Sermon Central
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Transfigured By Glory Series
Contributed by John Bright on May 9, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Working through the Gospel of Luke using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.
“Transfigured by Glory”
A sermon for 2/27/22 – Transfiguration Sunday
Pastor John Bright
Harmony & Swansonville UMC
Luke 9 “28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.”
Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to formed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You have to choose.
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Jesus has an inner circle – Peter, James and John. That’s just the way it is.
These are the three that went with Jesus into the room when the daughter of Jarius is healed – Luke 8:51 “When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.” They also go further into the Garden of Gethsemene with Jesus – Matthew 26 “36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Now, in Luke 9, we find them going onto the mountain with Jesus - “28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” Even though 2 out of the 3 times we see them with Jesus they fall asleep, Jesus is sowing into these three men so that the gifts in them will produce fruit in the future.
What makes you sleepy? Driving on a long trip to the beach? Eating a big meal? Sitting down in your recliner after a long day at work and taking care of the kids? What about when you pray? This can happen to me – especially if I am laying in the bed at night. It used to bother me, but then I heard someone say that’s the best way to go to sleep. I guess it’s better than drifting off to sleep when I am praying in worship on Sunday morning! 😊 I mention prayer because both times we read about the inner circle going to sleep is when Jesus is in prayer.
Do you have an inner circle of Believers? If we are going to grow in our Holy Spirit walk, we need a few folks that we can meet with and pray with and be real with – in my small group, I can say anything and they will still accept me and love me. That’s why I NEED TO BE in a small group. Again, I meet weekly with two other pastors on Zoom in a Discipleship Band. (https://discipleshipbands.com/) I would call those two guys my inner circle. I can look back over my Holy Spirit walk during the last 3 decades and see the greatest difference between the seasons I made time for a small group and the seasons I made all kinds of excuses (too busy, nobody to meet with, lack of trust). Every season with a small group was a season of growth and every season without the small group was stagnation and coasting. Do you see why I say I NEED TO BE in a small group?
The Glory that Transforms – v. 29-30
“29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”
