YouTube video 5UstWgUU220

Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat.

Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat.

Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat.

Heat. [music] Heat. Heat.

Let's [music] get that. Heat. Heat.

[music] >> [music] >> Good morning, church. We welcome you to Calvary Baptist Church this morning. Let's turn our attention to the screens here right fastes [music] of God.

[music] If you want his light to shine in you, [music] this is what you need to do. Hang to God that you're a sinner and repent. Jesus is the son of God.

Seek your faith in Jesus Christ, Savior [music] and Lord. If you want his light to shine in you, that is what you need to do. Let it shine.

Let shine shine shine shine in you. There is not a brighter [music] light to illuminate your life than Jesus. He is the powerful [music] son of God.

If you want his light to shine in you, this is [music] what you need to do. If God sits, we believe that Jesus is the son of God. Seek and put your faith in Jesus Christ as savior and lord.

If you want his light to shine in you [music] shine, let it shine. Let it shine. Shine [music] shine in you.

Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.

Shine shine in you. Let [music] it shine. Do what he did.

[music] Do you know the life he lived? Do you know who Jesus is? [music] Going to tell you now what God said about it.

Going to tell you now. Going to shout [music] it out. Jesus is God's promised son [music] for the Messiah.

His name iser. [music] So glad he came. He's the only one.

Jesus is God's promised [music] son. Do you know who Jesus [music] is? Why he came and what he did?

Do you know [music] >> Mr. Se I want to tell [music and singing] people about Jesus all about what he [singing and music] has done for me. I want to tell people all about [music and singing] Jesus.

All that I want them to see. Jesus Jesus Christ in me. Tell people all about Jesus.

All [screaming] about their son. Tell people all about Jesus. All about the [singing] sea.

>> Jesus. I Jesus shine bright in me. Jesus I love the world.

[music] >> Jesus Christ over So, I have been tasked to speak about the preschool because Miss Angie decided to go on vacation this weekend. But I wanted to start off by saying that Caroline and I worked in the music with your preschool on our biggest day. We had 34 children uh this size uh singing and playing games and doing things with us.

It was always so wonderful though to just watch the progress of the kids. Like the first day they came in 34, they didn't know everybody, so they were kind of quiet. I would stand up front.

Caroline and I would get them going. The leaders would kind of urge them on, but by day four, they knew all the words. They knew all the motions.

And what was even more important, they understood what the songs were about. And even more amazing than that was how they just soaked up all the lessons they learned about Jesus through their crafts, through their games, uh especially through the Bible lesson and then through the songs. So they all were just absorbing all of these lessons about how Jesus is the light of the world.

So when they would come to us, first we'd have them 15 minutes in the morning and then we'd close out in the evening. We would ask them, hey, like uh one day I said, uh, what did you learn today? And one of them told me, well, we learned that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then he he came back alive.

I said, that's right. That's what happened with and he saves us from our sins. And another one said, "Yes, they stapled his hands to that cross." I said, "Oh, you're right.

That's why we do this as the sign for and and of course one of the other older ones corrected and said that was nails. I said you're right. Yes.

And then another day um we were talking to them about how Jesus is the light of the world. Explaining what that meant and and I said all of you can be a light too. Do do you know what that would mean?

And one of them told me yes. when you go in a really dark room and the lights are out and you can grab a flashlight and you are their light and they're not scared anymore. But I thought, you know, they're all that's that's right.

Uh you're not scared when Jesus is your light. So they really even though they don't put it the way we would, they understand about Jesus being the light of the world. So I want to thank the church for allowing us to work with your kids and I want to thank you families for bringing them and they are such a joy to us.

So thank you church. That was station [music and singing] Jesus. He is the light of the world.

[singing] Illumination station join celebration Jesus he is the light of world it's time to down. [music and singing] I love the darkness and you imagine [music] Jesus station. [music] Jesus, he is the light of the world.

[music] Station celebration. Jesus he is the light of the world and no [music] sh [singing] [music] [singing] [music] I am the light of the world [singing] anyone who will never walk in the [music and singing] darkness of the The light [music] of God. I am the [music] light of the world.

Anyone who follows you never the light of God Join the celebration celebration CATE >> [applause] >> OKAY, I tried to pass this job off like a hundred times this morning to anybody wearing a light bulb shirt because I do not like to speak in front of people, but here I am. So I just want to share something that was laid on my heart Tuesday morning when I woke up from the first night of VBS. So there are two ministries um our church does every year that I look forward to more than anything.

The first being Judgment House and then the second is VBS. So almost 10 years ago I gave my life to Christ during Judgment House and today I have the privilege of serving in that same ministry every year. So that serves as a beautiful reminder that God can take the very place where he changed your life and use you to help change someone else's.

For years, I struggled after becoming saved to figure out what my spiritual gifts were and how God could use me. I prayed often and asked God to show me where he wanted to use me. I felt like he kept whispering that one day it'll all make sense.

And then last year it kind of all just clicked. So last year Jeff gave me the opportunity to help decorate VBS. And with that I learned God doesn't give everyone the same gifts.

