MEETING THE WITH-US GOD
Matthew 17:1-8
S: Worship
Th: Seeing the Unseen Christ: How His Presence Transforms Life
Pr: WORSHIP JESUS WITH GENUINE ENTHUSIASM.
?: Why?
KW: Needs
TS: As our study in Matthew 17:1-8 demonstrates, we should worship Jesus with genuine enthusiasm because He meets our needs.
The ____ need that Jesus meets is…
I. PERSPECTIVE
II. DIRECTION
III. HUMILITY
IV. ENCOURAGEMENT
RMBC 2/25/01 AM
INTRODUCTION:
DRAMA—“First Love”
Do you remember the emotion of “first love”?
I am not speaking of what we sometimes call “puppy love,” but the beginning of committed love.
Do you remember that feeling of being enraptured with another?
It was all so different and you were thrilled just to be with them.
On top of that, everything felt so vital and real.
Joyfully, you felt that nothing could stop you as long as this other person was a part of your life.
It is funny how that “first love” makes us different.
TRANSITION:
As crazy as this may sound…
1. The Bible teaches us that our relationship with Jesus is like a bridegroom and His bride (Ephesians 5:25ff.).
It is a powerful love relationship.
It is bonded with commitment.
Jesus is absolutely committed to us as His bride.
And it is an emotional relationship as well, for He carries for us, His people, an unrelenting passion, a passion that brought Him to the cross on our behalf.
You know…
2. When we are in relationship, we enjoy being in the presence of each other.
ILL Personal
You know, my most miserable times are when Dondra goes to PA and leaves me home alone. For one day, it is really great! I do all the things that I have been waiting to do without interference. That takes one day. And then I start feeling this lostness, skulking around the house. Even though there is plenty to do, it seems as if there is nothing to do.
Do you know why?
It is because we are made for relationship.
And when we have a love that has had “first love,” we want to be with them.
We are not content to be alone.
Our relationship with Jesus ought to be the same way.
We should never be content to live without Him.
3. The great thing about being a Christian is that Jesus is present wherever we are.
That is great!
Christ is here because you are.
He is in each one of us that knows Him as Savior and Lord.
And as we gather together today as His body, He is here!
We brought in a very special guest today—Jesus!
We brought Jesus in physically today.
OK, so this one is not quite the real thing, but we hope that you were clued in enough to think about it.
We have dramatized Jesus so that you might think what it would be like if Jesus were physically here.
Would you do things differently?
Would you pay attention more?
How would you react to Him as He engaged you in conversation?
You see, just as this dramatized Jesus is physically here, it is no less true that Jesus is here spiritually.
This is reality.
But…
4. We often forget that He is here.
We live in a society that only believes what is seen.
Do you think that affects us?
Sure it does.
Because, you see, when we come to worship, we act more like we are pretending than believing.
So, how do we get past that?
What is a proper response to the spiritual reality that Jesus is here?
Have you ever experienced something so significant, that it demanded a response?
Have you looked on the face of a newborn baby and marveled at its tiny features that were so exquisitely shaped?
Have you admired the beauty of a sunset so spectacular that it took your breath away?
Have you looked into the eyes of a loved one and knew the deep joy of that person’s affection?
That’s what worship is.
It is a heartfelt response to the beauty, majesty and love of God.
And this is all displayed in Christ Jesus.
This is why today, we want to encourage you to…
5. WORSHIP JESUS WITH GENUINE ENTHUSIASM.
I think if we were more aware of Christ’s Presence in our midst, it would change us.
When we are cleaning, painting or moving something in this place, we would whistle with joy at the opportunity to do it for God’s place.
When we are teaching, we would prepare diligently.
When we are greeting or ushering (ushing), we would sense the privilege of helping worshipers adore Christ.
When we are singing or playing music, we would rehearse intensely to do as well as we were able for Jesus.
As we look at our Scripture text this morning, there is plenty of reason to worship.
For…
6. As our study in Matthew 17:1-8 demonstrates, we should worship Jesus with genuine enthusiasm because He meets our needs.
We call this story that we find in this text “The Transfiguration.”
