HEAR HIM
Hear Him
What do you want to hear? Most times, we only hear what we want to hear. We tune off from things we don’t want to hear or pretend we are listening. If we are followers of Christ, we do not have a choice in what we hear. We must hear Jesus, loud and clear.
I love Peter, he is always our test case and we learn so much from his mistakes. Growth is not absence of mistakes but learning from your mistakes and those of others. Peter again tries to hold Jesus ransom by his preconceived ideas of who Jesus is and what He should be doing. We are still doing the same today. My opinion and yours does not change who God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit is. God will remain forever God and in control and in charge of the world He created. No liberal or conservative thinking or ideology can change that.
Peter says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
This he said during the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. Hey, Jesus let’s just hang out here, forget about everyone else and forget about your sole mission on earth. That is not going to happen Peter. The Father quickly rebukes Peter just as Jesus had rebuked him few days prior. Satan does not give up, let’s be warned. “5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Do you “hear Him” or are you hearing yourself in all that is going on around you even good things? The voice of God through his Word and the whispers of the His Holy Spirit in our hearts is the only thing we need to hear. Stop listening to everyone else but God. God will not confuse you but others and yourself will confuse you.
What is God’s will in the matter at hand? God’s will must be done. Jesus had to go to the Cross and nothing was going to stop Him. Our salvation was at stake to be traded for good time on the mountain. We must come down to the valley where there is the dying and sacrifice and where the people who really need salvation are. We cannot stay on the “church building mountain” or the "bible study, retreat and conferences mountain" and refuse to get to the neighbors and community that need the Jesus that lives in us and that can set them free from the stronghold of sin and death.
Who are you hearing and listening to? Lord, help us to hear you today and be doers of your word as James 1:21-22 said. “21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”
Saints, let’s go do what we have heard. Pray for that one today and tell them about the good news of salvation only in Christ’s death and resurrection alone. Make that call, write that letter, forgive that one who hurt you so bad. Yesterday is gone. We can start again today just like the disciples. "Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only". May we see only Jesus today. May God’s grace be sufficient for you and me. Amen.
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
Matthew 17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first[b] and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
What do you want to hear? Most times, we only hear what we want to hear. We tune off from things we don’t want to hear or pretend we are listening. If we are followers of Christ, we do not have a choice in what we hear. We must hear Jesus, loud and clear.
I love Peter, he is always our test case and we learn so much from his mistakes. Growth is not absence of mistakes but learning from your mistakes and those of others. Peter again tries to hold Jesus ransom by his preconceived ideas of who Jesus is and what He should be doing. We are still doing the same today. My opinion and yours does not change who God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit is. God will remain forever God and in control and in charge of the world He created. No liberal or conservative thinking or ideology can change that.
Peter says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
This he said during the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. Hey, Jesus let’s just hang out here, forget about everyone else and forget about your sole mission on earth. That is not going to happen Peter. The Father quickly rebukes Peter just as Jesus had rebuked him few days prior. Satan does not give up, let’s be warned. “5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Do you “hear Him” or are you hearing yourself in all that is going on around you even good things? The voice of God through his Word and the whispers of the His Holy Spirit in our hearts is the only thing we need to hear. Stop listening to everyone else but God. God will not confuse you but others and yourself will confuse you.
What is God’s will in the matter at hand? God’s will must be done. Jesus had to go to the Cross and nothing was going to stop Him. Our salvation was at stake to be traded for good time on the mountain. We must come down to the valley where there is the dying and sacrifice and where the people who really need salvation are. We cannot stay on the “church building mountain” or the "bible study, retreat and conferences mountain" and refuse to get to the neighbors and community that need the Jesus that lives in us and that can set them free from the stronghold of sin and death.
Who are you hearing and listening to? Lord, help us to hear you today and be doers of your word as James 1:21-22 said. “21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”
Saints, let’s go do what we have heard. Pray for that one today and tell them about the good news of salvation only in Christ’s death and resurrection alone. Make that call, write that letter, forgive that one who hurt you so bad. Yesterday is gone. We can start again today just like the disciples. "Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only". May we see only Jesus today. May God’s grace be sufficient for you and me. Amen.
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
Matthew 17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first[b] and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Comments