And that's exactly how he intended it to be. Some are gifted with creativity, others organization, encouragement, teaching, hospitality, communication, positivity, leadership, cooking. That's my mom, not me.

Um, but every [clears throat] gift matters when it's surrendered to him. Over the past few months, I've spent so much time like cutting paper, painting. Um, but it came with the help of so many people who just stepped up and helped listen to all my crazy ideas.

I think I asked Mr. Jeff a million times, "Hey, can you order this on Amazon?" Or, "I need more magnetic hooks." But seeing the joy on the faces of the children as they walk through the doors, hearing them laugh with their leaders, worship with the dance and music team, learn about Jesus and story time, applying the words in craft time, cheering and screaming and encouraging each other in games, which seems to be their favorite part, Mr. Matt.

So, it's been such a blessing. And I just want to use this opportunity to encourage everybody in here. God has given everyone gifts and talents.

And we have such a great church. It's a big church. And I really want to encourage everybody to find your place and to be used.

It's not for our glory. It's for his. And it seriously takes every single person to come together and do these ministries.

And I want to just continue on and show the impact that Calvary has in our community. Could I get all the people that were leaders this time, whether you're wearing this shirt or not, stand up for a second. Let everybody see how many we've got.

They're they're all over. Just give them a hand. I think we've got people from 12 years old to 91 90 or 91 years years old that helped uh this time.

It was fantastic. We collected over a thousand cans of food. Uh we've had we had around a hundred kids participate.

It's been a a real success. And I tell you, she's got a double portion of blessing from God on decorating. [laughter] But I can't I don't want to name individual people because everybody was a key part of it.

And we had so many good we have so much talent in this church that it all came together. And I tell you, every night when I left, I just had joy that just a joy, a a pure joy from from seeing these kids, seeing how everything worked together. And and please next year be a part of that.

I mean, it's something something you can't buy, you know. Next big thing is this. Look up lodge summer camp.

We have about 10 to 14 empty spaces we need to fill. And that's another fantastic thing for the kids. They all have fun.

Nobody doesn't have fun going to camp. So, just think about that. Think about your grandchildren, your children.

That's the next big thing coming up. So, thanks a lot for all the leaders and and everybody that sent their kids to to uh VBS. It was a fantastic time.

Thanks, >> [music] >> What? I [music] found you out of [singing] the darkness. to the truth.

[music] Each day [singing] your mercies are new. I [singing] will follow [music] you. Everywhere I go, everything I do, everyone will [music] live for you.

Your love, your life illuminate every part of me. Your hope, [music] your light shining for eternity. I found you out of the darkness into the truth.

Each day your mercies are new. I will follow you. Everywhere I go, everything [music] will live for you.

Love your light illuminate [music] every part of me. Your hope. Your light shine me for eternity.

Your love. Your light illuminate every part of me. Your hope.

[music] Your light shining me for eternity. Your love. Your light.

Illuminate every part of me. Your hope. Your light.

Shining me for [music] eternity. Your love. Your light.

Illumin. every [music] part of me. Your hope, your light shining me for eternity.

I found forgiveness in you. Out of [music and singing] the darkness into the truth each day of the world, I [singing] will follow [music] you. Didn't they do a good Let's give him a round of applause.

Just one thing we want to remind you of this Wednesday night, we will have no Bible study here at church and uh just a time for you to joy enjoy with your family. And uh but today, we're excited about all of our guests that's here. We thank you for coming.

It's been a wonderful week here at Calvary. And we just thank you for those of, you know, for vacation bible school uh recap. We want to thank you for bringing your children here this week.

It's been a great week and we welcome you this morning. Would you stand as we sing every praise? Let's give [music] God our praise this morning and thank him for all that he's done.

He's worthy to be praised. [music] Every praise is to our [singing] God. Every word of worship with one [music] accord.

Every praise, every praise [music] is to our [singing] God. Sing hallelujah to our [singing] God. [music] Glory hallelujah is to our God.

Every praise, every praise [music and singing] is to our God. Every [music] praise [singing] is to my God. Every word of worship with one [music and singing] accord.

Every praise. Every praise is to our God. [music and singing] Sing hallelujah.

It's to our God. [singing] [music] Glory. Hallelujah.

is to our God. [music] Every [singing] praise, every praise is to our [music and singing] God. Oh, every praise [music] is to our [singing] God.

Every word of worship with one accord. [music and singing] Every praise, every praise [music] is to our [singing] God. Sing hallelujah [music and singing] to our God.

Glory hallelujah is [singing] to our [music] God. Every praise, every [singing] praise is to [music] our God. Am I that you [music] are mindful of [singing] me that you hear me when [music] I [singing] fall?

Is it true [music and singing] that you are thinking of me? How you love [singing and music] me? It's amazing.

Sing. I am a friend of God. [music] I am a friend of [singing] God.

I am a friend of God. [singing and music] He calls me friend. I am a friend of God.

I am a friend [music] of God. I am a friend of God. He calls me.

Who am [music and singing] I that you are mindful of me that you hear me when [singing and music] I? Is it [music] true that you are [singing] thinking of me? How you love me?

