Embracing Transformation Through the Transfiguration

"When we consider our text today, these final words from Paul in the Acts of the Apostles, he's making an affirmation about our capacity, or lack of capacity, to have faith in things that we don't really fully understand." [00:02:19] (23 seconds)


"Now the Transfiguration story is an interesting story, because it kind of relates. It's two very similar ideas. And for those of you who kind of remember, so not only from the Gospel of Matthew, but Mark and Luke, and even there's a reference in John to this, this moment that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, and they go up the mountain. And in contemporary, so in Israel today, on the top of Mount Tabor is this beautiful church, the Church of the Transfiguration." [00:02:44] (34 seconds)


"This notion that Jesus and three kind of main disciples go up the mountain, and then Jesus has this transfiguring moment, where this dazzling white happens. And it sort of stretches our capacity or our willingness to sort of accept that." [00:03:48] (24 seconds)


"Well, as you go, as you're into that sort of experience of walking up this hill, I think we need to sort of remember, so for all our inability and our unwillingness to accept this transfiguration story, did you read in our scriptures, that same unwillingness?" [00:04:42] (22 seconds)


"So I've got something just up on the screen that is, the key verses, but I'm going to walk us into it. So reading from 2 Peter, the first chapter, for we did not follow cleverly devised myths that were made known to you in the power of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we have been eyewitnesses of his majesty. He's talking about this Transfiguration moment." [00:06:05] (23 seconds)


"For he received honor and glory from God, the Father, when the voice was conveyed to him by the majestic glory saying, this is my son, my beloved, for who I am well pleased." [00:06:54] (13 seconds)


"We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, and while we were with him on the holy mountain, while we were with him on the holy mountain, so we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. And then this is what he goes on to say, you will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place." [00:07:12] (22 seconds)


"First of all, you must understand this, Peter goes on to say, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation because no prophecy ever came by human will. But men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." [00:07:55] (19 seconds)


"I want to suggest to you that the transfiguration moment kind of is exactly what Paul is asking of the first disciples. Not only the first, but here in Rome, of the first community who were coming and asking questions and wondering, what is this all about? Paul, in the essence, was saying, do you have the willingness to transfigure your lives?" [00:08:32] (26 seconds)


"God has done something so dramatic, so dramatic in Christ. Do you see it? Do you believe it? Are you willing to accept it? And most importantly, are you willing to transfigure your lives in the name of Christ?" [00:08:59] (19 seconds)


"Ironically, when the first church was founded without a canon, without a Bible, without all those things we have now, there was a profound faith. There was a transfiguration experience in people's lives. Lately, I wonder how many Christians really are willing to be transfigured." [00:09:34] (21 seconds)


"Not willing to accept the power of what God has done. Just as in Psalm 118 says, as we turn to God for comfort and healing, we do so with the assurance and the acceptance of the sovereignty of God." [00:09:56] (21 seconds)