It's from Mark's Gospel, Chapter 9. I haven't got a page number. Mark's Gospel, Chapter 9.
It's on page 1012. 1012 if you're using a red-covered Bible.
So this first reading is an introduction to something that is picked up in 2 Peter.
So we're going to read Mark's Gospel, Chapter 9, which is on page 1012, and starting at verse 2.
Mark 9, starting at verse 2.
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 didn't know what to say. They were just so frightened.
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud.
This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen,
until the Son of Man had been raised from the dead.
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what rising from the dead meant.
Now turn with me to 2 Peter, which is on page 1222.
1, 2, 2, 2.
2 Peter, Chapter 1.
It's on page 1222.
2 Peter, Chapter 1, starting at verse 12.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
because I know that I will soon put it aside as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
And I will make every effort to see that after my departure, you will always be able to remember these things.
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ,
but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the majestic glory,
saying,
This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,
and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Well, I'm going to ask Ralph to come up.
I'm going to pray for Ralph.
He can sort himself out then, and then I'm going to give out some pens if anybody wants to take notes.
So, let's pray for Ralph.
Father God, we thank you again for your word.
We thank you for this letter of 2 Peter.
Thank you that your word speaks to us today.
Thank you that we have the privilege and the freedom to have your word in our language.
And we thank you for people like Ralph, for his gifts, for his ability to teach and explain.
And we pray that you would fill him and you would fill us with the power of your spirit,
so that the words we hear change us and transform us.
That the words we hear are not just Ralph's ideas,
but the very words of God speaking into our lives.
Bless him and encourage us,
and may our church be built up as a result of what we do together now.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Over the summer, we're going through the book of 2 Peter,
a number of different people speaking.
So I'm continuing this morning from where Simon brought us the last couple of weeks.
He's brought us through to verse 11 in chapter 2.
So we're picking up as we've read from verse 12.
One of the world's leading lights is fading.
This person is known as the father of his nation,
and he's so well-loved in his country that he's often just referred to by the name Mediba,
which simply means father.
And in this part of the world, we know this person more commonly,
not as Mediba, but as Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994.
I'm sure some of us can remember that time, remember the time that he was released from prison.
It's actually one of my memories when I was younger of him being released and the big occasion that was.
He's led his nation through massive changes,
social upheaval, bringing an end to racial segregation and racial oppression
within the country of South Africa.
But would you believe Nelson Mandela is now 95 years of age?
His remaining time is indeed very short.
And you've maybe seen it recently, the last few weeks,
his worsening health situation has always, it's been in the news almost constantly.
And even though he's been out of politics for quite a while,
it's still a struggle, isn't it, to imagine a South Africa
and even a world without someone like Nelson Mandela, Mediba.
And so many people are asking right now,
how will the message, his message, continue without him?
Without this leading light, how will the message continue?
And as we come to 2 Peter, it's actually a very similar situation in a lot of ways for the early Christian church.
The church was just beginning at this stage to lose some of its leading lights.
The Apostle Peter was one of those, and he had emerged after Jesus had gone.
Peter had emerged as a leader within the church.
And his role was to pass on and to remind people of the light of the gospel,
the good news about Jesus, to tell others and then to keep reminding them.
And he writes in 2 Peter then, and the people he's writing to then are Christians,
because he wants to remind them.
Verse 1, this is how he describes the people that he's writing to.
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
have received a faith as precious as our own.
They have the same faith as he does.
And his main concern in writing is that they would continue to follow Jesus,
as they already have done.
He knows that his time is short, that his light is fading.
So his opportunity to lead by example, to lead by what he says, to lead by his writings,
that opportunity is passing.
And he's just so concerned that they stay with Jesus.
For us sometimes thinking about our death or life after death is a theoretical concern.
It just seems so far away.
But it wasn't for Peter.
He's facing that prospect right now.
He's going to fold up and put away the tent of his body.
And Jesus has made it very clear to him.
Peter is being called home.
And when the master calls, the servant must answer.
When the master calls, the servant must answer.
Look at verses 13 and 14 from chapter 1.
I think it's right to refresh your memory.
As long as I live in the tent of this body,
because I know that I will soon put it aside
as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
Death can bring a real focus.
