Each year ...we as Anglicans ... set aside a date to hear the glorious story... of the transfiguration.
The Scriptures Speak to the transfigured nature of our Lord... in the books of Mathew, Mark, and Luke. Here God's Word (Pick one) ....... BIBLE "And he (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. END (Mark 9:2-3) BIBLE "And he (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light." END (Matthew 17:2) BIBLE "And as he (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white." END (Luke 9:29)
Beloved ... I am convinced ... that true followers of the Christ ... yearn ... for their life ... to also shine.
That their life would more clearly reflect ... the image ... of Jesus. (Pause
In 1977 ... NASA launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 ...... to explore ... the galaxy.
A recording ... called ......The Sounds of Earth ...... was attached to each ... of the twin spacecrafts.
It was a message from earth ... to anyone out there in the universe ... who might possibly ... be listening.
It contained music ... and it even included ... the sound of a human ... heartbeat. (Pause)
Over thirty years later.... the person who served as the Creative director of this famous Project, .... reflected on what she chose to include ... In ...The Sounds of Earth:
She said: ... "The first thing I found myself thinking of ... was a piece by Beethoven, something called ... the Cavatina (Ca-va-tin-a) Movement.
When I first heard this piece of music ... I thought... this was a great, .... beautiful, .... Yet ... sad piece of music, .... on which Beethoven had written in the margin ... a word in German ... which meant ......." Longing."
Part of what we wanted to capture in the Voyager message she said .... was this great longing .... that we feel ... as ... a people. (Pause)
So, ... in the end, .... NASA chose a musical score ... of human longing .... and launched it ... into space.
It's as if ... the NASA's scientists ... were saying to the rest of the universe: (Pause)
'This is who ... and what we are as human beings: ...... Creatures ... of longing.
And hidden in that basic introduction ... to who we are .... there is an implicit question .... for possible extraterrestrials:
(Slow) ...... 'Do you feel this Longing ... too?
Or ... Are we ... the only ones?'" (Long Pause)
If we are honest ... There are times in our lives ... when we are longing ... when we look around and wonder, ... "Is this ... all there is?"
Sometimes ... it is just a passing question, ... other times ... it lasts ... for a season.
We look at our life, ... our circumstances, ... and we want ... more.
There is a restlessness, ... a searching, ... a longing for something else... something ... more.
Some call it ... a crisis... of the ... midlife.
Now this searching ... this seeking... has caused some ... to make some very unwise ... decisions.
Some decide to get a new job, ... a new car, ... a new relationship.
Others ... may take up a new hobby, ... go on a trip, ... or work extra hours.
But in the end ... well ... not much that is eternally significant ... changes.
Why? ... Because .... this yearning ... this longing ... is not really about ....... the circumstances ... of life.
It is not about what happens to us ... in life.
It really speaks about ... us as ... human beings.
This restlessness, ... this desire for something more, ... generally means ... that we have been living life ... at the shallow end ... of the pool.
It means ... that Life ... and relationships ... have become superficial.
We have been skimming ... across the surface.
It means ... We have not gone ... deep.
In some ways ... life at the surface ... is easier, ... more efficient, ... and encouraged ... and rewarded ... by much of the world ... today.
It fails however, ...... to fully understand ... what God has done.
That God ... through His Son Jesus Christ ... has transfigured the world.
And that creation itself ... is filled .... with His divine light.
It is not fully understanding ... that only through Jesus ... is this longing ... satisfied.
The Advent Hymn ... "Come, thou long expected Jesus", by Charles Wesley ... speaks to this human longing ... in the second stanza:
Sing Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every ... longing heart.
Beloved ... Jesus is the answer ... the only answer ...to that ...human Longing.
Yet so many ... even some that call themselves followers of the Christ ... live life ... at the shallow end ... of the pool.
And a Life at the shallow end ... that is skimming the surface ... keeps them in bondage ...continually judging ... the circumstances... of life.
Those things that ... happen ... to them.
