July 13, 2025 • 42 mins
At the end of life, what truly matters? In this profound exploration of 2 Peter 1:16-21, we discover that Peter—facing his own mortality—chose not to impart new knowledge but to remind believers of timeless truths they already knew.
Against our culture's obsession with novelty and innovation, Peter presents a radical alternative: the gospel never grows old, no matter how familiar it becomes. He recounts his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, where he witnessed Christ's glory firsthand and heard the voice of God proclaim, "This is my beloved Son." Yet remarkably, Peter suggests that Scripture provides even greater certainty than this supernatural encounter.
The sermon unpacks three foundations for unwavering faith: standing on what the apostles' eyes saw, what their lives proved through decades of persecution, and ultimately, the same thing they stood on—God's unchanging Word. As Charles Colson observed about the apostles' testimony: "Twelve of the world's most powerful men couldn't keep a lie going for three weeks during Watergate, yet twelve apostles maintained their testimony for forty years despite torture and death."
For those struggling with spiritual doubts or difficulties, this message offers profound comfort. We don't necessarily need new truths to navigate life's challenges—we need to recall the old ones that have sustained generations of believers. Like a lamp shining in darkness, God's Word provides just enough light for our next step.
The message concludes with Winston Churchill's remarkable funeral planning. After "Taps" signaled day's end, a second bugler unexpectedly played "Reveille"—time to wake up. While mourners witnessed his life's sunset, Churchill wanted to remind them he was experiencing the dawn of something new. What stories of God's faithfulness will you share before your own sunset comes?
If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Please turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter 1, 16-21,
which is on page 1018 in the PewBibles, and follow along as I
read God's Word, for we did notfollow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you thepower and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but we wereeyewitnesses of his majesty, for
(00:23):
when he received honor andglory from God, the Father, and
the voice was born to him by themajestic glory.
This is my beloved Son, withwhom I am well pleased.
We ourselves heard this veryvoice born from heaven, for we
were with him on the holymountain and we have the
prophetic word more fullyconfirmed, to which you will do
well to pay attention, as to alamp shining in a dark place
(00:44):
until the day dawns and themorning star rises in your
hearts, knowing this, first ofall, that no prophecy of
scripture comes from someone'sown interpretation, for no
prophecy was ever produced bythe will of man, but men spoke
from God as they were carriedalong by the Holy Spirit.
This is the word of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Amen.
Thank you, liz.
What's up guys?
Excited to be hanging out withyou this morning.
Hope you've had a really goodweek.
Good weekend, as we sort of hitmid summer, late summer, I'm
going to kick us off,recognizing that summer is the
time when we sort of come and go.
It's one of the reasons wepicked a smaller book of the
Bible.
I'm going to give you justthree quick trivia questions as
we get ready to go.
So we're in.
2, peter.
(01:30):
Question number one you cananswer out loud.
You can compete with the peoplenext to you matters, not to me.
Question number one is Peter atthe beginning, middle or end of
his life as he writes.
2 Peter, I'll give you fiveseconds to think.
Beginning, middle or end.
Five, four, three, two one heis at the end of his life.
Okay, good job.
(01:50):
People who weren't on vacationtwo weeks ago.
Awesome, all right questionnumber.
By the way, I was a historymajor, so I love this kind of
stuff.
Making what some people mightcall boring fascinating is one
of my favorite things in theworld, which is why the Bible is
one of my favorite books.
The fact that it is dustyalways blows me away in so many
homes, because I think it'sfascinating.
All right, question number twoIf we know that Peter is writing
(02:14):
, you're going to have to sortof not look in your Bibles, for
this Is this letter at the endof Peter's life, long or short?
Five, four, three, two, one.
It's incredibly short.
I had an entire sermon point Infact you could build an entire
sermon off of this that I justcut which was we learn so much
(02:37):
about what God thinks about thefamily of God by the fact that
we know that Peter was marriedand we know almost nothing else
about his family.
But we know a.
Peter was married and we knowalmost nothing else about his
family, but we know a lot abouthis feelings toward the
spiritual family.
When he writes this goodbyeletter, which, by the way, is 61
sentences, 20 paragraphs andonly three chapters long.
(02:58):
When he writes this littlebitty letter, we see more, held
by the spirit of God, on whatPeter has to say to you than
what he would say to his bloodfamily at the end of his days.
All right, last trivia.
This is more of a historyquestion.
It will connect, I promise.
Who is this?
(03:19):
Don't answer out loud.
Five, four, three.
You better get this.
One, two, one.
Who is it?
Winston Churchill.
Okay, let me tell you why.
I want to start with WinstonChurchill.
Winston Churchill had what?
Why are y'all laughing at me?
What did I do wrong?
I did it right.
That is Winston Churchill,right?
Okay, all right.
I'm like guys, my Googling isstrong.
(03:41):
Okay, don't doubt my Google.
Are y'all laughing that?
He's doing a peace sign with acigar in his mouth at church?
Y'all can deal with that.
Y'all can deal with that.
That's between you and avertical conversation right
there.
I picked that one on purpose,one because it was my favorite,
but two because of how this manended his life, in a way that
reminds me of how Peter endedhis.
(04:02):
He actually planned his ownfuneral.
No surprise that a man whoplanned war victoriously would
also plan something asconsequential as his own funeral
and the way his funeral went.
Here's a couple of pictures.
Big Ben went silent for aperiod of time.
St Paul's was packed out.
(04:23):
I think it was one of the firstfunerals attended by the royal
family of somebody who was notin the royal family, but he did
something fascinating in theplanning of his funeral that I
think we would do well toremember.
But before I point to that, Iwant to bring us right back to
the text that Liz read for us.
(04:45):
Peter, as he is giving hisfinal words.
Therefore, I intend always toremind you of these qualities,
Though you know them and areestablished in the truth that
you have.
I think it's right, as long asI am in the body, as long as I'm
alive, to stir you up by way ofreminder, since I know that the
(05:08):
putting off of my body will besoon.
I know this because our Lord,jesus Christ, made it clear to
me and I will make every effort.
I may be approaching the autumnor the winter of my life, but I
am going to make every effortso that, after my departure, you
may be able, at any time, torecall these things.
(05:31):
It is my intention to be prettyupbeat today.
I'm not trying to take you to adeep, dark place.
It's summer.
I'm pumped that you guys showedup to church on a summer Sunday
.
I do think it would be wise forus to just take a moment's pause
and ask this question If youhad only a few days or weeks
left, what would you write down?
(05:51):
Who would you write to?
Don't make it rhetorical.
Actually think about it.
You don't have to answer outloud who would be in the top
three of the people that youwould want to leave something
written behind?
Probably your spouse, probablyyour children, best friend,
closest friend, person who ledyou to the Lord.
(06:12):
If you had only three pages todo that on and you had to edit
it down, what would you makesure to include?
When we look at Peter, you canhold the whole letter between
two fingers with almost no spacein between.
In some of your Bibles it willliterally be two pages.
If that is all you have toconvey to an onlooking world
preserved by the Holy Spirit formillennia, what would you leave
(06:34):
behind?
What would you say?
You may say things that thusfar have been left unsaid.
That, by the way, would be agood moment's pause to not wait
to have some conversations youmay be waiting on.
I think most of our minds wouldgo there.
What do I need to say to my dadbefore I go if things aren't
(06:55):
right with him?
What do I need to say to thatrelationship that was broken,
that I never actually repentedof?
Is there somebody that I evertold that I loved them, that I
appreciated what they were, whothey did, what they meant for me
?
But I want you to notice whatPeter does.
He says hey, I'm at the end ofmy life and the best thing that
I can do in fact, I'm going tospend every drop of my effort
(07:18):
I'm not going to tell you onenew thing.
A TED Talk, youtube, tiktokgeneration does not like this
verse.
We want something new.
Hey, will, if this is going tobe a good Sunday, you better
throw some Greek up.
You better teach me something.
There better be something thathits home, so that I'm either
crying or laughing when I'm onmy way to the car.
(07:40):
Peter says hey, I just want toremind you of something.
And while I'm reminding you ofsomething, let me remind you
that I just want you to bereminded.
This is the way that Peter isapproaching the end of his life.
I intend to remind you not justof that.
I want you to know what you arealready established in.
I want to remind you of thingsthat you already know, and this
(08:04):
is the right thing for me to do,to stir you up, to remind you
of things that you already know.
And this is the right thing forme to do, to stir you up, to
encourage you.
