Spiritual Survival: You Will Do Well

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.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

It's on page 1222.

2 Peter, Chapter 1, starting at verse 12.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

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.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

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

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

Mark 9 · chapter mention

9 will you

Mark chapter

Mark 9 · chapter mention

9

now Mark

Mark 9 · chapter mention

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

Mark 9 · chapter mention

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

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

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

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

1 Thessalonians 4:15

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