And for Peter, his impending death is just really honing
what exactly it is that he has to say to these Christians.
What are his final words?
What words does he bring them now with this letter,
with this last opportunity?
Well, just go back one verse.
And this is what he says.
So I will always remind you of these things,
even though you know them
and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
He's writing.
He's taking this last opportunity
to remind them of what they already know
and they already believe.
He's not taking the opportunity
to come up with some new words
or some new message
or to build them and push them in a new direction.
As his light is fading,
Peter just simply wants to remind them
of the things he's already taught them.
The phrase in verse 12,
these things,
it's actually come up before.
If we look back,
it's the qualities, isn't it,
that Simon spoke to us of from verse 5.
The things that should come with faith
that should be added,
goodness, knowledge, self-control,
perseverance, godliness,
all that great list.
And Peter, he says in verse 10,
for if you do these things,
the end of verse 10,
if you do these things,
the things he's listed,
you will never fall
and you will receive a rich welcome
into the eternal kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
it's growing in the practice of these things,
the practice of their faith,
that they will know that they're reaching their goal,
eternal life and a rich welcome,
which is so real for Peter now
because he's reaching the end of his race,
the end of his story.
Keep doing these things
and you will reach your goal.
He wants them to just continue on the same path,
the one that's lit by the good news of Jesus Christ.
We're all called to a living faith,
a living trust in Jesus,
which, as it says here,
is going to light the way to heaven for us
if we continue in these things.
It's a message they already know.
It's a message they're already following.
But Peter isn't making any apologies
for covering old ground.
He isn't tempted to try and spruce things up
with a new message
or to add something in
or to reveal a little nugget
to just get them over the finishing line.
No, he's going back to the same message.
Do you know, we get bored easily.
And you're probably very conscious of that
during a 30-minute sermon.
Our brains, they crave novelty.
They crave new things.
They want an insight,
a new word in order for our brains to cling on to.
And it's always much easier to get excited,
isn't it, about new things
than what is happening in the new
rather than trying to hold on to the old ground.
And it's something that's always happening.
I think with each generation,
each group of people,
as we come along,
you need to make your stamp, don't you?
Young people are always,
that's the encouragement, isn't it?
It's your generation.
It's your country.
It's your government.
You need to make a stamp.
And politicians take this
and they routinely declare that
this issue or that issue
is the civil rights issue of our generation.
And why do they do that?
Because they know that people are bored.
They know that it's hard to hold the old ground.
So they want to get people on board their cause.
Of course, they have their own motive in doing that.
But they want to get us excited about something new,
something we can push,
something we can develop.
So the person with the new message,
the person with the new approach
is often the one that gets our attention, isn't it?
It's not the same old message
that can get us excited, isn't it?
So as we're listening this morning,
we're probably just even a bit bored
that we're still at verse 12
and we have to get to verse 21.
So let's move on.
Sadly, Peter doesn't let us, does he?
As we read 13 and 14 and he's not budging,
I think it is right to refresh your memory
as long as I live in the tent of this body
because I know that I will soon put it aside
as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
He's not one for budging, Peter, is he?
What a boring writer he is.
But let's give him a fair hearing first.
Peter says that this constant reminding
that he's doing,
just look, I've talked to you about
what it means to stay on the path
and I'm going to take a few verses
just to remind you again
of why I'm sticking to that.
I'm going to keep refreshing your memory
as long as I have the tent of this body.
I want to keep your mind on these qualities.
Remember this,
you have a rich welcome
awaiting for you in the kingdom of God.
Keep growing in that direction.
keep adding to your faith
and growing in that direction.
I don't have long left.
But the times I do have,
the precious time,
the days,
the months,
the hours,
I'm going to keep reminding you
of the light that you need
to follow on the path.
You see,
Peter wants them to arrive
safely at their destination.
Okay,
we've had three verses now
of reminding,
refreshing,
reflection.
We get it,
Peter.
Can we move on now?
Well,
he's not finished yet,
is he?
We need,
we do need one more verse.
He's reminded them.
He's promised to always remind them
as long as he lives.
Now he's going to go that one step further.
He's going to make sure
that they can remember these things
even after he's dead.
Verse 15.
And,
I will make every effort to see
that after my departure,
what a wonderful way
to speak about death
for the Christian.
