A Picture of God’s Work in Our Lives - From the Pulpit

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A Picture of God’s Work in Our Lives


Title: A Picture of God’s Work in Our Lives
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-13

Date: July 26, 2009

I. The Parallel. V.1
..A. Often times we see a connection between the O.T. and the N.T..
..B. The Lamb.
....1. Sacrificial lamb in the O.T..
....2. Jesus, the Lamb of God.
..C. Exodus 24:15-16 – We see God calling Moses to the mountain and the mountain covered by the cloud.
....1. High mountain
....2. Six days in the presence of God and on the seventh God spoke.
....3. Covered with smoke.
..D. Matthew 17:1
....1. Jesus leads them to the high mountain.
....2. On the seventh day after a particular revelation God speaks for them to hear.
......a. Luke 9 states 8 days. He includes the day of the event, the six interval days and then the eight day as the day God spoke. Same time line.
....3. Cloud descends on the mountain.

II. The Presence of God. Vv.5-6
..A. The presence of the Father is represented in the cloud. V.5
....1. The cloud often represents the presence of God in Scripture.
......a. .Exodus 13:21; 16:10; 19:9; 33:9-11; 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 19:1
....2. The cloud represents the Father receiving the Son at His ascension.
......a. Acts 1:9
....3. The cloud represents the protection of God.
......a. 1 Corinthians 10:1
....4. The cloud represents the presence of the Father, though silent, yet supporting the Son.
......a. Luke 21:27
..B. The presence of the Father is represented by His voice being heard. V.5
....1. The Father spoke in the same manner at Jesus’ baptism.
......a. Matthew 3:17

III. The disciples responded to the manifested presence of God. Vv.6-8
..A. They fell down afraid.
....1. This is a right response to the revealed glory of God.
......a. Revelation 7:11; 11:16
....2. Afraid - Two Greek words:
......a. Awe and high degree.
....3. Not terror, but reverence.
..B. Jesus tells them to no longer be afraid (awe stricken). V.7
....1. He is not negating there response, but establishing it is time to get up and that we should be comfortable in His presence.
....2. The manifested presence has been withdrawn.
..C. What did the disciples experience?
....1. Was it a vision or a reality?
......a. They report that they were eyewitnesses.
........1) 2 Peter 1:16-17
....2. This was an actual event that transpired before their eyes.

IV. The Power of God. Vv.2-5
..A. The transfiguration. V.2
....1. Transfigured: to transform (literally or figuratively “metamorphose”): - change, transfigure, transform.
....2. Face shone like the sun: To beam, give light, radiate brilliancy.
....3. His clothes became white as the light: To shine, especially by rays, luminous.
..B. The appearance of Moses and Elijah. Vv.3-4
....1. Moses and Elijah: Named specifically.
......a. They represent the Law and the Prophets.
......b. These foretold of the coming Christ and must be believed.
........1) Richman and Lazarus.
....2. Appeared: Visible and recognizable.
......a. Peter recognizes the other two and calls them by name.
......b. Peter wanted to build tabernacles for all three, if the Lord wishes. At least this time he asks rather than tries to tell Jesus. He is learning.
....3. They were talking with Jesus: They are alive and well and this before the resurrection (interesting).
......a. Elijah was taken away still alive, but Moses died and even His body was discussed between Michael and Satan.
......b. They are alive!!!
......c. Wouldn’t you like to know what they talked about?

V. The Testimony of God. Vv.1, 5, 9-13
..A. Peter, James and John. V.1
....1. Principle: Two or three witnesses.
....2. Deut. 19:15; Mat. 18:16
..B. Testimony of the Father regarding the Son. V.5
....1. The same testimony as at Jesus’ baptism.
......a. 2 Peter 1:17
..C. Jesus instructions and the disciples enquiry. Vv.9-13
....1. Jesus clearly tells them not to reveal this until after His death and resurrection.
......a. Clear enough.
....2. The disciples ask about “Elijah.”
......a. Three phases:
........1) The first Elijah lived and was taken up to heaven and seen here on the mount.
........2) The second Elijah was prophesied about and was correctly interpreted by the Scribes from Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6.
..........a) The coming of John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah, not Elijah, but in the Spirit and power of Him.
..........b) They, for the most part, just missed him.
........3) The third Elijah is returning as one of the two witnesses in Rev. 11:3-6.
......b. Their enquiry would have been as to why they would not tell of what they had seen, assuming that the appearance of Elijah here was the fulfillment of the Malachi prophecy.
........1) Jesus clearly teaches them that the prophecy was relating to John the Baptist.

VI. Conclusion – How does this apply to us today?
..A. Parallel – O.T. sacrifice for sin was not able to permanently remove sin, but Jesus sacrifice was once for all who will come to Him.
..B. Testimony of God – Word of God, Spirit of God and creation.
..C. Power of God – God’s power transforms us from what we were into a new creation. We become His children.
..D. Presence of God – Believers are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
....1. There are times, like on the mount, that God will manifest Himself to us in special ways.
..E. Our Response – We are to love Jesus and walk with Him. We are to be in awe regarding God and our response naturally must be worship.