It's amazing. [music] I am a friend of God. I am a friend of God.

I am a friend of God. [music] He calls me friend. God [singing] Almighty, [music] Lord of glory, [singing] you have [music] called me praise.

[singing] God Almighty, [music] Lord of [singing] glory, you [music] have me. I am a friend of [singing] God. I am a friend of [music] God.

I am a friend of [singing] God. He calls me great. [music] Give the Lord praise this morning.

Thank you. May be seated. You know, without the cross, there'd be no hope.

Aren't you thankful for the blood today? >> Amen. >> The praise team is going to say, "Oh, sing all the blood.

Oh, the blood crimson love price of life's [singing] deand. shameful [music] sin placed [singing] on him [music] the hope of every man. Oh, the [singing] blood of Jesus washes me.

Oh, the blood [singing] of Jesus shed for me. What a sacriice that saved my life. Yes, the blood.

It is [singing] my victory. Save [music] your son. [singing] Only one slain so I [singing] can live.

[music] Oh, see the [singing] lamb. The great I am who takes away my [singing] sin. Oh, the blood [music] of [singing] Jesus washes me.

Oh, the blood of Jesus shed for me. What [singing] a sacrifice [music] that save my [music] life. Yes, the [singing] blood.

It is [music] my victory. Oh, the blood of the lamb. Oh, [music] the blood [singing] of the lamb.

Oh, the blood of the lamb. The precious blood. What a sacrifice that saved my life.

Yes, the blood. It is my [singing] victory. Oh, but [singing] love, no gater love, grace, how can it [singing] be [music] that in my sin?

Yes, even then he shed his blood for me. [singing] What [music and singing] can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The blood that makes [singing] me whole again. [music] Oh, the blood. Oh, the blood.

How precious is the flow [music] that makes me white. Oh, how [music] precious. What a sacrifice that saved [singing] my life.

Yes, the blood. It is my victory. [music and singing] What a sacrifice [singing] that saved my life.

Yes. The blood. [singing] It is my victory.

My victory. Let's join our hearts together in prayer this morning. Father, we do love you.

Lord, we thank you for the time that we can come and worship you and give you praise. Father, we thank you for all that you've done. How you blessed us, how you meet our needs.

Father, we realize today without the cross, there'd be no hope. Without the blood, there'd be no forgiveness. God, I pray today if there's one here in this place that don't know you, Savior, Lord, and Master, that today would be their day of salvation.

God, would you move in this place like you never move before? Father, I pray for Michael this morning. God, would you touch him and use him this morning?

Father, we honor you and give you praise in Jesus name. Let's stand as we continue worship [music] this morning by singing this [singing] old praise song. Good, good father.

Let's worship him. Give him praise. [music] Oh, [music and singing] thousand stories [singing and music] of one day.

Think your life, but I' heard the tender [singing and music] whisper of love, the dead of night. And you tell me that you're [singing and music] pleasing and I never alone. You're a good good [music and singing] father.

It's who you are. It's who you are. It's who you [singing and music] are.

And I'm loved by you. It's who I am. It's who I am.

[music] That's who I am. [music] >> Oh, and [singing] I've seen many [music] searching for answers far and wide. [music and singing] But I know we're all searching for answers.

[music] Only [singing] you proide just what we need before [singing and music] we say a word. You're a good father. [music and singing] It's who you are.

It's who you are. It's [music] who you [singing] are. And I'm loved by you.

It's who I am. [music and singing] It's who I am. It's who I am.

You are perfect [singing] in all [music] of your ways. You are perfect [singing] in all of your ways. [music] You are perfect in all of your ways to us.

[music and singing] You are perfect in all of your ways. You are perfect in all of your ways. [music] You are [singing] perfect in all of your ways to [music] us.

[singing] >> Oh, it's love [singing] so uniable. [music] I can hardly speak [music] so unexplainable. [singing] I can hardly think as [singing and music] you call me deeper still as you call me.

Deeper still as you [singing and music] call me. deeper still into love. Love God.

You're a good [singing] [music] father. It's who you are. It's who you are.

It's who [music] you are. [singing] And I'm loved by you. It's who I [music] am.

It's who I am. [singing] It's who I am. Good.

Good [music] father. [singing] It's who you are. It's who you are.

It's who you are. [music and singing] And I'm loved by you. It's who I am.

It's who I am. [music] It's who I am. >> Sing this chorus.

[music] I love [singing] you, Lord. Let [music] this be your prayer. And I lift [singing] my voice [music] to worship [singing] [music] you.

Oh [singing] my soul rejoice. [music] Take joy [singing] my king in [music] [singing] what you hear. May it be a [music and singing] sweet, sweet sound in [singing] your [music] singing that one more time.

Lift your voices to him. >> I love you, Lord, [singing] [music] and I lift my voice. Sing it out to him.

to worship [singing and music] you. Oh my soul rejoice [music and singing] take joy my king in [singing and music] what you hear. May it [music and singing] be a sweet, sweet sound in [singing] your >> Now, Father, as [music] we've sang to you, we've lifted you up in praise.