I want to give you a vision anda hope for the future, but not
with something new.
I want to give you somethingyou already know and something
you already are establishing.
Peter walked with Jesus.
What is it that Peter realized?
Never got old, the fact thatGod sent his son.
(08:25):
Never got old to Peter, thefact that he got to walk with
Jesus and experience what weread about in the New Testament,
these incredible happenings andsayings and miracles.
Peter's at the end of his lifeand he's like I long for heaven
and I look forward to it.
I mean, heck, I'd love to giveyou something new, but the best
thing that I can do is remindyou of the life of Christ, the
(08:48):
sacrifice of Christ, the factthat he resurrected from the
dead, proving that death doesnot get to hold him, and if we
are in him, it doesn't get tohold me either.
That's a promise he left mewith.
And if you look at these thingsand you're like well, I kind of
know that, I know that, readabout that in the second grade.
(09:09):
I kind of know this.
I would maybe give us one moreconvictional thought as we dive
into this text.
Should it ever get old for usto see God's relentless
generosity, his unmatchedholiness.
Generosity, his unmatchedholiness, undeserved mercy,
(09:29):
unstoppable power, the fact thatGod has the best intentions for
the most unworthy among usShould that really ever be old
news?
I tell you what you tell mewhen you get tired of hearing
those things, and I will tellyou when your heart has become
cold, when your heart has becomemore built on knowledge than
(09:50):
built on enjoying the God whocreated the world and you.
There's a let me just hit pauseon this and move out of
preaching tone for a minute.
Own for a minute.
There's a problem when we thinkour pursuit of God lives here.
There really is.
This isn't just Will's twocents or his opinions.
(10:16):
There is something that happensin the heart of a Christian and
I think for churches that likework expositionally through
books of the Bible, we have highappreciation for lots of dead
guys.
If you like dead guys' writingsmore than living guys' writings
, you're the people I'm talkingto.
By the way, you're my people.
Okay, you know what I likeabout dead people.
They don't shipwreck their lifeand cause me to question
everything they've said thus far.
That's the best part of a deadguy who loved Jesus really well.
(10:38):
I don't have to worry that he'sabout to do something screwy
and now I have to be like well,can I read this?
Can I enjoy that book?
Can I sing that song?
I love it when people die inthe Lord and they die well, and
I can just enjoy everything thatthey've said.
There's something that happensto us when we feel like our
pursuit of God lives here, andthat's what Peter started us
(10:58):
with last week.
Hey guys, I want you tosupplement your faith with
knowledge.
Please don't begin there.
I want you to be led by thisthing and I know it's scarier, I
know that you have a little bitless clarity.
I want you to be led by faith,not by sight.
I want you to be led by faith,not by clarity.
How many of us are constantlypraying that God would give us
(11:20):
clarity, when what we reallyneed is faith to walk and trust
him?
These are things that never gotold for Peter, by the way.
If you feel like knowledge hashardened your heart, you need to
show up next week.
If you know that that is trueof people in your life, you need
to show up next week, becausePeter goes into the paint and it
(11:42):
would be worthwhile, but forPeter, the good news was never
going to be supplanted by newernews.
In fact, paul puts it this wayin Galatians he looks at people
who are finding new knowledgeand Paul says this hey guys, I
am astonished.
Little pause there.
What does it take to astonishthe apostle Paul?
I'll just tell you, I don'tfind myself surprised a lot
(12:06):
anymore.
Maybe it's because I'm in my40s, maybe because our family
operates off of a safety thirdmodel, as many of you know.
Maybe it's because I happen tobe a risk taker.
But maybe it's because I hangout and pastor a church and I
get to hear all your fun storiesof faith and not so much faith.
(12:27):
But what does it take for theapostle Paul to be astonished?
This is what surprised him.
I'm astonished that you're soquickly deserting him, who
called you in the grace ofChrist, and are turning to a
different gospel.
And then Paul's like well, wait, real quick time out.
Not that there is another,there is no other gospel, but
there are some who trouble youand want to distort the gospel
(12:48):
of Christ.
Here's what blew Paul away.
How could you hear the good newsof Jesus?
How could you hear who he is,what he's done, how he's lived,
the invitation he gives to youto receive forgiveness of sins,
the indwelling of the spirit, avision for a life of meaning and
(13:10):
purpose.
How can you hear that and belike, yeah, but where's
Christianity?
2.0?
What about 3.0?
How can I graduate Like, giveme something new, give me
something new.
And Peter's like I got nothingnew to give you.
All the old stuff is the beststuff you will ever be given.
And Paul says look, man, even ifwe are an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospelcontrary to the one we preach to
you, let him be accursed.
If all of a sudden, an angelic,looking being pops up and says,
hey, the real way to heaven,just work really hard, clean up
(13:32):
your life, make it look good.
Even that, paul says ignore it.
If anyone is preaching to you agospel contrary to the one you
received, let him be cursed andput to the side.
I point out Peter and Paul'sjust strength in looking
backward to maybe ask you thishow often do you revisit what
(13:55):
you already know to be true?
Or in your faith, is it just aknowledge that sort of gets
locked up and tucked away and Ionly pull it out if I feel like
I sort of need it in the day.
Are you stirring others up byway of reminder, or let me get
y'all's eyes on this one or areyou feeling like to encourage
someone?
You have to tell them somethingthey've never heard before.
(14:17):
Can I alleviate you of thatpressure?
We went, Karen and I went, andhung out at the WESAC MCG on
Wednesday and I don't know ifthey did this on purpose or not,
but none of the leaders led theconversation.
When the pastor showed up, theylooked at Tim.
Where's Tim?
He's usually very easy to find.
Okay, they looked at Tim andthey're like hey, will's coming,
(14:39):
you're going to lead theconversation.
And I got there and we sat downand had the meal and you know
all the pleasantries andcatching up and fellowship and
stuff like that.
And as soon as Tim sat down, Isaid, all right, guys, let's
open up our Bibles.
I said, hey, tim, highexpectations, very high
expectations.
Blow me away, man, just to messwith him.
(15:02):
Are you stirring other people upby way of reminder, christian,
or do you feel like you need tohave some new knowledge to give
them?
I'll tell you who I think aboutin moments like this.
I think about the fact that Ihad three or four heavy phone
calls yesterday and I almostapologized to the folks I was
(15:23):
talking with and I said you have40-year-old problems and I have
second-grade answers for you.
Probably because I've beenreading this and I didn't feel
any pressure to offer somethingnew.
You're having 40-year-oldproblems.
I have second-grade answers foryou.
Is God good?
Has he always been good?
Have you witnessed that he isgood?
Has he ever let you down?
(15:45):
Has the son ever sat and notrisen in his goodness to you?
I've got second grade answersto 40 year old problems, because
Peter had second grade answersto 40 year old problems.
If you lead a Bible study, ifyou lead an MCG, if you are a
parent with children, if you area parent sitting next to your
children right now, do you feelthe pressure to give them
(16:06):
something new?
Or do you feel the strength ofGod's word saying remind, remind
, recall?
And when you are struggling,are you going to the Lord saying
I need something new from you,lord, or are you able to say I'm
holding a book that is 2,000years old and I could spend
another 2,000, and these thingswill never stop amazing me?
(16:29):
We need to remind ourselvesthat we are made new in old
truths, not just in new ones.
And Peter goes on.
He says look, guys, we didn'tfollow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you thepower and coming of our Lord
Jesus.
We were eyewitnesses of this.
Do you want to know why?
I want to remind you, remindyou, tell you to recall, because
(16:52):
I was an eyewitness of all ofthat list of things in Christ.
He says.
I just want to point back tothe time when I was walking with
Christ, what I experienced withChrist, what the Holy Spirit
has done in me.
Guys, I'm not here to give youmyths.
This is the Greek word mythosand it comes from the concept or
(17:13):
the idea of sort of a legend ora tale, something not based in
fact.
And Peter says, guys, we oughtto be a storytelling people if
God is the one writing our story.
And do you wanna know one ofthe coolest stories I ever got
to be a part of?
Peter says let me tell you,verse 17,.
Y'all remember this.
When Jesus received honor andglory from God the Father, when
(17:38):
a voice was born to him, birthedby the majestic glory, and we
heard this this is my belovedSon, with whom I am well pleased
we heard this very voice,birthed out of heaven.
We were on the holy mountainwith him.
What is Peter talking about?
It starts with a T and endswith an figuration.
(18:00):
What's happening here?
