Listening, Leading, and Living: Embracing God's Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Preparing Future Leaders for God's Mission

The transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua highlights the importance of preparing future leaders to carry on God's mission. Moses, after leading the Israelites through the wilderness, is shown the Promised Land from Mount Nebo but is not permitted to enter it. This moment signifies the culmination of his earthly mission and the transition of leadership to Joshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. This narrative reminds us of the importance of fulfilling our God-given roles and preparing the next generation to continue the journey of faith. It is a call to invest in others, to mentor, and to pass on the wisdom and knowledge that God has entrusted to us. [30:42]

Deuteronomy 34:9 (ESV): "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses."

Reflection: Who in your life can you mentor or encourage to grow in their faith and leadership? How can you begin to invest in them today?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Prayer

Jesus' transfiguration reveals the transformative power of prayer. It is through prayer that Jesus connects with the Father, receives strength, and reveals His divine glory. This teaches us the importance of prioritizing prayer in our lives to maintain our spiritual vitality. In the Gospel of Luke, we witness Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain, where His divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John. This event underscores the power of prayer in Jesus' life, as it is through prayer that He maintains His connection with the Father and receives strength for His mission. [36:51]

Luke 9:28-29 (ESV): "Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white."

Reflection: How can you create a dedicated time and space for prayer in your daily routine to strengthen your connection with God?

Day 3: Obedience to God's Word

The command to listen to Jesus during the transfiguration emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's word. It challenges us to not only hear but to act on Jesus' teachings, building our lives on the solid foundation of His truth. The voice of God from the cloud, declaring Jesus as His beloved Son, calls us to listen to Him. This divine instruction emphasizes the necessity of aligning our lives with Jesus' teachings, not merely hearing but actively doing His word. [41:50]

James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Reflection: What is one specific teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to obey? How can you take a step towards living it out today?

Day 4: Trusting in Jesus' Redemptive Work

The conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah about His "exodus" underscores the significance of His sacrificial death and resurrection. This event is the fulfillment of God's plan to save humanity, inviting us to trust in the redemptive work of Christ. The presence of Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration symbolizes the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus, who is the chosen one to accomplish the ultimate exodus through His death and resurrection. [46:08]

Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV): "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in Jesus' redemptive work? How can you surrender these areas to Him today?

Day 5: Building on the Solid Foundation of Christ

Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates the necessity of living according to His teachings. By doing so, we ensure that our lives are anchored in His promises, enabling us to withstand the challenges and trials we face. As we enter the Lenten season, we are invited to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and obedience. This journey is not just about personal salvation but about participating in God's mission to bring others into His kingdom. [56:48]

Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV): "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your life is built on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings? How can you apply these teachings in your daily decisions and actions?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we journey through the profound moments of Moses' final days and Jesus' transfiguration, drawing parallels between these pivotal biblical events. Moses, after leading the Israelites, is shown the Promised Land from Mount Nebo but is not permitted to enter it. This moment signifies the culmination of his earthly mission and the transition of leadership to Joshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. This narrative reminds us of the importance of fulfilling our God-given roles and preparing the next generation to continue the journey of faith.

In the Gospel of Luke, we witness Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain, where His divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John. This event underscores the power of prayer in Jesus' life, as it is through prayer that He maintains His connection with the Father and receives strength for His mission. The presence of Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration symbolizes the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus, who is the chosen one to accomplish the ultimate exodus through His death and resurrection.

The voice of God from the cloud, declaring Jesus as His beloved Son, calls us to listen to Him. This divine instruction emphasizes the necessity of aligning our lives with Jesus' teachings, not merely hearing but actively doing His word. The call to listen and obey is a call to build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ, ensuring that we stand firm amidst life's storms.