God, we pray that you are pleased with our worship this morning. Now, Father, I pray for Michael as he comes and opens up your word. God, may our hearts be receptive, God.

May may we listen to your voice, God. And I pray today if there's one here they don't know you as master, [music] savior, lord, this is their day of salvation. We claim it in Jesus name.

And all God's people said, "Amen." Oh, there I am. Hey, good morning church. If we didn't get to uh your kid this morning, we are having uh kids worship across the road.

They're welcome to stay here as always. Uh but just wanted to kind of uh let that know be known that if you're first through fifth grade, you can get out of the sermon right now. Uh if your parent will take you uh across the road uh Matthew uh chapter number 17 is uh where we'll begin here in just a few moments.

Uh if you're visiting with us, thank you so so much uh for being here, for being a part of our church family uh this morning. uh unusual morning for us in some ways, but in a lot of ways it's uh the kids, they they began it so beautifully. Um for us, everything that we're going to be about here at Calvary from from the babies in diapers all the way to the senior adults is right here in front of me.

His name is Jesus. And uh that's what we're going to um celebrate. That's what we're going to honor.

That's what we're going to uh teach and lead to the next generation. And uh so if you ever wonder what's what's Calvary about, um I hope the first thing that comes to your mind is Jesus. And uh so that's what we're going to be about.

Uh hopefully uh we are at least I can tell you this uh we're at least one more week closer to getting our pastor back. Uh I think every week, praise the Lord. I don't know when that is, but I just know it's coming.

It we're closer today than we were last Sunday. And uh and I know you're like me. look forward to uh when he stands up here in the b pull pit and he says, "All right, who has your Bible this morning and uh so we're excited about that and uh he is getting better and and uh he'll be here really really soon." Uh I'd be aiss if I missed this this morning.

Uh today is mine and my wife's 17th wedding anniversary. And uh and so are y'all clapping for her that she survived that long with me? Okay, I shouldn't asked that question.

Um this past Friday, uh Pastor Rogers celebrated, uh nine years here on staff with us at Calvary. Um praise the Lord for that. uh uh this today uh Miss Julie, our member secretary, she celebrates uh nine years uh with us as well.

And uh and then last but certainly not least, this past Wednesday, and this is uh worthy of celebration uh this past Wednesday, little Ezra, who's been in the NICU ever since he's been born uh for the last nine months, made his way home this past Wednesday. And uh so yeah, and so we we we truly praise God for that because I know so many of you um have been praying uh for him and uh continue to pray for him. I know so many others are hurting right now where death has hit.

We had a death this weekend. Um and uh so just continue to pray uh for each other and be there for each other. uh if I had a title to my sermon uh here this morning as we get started.

Um I originally was going to name it the God who trusts. And uh if you were here last week, you know that was the name of my sermon last week. And uh it reminded me of a story about a church that was looking for a pastor.

And uh they've been looking for a long time. They've been without a pastor. And so they, you know, do what churches do, form a little, uh, committee to go out and look for a pastor.

And, uh, finally they they found their man. And, uh, he got voted into the church. And, man, just everybody was so excited about, um, what a good theologian he was, uh, how good he was in the pull pit, how he good was out of the pull pit uh, with people.

And uh so he stood up on his very first Sunday and fired off one of the best sermons this congregation had ever heard. It was theologically sound. It was, you know, it was good for them, encouraging to them, equipped them to be able to go out to to their week.

And um so the church just left that Sunday morning just talking about how good their week, their uh message and all was on that Sunday. Uh next Sunday rolled around. Uh they were they were still talking about last week's message.

as a pastor walked in, he steps in the pull pit and he asked him to go to the same uh verse in the same chapter in same book of the Bible and they thought that was unusual. And then suddenly he began to preach the same message and it was almost as good as the week before, but they they were going to give him a little bit of grace. He was new in town.

He's new pastor and uh so they they just gave him a little bit of grace said, "Man, that that sermon was good, too." And and uh just again great sermon. So next week uh he rolled around uh comes Sunday morning he steps in the pull pit ask him to go to the same book same chapter same verse of the Bible again and then that's when people really started you know kind of like what's going on here and so the pastor preached the same sermon again and uh towards the end of that that Sunday uh the deacons uh kind of started talking and hearing from people and they said well if he does this again somebody's going to have to sit him down and talk to him and sure enough before Sunday rolled around and he stepped back in. Same chapter, same verse, same message, same everything.

So, as soon as the uh the um message was over, soon as service over, chairman Deacon said, "Hey, we need to talk to you." And so, pastor invited them into his new office said, "Hey, what can I do with you gentlemen?" And uh the deacons were in there and they said, "Well," said uh we want to know if you've got another sermon. and and he looked at them and he took his glasses off and his fold to his arms and he said, "While yes, I do have another sermon in him." But until you listen to the first sermon, I'm not going to preach the second sermon. And while that's not going to be the case this morning, Lord willing, you will see, if you were here last Sunday, uh some of the resemblance in the God who trusts, I told you that was a theme throughout scripture.