Yeah, okay, if you're not achurchy person, the word that
I'm referring to is thetransfiguration.
If you didn't grow up in thechurch, that's okay.
You're not going to get bonuspoints for knowing that word,
but it is a time in the life ofChrist where Peter he was there.
That's why he's talking aboutit in his last letter.
Peter and James and John wereinvited with Jesus up a mountain
(18:21):
.
They didn't know what was aboutto happen.
Peter started talking a bunch,which was always his problem,
but while they're up on themountain, jesus is transfigured
before them.
Here's the story.
You can read it in Matthew,mark and Luke, but here it is in
Mark.
Oh goodness gracious, do youknow what I did when I made my
notes that?
(18:41):
Oh goodness gracious, do youknow what I did when I made my
notes?
That's Galatians.
That's the Galatians one.
Still good, not what I'mlooking for, though.
Karen Ann, would you make anote?
But I need to fix that slide.
All right, you're already doingit.
Thank you, mark 9.
I hope that I have the versesright, okay.
(19:04):
And after six days, mark 9 too.
And after six days, jesus tookwith him Peter, james and John
and led them up a high mountainby themselves and he was
transfigured before them.
And his clothes.
Way to go, tech team Love it.
And his clothes.
I way to go, tech team love itand his clothes.
I know like, let's be honest,we don't usually get to praise
(19:25):
the tech team for being a stepahead, do we?
So this is, yeah, all right wayto go.
Uh, verse three and his clothesbecame radiant, intensely white,
and as though Mark needed youto know what that meant whiter
than any bleach could bleachthem.
And there appeared Elijah withMoses, and they were talking.
(19:46):
Peter goes on and he says thisis a beautiful thing.
Verse seven and a cloudovershadowed them.
A voice came out of the cloudthis is my beloved son.
I don't want you to miss thisbecause I can't circle it Right
in the middle.
This is my son, my beloved son.
I don't want you to miss thisbecause I can't circle it Right
in the middle.
This is my son, my beloved son,my only son.
Listen to him.
(20:08):
How often in your younger faithdid you say God, you give me
this moment and I will neverdoubt my faith again.
You give me the mountaintopmoment, whether it's lights
flickering, or if you could justmake this song play in the
background.
If somebody sends me a textmessage with a verse, then I
will know God, could you justgive me from you something
(20:32):
incredible like this?
And when it happens in Peter'slife, he says never forgot that.
I never forgot what God said.
And he only said two things.
That's my kid and I love him.
I want you to be my kid too.
Listen to him, listen to whathe is saying.
(20:53):
But there was a message, morethan just listen.
They watched Jesus change.
If you'll go back and throw itback to me, they watched Jesus
change.
If you'll go back and throw itback to me.
This is the Greek word for whatwe see in the text of
transfigured before them.
It's where we get the termmetamorphosis from.
What's happening here in Peter'slife is he is seeing something
(21:16):
that he's never going to forget.
He's going to remind you,remind you.
I want you to recall, with allof the energy he has in the
fleeting days he has left, ifyou want to stand when others
stray.
Here are the three things Ithink Peter wants you to know.
We stand on what their eyes saw.
(21:37):
I know you want to see it.
I want to see it One day, Iwill see it.
But what Peter wants you toknow is that if Jesus wanted to
bring 12 people up top of themountain, he could have.
If he wanted to bring 200 upthe mountain, he could have.
If he wanted it to be, peter,james and Tommy.
That's what we would be readingin the gospels.
(21:57):
But we don't reading in thegospels.
But we don't.
And Peter says what I saw issufficient for your faith.
We stand on what their eyes saw.
What did they see?
A promise that was fulfilled.
Who has believed what he hasheard from us?
Who believes what they haveheard from us?
(22:19):
Who believes what they haveheard from us?
God's word is sufficient inthis form to rescue your soul.
It is sufficient in this formto rescue your soul.
It is sufficient in every formto rescue your soul.
The question is to whom has thearm of the Lord been revealed?
Have you seen the goodness ofGod in your life and called it
(22:40):
that, or are you waiting formore?
Have you seen the goodness ofGod in your life and called it
that, or are you waiting formore?
Have you forgotten the goodnessof God?
So your faith has depleted?
Because here was the promise.
And what they saw on top of themountain, for he being Jesus,
grew up before him like a youngplant, like a root out of dry
ground.
We didn't expect this.
I didn't expect to be on amountain.
I didn't expect to see Jesus inhis glory.
I didn't expect to be on amountain.
(23:00):
I didn't expect to see Jesus inhis glory.
I didn't expect to hear God'svoice come down.
It was like a root coming outof dry ground.
He had no form, no majesty thatwe should want to look at him
at all.
That's who Jesus was.
He had no beauty that we shoulddesire him.
The crowd saw a seed, small,unimpressive.
The crowd saw a seed, small,unimpressive, planted in dry
(23:22):
Galilean soil.
But Peter, in that moment, sawa tree, saw full stature, saw
the fruit, saw the glory thatwas hidden in that seed.
All along Jesus walked andeveryone else saw an earthbound
creature crawling through thedust, but not Peter, not James.
(23:43):
They saw, past the cocoon tothe colors, the wings of the
reality of a savior that wassent.
They, in that moment, had aglimpse of what was real.
The world saw sheet music,black dots on white paper.
But in that brief moment, peter, james and John saw in Christ a
symphony, and they heard it.
(24:05):
When Peter saw it, when Johnsaw it, when James saw it, it
changed everything.
John would talk about it.
He would say beloved, we'reGod's children.
Now, don't get it wrong.
If you have trusted in Christ,you're his kid.
What we're going to be has notyet appeared.
You don't know what you'regoing to look like.
This is one of my favoritequestions.
How old are we going to be inheaven?
(24:26):
Everybody has an opinion onthis.
In fact, just share it with theperson next to you.
If you had to guess what ageyou are in heaven, you got three
seconds's.
What you said, what you justshared, was your peak.
(24:47):
If any of you were in the 40s,I want to hang out with you.
John's like guys.
I don't even know what it'sgoing to look like.
Am I going to look at Ellis andhim be 16?
Or is he going to five?
Is he gonna be as old as me?
That's gonna be a little weird.
How's that gonna work out?
I don't know, but what I willtell you is this when he appears
.
We get to be like him becausewe're gonna see him as he is.
(25:10):
This was written by somebody whosaw Jesus as he was.
You see, we are able to standwhen others may stray from the
faith, not only because we standon what their eyes saw.
We stand on what their livesproved.
I've got another little I don'tknow trivia for you.
(25:34):
This one's going to be harder.
I will literally give you abook if you can tell me who this
is.
It is not Greg Despain's dad.
Take that one off.
Am I wrong?
I mean, am I wrong?
I'm not wrong.
I love watching the historybuffs with the gears spinning.
(25:55):
Oh, does anybody want to try toearn a book?
By the way, did somebody sayBob Saget Need to pray for you,
josh?
This is a guy by the name ofCharles Coulson.
Charles Coulson was the firstguy that was put in prison
during the Watergate scandalwith Nixon.
Here is what he says.
(26:15):
By the way he's thrown inprison.
I made it sound very OldTestament.
I'm sure it went through a dueprocess and all of those things.
He's in prison.
I made it sound very OldTestament.
I'm sure it went through a dueprocess and all of those things.
He's in prison and actuallyreceives Christ.
I think as a result of thatincarceration His life changes
and in his middle age respondsto the gospel and then begins a
(26:36):
prison ministry that goesinternational.
But here is what Charles Coulsonwould say I know the
resurrection is a fact andWatergate proved it to me.
How?
Because 12 men testified theyhad seen Jesus raised from the
dead.
Then they proclaimed that truthfor 40 years.
Remember Peter's words With allof my effort, never once
(26:57):
denying it.
Everyone was beaten, tortured,stoned and put in prison.
Some had their heads cut off,some were crucified, likely
upside down.
They would not have enduredthat if it weren't true.
Watergate embroiled 12 of themost powerful men in the world.
I just want you to consider the12 men who were trusting in
(27:20):
Christ and the 12 men embroiledin Watergate.
And they couldn't keep alivefor three weeks.
You're telling me 12 apostlescould keep alive for 40 years.
Absolutely impossible.
These men who saw Jesustransfigured, the men who didn't
make it to the top of themountain but heard what they saw
(27:42):
, the men who walked with Christ, were willing to spend decades
being abused, mistreated andkilled because they would never
soften the fact of what theyremembered, of what they
recalled.