As we enter the Lenten season, we are invited to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and obedience. This journey is not just about personal salvation but about participating in God's mission to bring others into His kingdom. By listening to Jesus and following His example, we become instruments of His peace and love in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. The Significance of Leadership Transition: Moses' view of the Promised Land and the transition to Joshua highlights the importance of preparing future leaders to carry on God's mission. It reminds us that our roles in God's plan are part of a larger narrative that extends beyond our lifetime. [30:42]
2. The Power of Prayer: Jesus' transfiguration reveals the transformative power of prayer. It is through prayer that Jesus connects with the Father, receives strength, and reveals His divine glory. This teaches us the importance of prioritizing prayer in our lives to maintain our spiritual vitality. [36:51]
3. Listening to God's Voice: The command to listen to Jesus during the transfiguration emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's word. It challenges us to not only hear but to act on Jesus' teachings, building our lives on the solid foundation of His truth. [41:50]
4. Understanding Jesus' Mission: The conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah about His "exodus" underscores the significance of His sacrificial death and resurrection. This event is the fulfillment of God's plan to save humanity, inviting us to trust in the redemptive work of Christ. [46:08]
5. Building a Firm Foundation: Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates the necessity of living according to His teachings. By doing so, we ensure that our lives are anchored in His promises, enabling us to withstand the challenges and trials we face. [56:48]
** [56:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:03] - Moses' Final Journey
[30:42] - Transition to Joshua
[32:12] - The Transfiguration Begins
[32:28] - Jesus' Divine Glory Revealed
[33:12] - God's Voice from the Cloud
[35:23] - The Disciples' Sleepiness
[36:51] - The Power of Prayer
[38:15] - Glimpse of Heavenly Glory
[41:50] - Listening to Jesus
[44:23] - Moses and Elijah's Presence
[46:08] - Jesus' Mission and Exodus
[50:04] - The Cost of Obedience
[52:36] - God's Simple Plan for Us
[56:48] - Building on Solid Ground

Sermon Clips

Moses was years old when he had died his eye was undimmed and his Vigor unabated and the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of M 30 days then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended and Joshua the son of nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands on him. [00:31:05]

Prayer generates for Jesus the depth of his relationship with the father. It keeps him faithful and on Mission, gives him his power, and is the strength and the force behind all his actions. Jesus throughout the Gospel of Luke, we are seeing him this year and we will continue to see him spending time in prayer. [00:36:42]

They wake up and they receive a sneak peak my sermon title into the Heavenly glory and identity of Jesus into his mission and plan for saving the world and into God's Simple Plan for their lives so first they they are able to Glimpse his Heavenly glory and identity we're told in the text that as he was praying. [00:38:02]

The cloud is a sign of God's presence as they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness a pillar of cloud I always picture it in my mind like a tornado must have you know just some Cloud but whether it spins or not I would have no idea but there's this column of cloud a pillar of cloud that leads them. [00:41:01]

God the Father speaks in that moment and they actually hear the actual voice of God like Moses in the Old Testament. I think most of the biblical writers did not hear an audible voice and just most theologians don't think God spoke in an audible voice and they just transcribed like a scribe what God audibly Said. [00:41:50]

The word departure uh what were they talking about his Ascension when he was departing well he certainly departed then and he went into heaven but um and and that's kind of like one of those two guys Elijah um he departed in a similar way remember this how he left the Earth he didn't die he's only one of two people. [00:44:50]

The Exodus in the Old Testament is the biggest deal of all in the Old Testament it is the story of God saving his people and so if Moses the leader of the Exodus and Elijah the guy who Whirlwind did his way up into heaven if they're coming to talking to Jesus about his Exodus that he's going to accomplish in Jerusalem. [00:46:40]

The only require we have is that you be a child of God and you you believe what he promises this is my body and blood given for your forgiveness if you believe that you're welcome to come and if you believe Jesus died for all your sins you're welcome to go home to Heaven our only hope uh is is Jesus Christ. [00:48:54]

The goal of life isn't just about getting to Heaven it's about living on this earth called to be disciples who are fishing for people and bringing others into God's kingdom into knowing who he is and so living according to God's will is essential in this life for God's plan to save the world. [00:55:11]

Everyone who comes to me and hears my word and does them I will show you what he is like he's like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock and when a flood arose the stream broke against the house and could not shake it because it had been well built. [00:55:53]

It's not just hearing Jesus's word but doing his word that becomes the solid foundation of Our Lives that Jesus talks about building one life on Solid Ground so that when the storms of life rage we'll withstand those storms I was talking with this individual about Bible verses that we might use for a funeral service. [00:56:44]

Jesus calls us to come to me to hear my word and to do them I invite you in this year's Lenton Journey beginning this week on Ash Wednesday to grow in his grace to come to hear and to obey and let the Lord Jesus be the absolute Foundation of your life. [01:00:26]

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