And uh you'll see that. So, instead of titling today's message uh the God who trusts, we're going to entit. I'm going to read the verses for time sake this morning as we go.

And we're just going to kind of point out four simple uh truths that we find uh here in Matthew chapter number 17. Uh Jesus uh just got finished uh feeding the the the 4,000. and he just got finished confessing or Peter's confession and he he just got finished talking about his death.

And then picking up verse number one of uh chapter number 17 in Matthew, it says this. Six days after Jesus took him uh took with him Peter, James, and John and his brother and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. Here on this high mountain, you know this mountain is the mountain of transfiguration.

We'll dive a little bit deeper into that uh here in just a moment. But Jesus had this special invite for these three young men. This invite was extended not to all of the disciples, not to the large crowd who had just dispersed, not to um maybe even more disciples, but it was these three disciples that Jesus specifically invited up to this mountain with him.

Here in a moment you'll see that uh the mountain of transfiguration was a very special moment, very monumental moment in the life and the ministry of Jesus. And not just Jesus but Peter, James, and John as well. And so one of the things I want to kind of point out, one of the very first simple truths I want to point out to you is this was all a part of God's plan.

And so the way that you can look and see that this is God's plan, obviously Jesus is living out being the son of God and being God himself. But whenever you and I read scripture and stuff, I don't want you to ever overlook specific words or or phrases or passages of scripture, for whatever reason, scripture here identifies when this took place. The very first two words, uh it says six days later.

And so, um, there's this identification of when this moment would take place. There's identification of of who this moment is for. It's for Jesus and and these three specific disciples.

And then Jesus identifies where it's going to be. It's going to be on a high mountain. There's a debate among theologians of of this is one of three mountains.

Is it the highest mountain, the second highest mountain, or the third highest mountain in this area? But the bottom line is we know this by verse number one that it was at least a high mountain. And so scripture is very detailed in so many ways in so many places.

And sometimes when we read scripture, we just kind of overlook that. But what I want to kind of point out to you uh is is this idea of God's plan is that before Jesus in this appointed time six days after the previous event before Jesus ever invited these young boys up to this mountain uh to experience this incredible uh experience that they're about to experience. It was years ago, many, many years ago, this mountain was created.

And then you go and look, not only was this mountain created, but many other mountains were created. And one of the most significant things that you'll find and see in scripture is a lot of the pinnacle moments of your faith and my faith happened on the mountain on a high mountain. You think about Moses.

You think about on Mount Si. You think about Abraham on Mount Mariah. You think about Elijah on Mount Carmel.

There's so many others. If you were to read there, there's an exhaustive list of over probably 30 to 40 different mountains in scripture that Jesus used for these special moments, for these special opportunities, and these special things. But long before Jesus ever walked the earth, there was a time in the beginning in of Genesis chapter number one where creation happened, where God designed this.

And I can't help but to think that maybe you and I, we think this way. We think that, well, maybe Jesus just used this mountain. But I often wonder, did God create this mountain for this very purpose?

Did God have a plan for this mountain from the very beginning? When God was designing the universe in the way that he strategically designed a universe, was he thinking about that specific mountain? I mean, you think about whenever you uh do something special, maybe it's for a kid or or maybe it's a present that you buy for somebody or maybe it's a a vacation trip.

you have the people that you're going with or that you give it to or that you're planning it with in mind, right? And so as you're planning these strategic details of this birthday party that might be for your child, you're thinking about what their favorite characters are. You think about what their favorite color is, you're thinking about maybe what their favorite present is.

And you do everything that you can to make sure everything's right in the right place for the right time in the right moment, right? And I think God gives us that because that's kind of how he who he is. That God has a plan that things in your life and my life have not caught us off guard.

And and and I'll just kind of open here uh for you don't know where you're at in life and don't know um if you're if you're in a good place in life, if you're in a place that you're struggling right now, wherever it is that God has you right now, it hasn't caught him by surprise. that whether it's good or whether it's bad. And you'll see this here in a moment.

These the emotions that these disciples played out wasn't exactly um excited emotions. This wasn't, you know, in some ways this is a very scary moment in a very scary season of life for them. But God, he had a plan.

Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah chapter number one that says even before we were ever formed in the womb, that God knew us. That he had a plan. Ephesians tells us that he chose us before the foundations of the world.

You know what that tells me when sometimes I don't understand? Things that God knows and that God had a plan for us from the very beginning. So the first thing that you and I see is uh that God has a plan.

The second thing uh that we'll see here in this verse or in these verses uh beginning verses uh two uh through five is God's presence. Says that he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, is it good for us to be here? If you wish, I will make these three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Verse 5.

And while he was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice out of the clouds said, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him." The whole purpose of Jesus taking these boys on top of this mountain was his presence.

I mean, you you in this day and time and and probably way more than you and I could ever imagine, Elijah was a really big deal. Moses was a really big deal. But specifically, scripture says, "No, they weren't there for Elijah and they weren't there for Moses.

