Coming Off The Mountain

Coming Off The Mountain

Matthew 17:9-27

It is that time of year again… VACATION TIME! In the next couple of months our attendance will be a bit more sporadic that the rest of the year because the kids are out of school, it is warm outside and many of you have scheduled a trip to the beach. (So have I and I am beyond ready to go). I absolutely love going to the beach and waiting till the sun goes down and then going to the beach. I can just sit there and listen to the waves and stand in awe of God’s creation. Whether you go to the beach, the mountains or somewhere in between it is good to get away from the everyday struggles of life for a while. But if you are like me, never far from your mind are the things that you must go back to when the vacation is over. I constantly think about having to play catch up when I return home.

Then it happens… the last day of vacation arrives and you have to leave because there is someone coming to claim your condo later that day. You get in the vehicle and then make the long trek back home. It is always a refreshing feeling to walk in the door and know that you are home. But, the next day is Monday and you are smacked in the face with a little thing we like to call reality. This is not necessarily the best feeling in the world but it is what it is. It takes a while but eventually you work yourself back into the normal routine of everyday life.

Yes… life can be a rollercoaster. And I think we all will agree that the spiritual life can be like a rollercoaster ride as well. You may find yourself in a good place, one of those longed for “mountaintop experiences”. There are some times spent with God that are just amazing… words can’t describe the immense joy that you experience during these times. Sometimes we get alone with God and see Him for who He is and hear a word from Him, commune with Him and we just don’t want to leave. And though He will “never leave us or forsake us” there is still work to do for Him. And there will come a time when we must descend the mountain and continue on our journey.

Have you been there? Have you been on the mountaintop with Jesus and then He says “Alright, I am not going to leave you or forsake you but we must come off the mountain and be about the Father’s business”? That is where Peter, James and John find themselves in our selected text. Let’s examine what happened in the preceding verses:

“Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain”As they watched Jesus’ “appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun”. His clothes became as “white as light”. “They saw Moses & Elijah” appear and talk with Jesus.Peter wanted to make 3 tabernacles. “One for Moses, Elijah & Jesus”. While he spoke the Lord said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”....This was an amazing time for these men. It was a fearful time but I believe it was a blessed time. It was an honor to be in this place. They were a part of a literal “mountaintop experience” Now it is over and it is time to descend the mountain. I want to look at this event and preach on the thought “Coming Off The Mountain”

Many times we go from the Mountain top right into the Valley. We go from an extreme spiritual high to a devastating time of distress and discouragement. Isn’t it an honor to get on the mountain top with God sometime?

1. When you are on the mountain you can forget about your problems for a while.

2. When you are on the mountain you can see Jesus

3. When you are on the mountain you can hear from God

But in this life you can not always be on the mountain! Unfortunately, we must come off that mountain. Let me say this before we go any further:

1. When you are in the valley you can endure your problems.

2. When you are in the valley you can still see Jesus.

3. When you are in the valley you can still hear from God

Let’s see a few things that you may encounter when you “Come Off The Mountain”

I. COMING OFF THE MOUNTAIN WE MAY ENCONTER CONFUSING SITUAITONS- v9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.