And,
I will make every effort
to see that after my departure,
you will always be able
to remember these things.
That's a bold claim.
How will the light of the gospel,
how will this message
that Peter is champion,
survive his death?
Memories are short.
The new is always there.
What will keep us
on the right message?
And,
what's going to light the way
for us as we want to stay
on this path?
Because we want to get
to our goal of eternal life.
Now Peter's concerned
that to remember the message,
it does feel a little bit
over the top to us,
this constant reminder.
But make no mistake,
Peter and the message
that he had,
how to put it,
were in a competitive environment.
And he knew it.
There were many other voices
making all kinds of claims
and promises.
And not just from outside the church,
but within the church.
So,
believers were there
in their churches
and they were saying,
why listen to this
old message,
the message that Peter
has come with,
the one about Jesus
and the old stories
about Jesus,
when there's other messages
on offer.
They were starting
to look for a new light,
one for their generation
and for their concerns
and for their issues,
one that they could own.
And there were any number
of other Christian teachers
and Christian teachings
for them to listen to.
Even in the early days
of the church,
we think the kind of splits
and the diversity
and the different thoughts
are something new,
but they were all there
back then.
You know,
we're going to hear
lots and lots
about these competing voices
from next Sunday.
If you look,
chapter two
is all about those voices.
There's a whole chapter.
People,
they were known
as Christians,
but the reality
is that they exploited
believers
with made-up stories
and half-baked truths.
Voices that,
as I said,
still exist in the church
today.
That's a bit hard to say.
Maybe I'm being,
you could say,
I'm being alarmist.
Maybe I'm not being
generous or kind enough
or being too judgmental.
to say that there are people
within the church
that are making things up
or that there are people
that are misunderstanding things
and bringing us half-stories.
And there is a danger
of wrongly passing judgment
or to wrongly pass comment
on someone else's experience.
But to not examine
when someone tells us
this is what the Lord says,
to not examine that
is to ignore the words
of the Bible.
And because this is where
Peter is heading,
I think it's good
to look a little bit
into chapter 2.
Not too much.
I don't want to preach
next week's sermon.
But if you look at
verse 2 in chapter 2,
this is what it says
about those people.
Many will follow
their shameful ways
and will bring the way
of truth into disrepute.
In their greed,
these teachers
will exploit you
with stories
they have made up.
good-sounding stories.
Stories all about God,
but not true ones
that come from Him.
They come with
heavenly stories.
They talk about angels.
They talk about demons.
But they really don't know
what they're talking about.
They're actually
slandering celestial beings.
The latter half of verse 10.
Bold and arrogant,
these men are not afraid
to slander celestial beings.
Start at verse 12.
But these men
blaspheme in matters
they do not understand.
You see,
they're essentially ignorant.
But even though they're ignorant,
they don't really know
what they're talking about.
They feel bold enough
to confidently come
and tell us about
what's happening
in the heavenly realms.
They're looking up to heaven
and they're talking about angels
and demons.
But they're just guessing.
They're guessing
about what God's will.
The hidden ways of God.
Things that aren't known to us.
And in doing so,
in trying to bring
these things to us,
they're destroying
the walk of many.
That's the competitive environment
that Peter is in.
That is what he's trying
to protect
the flock from.
So as we read
through chapter 2,
we read that these people,
they offer all kinds of things.
They offer revelry,
feasts, wealth, boasting,
and they come with enticing words.
And they promise freedom.
And who doesn't want freedom?
And much of what they say
sounds good.
And it's much more interesting,
isn't it?
And you could have
a much more entertaining sermon
with all that kind of stuff
than just having to go back
and list the qualities
in chapter 1
from verse 5
to verses 11.
Tempting is it not?
Tempting is it not
for us,
for me to listen
to other stories,
to listen to other voices,
to lend our ears
to other kinds of teaching.
Words that sound good,
but really in the end
they're just empty boastings.
They're not true.
Now I recognize
there is much,
much, much difficulty here
for the believer,
for the Christian,
for me,
for you.
How do we react
and deal with people
that make those
impossible to verify
claims about God's will
and hearing his voice?
It is difficult.
And if I'm honest,
my reaction,
the cowardly reaction
sometimes is just
to try and stay clear
of commenting
where possible.