They were there for Jesus." So much so that God comes in and intervenes in the situation, says, "Hey guys, this is my son. This is the one who I'm well pleased in, and you need to listen to him." In other words, God himself was coming down saying, "Hey, disciples, hey, you you guys is is what you're about to go through and what you're about, you need to understand, you need to have a relationship with him." And and I I'll again go ahead and go there with you. I know most of us walk in here today and and hopefully, and Lord willing, you have a relationship with God.

But if you don't, God has been knocking at your heart. And there's some things that are going to go on in your life. There's some things that may have already gone on in your life.

And God's whole design, his whole plan, his whole purpose for all of that, even though sometimes we get it and most of the time we don't get it, is so that you can experience his presence and that you can have a relationship with him. If you are here today and you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, if you don't experience the presence of Jesus on a daily basis, all that you do and all that you see and all that we're part of is really frugal. It's it's really misunderstanding for you because you can't understand creation without having a relationship with the creator of the universe.

And here in this text, the whole plan and the purpose was to have experiencing the presence of Jesus. And that's the same thing for you and I. You see, there's so many things in life that God gives us.

He gives us our children. He gives us moms and dads. He gives us special moments in life.

A wedding day, a birthday celebration, an anniversary. He gives us these mountain highs. and he he gives us these uh just like VBS and an incredible week uh with our kids.

Maybe it's a summer mission trail, maybe it's a summer camp, maybe it's a retreat or a vacation. The reason that God gives you the things and allows you to be a part of the things that you are a part of is not for the enjoyment of just those things. is for the enjoyment of his presence, of having a relationship with him, having a relationship um to be able to to understand these things.

And so those moments shape us because we get to experience and you you can think back on some of the the highest highs that you've ever had. Maybe again it was that wedding day. Maybe it was the birth of that child.

Or maybe it's some other moment, the day that you got saved that we just heard about from Miss Marie. Maybe it was something like that and you remember being in the presence of God. Man, this is so good.

Oh my gosh, God, you are so good to me. Like, I can't believe that you've given me and you've blessed me in this way and you've given this to me in this way. But what sometimes happens whenever God gives us things and God blesses things, sometimes we begin to forget about him.

But God sent us here today to remind us all that you have, all that you're going through is so that you might experience the presence of God. I didn't know if I'd use this illustration, but I'll do it for the hopefully for the sake of time. But um I I think I've got something back here if it didn't get stolen uh by one of the kids.

Uh but you know what this is? This is a a water hose. And uh and and I thought about bringing a really big one up here.

Uh but then I was afraid there might be water in it. And there still may be water in this and hopefully uh Pastor David doesn't kill me. Um but anyways, uh you know what you can do with this?

You can fill things up with it. Uh use it, wash things, that sort of thing. Um so my kids have this uh little uh above ground pool.

Not much size to it. Uh but every year we have to clean it. Um every year, man, like last like this is our second year.

Um we clean it and then we take this water hose and I and I'll take it over to like my well um to our well pump. I don't know if this will stay here. Uh, and then I I take it up I have to walk up this hill.

Um, and then I take it up this hill and I put it into the pool, right? Just like you and maybe fill up your pool or or a barrel or something like that. And uh, so I filled this up a couple probably a month or two ago now.

Uh, and they began they began to play in this pool and just uh really have a good time in this pool. Anytime a cousin comes over, they're like, "Hey, let's go swimming." Um, that sort of thing. And uh and then the other week um we noticed that the pipes on the pool like there's these little plastic pipes had been and cracked and so the water started coming out of the pool and so ordered a thing on Amazon.

I fixed that and so because the water had lowered I had to go back and get my pipe again uh to put water in it. Why? So they could experience the pool uh in a good way again, right?

So I put it back in there uh fill it up. Fills back up. I go over, I turn the water off.

Um, and then like a couple days later, the water's low again. And I'm like, did I I thought I fixed those pipes on the pool. And I went and looked and there was no water coming out of the pipe.

So, I was like like maybe it's just my imagination. I didn't really fill it up really good. Well, a couple days later, I went back by and it was even lower.

Well, then like like a week later, within like 5 days, the pool was all the way down to like there's only this much left. And like all the pipes that it could have leaked out of are up here, you know, at your uh your thighs. And I was like, what in the world has happened?

Like I've either like punctured a hole in this thing with my weed eater um like somebody's like stabbed a knife in it. And uh and then I was I was cutting my grass this week and uh and I was riding around and then all of a sudden hit me of why all the water is out of the pool. And it was this.

Remember I told you I hooked the water up to the well and I walked up the hill and I stuck this in the pool and I filled it up. And then when I went and cut the water off, I unhooked this end. And if you've been there, you've been there.

If not, you're kind of wondering what in the world. And so when I walked away from that, it backed and all the water in the pool went back through the hose. and went out into the the woods and I had no idea like and I was like, "Oh my goodness." And so I don't have a busted pool like pipes hurt and busted like I made a mistake by by using this to fill up the pool for their enjoyment uh for everything that they have.

And and here's where because God was kind of um you know, I was leaning in on this message and stuff and so God kind of use this as a teaching moment for me because so often God gives us something for us and for my kids. It's that pool. Um the pool is no good without the water, right?