(28:02):
I will tell you what I thinkwould be wise for every
Christian in the room today.
When we stand to sing, gothrough your history with the
Lord.
When we stand to sing, gothrough your history with the
Lord.
When we stand to sing, remindyourself of the things that God
has done in your life.
What are the stories you haveto tell?
(28:23):
Be reminded of the glimpses ofGod that you have seen, the
prayers that were unanswered,unexpected blessings you didn't
even dare to ask for.
And don't allow the troubles oftoday to crowd out the grace of
yesterday.
If you have not had a glimpse ofChrist this is, by the way, why
I picked the Isaiah passage,because it says to whom the arm
(28:45):
of the Lord has been extended.
I'm telling you now, the Lordis sharing this with you.
If you're not a believer, ifyou're not sure, because he
wants you to get a glimpse ofJesus, a glimpse truly from
those who saw him with theirword preserved for you today.
And if you haven't had aglimpse of Jesus, a glimpse that
changed everything, startpraying now.
(29:05):
Don't wait until I do thelittle wrap up and Bennett's
playing in the background.
Start praying now that Godwould impress upon your heart
what is real, what is true, whatis old but might be very new
for you.
When has God been good and youwitnessed it?
When has he been strong orconstant?
When have you seen his love,his healing, his salvation and
(29:30):
not just salvation of your soul,but salvation from so many
other things?
When have you witnessed that?
Let that run through your mind,let it make you confident over
and over again.
We stand not just on what theysaw, but what their lives proved
.
But Peter says there'ssomething even more sure than
(29:51):
what he saw and the vision hehad.
This is the last thing that I'vegot for you this morning, but
it stands out to me, so I wouldjust hit pause and tell you
something that many of you willnot believe.
It seems like what Peter isabout to say is there is
something more sure to him thanthe voice of God bellowing from
(30:13):
the skies above.
There was something morecompelling than seeing Christ in
all of his glory, and what wasthat?
We ourselves heard this veryvoice born from heaven.
This is a fact.
We heard it, we were with him,we heard, we were with him on
(30:35):
the holy mountain, and we havethe prophetic word, more fully
confirmed, to which you would dowell to pay attention.
How ought we pay attention tothis?
Three ways, like a lightshining in a pay attention.
How ought we pay attention tothis?
Three ways Like a light shiningin a dark place.
(30:57):
How we should pay attention tothis until the day dawns, until
the morning star that's pointingto Christ and his second coming
, until it rises in your hearts.
And the theologians go back andforth on this concept of more
fully confirmed.
Is Peter saying that because ofthis voice, because of this
(31:18):
thing, he is more sure of all ofthe scriptures?
Or is he saying, even with that, it was only one of the many
promises God made?
I just got to watch that one befulfilled.
But what Peter says is this youdon't need a voice from heaven.
What you need is the propheticword fully confirmed.
(31:41):
Let me give you the easiestquestion I'm going to ask.
That is going to separate theway you live your life and how
eternity plays out for youBelieve it or don't believe it.
Do you believe it or don't youbelieve it Because it will
affect everything, from the waythat you love difficult people,
to what you put your value in,to what it is that you think
(32:02):
you're going to say, when youstand before God, whether you
believe there is a God who isactively involved in your life
when good happens, when badhappens.
Believe it or don't believe it.
But Peter says I saw Jesus theway we're going to see him in
heaven.
I heard the voice of God andsomehow was allowed to live.
But do you know what I'mconfirmed on?
Yes, I'm confirmed that whatGod has been saying to us all
(32:25):
along is true.
God's word must and has becomefor him and for us, a light
shining in the dark.
You see, we don't just stand onwhat they saw or what their
lives proved.
We stand on the same thing thatthey did the word of God.
That's it, christian.
(32:45):
That is what you have more thananything else.
This is what we have more thananything else, which is why we
read this together.
Your word God is a lamp to myfeet.
It is a light to my path.
My kids always lose ourflashlights.
I have realized I yell morethan I want to yell.
(33:08):
I'm just confessing to y'all.
I have realized I yell when mykids leave the door open in the
summer.
I feel justified in that.
I don't need your conviction.
I literally walked through theelectric bill with two of them
yesterday.
I will yell at them if theyleave the door open and if they
(33:30):
lose some of my favoriteflashlights when they go on
their little exploits into thewoods.
When I find my tools rustyunder what looks like a homeless
encampment that they call afort, I get a little flustered.
This is not a 10,000 lumen LEDbacked up by a 20 volt lithium.
(33:55):
God has all the power in theworld.
When we were praying for youtoday, what was prayed for you
is God.
May your people realize todaythat your word is a lamp, but
many times it gives us justenough light for the next step?
Just enough light for the nextstep?
(34:18):
You still looking for knowledgeor is faith enough?
Because Peter would say it is.
And if you're saying you'rewalking, don't miss what it
means.
I have sworn an oath.
I have confirmed it with everyeffort.
I am going to give my life toChrist to keep his righteous
rules.
And if that means that for 40years I'm embroiled in being
(34:38):
unappreciated by the peoplearound me, unloved by the world,
attacked by the enemy, I havetaken this oath to love Jesus,
which is why Peter says youwould do so well to pay
attention to this.
One day, the lights will come onfor all of us.
We will see Jesus for who hetruly is.
(35:00):
It will be a pitiable day forthose who do not know him, who
see him in all of his glory, butfor a moment and this is when I
could preach to you about theterrors of hell, but instead I
would just say this those whospend all eternity wishing to
get back to that one glimpse ofJesus in the light, it's what
(35:24):
makes it pitiable.
What makes it pitiable is notthat hell is horrible.
What makes it pitiable is tosee Jesus in all of his glory
and then remember.
Remember and recall where youcould be, instead of being in
darkness.
But for those of us who knowhim, the day will dawn and it
(35:47):
will never set.
We will not be surprised by thepresence of his glory, just the
sheer volume of it.
And though it might cause oureyes to squint, you've got all
eternity to acclimate to thereality that you, you, me, are
(36:09):
invited to be in the light withthe creator.
This is what Peter saw on themountain and it changed his life
.
And he says this isn't myopinion, by the way.
Guys know this.
First of all, no prophecy ofscripture comes from somebody's
(36:29):
own interpretation.
I'm not just giving you Peter'sopinion and you need to verify
with Paul.
No prophecy was ever producedby the will of man.
Men spoke.
You're listening to them,you're reading their words as
you flip through the pages.
Men spoke from God as they werecarried along by the Holy
(36:49):
Spirit.
This is not an opinion or aninterpretation.
It's not produced by the willof man.
This has been brought to yourears today for the past 2,000
years and the many thousandbefore, because God has been
telling the same story.
The question is are you lookingat it from the outside or are
(37:11):
you a part of the story that heis telling?
If you had only a few days orweeks left, if you had only
three pages to write, I wonderwhat you would talk about.
I can't think of anythingbetter than what Peter went with
the stories of God's goodnessto me.
And aren't we glad that Peterdidn't wait until the very end
(37:35):
of his life?
You can read a whole lot morefrom him if you would like to.
He's got more if you want.
But Peter ended his life bysaying remember, because he had
been sort of living the storyall along, and maybe we
shouldn't wait to tell ourseither.
Don't wait to remind your kids,don't wait to encourage a
(37:56):
friend, don't wait to open theword of God.
You're not too late.
The morning star has not yetrisen.
How did Churchill end hisfuneral?
It's one of the reasons Ipicked this sort of like peace.
See you.
Later, as the benediction to hisfuneral was closing out, they
(38:17):
started playing taps signifyingmilitarily, militarily, yeah
that the day was over.
But what people in St Paul'sdid not realize was about to
happen was, as the service endedand a bugler played taps from
one side.
As soon as it finished, anotherbugler exploded into sound and
(38:41):
he started playing reveille.
It's time to get up.
It's time.
Did any of you guys know this?
How cool is Winston Churchill?
It's time to get up in themorning?
Why?
Because while they weremourning him, while they were
watching the sunset of his life,he had the forethought to say
you can mourn me, but can I tellyou what I'm seeing?
(39:02):
I am waking up, I am seeing newlife.
So mourn my sunset, but knowthat I am not.
I am enjoying the best sunrisethat anyone could ever have.
If you are seeing Jesus andwanting your story to be changed
.
You simply need to ask forforgiveness and begin following
(39:26):
him, and you can begin thatright now, where you sit.
