Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to another time of fellowship and sharing in God's word. We're here because we believe in the power of the Gospel. We believe in the transformative potential of the Scriptures, and we are gathered here to engage with the Word, to meditate on it, and to let it seep into our hearts and minds, to shape our lives.

Let's turn to Mark 9:2-9: "After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!' Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."

Our focus today is on hearing, heeding, and harmonizing. We want to hear the divine directive, heed the Son of God, and harmonize our actions with His instructions. But how do we do this? How do we ensure that we are not just hearers of the Word, but doers as well?

Hearing the Divine Directive

In the passage we read, a voice from the cloud spoke to the disciples. This voice, the voice of the Almighty, gave a clear directive: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" This is not a suggestion, not a recommendation, but a command. Listening to Jesus is not optional for those who want to follow God; it's a requirement.

Listening is not just about hearing the words spoken. It's about understanding, internalizing, and acting on what is heard. It's about letting the words of Jesus shape our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions. It's about allowing His teachings to guide our decisions, our relationships, our lives.

The disciples on the mountain that day were given a clear directive. They were told to listen to Jesus. They were told to pay attention to His words, to take them to heart, to let them guide their lives. This is the same directive given to us today. We are to listen to Jesus. We are to let His words shape us, guide us, transform us.

But how do we do this? How do we listen to Jesus in a world full of noise, distractions, and competing voices? How do we tune out the clamor and tune in to the voice of Jesus?

Firstly, we need to make time for Jesus. We live in a busy world, a world that demands our attention and our time. But if we want to hear Jesus, we need to make time for Him. We need to carve out moments in our day to sit at His feet, to read His words, to meditate on His teachings. We need to prioritize Jesus, to put Him first in our day, in our schedule, in our lives.

Secondly, we need to create space for Jesus. Not just physical space, although that's important too, but mental and emotional space. We need to clear out the clutter in our minds, the worries and anxieties that crowd out the voice of Jesus. We need to quiet our hearts, to still our souls, to create a peaceful, quiet space where we can hear Jesus.

Thirdly, we need to cultivate a heart for Jesus. Listening to Jesus is not just about hearing His words; it's about loving Him, about desiring Him, about longing for Him. We need to cultivate a heart that loves Jesus, that desires His presence, that longs for His words. We need to fall in love with Jesus, to be captivated by Him, to be consumed by Him.

Lastly, we need to obey Jesus. Listening to Jesus is not just about hearing His words; it's about obeying them. It's about putting His teachings into practice, about living out His commands, about embodying His love. We need to be doers of the word, not just hearers. We need to obey Jesus, to follow His example, to walk in His ways.

Heeding the Son of God

As we continue to reflect on the passage from Mark, we are drawn to the voice from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO