Transfiguration
Dale Allen
During a Wednesday morning prayer time in the sanctuary the Lord
spoke these words to me, "I don’t want Immanuel to be a
"ways and means" or "altar building" Church. What I
want is a Church who looks to Me, the Author and Finisher of their
faith." "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which
clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set
before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews
12:1-2)
It is so easy for us to look for the "ways and the means"
to follow and serve Him rather than trusting Him totally for everything.
When He says He is doing a "new thing" in our midst, we look
for the "new thing" rather than look to Him.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast
thou prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast
taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,'
as it is written of me in the roll of the book." (Hebrews 10:5-7)
He then led me to the gospel account of the Transfiguration.
"And
after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before
them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as
light.
And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with
him. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is well that we are here; if
you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses
and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud
overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ When the
disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with
awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’
And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus
only." (Matthew 17:1-8)
I knew immediately why He led me to the Transfiguration story. There
have been so many great experiences with the Lord in our lives at
Immanuel and we, like Peter, wanted to build an altar and stay there,
and we did!
I was convicted in my own life of altar building and had to repent of
it.
How many times do we look back at our altars and long for that
experience again? Because of that we miss what the Lord wants to do in
our lives and in the midst of His Body at Immanuel.
Where have you built an altar?
Was it your salvation experience, baptism of the Holy Spirit,
healing?
Or could it possibly be your ministry?
Has our pastors, past or present, become altars in our lives?
Maybe this is way we see bickering, grumbling and dissatisfaction in
our lives.
Or, are we looking to Jesus the Author and Finsher of our faith?
I believe the Father is saying to us today, "This is my
beloved Son, listen to Him."
Only then will we have eyes to see the "new thing" God is
doing in our midst.
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