You don't need a pastor card oryou don't need to walk forward,
even though we'll have peoplewho would love to pray and hear
what's going on in your life andcelebrate with you or anything
good or hard going on in yourlife.
Anything good or hard going onin your life.
Jesus wants to be seen as aglimpse, so that you would have
(39:48):
stories to tell, because aglimpse of him will change your
story and if it has, tell thatstory, tell it with every effort
that you have left.
Why?
So that we would have a lifeNot full of regrets but full of
remembrances.
Remember what God did for me.
(40:10):
It's not just something for you, it's something for the person
next to you, it's something forthe person that will be in your
life in 10 years.
Our God is a storytelling Godand we ought to be a
storytelling people.
What do you need to remember?
What do you need to recall?
Let's go to him in that way.
Please turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter 1, 16-21,
which is on page 1018 in the PewBibles, and follow along as I
read God's Word, for we did notfollow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you thepower and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but we wereeyewitnesses of his majesty, for
(00:23):
when he received honor andglory from God, the Father, and
the voice was born to him by themajestic glory.
This is my beloved Son, withwhom I am well pleased.
We ourselves heard this veryvoice born from heaven, for we
were with him on the holymountain and we have the
prophetic word more fullyconfirmed, to which you will do
well to pay attention, as to alamp shining in a dark place
(00:44):
until the day dawns and themorning star rises in your
hearts, knowing this, first ofall, that no prophecy of
scripture comes from someone'sown interpretation, for no
prophecy was ever produced bythe will of man, but men spoke
from God as they were carriedalong by the Holy Spirit.
This is the word of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Amen.
Thank you, liz.
What's up guys?
Excited to be hanging out withyou this morning.
Hope you've had a really goodweek.
Good weekend, as we sort of hitmid summer, late summer, I'm
going to kick us off,recognizing that summer is the
time when we sort of come and go.
It's one of the reasons wepicked a smaller book of the
Bible.
I'm going to give you justthree quick trivia questions as
we get ready to go.
So we're in.
2, peter.
(01:30):
Question number one you cananswer out loud.
You can compete with the peoplenext to you matters, not to me.
Question number one is Peter atthe beginning, middle or end of
his life as he writes.
2 Peter, I'll give you fiveseconds to think.
Beginning, middle or end.
Five, four, three, two one heis at the end of his life.
Okay, good job.
(01:50):
People who weren't on vacationtwo weeks ago.
Awesome, all right questionnumber.
By the way, I was a historymajor, so I love this kind of
stuff.
Making what some people mightcall boring fascinating is one
of my favorite things in theworld, which is why the Bible is
one of my favorite books.
The fact that it is dustyalways blows me away in so many
homes, because I think it'sfascinating.
All right, question number twoIf we know that Peter is writing
(02:14):
, you're going to have to sortof not look in your Bibles, for
this Is this letter at the endof Peter's life, long or short?
Five, four, three, two, one.
It's incredibly short.
I had an entire sermon point Infact you could build an entire
sermon off of this that I justcut which was we learn so much
(02:37):
about what God thinks about thefamily of God by the fact that
we know that Peter was marriedand we know almost nothing else
about his family.
But we know a.
Peter was married and we knowalmost nothing else about his
family, but we know a lot abouthis feelings toward the
spiritual family.
When he writes this goodbyeletter, which, by the way, is 61
sentences, 20 paragraphs andonly three chapters long.
(02:58):
When he writes this littlebitty letter, we see more, held
by the spirit of God, on whatPeter has to say to you than
what he would say to his bloodfamily at the end of his days.
All right, last trivia.
This is more of a historyquestion.
It will connect, I promise.
Who is this?
(03:19):
Don't answer out loud.
Five, four, three.
You better get this.
One, two, one.
Who is it?
Winston Churchill.
Okay, let me tell you why.
I want to start with WinstonChurchill.
Winston Churchill had what?
Why are y'all laughing at me?
What did I do wrong?
I did it right.
That is Winston Churchill,right?
Okay, all right.
I'm like guys, my Googling isstrong.
(03:41):
Okay, don't doubt my Google.
Are y'all laughing that?
He's doing a peace sign with acigar in his mouth at church?
Y'all can deal with that.
Y'all can deal with that.
That's between you and avertical conversation right
there.
I picked that one on purpose,one because it was my favorite,
but two because of how this manended his life, in a way that
reminds me of how Peter endedhis.
(04:02):
He actually planned his ownfuneral.
No surprise that a man whoplanned war victoriously would
also plan something asconsequential as his own funeral
and the way his funeral went.
Here's a couple of pictures.
Big Ben went silent for aperiod of time.
St Paul's was packed out.
(04:23):
I think it was one of the firstfunerals attended by the royal
family of somebody who was notin the royal family, but he did
something fascinating in theplanning of his funeral that I
think we would do well toremember.
But before I point to that, Iwant to bring us right back to
the text that Liz read for us.
(04:45):
Peter, as he is giving hisfinal words.
Therefore, I intend always toremind you of these qualities,
Though you know them and areestablished in the truth that
you have.
I think it's right, as long asI am in the body, as long as I'm
alive, to stir you up by way ofreminder, since I know that the
(05:08):
putting off of my body will besoon.
I know this because our Lord,jesus Christ, made it clear to
me and I will make every effort.
I may be approaching the autumnor the winter of my life, but I
am going to make every effortso that, after my departure, you
may be able, at any time, torecall these things.
(05:31):
It is my intention to be prettyupbeat today.
I'm not trying to take you to adeep, dark place.
It's summer.
I'm pumped that you guys showedup to church on a summer Sunday
.
I do think it would be wise forus to just take a moment's pause
and ask this question If youhad only a few days or weeks
left, what would you write down?
(05:51):
Who would you write to?
Don't make it rhetorical.
Actually think about it.
You don't have to answer outloud who would be in the top
three of the people that youwould want to leave something
written behind?
Probably your spouse, probablyyour children, best friend,
closest friend, person who ledyou to the Lord.
(06:12):
If you had only three pages todo that on and you had to edit
it down, what would you makesure to include?
When we look at Peter, you canhold the whole letter between
two fingers with almost no spacein between.
In some of your Bibles it willliterally be two pages.
If that is all you have toconvey to an onlooking world
preserved by the Holy Spirit formillennia, what would you leave
(06:34):
behind?
What would you say?
You may say things that thusfar have been left unsaid.
That, by the way, would be agood moment's pause to not wait
to have some conversations youmay be waiting on.
I think most of our minds wouldgo there.
What do I need to say to my dadbefore I go if things aren't
(06:55):
right with him?
What do I need to say to thatrelationship that was broken,
that I never actually repentedof?
Is there somebody that I evertold that I loved them, that I
appreciated what they were, whothey did, what they meant for me
?
But I want you to notice whatPeter does.
He says hey, I'm at the end ofmy life and the best thing that
I can do in fact, I'm going tospend every drop of my effort
(07:18):
I'm not going to tell you onenew thing.
A TED Talk, youtube, tiktokgeneration does not like this
verse.
We want something new.
Hey, will, if this is going tobe a good Sunday, you better
throw some Greek up.
You better teach me something.
There better be something thathits home, so that I'm either
crying or laughing when I'm onmy way to the car.
(07:40):
Peter says hey, I just want toremind you of something.
And while I'm reminding you ofsomething, let me remind you
that I just want you to bereminded.
This is the way that Peter isapproaching the end of his life.
I intend to remind you not justof that.
I want you to know what you arealready established in.
I want to remind you of thingsthat you already know, and this
(08:04):
is the right thing for me to do,to stir you up, to remind you
of things that you already know.
And this is the right thing forme to do, to stir you up, to
encourage you.
I want to give you a vision anda hope for the future, but not
with something new.
I want to give you somethingyou already know and something
you already are establishing.
Peter walked with Jesus.
What is it that Peter realized?
Never got old, the fact thatGod sent his son.
(08:25):
Never got old to Peter, thefact that he got to walk with
Jesus and experience what weread about in the New Testament,
these incredible happenings andsayings and miracles.
Peter's at the end of his lifeand he's like I long for heaven
and I look forward to it.
I mean, heck, I'd love to giveyou something new, but the best
thing that I can do is remindyou of the life of Christ, the
(08:48):
sacrifice of Christ, the factthat he resurrected from the
dead, proving that death doesnot get to hold him, and if we
are in him, it doesn't get tohold me either.
That's a promise he left mewith.
