Dream in Gold

February 7, 2016 Transfiguration Sunday Luke 9:28-46 Has anyone ever said to you- you look like someone that I know? I am sure that they have lots of times. But has anyone ever said that you remind me of someone that I know. And then said that that person is Jesus? That you look a lot like Jesus to them? Well if not, then it is time for us to do something about that. Lent is here. And that is what lent is all about – looking a lot like Jesus. Well you say – no one knows what Jesus looks like, so how can I style my hair, and put on my make up to look like Jesus. It is winter time so we cant wear tunics and sandals to church. Looking like Jesus is not about our physical appearance, it is about the condition of our heart. It is about how we feel. So it is not about combing our hair as much as it is about checking our attitude and our ability to live. Jesus constantly tells us that when you have seen him, then you have seen the face of God. If God is a spirit, then how can he have a physical appearance. Looking like God is more about your actions, your words. Lent is our time to check our actions and our words. This year since our stewardship time is during lent, we are going to highlight three themes – Prayer, service, fasting and penitence. And our first theme is prayer. Transfiguration Sunday is all about prayer. Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray. It is in his prayer that he comes in contact with God and magical things happen. He starts to glow, the spirits of those who were before him appear, and God even speaks. He brings his disciples up with him, so that they can know what God looks like. And yet they are at a loss at what is going on and even what to do about it. And yet Jesus prayer is changing things and making a difference. Today, we don’t have an image of what Jesus really looks like. We see all different faces of Jesus. But we do know what Jesus is doing at this moment. Revelations says that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God. And what is he doing?.......He is interceding. He is praying for you and me. So the best way for us to look like Jesus is to pray. Pray for ourselves, but to also intercede on behalf of others. If God comes to us in prayer, then that is when we are changed and transformed is when we pray. Our Bible story today is about the power of God. Jesus and a few of His disciples went up on a mountaintop to pray. The disciples fell asleep, but Jesus just kept on praying. And while Jesus was praying, God sent His power down on Jesus. A light filled Jesus, and His clothes turned pure white. The disciples woke up to see Jesus all lit up and filled with the power of God. And then they heard God's voice saying, "This is my son, who I love very much. Listen to Him." It was only when Jesus was praying that God filled Him with all that power. Just as a match has to come into contact with the matchbox in order to catch fire, Jesus had to come into contact with God, His Father, in order to be filled with more power. Prayer is powerful. We have on Gold and white to show the world that the power of the spirit is upon us. and where God is – things are destined for change. To focus on our scripture for today – Luke continually focuses on the power of prayer all throughout his book. And in his understanding of life, when you need to talk to God, and be close to God. What do you do? You go to the mountain top. When Moses needed to give a word to his people – he went to the mountain top. In Martin Luther King’s most powerful speech to the world – he says – I have been to the mountain top. In our lives, we don’t have to climb a mountain to get to god, but sometimes we do have to get away, a mountain is a metaphor. we have to look at life in a new perspective, we have to separate ourselves from the life that we live so that we can come back with a new perspective. I just got back from Nashville in a day trip. But it reminded me how important it was just to leave, if only for a day. Lent, we get 40 days to step away from live as usual – and to leave room for God to speak to us. Jesus takes his disciples up to the mountain. But my favorite part of the story is when they come down. Luke tells us what they talk about when they descend. Jesus tells them to tell no one what they saw. But as they were coming into the valley. The valley is where we live most of our lives. There are times when you get away, but you got to come back. And as you notice, that when we come back, there is always something waiting for us when we come. Something that we have to do. Someproblem to take care of. There is a young boy – who needs to be healed. Jesus does heal him- but no thanks to the disciples. Jesus tells them not to tell the event, but he does not tell them to forget the event. But that is what they do. How many times in our life have we went to a worskshop or training and been inspired to make a difference. But when we get back into our lives, we can do nothing. We get back into our normal routine with no change. The lesson for us to day – is to remember that when we pray – we are asking for change in our lives. That when are touched and inspired by God – that needs to translate into action! Spiritual inspiration should always lead to spiritual power. Power to make a difference. Begin this lent in prayer What parts of your life do you need to bring to God? Where do you need to see a miracle? Where do you need to see a change? When you pray – feel the closeness to God? Know that the spirit is listening. But after prayer – look for evidence of God’s presence. Have you seen the commercial for the Oscars – which says that sometimes we dream in gold. We yearn for the impossible and make it possible with God. We ask for a change – and we become empowered to be the change we are asking for. Jesus prayed, and it changed and transfigured him, but all of history and all of the world. Lent is our mountain top – the rest of the year is the valley. That valley is the place that needs to be changed. It is the place to remember our power – God. And we have the power to unleash God to the rest of the world. Studies show that when you tell someone that they are beautiful their whole demeanor changes. Their shoulders square, their posture changes, they face lights up and they smile. They are eaiser to deal with and to talk to. If no one has ever told you that you look like Jesus, maybe you should start to tell others. Find the good in the and tell them about it. Tell them that they have the face, the arms, the feet of Jesus, and that they are spreading love all over the world. See what difference it makes. I will leave you with the blessing from numbers. May God bless you and keep you; May God’s face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; May God’s face radiate with joy because of you. And give you peace. Amen. Children’s sermon Object: a box of matches Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever seen your mommy or daddy light a match? Now, matches can be dangerous; they are not something to play with. But, it is pretty neat to see someone light a match. Did you know that matches were invented by accident? There was a man named John Walker who was trying make a chemical that could be used in guns. He wanted something that would explode and make a loud bang. Well, John Walker was stirring a great big vat of chemicals with a wooden stick, then he scraped the stick on the ground to get the chemicals off. When he scraped the stick on the floor, the stick caught fire! And this is how John Walker got the idea to invent matches. Pretty neat, huh? Today, matches are made so that they will only light up if they are scraped across a surface, like the side of this box. The match can't catch fire by itself. Only when it is scraped against the rough side of the box will it light up and catch fire. All the chemicals, all the power is in the match, but it can't be seen until the match comes in contact with the box. Then, its power is seen. Other illustrations: As Jesus once prayed for Peter, now he prays for us… In fact, the New Testament's only glimpse of what Jesus is doing right now depicts him at the right hand of God 'interceding for us.' In three years of active ministry, Jesus changed the moral landscape of the planet. For nearly two thousand years since, he has been using another tactic: prayer. Let's say I have a neighbor, and I want to "preach Christ" to him using my deeds. I greet him over the garden fence. I invite him and his wife round for dinner, where I show them the best hospitality of which I am capable; I explain that I am a Christian, but make no attempt to shove the gospel down his throat. Noticing that his garden could use a bit of work, I offer him my lawnmower, which he accepts, and eventually, through repeated usage, breaks. I do not complain, or ask him to replace it; I replace it myself, and continue to allow him to use it whenever he sees fit. I help whenever I can. In all things, I seek to display unconditional kindness towards him, and to love him as I love myself. Eventually, he dies. Now what have my actions preached to him? They have preached that Christians are people who do good things for their neighbor. They have preached that niceness, and kindness, and morally upright behavior are what make you a Christian. In short, they have preached justification by works. Your works have indeed "preached" something. But it isn't the gospel