I mean, you take the water out, it's no good. and and they get joy from experiencing the water. They get joy from getting in the pool.

They get joy from being able to be in there and splash and to float around and um to tackle each other and to play games and stuff like that. And sometimes what'll happen is is we'll get focused on other things and all of a sudden the very thing that we're meant to enjoy, the water, Jesus, we'll slowly begin to not realize him. slowly begin to step away and then we're left with the thing that he gave us.

Maybe it's our kids, maybe it's our grandkids, maybe it's our job. And we wonder sometimes why we're struggling so much, why things aren't don't make sense, why things are the way that we're and then lo and behold, we don't realize that slowly Jesus began to step away. And before we knew it, our life, whatever we're experiencing, was totally void of Jesus.

I'm here to tell you, Jesus has a plan. And that plan is for you to experience his presence. And without his presence, just like without water in a pool, without his presence, our life is in vain.

Third thing I'll give you, verse 69 says, God prepares. Read verses 6-9 quickly with me. uh says, "When the disciples heard this, they fell down at his face uh face down on the ground and they were terrified." Let me just let me just just stop right here.

A lot of times we think mountain high moments are joy or like excitement. Says the disciples are actually terrified. Um keep reading.

Uh it says that uh uh and Jesus came to get them. He touched them. He said, "Get up and do not be afraid." And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus uh al himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded saying, "Tell no, tell the vision to no one until the son of man has risen from the dead." Jesus was preparing the disciples for another moment in another season of their life. He doesn't all just plan stuff. He doesn't just want us to experience his presence, but God prepares.

That means some of the things that you've gone through in your life thus far in your life, God has prepared you for it already. That like he allowed you to experience things when you were young, when you were uh whenever it was or that crisis, that moment that you went through. Why?

Because he was preparing you. And this crisis moment right here for them, like again, this wasn't like this like, oh, yay. This is awesome moment.

This was a terrifying moment for them and God allowed them to go through that. Not only did did did they get to see the glory of God, but then all of a sudden Jesus says, "Hey, I'm about to go die." And so, so they couldn't like reason this death and this glory of God all together. They were confused.

They didn't understand things. They didn't know like what what in the world's going on here. And maybe sometimes you and I feel like that sometimes, but just know God has prepared us.

And God prepares us for things that he gives us. Uh before uh Pharaoh, Moses met with God. Before Goliath, David learned to trust God.

Before Carmel, uh Elijah was strengthened by God. Before the cross or Pentecost, the disciples walked with Jesus. God prepares us in so many ways.

Last thing we'll mention is found in verse number nine, verse number 13 is this. God's purpose. God has a purpose.

Uh verse number nine, just read it. Uh bottom of that says, "Tell no one until the son of man has risen from the dead." Verse 13, jump down with me. It says, "Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist." And so in this moment as they were coming down to mountain, Jesus was preparing them for a moment that there was to come his death on the cross for your sin and my sin.

But at the same time, suddenly verse number 13, the disciples understood a moment that had previously happened. Why? Because God has a plan.

God prepares us. God God has a purpose for everything um that he does. This is kind of the the pattern of scripture, the pattern of your life, and the pattern of my life is that God invites us into this relationship with him.

And that's where I understand like that's where it's got to start. And if you don't have that relationship, like the next things that we cover, like there's nothing you could like the first thing is he invites you and he prepares you, he equips you and then he sends you, right? That's God's pattern for his life, for for for our life, for the life of these disciples, for Abraham, for Moses, for Elijah, for Isaiah, for the disciples.

This is a repeated theme throughout scripture. Church is wonderful. camp is wonderful.

Bible studies are great. But at some point, we've got to go. Like God allows us to symbol in here to experience.

He's planned this and and he has a purpose for this and and we we come in on Sundays and we want to experience his presence. But then we've got to go. We got to go back to our homes, do ministry.

We got to go to our schools and do ministry. We got to go to our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and to do ministry. God sends us.

And that's exactly what we've experienced and seen here this morning. We meet with God on these mountain moments, experiences that you've had in life, but we can't live there. I mean, Peter wanted to to build these these uh these stones and put them up these and and Jesus like, "No, we've got to go back down." And and I'd like to tell you, and and I think sometimes we have this built up in our minds.

I would like to tell you that life is going to get better once you understand that you need a relationship with God and he has a plan and a purpose for your life. But I I'd be aiss if I told you that these boys' life actually got worse. You see, God has a plan.

He revealed his presence to them on this mountain. He was preparing them not only for his death. He was preparing them for a great purpose.

And that was the purpose of the church. But it would cost each of these young men their life. I mean, you think about it.

Um Peter was told in advance that he'd be crucified. And he was. James, he'd be the first apostle to die for his faith.

And then John was exiled on Patmas and he was the last of the all of them to die. And so in some ways, this moment, this mountain moment in their life was the pinnacle moment that God used to remind them that I will be there with you every step of the way, even unto your death. And maybe here to this morning, you're looking, you're you're you're hoping that man, life is going to get easier for you.

