Mount of Transfiguration #4 Kathryn Kuhlman

Today, for a few minutes, we're going to go back again on the Mount of Transfiguration. You know, I dare say that there has never been a minister who has ever stood behind the sacred desk, but what some time he has preached at least one sermon on this glorious portion of the Word of God. This portion of the Bible that is so very familiar to all of us is the glory of it. Jesus standing there, transfigured before the very eyes of Peter, James, and John, with Moses on one side of Jesus and Elijah on the other side of Jesus. All this... blender of it all, the glory of it all. But you know, I've often wondered how many fully realized that with every mountaintop experience, sooner or later, we all have to come down from the mountain. As surely, As Peter and John and James were standing there, beholding the glory of the Lord, there had to come a moment when it was necessary that they come down from the mount. The vision had passed. Moses and Elijah had gone. The voice was silent. Jesus only remained. You know, it's most interesting to trace what happened as these men left the mount. And I still contend that what happened after this experience is far more important than the glory of what they saw. I mean that. It's most interesting to see exactly what happened as these men left the mount. See something, and I give it to you from the word of God. The ninth verse of the 17th chapter of Matthew. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead. First, notice as they were coming down with him, they're saying Jesus and Savior. the one that they had known so well during the three years of ministry, noticed that he charged them that they should tell the vision to no man. And I believe that there is deep significance in this command. I believe that he told them to keep silent about what they had seen. Because knowing human nature as he knew human nature, he knew good and well that they would never, they could not get the story right. They could not, as they told it to someone else, give the correct explanation of that which they saw. You know, I have often wondered, as perhaps you have wondered also, why Jesus didn't take all of the disciples with him. Why he didn't permit all of them to have this wonderful experience. Why was it that he just chose these two? Three. Only on the surface of things. One would have thought that he would have taken all of them with him on the mount, but he didn't. He even warned them in advance that there are some standing here. Not all. And when he referred to the some, in the final analysis, there were just three that he took. with him. You know what I believe? Jesus knows his children so well he knows just who he can trust. I believe that. I believe that Jesus is practical about the whole thing. I think of this so very often. Do you know that there are some of his children that he wouldn't dare trust? With wealth, he knows good and well that if he gave you more materially than what you have this very hour, you'd backslide in six months. Because you wouldn't know what to do with it. You would misuse it. That's right. I think of that so very often, you know. Folk always say, oh, if I only had a great amount of finance. If I just had a lot of money, what I would do with it? Beloved, you aren't even being obedient to God and paying the tithe on that which you have. That's right. If you only make $10 a week, if you aren't being obedient with the $10, how in the world do you expect God to give you more? Because he couldn't trust you with more. You wouldn't be obedient with more if you're not obedient with what you have. And it's like that. I do believe that when Jesus took these... three with him, he knew exactly that these were the three that he could trust. He could trust them in being silent when he asked them to be silent. God knows exactly what he's doing. He's smart. He's perfect wisdom. He's perfect knowledge. All right, it has been a matter of discussion as to why he told them not to tell. Don't tell until later. There was a limit put upon their silence. Tell the vision to no man until the son of man be risen from the dead. The real reason, undoubtedly, was that these men were to wait until the Holy Spirit himself should equip them for the telling of that story. I believe that. But other things lay within that injunction of silence. The theme for the coming days was not to be the theme of glory, but of the cross. And Matthew inserts here the fact that He told them again the story of the cross. That so alarmed Peter six days before the Transfiguration. The vision of the glory had its place and purpose, but it must pass away. For the multitude were waiting. The pneumatic was in the valley. The cross was in the future. There was something in the future. The mountain was the place of vision, but yonder lay the pathway of accomplishment. And in order that his heart might be set upon his exodus, and that they might come as much as possible into the comradeship with him and his great work, nothing was to be said of his vision. It was the one. that he asked them to keep silent about. After the triumph of his resurrection, after his glorious ascension, then it could be told in all of its meaning. But they were to keep their eyes. on the cross that was just ahead. Oh, sure, beloved. Remember, the mountain was the place of vision, but yonder was the pathway of accomplishment. God has no retirement plan. In God's great plan for man, in God's great government, he has made no provision for a retirement plan. How often I have seen men and women, precious Christians, who have been on the mountaintop, who've had the glowiest vision. They too have been on the Mount Transfiguration. Marvelously filled with the spirit. They have seen him. They have felt him. They have known him. They have seen him and all of his majestic splendor. And then I have seen them come down the mountain with a spirit. of spiritual bigotry, a better -than -thou attitude, folding their spiritual garments around about them, and by their very attitude putting themselves upon a little spiritual pedestal, shamed by their Attitude. We are one of God's precious favorites. We are a little more spiritual than those around about us. We have been filled with spirit. We have spoken in an unknown tongue. We have received the gifts. of the spirit beloved the mountain was the place of vision but yonder was the pathway of accomplishment know that you were filled with the spirit that you might serve and ye shall receive power After that, the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Why? That ye might be witnesses. We are saved to serve. You and I as his children are here as servants. I want you to see something that's very marvelous. I love this glorious portion of the Word of God. It's found in the 10th chapter of Mark. beginning with about the 32nd verse. You know it well. The very air is filled with expectancy on the road to Jerusalem. And as the disciples were walking with the master, he was telling them in confidence the thing that were about to happen. In confidence, he foretells his death. His treatment at the hands of the chief priests and the scribes. He told them that they would kill him, but that he would rise again. Watch what follows. And James and John, the sons of Debedee, come unto him, saying, We would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? And they said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit one on thy right hand and the other on thy left hand in thy glory. In other words, they were asking for seats. Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. What did Jesus really need in those words? They said unto him, Master, give us seats. They wanted the glory. Oh, the glory of that mountaintop experience. The master says, no seats but a cup. No seats. but a cross. Beloved, you cannot understand Christianity from a seat. Spectators are never healthy victorious Christians. Know that. In that cup that Jesus is talking about here, There may be sorrow. There may be heartbreak. There may be blood that'll stain your pathway. Rocks that'll bruise the tender skin. There may be bitter tears. There may be suffering in that cup for you. You did not receive that glorious mountaintop experience. To be given a seat to boast of that which you saw, no. The blowing come after the cup and after the cup. Do you want to know the tenderness of the man of sorrow? Go through a Gethsemane. Do you want to know the reality of his promises? Come to a Red Sea. Do you really want to know the thrill of feeding the hidden virtue of the Son, the very living God, flowing through your physical body? Then dare to believe. Do you want to know the thrill of being filled with the Holy Spirit? You'll never know if you're only a spectator. You'll never receive the glorious experience from a seat. Never. Do you want to know the joy of winning somebody to the Lord Jesus Christ? Then become meet for the Master's use. But many of you are so wrapped up in yourself. that you only see the lost as a spectator. You stand behind the sacred desk. Come down to where the people are. Step down. Come down from the mountain. You'll find them waiting for you. You'll find them in the cup. You'll find them in the cross. Your cross. For if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. If any man... Make up your mind. Let him deny himself. Give up yourself. He wants all of you. Take up your cross. It's going to cost you something. It may be a big price you'll have to pay, but it's worth the cost. God bless you.