(1) AFTER SIX DAYS JESUS TOOK WITH HIM PETER, JAMES AND JOHN THE BROTHER OF JAMES, AND LED THEM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN BY THEMSELVES. (2) THERE HE WAS TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM. HIS FACE SHONE LIKE THE SUN, AND HIS CLOTHES BECAME AS WHITE AS THE LIGHT. (3) JUST THEN THERE APPEARED BEFORE THEM MOSES AND ELIJAH, TALKING WITH JESUS. (4) PETER SAID TO JESUS, “LORD, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE. IF YOU WISH, I WILL PUT UP THREE SHELTERS-ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR MOSES AND ONE FOR ELIJAH.” (5) WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, A BRIGHT CLOUD ENVELOPED THEM, AND A VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED. LISTEN TO HIM!” (6) WHEN THE DISCIPLES HEARD THIS, THEY FELL FACEDOWN TO THE GROUND, TERRIFIED. (7) BUT JESUS CAME AND TOUCHED THEM. “GET UP,” HE SAID. “DON’T BE AFRAID.” (8) WHEN THEY LOOKED UP, THEY SAW NO ONE EXCEPT JESUS.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first need that Jesus meets is PERSPECTIVE (1-4).
And it is a lesson for our worship today because…
1. Jesus wants us to understand the reality of who He is.
At the mountain, Jesus is changed.
He is transformed into something different than what He was before.
The text tells us that His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light.
This was the reality of Jesus’ being.
The divine glory was shining through!
Here was the essence of God.
Now…can you imagine what this was like for Peter, James and John?
This had to be, at the very least, an intimidating experience.
Out of nowhere, here is Moses and Elijah, the giants of their national past.
As representatives of the Law and the Prophets, they have come from the other world to speak to their leader.
I think Peter’s response is great, even though one of the gospel texts tells us that he did not know what he was talking about.
Peter is caught rambling because he is not quite sure what to make of all of it.
But one thing he does know…this is great!
His advice…let’s make some tents and stay here!
He doesn’t know what to make of all of this, but he does know it is worth keeping!
I think true worship is like that…for…
2. The awareness of Jesus’ Presence will constantly give our worship new meaning.
We need to be struck with wonder regarding who He is.
I think Peter’s statement of, “it is good to be here,” is one we should share as well.
Have you ever been in worship that you thought and said, “I wish that could have gone on forever”?
We need to continue to be open to the experiences that God has for us so that we will have the perspective we need.
II. The second need that Jesus meets is DIRECTION (5).
You see…
1. With perspective comes instruction.
As the cloud surrounds them and separates them from one another, the voice of God comes.
If there had there been any doubt about Jesus, it did not exist anymore.
The voice of the Father says, “This is my Son!”
The Father makes the point that Jesus is identical in nature and essence with Himself.
So comes the instruction, “Listen to Him!”
ILL Notebook: Listening (grandfather)
An 80-year-old grandfather went to his daughter’s house for Sunday dinner. When the meal was over, he announced that he was going to take a walk through the neighborhood. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes,” he said. But two hours had passed before he finally returned. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “But I stopped to talk to an old friend and he just wouldn’t stop listening.”
Well, let me make this recommendation…don’t stop listening!
We need to hear the voice of God!
For…
2. Worship is a time to discover purpose.
Just as God separated Peter, James and John from each other in the cloud so that they would understand the significance of the event, He does the same for us.
He desires to speak to each one of us today.
But are you listening?
Are you listening to the words of Scripture that have been read and sung?
Are you listening to the words of God that are being taught right now?
Are you listening to the Spirit, the still, small voice in your heart?
Listen…for it is the time for direction.
III. The third need that Jesus meets is HUMILITY (6).
1. God’s Presence fills us with awe.
If the presence of Jesus in His glory, along with Moses and Elijah had not been intimidating enough, this cloud had to be.
The text tells us that this bright cloud overshadowed them, so they could not see the each other.
In response, they fell facedown to the ground.
They were terrified and broken in God’s Presence.
Their experience reminds me that no one cries over sin anymore.
They were overwhelmed by their own lack in the Presence of God Himself.
We need the same humility, for we are unclean.
We are not worthy.
And when we fully realize it, it is terrifying!
You see…
2. The real world can be terrifying.
I think we have this stupid saying in the church, “it’s time to get back to the real world.”
Is it really the real world?
That real world out there only believes that what you can see is real.
Yet outside their realm of experience is the supernatural, which by faith, can be seen and experienced.
And at times, it is awful.
It is a terrifying place.
But it is the real real world, for what we experience naturally is no more than a shadow of what is to come.
ILL Notebook: Encouragement (people don’t know you)
Mary was having a tough day and had stretched herself out on the couch to do a bit of what she thought to be well-deserved complaining and self-pitying. She moaned to her mom and brother, “Nobody loves me. The whole world hates me!” Her brother, busily occupied playing a game, hardly looked up at her and passed on this encouraging word: “That’s not true, Mary. Some people don’t even know you.”
Well, Mary may not have been too encouraged at that point, but the neat lesson that is here for us is that the Lord doesn’t leave us on the couch!