But maybe God's already allowed you to experience his presence in some really incredible ways in your life. And instead of just hanging on to those moments, instead of just staying in those seasons of life, just realize that that God allowed you to go through that. He had a plan and a purpose for that.

And and that things may not get any better, much better at all for you. And that's okay. That's the very reason that he allowed you go through what he allowed you to go through.

It's so that you could be equipped to go through those seasons and those moments. Dr. Adrien Rogers said this because I think about this.

Why why does sometimes some people suffer more than others like and not just in society but in the church among church family like like it seems like sometimes man they they they've got some extra you know dose of uh um of of just struggle in their life. I think they the same thing would be said about these disciples. The way that they ended up living life and for the church and being persecuted and being crucified for for what they stood for.

Adrien Rogers said this said that God doesn't necessarily have favorites, but he has intimates. In other words, there's intimate moments that God has invited you to be a part of in your life. and and that's because he has something for you and he has a purpose and plan for those intimate moments.

But but hear me out. If you've walked away and allow God to be sucked out of what he's given you, you're going to miss God's plan and God's purpose for your life. Charles Swendall said this that you know that Jesus placed his suffering his coming suffering in the text that we just read beside his glory so that the disciples would have hope so that whenever they suffer they've already seen and experienced the glory of God and that they would have hope that they can get through to tomorrow.

And the same thing is true for you and I. You've already seen God. You already know about God's death and and the reason that he comes for the darkness in your life and struggles that you have in your life.

And the purpose is that so that you could have hope. Today's mountain experiences may be preparing for tomorrow's assign assignment, but yesterday's mountain experience may be God's pre preparation for today's assignment for your life. Invite you to bow your head and close your eyes with me.

I don't know what season of life you're in right now, but God does. The very season of life that you're in right now has not taken God by surprise. He's not shocked.

There's a possibility that he even created this season of life so that you can be the man or the woman of God that he's called you and prepared you to be. But that all starts with a relationship with him. As I said last Sunday and I beg you here today, if you don't have a relationship with you, maybe God's with him.

Maybe God's allowing you to go through some of the things that you're going through and misunderstand some of the things that you're misunderstanding simply because he's inviting you into a relationship with him. Then maybe you're here this morning, you're a lot like me. God has been so good to me.

He's given me so much. But sometimes I forget about God. I forget that God got me through some moments.

I forget that God allowed me to experience his presence. The reminder for me and maybe the reminder for you is that God allowed you to go through some of the things you went through and experienced some of the things you went through because there's hope that you're going to get through today. that you're going to get through tomorrow.

But will you lean into him? Will you trust him here this morning? Father, we love you.

God, this was your sermon, your message. God, this is your time. God, I pray that your people would respond to the invite this morning.

And God, if they're struggling with what to do, they're struggling with what's going on in their life. Lord, I pray that you would meet them right here at this altar. Encourage them.

Give them the peace that they're looking for. God, let your will be done. It's your name we pray.

Amen. I want you to stand up as they lead us in worship. This altar is for you.

There's room right around it. The name of Jesus. Would you begin to make your way right now?

You don't have to wait on somebody. This is my >> This is for you. [singing] >> Lord, with all my [singing] heart I worship you.

All [singing and music] I have within you, I give you [singing] praise. All that I [music] adore is in you, Lord. I give you my heart.

I give you my soul. I [singing and music] live for you alone. Every breath that I take, [singing and music] every moment I'm aware, Lord, have [singing and music] your way in me.

Lord, I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I live [singing and music] for you alone.

Every breath that I take, every moment [music] I'm away, Lord, have [singing] your way in me. This is my [singing] desire to honor You Lord with all my heart I worship you. All I have [music and singing] within me I give you praise.

All that [singing] I adore [music] is in you, Lord. [singing] I give you my heart. I give you my soul.

[music and singing] I live for you. Lord, every breath [singing and music] that I take, every moment I'm away, Lord, [singing and music] have your way in me. Lord, I give you my heart.

I give you my soul. [singing] I live for you along. Every [singing] breath that I take, every moment I'm away, Lord, have your way in me.

Why don't you just bow your heads? We're not going to rush this [music] one if you'll continue playing because um it would be a huge mistake if we preached [music] a message and said God invited us in to experience his presence and then we'd rest that [music] moment. So if you need prayer, pray that you talk [music] to God.

You're welcome to come down in this altar. If you're not, won't you pray for the person beside you? Won't you pray that they would experience [music] hope in the season that they're in?

They'd remember the presence of God. [music] Pray for that person that you know is struggling, is having a hard time. Pray for that family member, that friend who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus.

God, thank you for the sweet reminder today. From the little kids to the sermon, everything is about you, about experiencing the real [music] presence of God. God, I pray that as we as you send us this week to our places, to our homes and neighborhoods, Lord, that we wouldn't [music] leave the presence of God here with us, that we would take him, God, that your will and your work might be done this week.

It's your name we pray. Amen. Thank you so so much for listening this morning.

I want to remind you uh no uh service activities this Wednesday. Uh we typically do that on the Fourth of July week. So enjoy some time uh with your family.

Don't don't do anything bad with fireworks. And uh we'll see you next Sunday morning.