And if you look at these thingsand you're like well, I kind of
know that, I know that, readabout that in the second grade.
(09:09):
I kind of know this.
I would maybe give us one moreconvictional thought as we dive
into this text.
Should it ever get old for usto see God's relentless
generosity, his unmatchedholiness.
Generosity, his unmatchedholiness, undeserved mercy,
(09:29):
unstoppable power, the fact thatGod has the best intentions for
the most unworthy among usShould that really ever be old
news?
I tell you what you tell mewhen you get tired of hearing
those things, and I will tellyou when your heart has become
cold, when your heart has becomemore built on knowledge than
(09:50):
built on enjoying the God whocreated the world and you.
There's a let me just hit pauseon this and move out of
preaching tone for a minute.
Own for a minute.
There's a problem when we thinkour pursuit of God lives here.
There really is.
This isn't just Will's twocents or his opinions.
(10:16):
There is something that happensin the heart of a Christian and
I think for churches that likework expositionally through
books of the Bible, we have highappreciation for lots of dead
guys.
If you like dead guys' writingsmore than living guys' writings
, you're the people I'm talkingto.
By the way, you're my people.
Okay, you know what I likeabout dead people.
They don't shipwreck their lifeand cause me to question
everything they've said thus far.
That's the best part of a deadguy who loved Jesus really well.
(10:38):
I don't have to worry that he'sabout to do something screwy
and now I have to be like well,can I read this?
Can I enjoy that book?
Can I sing that song?
I love it when people die inthe Lord and they die well, and
I can just enjoy everything thatthey've said.
There's something that happensto us when we feel like our
pursuit of God lives here, andthat's what Peter started us
(10:58):
with last week.
Hey guys, I want you tosupplement your faith with
knowledge.
Please don't begin there.
I want you to be led by thisthing and I know it's scarier, I
know that you have a little bitless clarity.
I want you to be led by faith,not by sight.
I want you to be led by faith,not by clarity.
How many of us are constantlypraying that God would give us
(11:20):
clarity, when what we reallyneed is faith to walk and trust
him?
These are things that never gotold for Peter, by the way.
If you feel like knowledge hashardened your heart, you need to
show up next week.
If you know that that is trueof people in your life, you need
to show up next week, becausePeter goes into the paint and it
(11:42):
would be worthwhile, but forPeter, the good news was never
going to be supplanted by newernews.
In fact, paul puts it this wayin Galatians he looks at people
who are finding new knowledgeand Paul says this hey guys, I
am astonished.
Little pause there.
What does it take to astonishthe apostle Paul?
I'll just tell you, I don'tfind myself surprised a lot
(12:06):
anymore.
Maybe it's because I'm in my40s, maybe because our family
operates off of a safety thirdmodel, as many of you know.
Maybe it's because I happen tobe a risk taker.
But maybe it's because I hangout and pastor a church and I
get to hear all your fun storiesof faith and not so much faith.
(12:27):
But what does it take for theapostle Paul to be astonished?
This is what surprised him.
I'm astonished that you're soquickly deserting him, who
called you in the grace ofChrist, and are turning to a
different gospel.
And then Paul's like well, wait, real quick time out.
Not that there is another,there is no other gospel, but
there are some who trouble youand want to distort the gospel
(12:48):
of Christ.
Here's what blew Paul away.
How could you hear the good newsof Jesus?
How could you hear who he is,what he's done, how he's lived,
the invitation he gives to youto receive forgiveness of sins,
the indwelling of the spirit, avision for a life of meaning and
(13:10):
purpose.
How can you hear that and belike, yeah, but where's
Christianity?
2.0?
What about 3.0?
How can I graduate Like, giveme something new, give me
something new.
And Peter's like I got nothingnew to give you.
All the old stuff is the beststuff you will ever be given.
And Paul says look, man, even ifwe are an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospelcontrary to the one we preach to
you, let him be accursed.
If all of a sudden, an angelic,looking being pops up and says,
hey, the real way to heaven,just work really hard, clean up
(13:32):
your life, make it look good.
Even that, paul says ignore it.
If anyone is preaching to you agospel contrary to the one you
received, let him be cursed andput to the side.
I point out Peter and Paul'sjust strength in looking
backward to maybe ask you thishow often do you revisit what
(13:55):
you already know to be true?
Or in your faith, is it just aknowledge that sort of gets
locked up and tucked away and Ionly pull it out if I feel like
I sort of need it in the day.
Are you stirring others up byway of reminder, or let me get
y'all's eyes on this one or areyou feeling like to encourage
someone?
You have to tell them somethingthey've never heard before.
(14:17):
Can I alleviate you of thatpressure?
We went, Karen and I went, andhung out at the WESAC MCG on
Wednesday and I don't know ifthey did this on purpose or not,
but none of the leaders led theconversation.
When the pastor showed up, theylooked at Tim.
Where's Tim?
He's usually very easy to find.
Okay, they looked at Tim andthey're like hey, will's coming,
(14:39):
you're going to lead theconversation.
And I got there and we sat downand had the meal and you know
all the pleasantries andcatching up and fellowship and
stuff like that.
And as soon as Tim sat down, Isaid, all right, guys, let's
open up our Bibles.
I said, hey, tim, highexpectations, very high
expectations.
Blow me away, man, just to messwith him.
(15:02):
Are you stirring other people upby way of reminder, christian,
or do you feel like you need tohave some new knowledge to give
them?
I'll tell you who I think aboutin moments like this.
I think about the fact that Ihad three or four heavy phone
calls yesterday and I almostapologized to the folks I was
(15:23):
talking with and I said you have40-year-old problems and I have
second-grade answers for you.
Probably because I've beenreading this and I didn't feel
any pressure to offer somethingnew.
You're having 40-year-oldproblems.
I have second-grade answers foryou.
Is God good?
Has he always been good?
Have you witnessed that he isgood?
Has he ever let you down?
(15:45):
Has the son ever sat and notrisen in his goodness to you?
I've got second grade answersto 40 year old problems, because
Peter had second grade answersto 40 year old problems.
If you lead a Bible study, ifyou lead an MCG, if you are a
parent with children, if you area parent sitting next to your
children right now, do you feelthe pressure to give them
(16:06):
something new?
Or do you feel the strength ofGod's word saying remind, remind
, recall?
And when you are struggling,are you going to the Lord saying
I need something new from you,lord, or are you able to say I'm
holding a book that is 2,000years old and I could spend
another 2,000, and these thingswill never stop amazing me?
(16:29):
We need to remind ourselvesthat we are made new in old
truths, not just in new ones.
And Peter goes on.
He says look, guys, we didn'tfollow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you thepower and coming of our Lord
Jesus.
We were eyewitnesses of this.
Do you want to know why?
I want to remind you, remindyou, tell you to recall, because
(16:52):
I was an eyewitness of all ofthat list of things in Christ.
He says.
I just want to point back tothe time when I was walking with
Christ, what I experienced withChrist, what the Holy Spirit
has done in me.
Guys, I'm not here to give youmyths.
This is the Greek word mythosand it comes from the concept or
(17:13):
the idea of sort of a legend ora tale, something not based in
fact.
And Peter says, guys, we oughtto be a storytelling people if
God is the one writing our story.
And do you wanna know one ofthe coolest stories I ever got
to be a part of?
Peter says let me tell you,verse 17,.
Y'all remember this.
When Jesus received honor andglory from God the Father, when
(17:38):
a voice was born to him, birthedby the majestic glory, and we
heard this this is my belovedSon, with whom I am well pleased
we heard this very voice,birthed out of heaven.
We were on the holy mountainwith him.
What is Peter talking about?
It starts with a T and endswith an figuration.
(18:00):
What's happening here?
Yeah, okay, if you're not achurchy person, the word that
I'm referring to is thetransfiguration.
If you didn't grow up in thechurch, that's okay.
You're not going to get bonuspoints for knowing that word,
but it is a time in the life ofChrist where Peter he was there.
That's why he's talking aboutit in his last letter.
Peter and James and John wereinvited with Jesus up a mountain
(18:21):
.
They didn't know what was aboutto happen.
Peter started talking a bunch,which was always his problem,
but while they're up on themountain, jesus is transfigured
before them.
Here's the story.
You can read it in Matthew,mark and Luke, but here it is in
Mark.
Oh goodness gracious, do youknow what I did when I made my
notes that?
(18:41):
Oh goodness gracious, do youknow what I did when I made my
notes?
That's Galatians.