So when these things
come up,
you just talk around it
or away from it.
You just try and avoid.
But let me encourage you.
You should hold,
we must hold
to the message
we've heard,
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And we must continue
to remind one another,
as Peter is doing here,
remind each other
of that gospel.
So I would ask,
what new message
do we need
than the one
already given
through Jesus?
What new message
do we need
besides the one
that we've already
received through Jesus?
And so in those situations,
I think we can show
in our words
and in our actions
what we say,
a commitment
to the old
and reliable
good news about Jesus.
It is difficult,
you know,
and even with our own
experiences
and the experience
of others,
to walk that path,
to work it out.
And sometimes
we do avoid,
but hold to the truth
yourself,
remind one another,
and help people
to see the worth
of the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Now Peter has
a greater challenge
than any of us
will ever have
in that area.
Peter must show
that his message,
the one that he keeps
reminding them of,
is the true light
of the good news
about Jesus.
You see,
Peter is an apostle,
he's someone who knew Jesus
and he was chosen
by Jesus to lead the church.
And he had that special role
of establishing the message
and continuing it
in the early church
and ensuring
that that scripture
came about.
So Peter
isn't coming
with a second-hand story
that he's made up.
No.
What Peter says
comes from God.
Verse 16.
We did not follow
cleverly invented stories
when we told you
about the power
and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we were eyewitnesses
of his majesty.
For he received honour
and glory
from God the Father
when the voice
came to him
from the majestic glory
saying,
This is my son
whom I love.
With him I am well pleased.
We ourselves
heard this voice
that came from heaven
and we were with him
on the sacred mountain.
I was there,
says Peter.
I was there
on the sacred mountain.
And I can picture
his face lighting up
as he recounts
this story.
The day that Jesus
took three of them
on a trek
and marched them
up the mountain.
Peter, James and John.
And as they walk
up the mountain
I feel that they
should know
that something sacred
is going to happen.
They should know
that something heavenly
is going to take place
because if you ever
read your Bible
you know that lots
of really cool
and exciting things
happen on mountaintops
and mountain places.
And then it happens.
Before their eyes
Jesus is glorified.
This normal looking guy
this average looking guy
he starts to glow
with the brightness
of the sun.
Imagine.
Imagine that.
Imagine taking
a very light piece
of cotton
and the sun
we don't have it today
but the one we've enjoyed
for the last few weeks.
Taking the cotton
and just putting it up
over the sun
and trying to look
at the sun
through that light
piece of cotton
that is what it was like.
The sun of God
was shining
the brilliance of Jesus
trying to look through
that cotton
at the sun
that's what it was like
and Peter sees all of this
right before his eyes
and then he hears
the voice from heaven
and he says
that voice is
the majestic glory
and it's God
the Father speaking
and the voice says
this is my son
whom I love
with him
I am well pleased.
It's as if
the whole of heaven
has opened up
and it touches
the mountain
that day
and it makes
the mountain sacred
Peter says
it's the meeting place
of heaven
and earth
right at that point
and for that instance
what an experience
what a story
imagine being there
of seeing
with our own eyes
the glorified Jesus
of hearing
the audible voice
of God
coming down
from the sky
oh the sights
and the sounds
and the brilliance
of the feeling
of the glory
of God
on our very skin
and this is
the true story
that Peter comes
to share with us
the light
of Jesus
the reliable
first hand truth
about Jesus
that he's God's
blessed son
equal
equal with the divine
father
that's why that voice
came
so Peter can say
among all the other
competing voices
that are out there
all the things
that would look
for attention
listen to me
for I have seen
the light
of Jesus
but still the other
voices
and still they continue
yes Peter's
was amazing
his voice
and his story
and his experience
but others
say they have
similarly amazing
encounters
people today claim
people still say
and people do
have visions of Jesus
and continue to hear
voices from heaven
but how do we know
if these stories
are true
or how do we make
sense of our own
