Today we conclude our journey through this short season of Epiphany. We experience the Transfiguration of our LORD on this Sunday as we hear from St. Luke's Gospel chapter 9:
The Transfiguration
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, 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 he was saying.)34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
We will conclude our 3 weeks on preparing for Lent with a call to prayer and fasting.
The Lesson we will close on is the teaching from Joel chapter 2:
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the Lord your God.
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the Lord your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
16 Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
16 Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
18 Then the Lord will be jealous for his land
and take pity on his people.
and take pity on his people.
The promise is if we repent the Lord will forgive. We are ending this season with the Transfiguration so that we celebrate the truth of our Lord turning himself inside out, preparing to go to the Cross in Jerusalem and provide the way of salvation for all people. We know that THROUGH HIM salvation is for all. Not all will receive this gift but HE DIED FOR ALL!
We talk about this being the OUT part of our three dimensional life UP, IN and OUT. We recognize that we are called to receive from our God IN CHRIST our UP relationship as sons and daughters of the KING and children of the Father. We celebrate WITH HIM in our IN relationship as we identify as children of God in the Body or Family of faith. Then we grow in Authority as we learn to reflect the author of all truth.
Today we are reflecting on the reality of our Covenant obedience to the father because of our identity and walking in Kingdom Power because of the authority we have been given as chosen heirs THROUGH CHRIST by the KING. We are called to pray for our NATION and the World. To intercede for our Leaders. We hear in Romans:
13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For
rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do
wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do
what is right and he will commend you. 4 For
he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for
he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent
of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
We hear how important praying for these leaders are in 1 Timothy 2:1-3
2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
We hear about the power of repentant prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We recognize that we are to pray for our nation and for the world because the Lord desires to relent and forgive. He wants us Through Christ to be ambassador's of reconciliation. He asks us to be HIS mission strategy.
May we see the Transfiguration as a reminder of the LOVE the Father has for us. As we heard at the Baptism of our Lord we are IN Christ and can hear the words: "You are my child, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased!" We hear in Luke 9 and Mark 9 and Matthew 17 how the Father reiterates that Jesus is HIS SON chosen and loved and NOW TO BE LISTENED TO! St. Peter says that the Transfiguration event cemented his faith and gave him courage to proclaim what the Lord said and did...2 Peter 1:
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[a] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[a] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
Our question, as we prepare to begin Lent this Ash Wednesday is whether we will take the time to spend in Prayer, fasting and in the Word to listen and hear what the Lord is saying. We spent Friday evening and Saturday morning in the Servant Leader Huddle asking the Lord to help us hear what HIS WILL is so that THROUGH HIM WE CAN MOVE IN HIS POWER AND BECOME WHO HE WANTS US TO BE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A FAMILY OF FAITH...
It was a great time and it is my hope that we will move forward TROUGH HIM AND IN HIS POWER TO DO WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY! WITH THE LORD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
This Sunday we are having the LOVE Ypsi Valentine Day service at 6pm. Please plan to join us! We will also hear at the EMU site from Sarah Polk who is planning to do a mission trip to Toronto during Winter Break at the same time as we from Cross and Res will be going to build houses for Sandy Victims on the east coast (March 2-10). We have a Mission Fund so if you wish to donate to Sarah or the Church Mission Trip please prayerfully consider it. We also have one of our Elders Chad Burtless-Creps from the ALIVE! Lenawee County Site who is going to do a mission to Uganda. He is a great Dentist and will be helping in this medical mission. Again if you feel led to support these missions and would like more information please let me know.
Can't wait to begin this reflective season of LENT (Spring) to see and hear what the Lord has for us!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Bryan
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