Looking at their circumstances ... as a picture.
And If the picture ... is pretty, ... if it is pleasing, ... and shows them what they want to see ... then they believe ... Well ... God is good ... and life is ... as it ... should be.
Yet when they do not see what they want ... then they often look for what?
A new picture ... a change.
You might hear them say ... I would be happy ... If ... this would ... happen.
I would be happy ... if others did ... that.
That kind of attitude ... is living at the shallow end ...of the pool.
That kind of attitude ... is Skimming ... the surface of life.
This restless searching, ... this longing for more, ... this desire for meaning ... is not however, .... usually answered ... by changed ... circumstances.
The answer is found in our heart ... (Touch Heart) In our ... interior ... journey.
Beloved ... Do you have a heart ... that seeks to know Jesus' will.
To know His will ... and to walk in it?
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit ... to mold you ... to conform you ... to transform you ... into the Image of Jesus?
Beloved ... We do not need to see ...new pictures.
We need to see the world ... with ... new eyes.
We do not need to hear a ... different voice.
We need to hear ... the unchanging voice ... of God ... with different ears.
We do not need to escape life's circumstances.
We need to be more fully present ... spiritually present ... in those circumstances.
And ...When we allow this to happen ... life is no longer lived ... at the surface.
We are no longer swimming ... at the shallow end.
If we spiritually yield ... to each life encounter ... through new eyes ... through new ears ... then they become ...transfigured moments.
Moments when the picture of our life ... in a way ... becomes ...... a window.
A window ... into a new world ... a window into the spiritual realm ... where we come face to face ... with the transforming ... glory ... of God.
Most of us, ... I think, ... I hope ... seek God ... in the circumstances ... of our life.
We want God to show up, ... to be present, ... to act ... to do something.
Beloved ... Be assured ... we serve ... a God of action ... a God who does.
A God ... who yearns ... to interact ... with His people.
We might think about this .... as the first part of ... our spiritual journey.
A journey of discovering God ... in the circumstances ... In All the circumstances ... of our Life.
We must Look ... and Seek.
Where is God in the ... moment?
Where is God ... in the picture?
And that is exactly what the disciples have been doing ... up to this point.
They have seen Jesus cast our demons, ... cure the sick.
Paralytics walk, ... the blind see, ... thousands are fed.
Yet at some point, ... if we are to mature in the faith ...we must begin to discover .... the God ... who is beyond ... life's circumstances.
That is ... to fully see ... the God who ... is.
And this is the second part ... of the spiritual journey.
This is moving from ... the Milk ... to .... the Meat of a Christian life.
Jesus is leading Peter, James, and John, ... up the mountain ... to discover The God ... who is beyond circumstances.
Here ... In this place ... their picture of four people on a mountain ... becomes a window.
A window ... by which they move into the depths of God's life, ... God's light, ... and God's love.
The Scripture's tell us ... That ... There on the mountain ... they saw Jesus what?
Hear God's Word (Pick one) ....... BIBLE "... transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. END (Mark 9:2-3) BIBLE "transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.". END (Matthew 17:2) BIBLE the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white." END (Luke 9:29)
The cloud overshadowed them ... and the Father's voice spoke ... of his beloved son.
Moses and Elijah appear in their midst ... clear evidence ... that there is life ... beyond ... this life.
Peter wants to build dwelling places.
Peter ... in a way ... wants to frame .... Jesus, Elijah, and Moses.
In Matthew's telling Peter proclaims: "It is good for us to be here," (Matthew 17:4)
Peter wants to ... preserve it.
He wants in a way ... to take a picture.
Pictures, ... however, ... are static.
On the Mount of Transfiguration ... the pictures of life's circumstances ... become much more ... then a picture of an event ... they become a ...... window.
A Window ....... through which we step into a new world, ... a new way of seeing, ... a new way of hearing, ... a new way of ... being.
On that mountain ... Jesus did not suddenly light up ... and become something ... he was not.
