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February 03, 2008

Seeking Clarity and Confirmation from God

Sermon: Feb. 3, 2008 Seeking Clarity and Confirmation from God
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9

Introduction:
The Transfiguration of Jesus was a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. On Mt. Hermon, Jesus was transparent with the disciples. They saw his glory. Just as the glory of God was reflected on Moses face when he went before God, so Jesus himself reflected the Glory of God for the three disciples who were there to witness it that day.

Proposition:
On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus is commissioned to manifest God’s saving presence in the world by whatever means possible, even if it leads to his death. Likewise, as followers of Jesus, we are to manifest God’s saving presence in the world by whatever means possible.

Sub-propositions: (4 points)
Take time for a spiritual get-a-way
God gives us what we need
Return to the world
Witness to your experience of God

#1(Take time to get away)
Needing to discern what God wanted him to do, Jesus headed up the mountain. And this time, he took three of the 12 disciples with him.

For many Biblical figures, mountain tops represent a place where one can get away from the crowds and be closer to God. The man who brought the people the 10 commandments… (Moses), he went up on the mountain top and spent time with God. The great prophet, the one who the Jewish people said would return before the Messiah came… (Elijah), he too went on a mountain top to find God. Jesus liked the mountains too. It was where he went to pray and clear his head. Matt. 8:1—When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. Matt. 14:23—and after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.

But not everyone in the Bible goes to the mountain when they want a spiritual get-a-way. Jesus’ predecessor, John the Baptist had a special place where he communed with God. Unlike Jesus who liked the mountains John preferred the desert.

Do you have a place where you can get away from the pull and responsibilities of everyday life? A place with a spiritual feeling to it. A place you go when you need to get rejuvenated, to seek clarity, to be alone; a place where you feel the deep presence of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s natural, it’s important for us to Seek Clarity and Confirmation from God.

As a pastor, we are encouraged to take one day a month for quiet reflection. Every four years we are encouraged to take a sabbatical (one month), where we spend time in reflection and seeking God’s leading for our live. But how does a parent of children, adult child of a sick elderly parent, a young adult still living at home, get away? If that is your reality, you don’t have the luxury of getting away for a day or a week to seek God’s counsel. It’s important work with where you are at this point in your life.

We can go for a walk in nature—we are so blessed here in Chicago with all the forest preserves, the lake front; go to a quiet place in the house, light a candle and sit quietly inviting God into our heart; make a deal with our spouse—each taking a day or half day away. There are hundreds of retreat centers in the Chicagoland area where you can go for a day or more. They are reasonably priced and as private as you need them to be. The key is quiet and away from the normal distractions for daily life. If Jesus needed spiritual time away to get closer to God, how much more do we need to take time away to be with God?
#1—take time for a spiritual get-a-way.

#2: God provides what we need—even when we don’t realize it at the time.
Jesus needed confirmation that he was doing God’s will.

Leading up to the transfiguration Jesus had been at Caesarea Philippi with his disciples. In this very Roman, Pagan, location, Jesus tries to get a reading on who his disciples and the people think he is. Have they figured it out yet? When he asks them, “Who do you say that I am?” his number one disciple Peter, replies, “the Messiah, the son of the Living God.” That must have made Jesus happy that he was getting through to one of his followers. For he says to him, “Blessed are you, Simon…for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…”

Right after Peter’s declaration of who Jesus was scriptures tell us that Jesus began to share with the disciples what God was asking Jesus to do. As the Messiah, Jesus would have to endure great suffering. He would be killed, and on the third day be raised from the dead.

After sharing this with his disciples, Peter, the one who had just called Jesus what? (the Messiah) rebuked Jesus for saying this. Peter could not believe, did not want to believe, that this must happen. And so Peter told Jesus to stop talking such nonsense. Jesus quiets Peter by saying, “Get behind me Satan.”

Sometimes the disciples understand him, but often they do not. Their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah will look like continue to get in the way of their understanding of who he really is and what his mission truly looks like. Jesus must have felt frustrated and disappointed in them.

Soon he would be heading into Jerusalem and the events that he was talking about would take place. The people in power could not handle his counter-cultural teachings that where encouraging the people and questioning their power and authority. He knew his time was running out. How was he going to get the disciples to understand?

Jesus takes time for a spiritual get-a-way and seeks God’s counsel. God does not disappoint him. Jesus receives confirmation from God that he is on track. Note the presence of Moses and Elijah. The two of them are seen “talking to Jesus.” Who else could counsel the Son of Man if not the greatest law-giver and the greatest prophet? Jesus receives what he needs—confirmation that he is doing God’s will.

And what about the disciples? What did they need? They needed to see that Jesus knew what he was talking about. Let me say it another way. The disciples needed to trust Jesus.

Their minds must have still been confused and disappointed by Jesus’ insistence that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer and die. It must have looked to them as if there was nothing but shame ahead. But the atmosphere at the Transfiguration event was all about glory. The disciples are allowed to see Jesus for who he truly was—he was transfigured (transparent) before them shining like the morning sun as it comes up over the lake.