experience of God
if that's true for us
maybe we believe
that we've heard
the voice of God
or we've had a vision
of Jesus
and so the
2000 year old
problem that was
there for Peter
how to distinguish
his message
and the truth
of it
is a problem
that still remains
for us
which light
will we follow
which voice
will we listen
to
and I think
we have two
basic views
that come out
or two different
reactions
we can react
by either dismissing
completely
personal experience
and that whole area
or we can react
by trying to chase
after our own
words from God
and wanting it
but Peter
offers his readers
including us today
a better alternative
to feel like
that we're missing
out somehow
on God's
experiences
or that we
have to somehow
chase after them
and get them
and Peter
is going to tell
them
how they can
take his
real experience
and have a more
sure version
of it
you see
his experience
on the mountain
wasn't meant
to be just
a personal encounter
Jesus had told them
after
told Peter
and James
and John
to tell others
after the resurrection
all about it
it wasn't to be
a personal experience
the light of Jesus
on the mountain
when Jesus was there
was meant to point
to a more
sure light
verse 19
and we have
the word of the prophets
made
more certain
and you will do
well to pay
attention to it
as
to a light
shining
in a dark
place
this Bible
is the more
certain light
Peter's
reminder
after death
remember he was
looking
in verse 15
to somehow
remind them
after his death
of these things
is this sure
light
and we would do
well to pay
attention to it
he says
see how it's
described
it is the light
shining in the
dark place
and the Bible
the scriptures
the word of the prophets
is a more
sure light
than the light
of divine
experience
the Bible
is a more
sure light
than the light
of divine
experience
I wasn't sure
about writing
that
of thinking
like that
and it's hard
to agree
sometimes
with statements
like that
I mean
how can the
words
the words
on a page
be more
certain
than actual
experiences
does that not
bother you
it bothers me
we place such a
high value
on experience
seeing and
hearing something
first hand
is so much
better in our
estimation
or understanding
and getting
information from
a book
isn't it
isn't always
better to
experience
than to read
so given
the option
of reading
how we
should live
as Christians
from the
Bible
or finding
God's will
from some
amazing
happenings
well we're
going to tend
in that
direction
aren't we
we're going
to want
that more
than this
but Peter
and the
holy scriptures
would disagree
what these
verses say
is that
scripture
is a more
certain
guide
than
experience
even
undeniable
experiences
like
Peter's
where
Jesus
is in
front of
us
and an
audible
voice
is coming
from heaven
more
certain
than that
and that
by the way
is
Peter's
experience
is far
far beyond
what often
passes
today
for God
speaking
how can
we trust
the Bible
more than
our own
experience
well I think
we continue
to trust
the Bible
because we
will always
have doubts
about experiences
when something
happens
we have to
take it in
don't we
through our
senses
what we see
what we feel
what we touch
what we hear
and we take it in
and we have to
interpret
and so as we
experience things
we have to
sift those things
through our minds
and through our
hearts
and we have to
make sense
about what they
mean
what's happening
what is God
saying here
and then we're
somewhat vulnerable
aren't we
to all kinds
of thoughts
and all kinds
of motives
do you know
what's reassuring
even Peter
didn't get it
right
he didn't
always get it
right when it
came to his
experiences
and in fact
he didn't even
get it right
to this experience
it's an alarming
thing to say
about an apostle
about a writer
of the New Testament
to say that he
didn't get it
right
so stay with me
as I try to
explain
don't be alarmed
just yet
look back again
at Mark chapter
9 will you
Mark chapter
9
now Mark
chapter 9
is Peter's
own account
from the
gospels
of what he
thought was
happening at
the time
of the
transfiguration
Mark is the
author of the
gospel of Mark
but it's believed
that Peter was
the source
material
the person
that passed
on the
stories and
the information
that allows
the gospel
to be written
so back
Mark chapter
9
and just
two of the
verses
5 and 6
Peter said
to Jesus
Rabbi
it's good
for us
to be here
let us
put up
three shelters
one for you
one for Moses
and one for
Elijah
and then look
at it a little
bit in brackets
he did not
know what
to say
they were so
frightened
Peter's
telling this