The Greek word translated ... transfigured ... describes a change on the outside... that occurs from the ... inside.
This was not a new miracle ... it was a temporary pause ... of an ongoing ... miracle.
The ongoing miracle ... was Jesus' ... keeping this glory veiled ... and not fully displaying ... this glory to the world.
Beloved ... the disciple's eyes ... were opened ... and they could see Jesus ... (Slow) as he has ... always been.
The voice in the cloud ... was not ... new.
Their ears were opened ... and they heard the voice ... that has never ceased speaking ... from the beginning ... of time.
The transfiguration ... is as much about them ... as it is Jesus.
Whenever our picture of life's circumstances become a spiritual window ... Well ... we stand in a transfigured .... moment.
The Circumstances ... have not changed.
The event ... has not changed.
We ... have changed ... and Beloved ... that changes... everything.
And Those transfigured moments ... are all around us ... they surround us continually.
Every event ... Every encounter ... Every picture ... every circumstance ... can become a window.
Every circumstance can become... a transfigured moment. (Long Pause)
I have been blessed with many wonderful moments with the Lord.
(Story 1- Pick One)
Early in our Christian life together ... My wife Lee and I ... were very involved ... with a ministry called ... Faith Alive.
Faith Alive ... is a wonderful organization .... that sends a group of men, ... women ... and youth ....to a church .... to share their relationship .... with their Lord.
But .... the weekend does far more than that; .... it helps the parish .... really begin communicating ......at a spiritual level .... with each other.
During these weekends, ... there is a program not only for adults .... but also, for youth ... and for small children.
Lee and I had the privilege ... to be the children's coordinators ... for many of these programs ... throughout the mid-west.
During the weekends ... I would play my guitar and we would sing, .... We cut out snowflakes to show how God makes each of us different and special.
We talked about how much Jesus loves us ....and watches over each of us... and how important it is ... to bring everything to God ... in prayer.
Well ... One weekend ... as we were doing a craft .... one of the little boys ... cut himself with his scissors.
Even though they were the scissors with the rounded tips... that doesn't stop little boys ... from finding a way .... to cut themselves.
Well since it was a boy ... it was my duty ...to take him to the bathroom .... to clean up blood ... and to take care of the cut.
I had just finished cleaning it ... and was about to put a band aid on .... when I thought .... well, this is a Christian weekend ... and a good opportunity to show him .... that we should pray... about everything.
So, ... I said ... lets pray that your finger will heal and get better.
He responded ...... "OK"
As soon as I started to pray ... we watched together as new skin covered slit in his finger... and there was no sign ... that he was ever a cut.
He went out of the bathroom ... and ran down the hall back to the room ... I covered my face ... and knelt my head against the mirror and lamented:
Lord forgive me! ... forgive me for my lack of faith.
It was initially a picture ... of a young child with a cut finger that became ... a transfigured moment.
A moment when the Spiritual realm broke through.
(Or Story 2) This past week ... I had a meeting in Bainbridge Ohio.
As I was driving ... I realized that my meeting was near the home of my niece Madison ... who recently had a baby.
I thought that I would go and visit ... after my meeting.
Well ... the meeting ran longer than expected as they often do ...so I thought ... I would just head home.
When I reached the intersection... that led to Madison's home ...the Lord said ... turn.
So, I turned... and went to her home.
When I knocked on the door ... Madison's mom came to the door ... who is the ex-wife of my brother Kip ... from many years ago.
I said ... I stopped by to hopefully see Madison and the baby.
She said Madison's sleeping ... but come on in and hold the baby.
We spoke of the special love God gives us ... for our children and grandchildren.
Then she began to share about her life .... with its joys and with its hurts.
And then ... she just reached out her hand.... and said ... Jeff would you pray for me.
We prayed together .... and the picture of a child and her grandmother ... became an open window ...through which the spiritual realm ... enlightened with God's presence.
It became ... a transfigured moment.
When I got in the car ...I was filled with His peace and with His joy ... and praised our Lord ... as I drove all the way home.