That's the Galatians one.
Still good, not what I'mlooking for, though.
Karen Ann, would you make anote?
But I need to fix that slide.
All right, you're already doingit.
Thank you, mark 9.
I hope that I have the versesright, okay.
(19:04):
And after six days, mark 9 too.
And after six days, jesus tookwith him Peter, james and John
and led them up a high mountainby themselves and he was
transfigured before them.
And his clothes.
Way to go, tech team Love it.
And his clothes.
I way to go, tech team love itand his clothes.
I know like, let's be honest,we don't usually get to praise
(19:25):
the tech team for being a stepahead, do we?
So this is, yeah, all right wayto go.
Uh, verse three and his clothesbecame radiant, intensely white,
and as though Mark needed youto know what that meant whiter
than any bleach could bleachthem.
And there appeared Elijah withMoses, and they were talking.
(19:46):
Peter goes on and he says thisis a beautiful thing.
Verse seven and a cloudovershadowed them.
A voice came out of the cloudthis is my beloved son.
I don't want you to miss thisbecause I can't circle it Right
in the middle.
This is my son, my beloved son.
I don't want you to miss thisbecause I can't circle it Right
in the middle.
This is my son, my beloved son,my only son.
Listen to him.
(20:08):
How often in your younger faithdid you say God, you give me
this moment and I will neverdoubt my faith again.
You give me the mountaintopmoment, whether it's lights
flickering, or if you could justmake this song play in the
background.
If somebody sends me a textmessage with a verse, then I
will know God, could you justgive me from you something
(20:32):
incredible like this?
And when it happens in Peter'slife, he says never forgot that.
I never forgot what God said.
And he only said two things.
That's my kid and I love him.
I want you to be my kid too.
Listen to him, listen to whathe is saying.
(20:53):
But there was a message, morethan just listen.
They watched Jesus change.
If you'll go back and throw itback to me, they watched Jesus
change.
If you'll go back and throw itback to me.
This is the Greek word for whatwe see in the text of
transfigured before them.
It's where we get the termmetamorphosis from.
What's happening here in Peter'slife is he is seeing something
(21:16):
that he's never going to forget.
He's going to remind you,remind you.
I want you to recall, with allof the energy he has in the
fleeting days he has left, ifyou want to stand when others
stray.
Here are the three things Ithink Peter wants you to know.
We stand on what their eyes saw.
(21:37):
I know you want to see it.
I want to see it One day, Iwill see it.
But what Peter wants you toknow is that if Jesus wanted to
bring 12 people up top of themountain, he could have.
If he wanted to bring 200 upthe mountain, he could have.
If he wanted it to be, peter,james and Tommy.
That's what we would be readingin the gospels.
(21:57):
But we don't reading in thegospels.
But we don't.
And Peter says what I saw issufficient for your faith.
We stand on what their eyes saw.
What did they see?
A promise that was fulfilled.
Who has believed what he hasheard from us?
Who believes what they haveheard from us?
(22:19):
Who believes what they haveheard from us?
God's word is sufficient inthis form to rescue your soul.
It is sufficient in this formto rescue your soul.
It is sufficient in every formto rescue your soul.
The question is to whom has thearm of the Lord been revealed?
Have you seen the goodness ofGod in your life and called it
(22:40):
that, or are you waiting formore?
Have you seen the goodness ofGod in your life and called it
that, or are you waiting formore?
Have you forgotten the goodnessof God?
So your faith has depleted?
Because here was the promise.
And what they saw on top of themountain, for he being Jesus,
grew up before him like a youngplant, like a root out of dry
ground.
We didn't expect this.
I didn't expect to be on amountain.
I didn't expect to see Jesus inhis glory.
I didn't expect to be on amountain.
(23:00):
I didn't expect to see Jesus inhis glory.
I didn't expect to hear God'svoice come down.
It was like a root coming outof dry ground.
He had no form, no majesty thatwe should want to look at him
at all.
That's who Jesus was.
He had no beauty that we shoulddesire him.
The crowd saw a seed, small,unimpressive.
The crowd saw a seed, small,unimpressive, planted in dry
(23:22):
Galilean soil.
But Peter, in that moment, sawa tree, saw full stature, saw
the fruit, saw the glory thatwas hidden in that seed.
All along Jesus walked andeveryone else saw an earthbound
creature crawling through thedust, but not Peter, not James.
(23:43):
They saw, past the cocoon tothe colors, the wings of the
reality of a savior that wassent.
They, in that moment, had aglimpse of what was real.
The world saw sheet music,black dots on white paper.
But in that brief moment, peter, james and John saw in Christ a
symphony, and they heard it.
(24:05):
When Peter saw it, when Johnsaw it, when James saw it, it
changed everything.
John would talk about it.
He would say beloved, we'reGod's children.
Now, don't get it wrong.
If you have trusted in Christ,you're his kid.
What we're going to be has notyet appeared.
You don't know what you'regoing to look like.
This is one of my favoritequestions.
How old are we going to be inheaven?
(24:26):
Everybody has an opinion onthis.
In fact, just share it with theperson next to you.
If you had to guess what ageyou are in heaven, you got three
seconds's.
What you said, what you justshared, was your peak.
(24:47):
If any of you were in the 40s,I want to hang out with you.
John's like guys.
I don't even know what it'sgoing to look like.
Am I going to look at Ellis andhim be 16?
Or is he going to five?
Is he gonna be as old as me?
That's gonna be a little weird.
How's that gonna work out?
I don't know, but what I willtell you is this when he appears
.
We get to be like him becausewe're gonna see him as he is.
(25:10):
This was written by somebody whosaw Jesus as he was.
You see, we are able to standwhen others may stray from the
faith, not only because we standon what their eyes saw.
We stand on what their livesproved.
I've got another little I don'tknow trivia for you.
(25:34):
This one's going to be harder.
I will literally give you abook if you can tell me who this
is.
It is not Greg Despain's dad.
Take that one off.
Am I wrong?
I mean, am I wrong?
I'm not wrong.
I love watching the historybuffs with the gears spinning.
(25:55):
Oh, does anybody want to try toearn a book?
By the way, did somebody sayBob Saget Need to pray for you,
josh?
This is a guy by the name ofCharles Coulson.
Charles Coulson was the firstguy that was put in prison
during the Watergate scandalwith Nixon.
Here is what he says.
(26:15):
By the way he's thrown inprison.
I made it sound very OldTestament.
I'm sure it went through a dueprocess and all of those things.
He's in prison.
I made it sound very OldTestament.
I'm sure it went through a dueprocess and all of those things.
He's in prison and actuallyreceives Christ.
I think as a result of thatincarceration His life changes
and in his middle age respondsto the gospel and then begins a
(26:36):
prison ministry that goesinternational.
But here is what Charles Coulsonwould say I know the
resurrection is a fact andWatergate proved it to me.
How?
Because 12 men testified theyhad seen Jesus raised from the
dead.
Then they proclaimed that truthfor 40 years.
Remember Peter's words With allof my effort, never once
(26:57):
denying it.
Everyone was beaten, tortured,stoned and put in prison.
Some had their heads cut off,some were crucified, likely
upside down.
They would not have enduredthat if it weren't true.
Watergate embroiled 12 of themost powerful men in the world.
I just want you to consider the12 men who were trusting in
(27:20):
Christ and the 12 men embroiledin Watergate.
And they couldn't keep alivefor three weeks.
You're telling me 12 apostlescould keep alive for 40 years.
Absolutely impossible.
These men who saw Jesustransfigured, the men who didn't
make it to the top of themountain but heard what they saw
(27:42):
, the men who walked with Christ, were willing to spend decades
being abused, mistreated andkilled because they would never
soften the fact of what theyremembered, of what they
recalled.
(28:02):
I will tell you what I thinkwould be wise for every
Christian in the room today.
When we stand to sing, gothrough your history with the
Lord.
When we stand to sing, gothrough your history with the
Lord.
When we stand to sing, remindyourself of the things that God
has done in your life.
What are the stories you haveto tell?
(28:23):
Be reminded of the glimpses ofGod that you have seen, the
prayers that were unanswered,unexpected blessings you didn't
even dare to ask for.
And don't allow the troubles oftoday to crowd out the grace of
yesterday.
If you have not had a glimpse ofChrist this is, by the way, why
I picked the Isaiah passage,because it says to whom the arm
(28:45):
of the Lord has been extended.
I'm telling you now, the Lordis sharing this with you.