all to Mark
he's telling
the story
as he's writing
the gospel
and he's
being truthful
he's being
honest
he says
you know
I saw
all that
happened
and I was
frightened
out of my
wits
at the time
I had no
clue what
this was about
I had no
idea what
was happening
look at
verse 9
and as they
were coming
down the
mountain
Jesus had
to give
them orders
not to tell
anyone what
they had
seen until
the son
of man
had risen
from the
dead
they kept
the matter
to themselves
discussing
what rising
from the
dead
meant
Jesus
Jesus had
to tell
them to
keep it
to themselves
until after
the resurrection
why was that
because Peter
didn't understand
the experience
even though he
had seen it
and heard it
and felt it
he didn't
understand
and what it
took
was Jesus
to rise
from the
dead
and Peter
to understand
that
but then
Jesus
after he
rose from
the dead
he came
and he
spent
I think
a period
of 40
days
before he
ascended
to heaven
and you
know what
it says
he did
during that
time
he opened
up the
scriptures
he opened
up the
old
testament
and said
look here
this is
about me
look here
you don't
understand
the resurrection
but look
there's a
hint of it
back here
and I'm
going to
explain that
to you
all the
scriptures
are pointing
towards me
and so
Jesus knew
that and he
said to
Peter and
James and
John
don't tell
anyone about
this because
you don't
understand
you're not
going to
understand it
until after
the resurrection
until after
I've risen
and come
and explained
it all to
you
it was only
the light
of the
scriptures
that made
any sense
of what
happened on
the mountain
it was only
the light
of scriptures
that made
any sense
of Peter's
experience
for him
and so
the key
thing to
understand
is this
that scripture
didn't come
about by the
author's own
attempts at
interpretation
no scripture
has its
origin in
the will
of God
who carries
the author's
along by
the holy
spirit
and we
need to
come back
now to
2nd Peter
and chapter
1
2nd Peter
chapter 1
and verse
20
above all
you must
understand
that no
prophecy of
scripture
came about
by the
prophet's
own
interpretation
for
prophecy
never had
its origin
in the
will of
man
but men
spoke
from God
as they
were carried
along
by the
holy
spirit
it's a
big area
isn't it
how the
bible
came to
us
what's
in there
the stories
and the
holy
spirit
and how
does all
that work
and I
can't describe
all of that
this morning
and I don't
know all of
it but
I think what
we can say
is that the
events
that are in
scripture are
accurately recorded
by the
authors of
scripture
and we can
see that
you know
when people
talk about
the bible
being a
religious
document
and fabricated
but look
back at
the account
in Mark
and the
honesty of
it
of what
Peter's
saying
it's not
airbrushed
or spun
or there's
no extra
bits added
in to try
and explain
it away
Peter doesn't
come across
particularly
well
he's frightened
he doesn't
know what's
happening
the account
is honest
and the
holy spirit
works and he
takes these
experiences
the things
they didn't
understand
and he
ensures that
the words
of scripture
are not
just the
author's
own ideas
about what
happened
but are
the very
words of
God
the choice
of the
stories
the way
they fit
together
to make
a story
the way
that the
whole
scripture
from
Genesis
to
Revelation
fits
together
is all
of God's
work
yes God
is involved
in the
divine
experiences
but he
is also
involved
in the
capturing
of those
experiences
those events
onto the
pages
of scripture
to ensure
that yes
the Bible
has many
authors
maybe 40
40 human
authors
but there
is only
one divine
author
over it
all
that is
why
Psalm
119
says
your word
is a lamp
unto my
feet
and a
light
unto my
path
you see
it is the
true and
reliable
light
it guides
us as
to how
we live
and how
we're to
go each
step along
the way
so we
can look
back over
verses 5
and 11
the things
that Peter
is wanting
to remind
them of
and we
can see
how those
words
guide us
and help
us along
the way
it says
how we
are to
live
as believers
what it
means to
be a
person of
faith
it means
that all
these other
qualities
and characteristics
will emerge
and grow
and be added
to our
gift of
faith that
we have
from God
so that
one day
we're going
to get to
the end
of that
path
and reach
our
heavenly
home
scripture
the bible
is the
bright light
to guide
us on
that path
it's
it's really
how we
can today
think about
it
2000 years
later
in Ireland
see
Jesus
see Jesus
standing on
that mountaintop
a Judean
mountaintop
2000 years
ago
it is through
the pages
of scripture
so given
what we
have
