Open Door Fellowship Pentecostal Church of God
Pastor Rev. Steven Wagner Telephone: 573-437-5190
Rt 3, Owensville MO. 65066 Date: September 28, 1997
TRANSFIGURATION EXPERIENCE
Scripture: Mat. 17:1-9
A. Why? The Disciples
a. Men that were serious about doing Gods will, men that wanted to be used.
b. Used to write a big part of the new Test.
c. Men that where a big part of the early Church.
d. Why? Because of a Transfiguration Experience.
B. Paul had such a experience in Acts 9:3-6
(Acts 9:3 KJV) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
(Acts 9:4 KJV) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
(Acts 9:5 KJV) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
(Acts 9:6 KJV) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
C. John had a Transfiguration experience in Rev. 1:9-18.
(Rev 1:9 KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Rev 1:10 KJV) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
(Rev 1:11 KJV) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
(Rev 1:12 KJV) And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(Rev 1:13 KJV) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
(Rev 1:14 KJV) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
(Rev 1:15 KJV) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
(Rev 1:16 KJV) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(Rev 1:17 KJV) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
(Rev 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
I. How to have a Transfiguration Experience.
A. We look at Mat. 17 verse 1.
a. We need to separate ourselves from everything.
(Mat 17:1 KJV) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
1. To seperate ourselves from anything and everything that separates us from God.
(2 Cor 6:14 KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(2 Cor 6:15 KJV) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(2 Cor 6:16 KJV) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(2 Cor 6:17 KJV) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(2 Cor 6:18 KJV) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2. Go into our prayer closets.
3. Set aside time for God personally.
4. Set aside time for worship both private and public.
5. Set aside time for the reading and to study the scriptures.
6. Set aside time to do the word, not a hearer only.
7. Set aside time to serve God, (God gives transfiguration experiences for only one reason, for you to be able to serve him with your life, in works).
b. Jesus is a good example.
(Mat 14:23 KJV) And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
1. Jesus was busy, but he always made time for His Father.
2. We need to have mountain time.
c. So many times we get so busy with the world, and other things which may even seem Godly that we don't spend time with God. We can't have a ministry for God without mountain experiences.
d. Sometimes we get our eyes on the physical part of being a Christian and forget the spiritual like Peter, James, John did in Mat. 17.
(Mat 17:4 KJV) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Mat 17:5 KJV) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
1. Sounded good, but they were only thinking physical, mans way to serve God.
*example= Bus ministry-I'm going to work this bus ministry every Saturday, I'm going to keep my bus clean and go out and knock doors for my bus ministry, but I don't really need to pray everyday, or read my bible, or go to church on Sunday or wed. night but praise God my bus ministry is a blessing to everyone.
2. God wanted them to see what the most important thing was before our ministries or anything else (TO SEE HIS SON AND HEAR HIS VOICE)
e. We need to get down to the basics again, to fall on our faces and really realize who Jesus Christ is.
(Mat 17:6 KJV) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
1. We need some Godly fear, to be scared out of our pride, indifference, our sin.
2. The Bible says that Godly fear is the beginning of wisdom.
f. We need to get where we see Jesus and nothing else.
(Mat 17:8 KJV) And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
1. Our problem is we are seeing everything else and Jesus Last.
II. When we get to the place that Jesus Transfigures himself before us we will see two things, and experience two things.
A. First we will Shine as the sun.
(Mat 17:2 KJV) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
a. He is the light of the world and we will experience the ultimate light.
1. (John 1:4 KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
2. (John 8:12 KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
3. (2 Cor 4:6 KJV) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4. (Eph 5:14 KJV) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
b. When we give ourselves to Christ and seperate ourselves unto him we will experience His light in our lives, and experience the same thing that Christ did and our faces will shine with His light. To many Christians are walking around and their faces are dark or barely any light.
B. Second we will have a raiment of pure white.
(Mat 17:2 KJV) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
a. When we walk in the transfiguration power we will experience the righteousness of God and we will be changed into that righteousness.
b. Gods power if we dare move into the place of a transfiguration experience we will be made white as snow.
(Isa 1:18 KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
c. If we will seek his face and turn our lives over to him, and serve him he will bring us into a TRANSFIGURATION EXPERIENCE and make us spotless.
(Eph 5:27 KJV) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
d. Do you want a wedding invitation.
(Rev 19:7 KJV) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
(Rev 19:8 KJV) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
1. You will only receive a wedding invitation to marriage of the lamb if you are arrayed in fine linen that comes from a transfiguration experience.
III. What did God want them to see in Mat. 17:1-5.
a. Disciples wanted to build something physical.
b. We will do everything but the spiritual things in Gods kingdom.
c. God wanted them to see the real reason Jesus Christ His Son.
d. God said this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, HEAR YE HIM.
1. NOT MANS IDEAS
2. NOT THE WORLDS IDEAS
3. NOT YOUR IDEAS
4. BUT HEAR YE HIM
5. GET EVERYTHING ELSE OUT OF THE WAY AND EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS, THE GREATNESS, THE HOLINESS, OF THAT TRANSFIGURATION EXPERIENCE
6. WHICH TRANSFIGURES US INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST.