is not Kingdom business. Following Jesus to the Cross is!!!
Now pay attention to this — this is the best part of the whole message — Before Jesus can even say anything to Peter, God — The Father — intervenes!
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
While Peter is still talking! While He is still saying to Jesus, “let us build tabernacles,” God descends on the mountain and speaks!
How awesome is that!?!
Do you see the significance?!
A cloud led Israel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai… A cloud hid the Israelites from God’s glory, and assured them of God’s presence… A cloud led Israel into, and through, the wilderness… And now… a cloud leads the disciples from the transfiguration to Calvary!
The cloud hid Christ’s glory from the disciples, AND, the cloud assured the disciples that this was God speaking.... Answering the question: “Who is Jesus?”
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
He is the Son of God, chosen by God, to complete the mission of God!!!
Listen to Him!
Moses and Elijah don’t matter… their work is done. Christ’s voice drowns theirs out!
A commitment to the Cross… to God… means listening to His Son.
Who can argue with God?!
Notice that all three disciples are struck silent by this proclamation!
When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
To Be, or Not To Be?
We are called to incarnational living… That begins with our prayer life.
Are we willing to fall on our face before God… to seek Him alone… and to listen to His direction for our lives?
Will we do what He says, even if that means facing trouble in this world?
Incarnational living is not living in the ways of the world… it is living in the Kingdom within this world… it is living a life in partnership with the mission of Christ!
And that requires that we change…move…grow…and obey the words of Christ...
Jesus gave us the example, will we follow it?
To Be, or Not To Be?