in scripture
the reliable
first hand
accounts
of God's
dealings
with people
all of
which are
interpreted
by God
I guess
the question
is why
would we
chase after
other stories
or our
own
interpretation
or our
own
experiences
of the
word of
God
that often
prove to be
unreliable
why
leave
the certain
light of
scripture
for an
uncertain
guide
that's why
Peter starts
or says
in verse 12
remember
Peter says
remember
these things
and then he
says you
will do
well
you will
do well
to pay
attention
to the
scriptures
maybe you're
a bit
disappointed
this morning
that we
can't
in a sense
repeat the
wonderful
mountaintop
experience
of Peter
I wish
that was
the new
message
in some
ways that I
could bring
to you
but it's
not
Jesus
Jesus has
come and
gone
the
transfiguration
that that
glorification
of Jesus
was just
a passing
glimpse
it was over
so quickly
a passing
taste of
the risen
Jesus
and it
was Peter's
experience
thankfully
recorded for
us in the
scripture
so today
today we can
be guided by
that sure
word
and this
is why
Peter tells
them
of the
need to
always
remember
the
message
the
qualities
these
things
that's
why he
tells them
of the
light of
his own
experience
that's why
he tells
them of the
more certain
light of
scripture
as a
guide
maybe I do
something new
there's one
more light
left
there is one
more light
left
for us
and this
is one
that we're
all going
to see
just in
case we
feel we're
missing out
on our
mountaintop
experience
there is
one light
there's a
wonderful
message
and it's
tucked away
it's tucked
away in
verse 19
we skipped
over it
verse 19
and we
have the
word of
the
prophets
made more
certain
and you
will do
well to
pay attention
to it
as to a
light shining
in a dark
place
until the
day dawns
and the
morning star
rises in
your hearts
you see
there's a
wonderful
time limit
on the
light of
scripture
peter says
yes it
will be
our light
shining
in a
dark
place
but only
until
the day
dawns
and the
morning star
rises in
your hearts
did you
forget
that you
only need
a light
as long
as it's
dark
did you
forget
that
the bible
tells us
that we're
walking
yes it's
dark days
we don't
see Jesus
we don't
see his
rule
we're living
in a
dark
day
but one
day soon
a new
day
is going
to dawn
and when
the dawn
comes
the lamp
and the
light
it's no
longer
needed
to guide
our
path
on that
day
Christ
in his
brilliant
radiance
is going
to come
again
and on
that day
Jesus
is the
morning star
rising in
our hearts
we weren't
there for his
first coming
we weren't
there for the
transfiguration
but we're
going to have
front row seats
for his
second coming
on that
day
we will
all have
our
mountaintop
experience
one that's
already been
written about
in the
reliable
words of
the bible
you just
need to
look at
you don't
need to
turn
first
thessalonians
chapter 4
verse 15
onwards and
this is what
it says
this will be
our experience
on that
day the
lord will
descend
from heaven
with a
loud command
and he'll
have the
voice of
the archangel
and there'll
be the
trumpet call
of god
and this
time we
won't be
standing
around in
confused
fear
wondering
what's
happening
no this
time the
brightness of
the glorified
jesus
looking at
that sun
through the
cotton
sheet
it won't
switch off
it won't
be temporary
and this
time there's
going to be
more than
three people
on a
mountaintop
that's going
to hear
this voice
from heaven
for everyone
everyone who
ever died
trusting in
the gospel
trusting in
jesus is
going to
hear that
call
and they're
all discarded
tents
the all
discarded tents
are going to
rise
and we who
are still alive
are going to
hear the voice
from heaven
and we're
going to
see the
illuminated
and glorified
jesus the
conquering king
as he comes
down then my
friends we're
not going to
have to hike
up a mountain
no jesus
himself is
going to
pull us
and pull us
up from the
earth to
meet him in
the sky as
he comes we're
going to be
caught up
side by side
we will be
with the king
of heaven as
he finally
comes down
as heaven
finally comes
and rests
upon the earth
you see the
transfiguration was
but a glimpse
but on that
day our eyes
are going to
fully see
on that day
our eyes
are going to
be a
transfiguration
forever
so why do
we abandon
the sure word
of god
the light
of scripture
to chase
after made
up stories
of others
stay the
course
be reminded
of the truth
of the gospel
that you know
and you believe
and are sure
of for our
promised and
sure experience
of the glory
and the voice
of god
is going to
be ours
one day
amen
thank you
to
try and
thank you
go