At the Transfiguration, God confirms that Jesus is the Messiah, the one the disciples have been waiting for. And yes, the way he says things will happen is in fact how it will be. Listen to Him. (pause) Surely, this event would have lifted up the hearts of the disciples and enabled them to see the God’s glory through the shame; the triumph through the humiliation; the crown beyond the cross. It is obvious that even yet they did not fully understand, but it must have given them some little glimmer of hope that God was in charge.

Jesus modeled how we go about Seeking Clarity and Confirmation from God. God gave the disciples what they needed--proof that Jesus was the Messiah.

#1: Take time for a spiritual get-a-way.
#2: God provides what we need.

#3: Receiving clarity and confirmation, we return to our daily lives.

Return Home—Jesus didn’t dilly dally on the mountain. He received his confirmation, the disciples were given a glimpse of his true self, and it was time to return to the others. Jesus gathers up the disciples and they walk back down the mountain. It is clear Peter wanted to stay on the mountain and commune (hangout) with Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. He was prepared to erect tents for them similar to the Tent of Meetings that was erected so Moses could speak to God. Peter wished the great moment to be prolonged. He did not want to go down to the everyday, to what Jesus said awaited them in Jerusalem.

This is a feeling we all have experienced at one time or another. There are moments of peace and serenity, intimacy and nearness to God that capture us and make us want to stay in that place forever. However, we cannot stay hidden and secluded in our special place. We must return home. It’s like going on a vacation. A vacation ceases to be vacation if you’re always on vacation.

Or, how many of you have gone on vacation only to need another vacation to recover from your vacation? When we take time for our spiritual get away, we have to make sure we’re focusing on God, that we’re opening ourselves for God to fill us up. We seek God’s confirmation and clarity so that we can return to our lives. We recall that one of the greatest disciples of our time, Mother Theresa, struggled with hearing a word from God. But I suggest to you that she could not have done all that she did if it was not God’s will she was doing. She was connected with God, even if it was not in the way she desired…

What makes the get-a-way special it that we return. When we take time for a spiritual get away, God provides what we need. Even if we don’t know what we received, our time away strengthens our relationship with God—and thus it give us what we need to carry on.

Point #3: Return to the world.
Point #2: God provides what we need.
Point #1: Take time for a spiritual get-a-way.

Point four: Witness to your experiences of God.
On the way back down the mountain, after they have witnessed Jesus ‘ glory, he instructs his disciples to keep silent about all they have seen until after his resurrection. Or to put in another way—They must experience Jesus’ suffering, death and is raised from the dead before they can testify about it.

Jesus knows they are struggling to understand who he is and that they still don’t have a full grasp of what God is doing. He wants their witness to be strong and confident so he asks them to wait. What happens after Jesus is resurrected? He stays with the disciples for 40 days and completes their training. Now they understand what he was trying to tell them. Now they are prepared to receive the Holy Spirit and testify to what they witnessed.

Our Bishop, Hee-Soo Jung, was on a three month sabbatical. In a recent article he shared some of his experiences. He talks about going to “Prayer Mountain” for retreat and prayer. He writes, “I prayed hard to receive direction and guidance for my future journey. I felt myself deepening in God’s arms and yet I could not grasp the clarity I wished to have…After the wrestling of several days, peace was restored to my heart. I found myself enveloped in a profound power and nurture of God and no matter how I turned and tossed; I know I could stay in my dear Lord forever.” (UM Reporter, January 18, 2008 issue) Wow. That’s a witness of an experience of God.

In the scripture reading we heard earlier, Peter witnesses to his experience of Jesus. 2 Peter 1:17-19 (The Message) “We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father… We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. We were there on the holy mountain with him…The prophetic Word was confirmed to us.”

Being a Christian is knowing scripture, knowing what we believe AND it is also having experienced God’s presence, love, and Spirit. When we witness to what we have experienced in our Christian life of faith, our testimony has depth and meaning as Bishop Jung’s and Peter’s.

What stories do you have to share of your relationship with God? What have your experiences of God prepared you to witness to others? So to recap…

Point #4: Witness to your experiences of God.
Point #3: Return to the world.
Point #2: God provides what we need.
Point #1: Take time for a spiritual get-a-way.

Closure
God’s words to the disciples ring in our ears… This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him…

I am reminded about the parable of the talents. Do you remember that one? It’s Matthew 25:1-31 his very last parable recorded in the book of Matthew. Jesus says that that God has entrusted each of us with gifts and talents to be used for the glory of God and the good of others. The Messiah came to save us from our naturally fearful, self-centered selves and to show us another way. We aren’t to bury our gifts or hide them away. We are to discover them, cultivate them and use them for the good of others and the glory of God.

Jesus tells us when we do this, we will hear from God, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Or to say it another way, “This is my child, my beloved. With her I am well pleased..."

Posted by vickie at February 3, 2008 10:00 AM