Report from the Mountain!
Blake Heffner October 15th, 2006
“Report from the Mountain!” October 15, 2006
Texts: Luke 9:28-36 Psalm 145
INTRO: This morning’s gospel lesson recounts the extraordinary experience of the transfiguration of our Lord. Peter and James and John were so awed by the experience that when they came down the mountain, they kept it all to themselves. They could not begin to describe the event in words, so they simply told no one what they had seen and heard.
In somewhat of a contrast, the psalmist is unable to keep the works of God to himself. Acknowledging that no one can really fathom God’s greatness, nevertheless one generation shall tell of God’s mighty acts to another. They should not try to contain themselves. It is fitting to meditate on God’s wonderful works and proclaim his deeds and abundant goodness!
1. A Report from Bethel and Greenville
Three weeks ago, I stood here and asked for your help. I asked you to pray that I might be endowed by the Holy Spirit with the ability to preach God’s Word with boldness at two small Brethren churches in Western PA, during their annual revival services. Well, I first want to say “Thank you!” From several days before leaving and all through the week, I felt the effect of your prayers. A number of folks out there said, “We’ve been up on the mountain” of the Lord. Rev. Dale Rummel said we were on a spiritual plateau. The Holy Spirit was definitely moving among us. And, I can’t keep quiet about it. Thank you so much, all of you, who prayed so diligently. Our collective prayers were heard and answered – with all the glory going to God!
The revival was not what you might think. People out there are very laid back. They are not emotional; and my preaching wasn’t geared to evoke emotions either. They did not rush to the altar. But, in their own way - by their word of mouth inviting others to come out, by their singing with full hearts and voices, and by their many gestures of hospitality, the folks in the Bethel and Greenville churches expressed their exuberant joy in the Lord. Almost like Peter and James and John, we knew in an indescribable way that we were enjoying a feast of worship and fellowship in the Spirit of God.
2. Just the High Points
A. We explored the love of God the Father, including the fact of His jealousy. That may sound strange, but we learned that jealousy is part of God’s love for us: it is the other side of the coin. On the obvious side, God has loved us from before the world was created and had a plan for our salvation through Christ from the beginning. God regarded Israel as his wife. And this is where jealousy comes in. Most human jealousy is not virtuous, of course. We are all acquainted with the “green-eyed monster.” The virtuous form of jealousy is the natural consequence of marital affection: it is the fierce desire to protect a love relationship or avenge it when broken. Every married person knows or can imagine the strong feelings that come if someone would try to interfere with our marriage bond. That’s how passionately God feels when his people worship or serve anything other than Him. If you want a graphic picture of this, I recommend you read the story of Phinehas in Numbers 25. The bottom line question for us all is are we loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength? Do we love God before everything else or somewhat further down the list of our priorities? Think about it. Are you and I fully devoted to the God who loves us like a husband? Do we offer God the first fruits of our labors? Or, are we offering Him “leftovers” of our time, energy, enthusiasm, trust, & affection?
B. We also focused on the love of God the Son. Here we looked at several examples of surrender to Christ: John the Baptist said of Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Paul declared, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Jesus said simply, “Abide in me and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me… because apart from me you can do nothing.” Friends, the theme of discipleship is nothing new to you. The question is: have you and I given up the idea of walking beside Jesus as equal partners? Or is he truly our Lord and Master? Have we come to the realization that apart from him we can do nothing? Indeed, he must increase and we must decrease!
C. The next evening we focused on God the Holy Spirit. I can summarize the mission of the Spirit’s work with a simple metaphor. It’s been making the rounds on the internet lately: Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. “God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, pride and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.” Pretty neat, eh? Pretty accurate too. Are you wearing your new smiling face today?
3. Another Mountain-Top Experience
While we were preparing to go out to Western PA, we all witnessed another mountain-top experience. It began in a deep, dark valley out near Lancaster, called Nickel Mines. We all watched with stomach-wrenching sadness as the story unfolded about the execution-style shooting deaths of those little school girls in the Amish country. Charles Carl Roberts, IV - a 32-year-old husband and father of three - perpetrated what no one who knew him ever thought possible. This tragedy was unspeakably horrific.
And yet, in the aftermath, the Amish families and friends of the victims took us up the mountain of transfiguration. You must have heard their testimonies. They reached out to Roberts’ wife and children with love and mercy and forgiveness. We could spend all afternoon trying to understand their theology. But, the simple truth is that they take Jesus’ words literally. One woman said: “If you have Jesus in your heart and he has forgiven you… how can you not forgive other people?” These people have taken the whole nation up the mountain of transfiguration. They trust and obey Jesus’ teaching about loving our enemies. They have shown by their words and deeds of love what the kingdom of God is like. Non-Christian folks have no way to comprehend it or explain it. They are speechless – but they realize these are people who truly believe what they say, and live what they believe. It is breathtaking!
Friends, in the light of this event and the witness of the Amish people near Nickel Mines, how can we cling to our relatively petty grievances? We should be ashamed of how slow we have been to forgive each other. Why, last fall, some folks actually told me not to preach about forgiveness. They said that this will take time. Absolutely correct. The Amish acknowledge that the emotional pain and scars from this event will take years to recover from. But, it didn’t take them any time at all to know what the Lord wanted them to do. They didn’t need a sermon on forgiveness to extend it so readily. Yes, we have come through a traumatic event of our own – though far from cold-blooded murder. I am embarrassed that I actually listened to those who said that it was too soon to forgive. The Amish folks of Nickel Mines have proven that theory false. Why should it take Christians who have Jesus in their hearts any time at all to share the forgiveness they’ve known with others who desperately need it? Perhaps we have not all been to that mountain, but it is time for us all to journey there, together. If the love of Jesus is truly in our hearts, then it’s time for us to forgive each other, even if the other person hasn’t asked for it. It’s time to seek the reconciliation through the cleansing blood of Jesus. It’s time to show others are watching that the love of Christ doesn’t merely dwell in Lancaster County. It must dwell in our hearts, and in our fellowship. How often do we pray in the Lord’s Prayer - forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us? It is time to believe what we often say –and to live out what we believe.
Let us pray…
Lord, thank you for the witness of your children near Lancaster. We ask you to bless them in the wake of this utterly terrible experience.
Heavenly Father, that pumpkin picture is really accurate. Forgiveness is not a human virtue; it is a divine gift of your love. Open us up this morning, reach deep down into our hearts and minds and scoop out all our resentment and bitterness, our accusations and sense of self-righteousness. Pour into us, with your Holy Spirit, your incredible love, your grace and mercy, your forgiveness – which reaches out to enemies as well as friends. Only by this transforming process will we ever be able to enjoy the freedom of being your children. Only through letting go, will we be able to receive your joy and peace.
Bless us and keep us in your love, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
From the ABC NEWS Report:
Midwife Rhita Rhoads was present for the births of two of the five girls who were killed and also speaks of forgiving the gunman.
“If you have Jesus in your heart and he has forgiven you … [how] can you not forgive other people?” Rhoads said.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a struggle to go on without a loved one like that,” said Elmer Fisher. His 7-year-old cousin, Naomi Fisher, was among those murdered. “But I think they trust in God that he’s going to take care of them and everything’s going to be fine.”
When asked if Roberts’ wife would still be welcome in the community, Fisher said he believed she would, adding she would be welcome even at the funerals for the dead girls.
Such are the minds of the forgiving. Passages from the New Testament are taken literally in this community, and the Amish believe they need to love their enemies, which may be beyond the ability of most people, especially so close in time to the murders.
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [b]
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. [c]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
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