Take Off

Higher dimension with God!

TAKE OFF!

Matthew 17:1 Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves.

INTRO: Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aircraft goes through a transition from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air, usually starting on a runway. During this phase, the engines are run at full power during takeoff, now the pilot begins to climb higher and higher, at this stage he has to put full force. At the beginning of the climb phase, the wheels are retracted into the aircraft and the undercarriage doors are closed. This operation is audible by the passengers as a noise coming from below the floor.

Now I am going to share something exciting, following take-off, the aircraft has to climb to a certain altitude (typically 30,000 ft) this is called CRUISE ALTITUDE, from here the plane can cruise economically, smoothly, sweetly and coolly. Wow! I am already excited as I write this…

CRUISE ALTITUDE:

This New Year 2021, we should make all efforts, we need to have the propelling force to climb higher and higher until we get to this CRUISE ALTITUDE. How does one get to this cruise altitude spiritually?

• ISOLATION/SEPARATION

• PRAYER

• FASTING

• PASSION/HUNGER FOR GOD

• WORD OF GOD

There are no other short cut methods; however, the prayer, fasting and reading the Word that I am going to talk about would be on a higher level that requires you pray a price, are you ready for the TAKE OFF? Put on your seat belts….

SPIRITS THAT OPERATE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS:

Demons operate in the ground level, James calls them ‘earthly’ that we read in James 1:

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

However, at the cruise altitude, you can experience divine beauty, read:

17 wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

A) ISOLATION/SEPARATION:

In the above scripture, we see that Jesus selected just 3 disciples: Peter and James and John, to take with him up on the mount of transfiguration, not everybody can come with you, that requires dedication and determination. What makes you think going with Jesus to a high mountain would be easy? Tough Mentors produce strong disciples / followers! Strict Principal produces good students with good character! Anybody listening? I am talking about going to a higher dimension, you cannot give any excuses while climbing higher with Jesus, that's exactly why He took only three with Him, who would listen to Him, obey Him and be alert too. I was blessed with the sermon of Ps Abraham, Leader of Hosanna Ministries, Guntur, who shared his initial days with Ps Yesanna, Late Founder of Hosanna Ministries. When they together went for house visiting, as young servants of God, they would refuse food offered by the believers even if they were hungry. After they come home, Ps. Yesanna would give five rupees for dinner with which they would buy dinner each from road side vendors. Sometimes the food would be rotten; yet, Ps. Abraham had to swallow it fearing Ps Yesanna. Such mentors produce good leaders who do not lust for fame, power and money; today Ps Abraham is very blessed.

So once on the higher level with Jesus, they saw an awesome, spectacular vision, Jesus was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Wow! On this level, you would be able to have visions, dreams and deep spiritual insights which a normal eye can never perceive. This kind of experience is not for personal gratification or excitement, this is to bless the body of Christ. Say Amen.

B) PRAYER:

Hannah was dwelling too long in the place of bickering and bitterness; however, God had to use Peninnah to propel her from this ground level, it is here that she wakes up from slumber, wakes up from misery, wakes up from her ordinary life, wakes up from bitterness, wakes up from barrenness; to enter into the Holy of Holies – CRUISE ALTITUDE. Praise God! God had to use Peninnah the other wife of Elkanah to nag and drag Hannah to the feet of the Lord. Have you seen the chisel that the sculptor uses? With the hammer and chisel, the sculptor gets the desired effect he wants. Same way, God had used Peninnah as a ‘chisel’ in the life of Hannah in order to disturb her from her comfortable position.