(After Either story)
A moment when Jesus allowed me to witness a glimpse of his glory.
Maybe that is why God tells ... we are to come to him ... as a little child.
To have the faith of a child. (Mark 10:14-15)
I am sure ... Every one of you ... could tell a story ... about stepping back ... from a picture ... of your life:
Of seeing with new eyes, ... listening with new ears, ... and discovering a window into the Spiritual Realm... that opened.
A window that opened ... into another world ... into another way ... of being.
Maybe it was the day you revealed to another person ... a dark secret you had carried ... for many years.
In your sharing ... the picture ... as one of guilt and shame ... Well ... It became a spiritual window ... through which you stepped.
The darkness gave way to light, ... the chains fell off, ... and forgiveness overcame sin... and glory filled ... your very soul.
Or maybe it was a moment ... in your family.
Remember the moment ... you held your child or grandchild... for the first time.
For those that have ... it is a vivid picture.
Yes, ... it was a circumstance ... an event ... a picture of a newborn ...being held in your arms ... but for those that allowed it ... it was also ... a window.
A spiritual window that was opened ... that flowed with eternal love ... for this little one ... and you were forever changed.
And for those who are in Christ ... it becomes clear ...That God had allowed you to experience and became a part of the mystery ... of creation itself.
The window was opened ... and You experience God's love .... and His presence ... in a New and glorious way.
When we brought our first-born home ... I held our daughter Kristin in my arms ... for the longest time in our Living-room.
Finally, ... I laid her on a blanket .... on the floor and just looked at her.
I was overwhelmed with love ... overflowing with Love ... for this little one.
I remember saying aloud ... There must be a deeper word than love.
Lord ... I have never felt anything ... like this ... before.
I began to pray ... and as I was praying God made it clear to me ... Jeff that is the same love ... I have for ...you.
I had that same spiritual encounter with my son Justin ... two years later.
These moments were no longer a stagnant picture of holding a newborn.
A spiritual window was opened... and the Lord was there.
Beloved ...The Lord's glory surely shone ... as much in your hands on that day you held your child .... Or grandchild ... as it did on the Mount of Transfiguration ... 2000 years ago.
The Spiritual Realm is present ... not only in your very being ... through the indwelling ... of the Holy Spirit.
But the Spiritual realm ... (Open Hands) surrounds us ... it is everywhere ... it encompasses everything.
The Kingdom of God ... is at hand.
Those windows of Heaven ...are everywhere ... if ... we have eyes to see ... and ears ... to hear.
Jesus, ... Peter, James, and John ... came down the mountain.
They could not stay there ... yet neither did they totally... leave the mountain.
Beloved ... They brought it ... with them.
Transfigured moments change us, ... sustain us, ...prepare us, .... encourage us.
And praise God ... they guide us into the future ... regardless ... that's right ... regardless ... of Life's circumstances.
Beloved ... don't live... at the shallow end of the pool.
It's time to ... Go deep!
Be immersed ... in all life's circumstances ... by and in ... the presence ... of God.
This earth ... this island in the universe ... is not all ... that life has in-store ... for you.
This is not all ... there is.
We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We are called walk in the Spiritual Realm ... to walk in ... and through ... Life's circumstances.
We walk through the dark valleys of death.
We are in the world ... but not of ... the world. (John 17:15-16)
We ARE the salt of the Earth. We ARE the light of the World. (Matthew 5:13-16)
Every circumstance of life ... every picture of life ... every event in life ... can become ... a transfigured moment.
You and I ... are a transfigured people.
Open your eyes ... and see ... A transfigured world.
Open your ears ... and hear ... the transfigured voice of God.
Beloved ... be mature in the Faith.
(Slow) Yield to Jesus ... Open your heart ... and live ... a grace filled life ... a transfigured life.
And if you yield to him ... Our Lord makes this promise.
...That you will be continually ... continually transformed ... from Glory ... to Glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
And to that ... all God's people said ... Amen!
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing
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