IV. The fourth need that Jesus meets is ENCOURAGEMENT (7-8).
1. Jesus will never leave us paralyzed.
I am so happy for Jesus’ words here, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.”
When we have had a dose of the real reality, it is time to take courage.
For at one moment they are in awe of the Presence of God, then in another, Jesus’ touch and word dispels their fear.
The awesome God has returned to the personal Jesus, their friend.
And now, once again, they know grace.
You see…
2. In worship, Jesus lifts us up and takes us on our way.
But we will never understand how great a Friend we have until we see how desperate our situation is and acknowledge our sin.
That’s when Jesus lifts us up and we are encouraged for the road ahead.
APPLICATION:
So let me ask you…
1. What adjustments do we need to make in our worship?
Do you find yourself saying, well that was a sleeper of a service today—it was so boring?
Or do you find yourself annoyed by the music—you don’t like the style or that it is always the same or that it is never the same (it is interesting how people in the same place can see such matters in completely opposite ways)?
Or perhaps you find there is too much humor and doesn’t anybody consider church sacred anymore?
While we need to recognize there are responsibilities for us that go through the process of planning services (and this is something that we do), and we must do our best as an act of worship, perhaps we all need to recognize something else as well.
That is, it is easier to blame someone else when we don’t worship when it is really ourselves that is to blame.
Jesus’ Presence ought to make a huge difference in how we think and act, especially as we gather together as God’s people for worship.
We need to adjust to the fact that when Scripture is read or sung, it is Jesus speaking to us.
We need to adjust that our time of offering is nothing less than a privilege.
We need to adjust to the realization that our prayers are not some rote exercise, but actual conversation with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
We need to adjust that the use of music throughout, regardless of the style and your preference, is sacred.
We need to adjust our thinking about the time for the message…that it is a solemn responsibility for me to do and for you to listen to.
Are you willing to make these matters a priority?
ILL Notebook: Priority (Bowden & first base)
Coach Bobby Bowden, football coach of Florida State University, tells this story about himself: He was playing college baseball, and he had never hit a home run. Finally he hit one down the right-field line, into the corner. He rounds first and looks to the third base coach. He turned at second, was halfway to third and the coach was still waving him on. He got to home, he hit the plate. He had his first home run, he was so excited and everybody was slapping him five. Then the pitcher took the ball, threw to the first baseman, and the umpire called him out. Coach Bowden learned this important less in his own words: "If you don’t take care of first base, it doesn’t matter what you do. If you don’t honor the Lord first, it doesn’t matter what else you do."
Bowden has it right, doesn’t he?
2. Wholeheartedness should be our goal (Revelation 5:12).
In Revelation 5:12, we find a scene of worship.
It is my hope that during our adventure that we might sense, even in a small way, what the 24 elders express:
"WORTHY IS THE LAMB, WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND HONOR AND GLORY AND PRAISE!"
We know that we will have the priority of worship right when we are drawn up out of ourselves, out of self-absorption, out of how we look and how we feel and out of obsessing what’s next in the program, and desire the Lord first and only.
When this is true, your worship will be vital, life-changing and enthusiastic.
You will no longer consider worship choice, but a joyful passion and necessity.
So…
3. Join the adventure!
An adventure is an exciting activity with some surprises and some difficulties, but in the end, we will be glad we took the journey.
In the adventure journal, you are going to find eleven ways to prepare your heart for meaningful worship.
Our first action step is to choose one of these suggested activities as an act of preparation before we get to Sunday.
Perhaps you have done this already.
Make sure you read the insert in your bulletin today (perhaps you already have), “Getting Ready for Sunday.”
It is really worth your time.
The adventure officially starts today.
If you don’t have your journal, get it after the service.
Read the introduction and begin to work on all the action steps.
If you miss a day in the journal, don’t panic and think you have failed—just move on to the next one.
You can go back later if you want.
Jesus is here today.
He is the With-Us God.
He is not an idea.
He is not a doctrine.
He is not a memory.
He is here to be worshipped with genuine enthusiasm.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Worship and receive the perspective you need…because our perspective is so often skewed—we need to see God in His glory and realize how truly dependent and blessed we really are.
Worship and receive the direction you need…because our own direction taking is skewed—we end up in the wrong places, doing the wrong things, becoming the wrong people—so listen to Him!
Worship and receive the humility you need…because our pride is skewed—we think we are something when we are nothing, and we need the humility God’s Presence provides.
Worship and receive the encouragement you need…because our feeling of discouragement is skewed and God doesn’t desire to leave us paralyzed in fear, but rather, He would have us take courage, take His hand, know His grace and love—and follow Him.
Now…
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Amen.