If you're not a believer, ifyou're not sure, because he
wants you to get a glimpse ofJesus, a glimpse truly from
those who saw him with theirword preserved for you today.
And if you haven't had aglimpse of Jesus, a glimpse that
changed everything, startpraying now.
(29:05):
Don't wait until I do thelittle wrap up and Bennett's
playing in the background.
Start praying now that Godwould impress upon your heart
what is real, what is true, whatis old but might be very new
for you.
When has God been good and youwitnessed it?
When has he been strong orconstant?
When have you seen his love,his healing, his salvation and
(29:30):
not just salvation of your soul,but salvation from so many
other things?
When have you witnessed that?
Let that run through your mind,let it make you confident over
and over again.
We stand not just on what theysaw, but what their lives proved
.
But Peter says there'ssomething even more sure than
(29:51):
what he saw and the vision hehad.
This is the last thing that I'vegot for you this morning, but
it stands out to me, so I wouldjust hit pause and tell you
something that many of you willnot believe.
It seems like what Peter isabout to say is there is
something more sure to him thanthe voice of God bellowing from
(30:13):
the skies above.
There was something morecompelling than seeing Christ in
all of his glory, and what wasthat?
We ourselves heard this veryvoice born from heaven.
This is a fact.
We heard it, we were with him,we heard, we were with him on
(30:35):
the holy mountain, and we havethe prophetic word, more fully
confirmed, to which you would dowell to pay attention.
How ought we pay attention tothis?
Three ways, like a lightshining in a pay attention.
How ought we pay attention tothis?
Three ways Like a light shiningin a dark place.
(30:57):
How we should pay attention tothis until the day dawns, until
the morning star that's pointingto Christ and his second coming
, until it rises in your hearts.
And the theologians go back andforth on this concept of more
fully confirmed.
Is Peter saying that because ofthis voice, because of this
(31:18):
thing, he is more sure of all ofthe scriptures?
Or is he saying, even with that, it was only one of the many
promises God made?
I just got to watch that one befulfilled.
But what Peter says is this youdon't need a voice from heaven.
What you need is the propheticword fully confirmed.
(31:41):
Let me give you the easiestquestion I'm going to ask.
That is going to separate theway you live your life and how
eternity plays out for youBelieve it or don't believe it.
Do you believe it or don't youbelieve it Because it will
affect everything, from the waythat you love difficult people,
to what you put your value in,to what it is that you think
(32:02):
you're going to say, when youstand before God, whether you
believe there is a God who isactively involved in your life
when good happens, when badhappens.
Believe it or don't believe it.
But Peter says I saw Jesus theway we're going to see him in
heaven.
I heard the voice of God andsomehow was allowed to live.
But do you know what I'mconfirmed on?
Yes, I'm confirmed that whatGod has been saying to us all
(32:25):
along is true.
God's word must and has becomefor him and for us, a light
shining in the dark.
You see, we don't just stand onwhat they saw or what their
lives proved.
We stand on the same thing thatthey did the word of God.
That's it, christian.
(32:45):
That is what you have more thananything else.
This is what we have more thananything else, which is why we
read this together.
Your word God is a lamp to myfeet.
It is a light to my path.
My kids always lose ourflashlights.
I have realized I yell morethan I want to yell.
(33:08):
I'm just confessing to y'all.
I have realized I yell when mykids leave the door open in the
summer.
I feel justified in that.
I don't need your conviction.
I literally walked through theelectric bill with two of them
yesterday.
I will yell at them if theyleave the door open and if they
(33:30):
lose some of my favoriteflashlights when they go on
their little exploits into thewoods.
When I find my tools rustyunder what looks like a homeless
encampment that they call afort, I get a little flustered.
This is not a 10,000 lumen LEDbacked up by a 20 volt lithium.
(33:55):
God has all the power in theworld.
When we were praying for youtoday, what was prayed for you
is God.
May your people realize todaythat your word is a lamp, but
many times it gives us justenough light for the next step?
Just enough light for the nextstep?
(34:18):
You still looking for knowledgeor is faith enough?
Because Peter would say it is.
And if you're saying you'rewalking, don't miss what it
means.
I have sworn an oath.
I have confirmed it with everyeffort.
I am going to give my life toChrist to keep his righteous
rules.
And if that means that for 40years I'm embroiled in being
(34:38):
unappreciated by the peoplearound me, unloved by the world,
attacked by the enemy, I havetaken this oath to love Jesus,
which is why Peter says youwould do so well to pay
attention to this.
One day, the lights will come onfor all of us.
We will see Jesus for who hetruly is.
(35:00):
It will be a pitiable day forthose who do not know him, who
see him in all of his glory, butfor a moment and this is when I
could preach to you about theterrors of hell, but instead I
would just say this those whospend all eternity wishing to
get back to that one glimpse ofJesus in the light, it's what
(35:24):
makes it pitiable.
What makes it pitiable is notthat hell is horrible.
What makes it pitiable is tosee Jesus in all of his glory
and then remember.
Remember and recall where youcould be, instead of being in
darkness.
But for those of us who knowhim, the day will dawn and it
(35:47):
will never set.
We will not be surprised by thepresence of his glory, just the
sheer volume of it.
And though it might cause oureyes to squint, you've got all
eternity to acclimate to thereality that you, you, me, are
(36:09):
invited to be in the light withthe creator.
This is what Peter saw on themountain and it changed his life
.
And he says this isn't myopinion, by the way.
Guys know this.
First of all, no prophecy ofscripture comes from somebody's
(36:29):
own interpretation.
I'm not just giving you Peter'sopinion and you need to verify
with Paul.
No prophecy was ever producedby the will of man.
Men spoke.
You're listening to them,you're reading their words as
you flip through the pages.
Men spoke from God as they werecarried along by the Holy
(36:49):
Spirit.
This is not an opinion or aninterpretation.
It's not produced by the willof man.
This has been brought to yourears today for the past 2,000
years and the many thousandbefore, because God has been
telling the same story.
The question is are you lookingat it from the outside or are
(37:11):
you a part of the story that heis telling?
If you had only a few days orweeks left, if you had only
three pages to write, I wonderwhat you would talk about.
I can't think of anythingbetter than what Peter went with
the stories of God's goodnessto me.
And aren't we glad that Peterdidn't wait until the very end
(37:35):
of his life?
You can read a whole lot morefrom him if you would like to.
He's got more if you want.
But Peter ended his life bysaying remember, because he had
been sort of living the storyall along, and maybe we
shouldn't wait to tell ourseither.
Don't wait to remind your kids,don't wait to encourage a
(37:56):
friend, don't wait to open theword of God.
You're not too late.
The morning star has not yetrisen.
How did Churchill end hisfuneral?
It's one of the reasons Ipicked this sort of like peace.
See you.
Later, as the benediction to hisfuneral was closing out, they
(38:17):
started playing taps signifyingmilitarily, militarily, yeah
that the day was over.
But what people in St Paul'sdid not realize was about to
happen was, as the service endedand a bugler played taps from
one side.
As soon as it finished, anotherbugler exploded into sound and
(38:41):
he started playing reveille.
It's time to get up.
It's time.
Did any of you guys know this?
How cool is Winston Churchill?
It's time to get up in themorning?
Why?
Because while they weremourning him, while they were
watching the sunset of his life,he had the forethought to say
you can mourn me, but can I tellyou what I'm seeing?
(39:02):
I am waking up, I am seeing newlife.
So mourn my sunset, but knowthat I am not.
I am enjoying the best sunrisethat anyone could ever have.
If you are seeing Jesus andwanting your story to be changed
.
You simply need to ask forforgiveness and begin following
(39:26):
him, and you can begin thatright now, where you sit.
You don't need a pastor card oryou don't need to walk forward,
even though we'll have peoplewho would love to pray and hear
what's going on in your life andcelebrate with you or anything
good or hard going on in yourlife.
Anything good or hard going onin your life.
Jesus wants to be seen as aglimpse, so that you would have
(39:48):
stories to tell, because aglimpse of him will change your
story and if it has, tell thatstory, tell it with every effort
that you have left.
Why?
So that we would have a lifeNot full of regrets but full of
remembrances.
Remember what God did for me.
(40:10):
It's not just something for you, it's something for the person
next to you, it's something forthe person that will be in your
life in 10 years.
Our God is a storytelling Godand we ought to be a
storytelling people.
What do you need to remember?
What do you need to recall?
Let's go to him in that way.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.