Please pray as you read through the text in your Bible before proceeding.

 

“LORD, IT IS WONDERFUL FOR US TO BE HERE!”

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"Jesus led them, Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain so they could be alone." 

Matthew 17:1

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"As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed ​

so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light."  ​

Matthew 17:2

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​Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here!” 

Matthew 17:4

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It was wonderful for all of them to be with Jesus.  For a brief moment of time, they saw Jesus with his face shining like the sun.

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Jesus led a few disciples to a high mountain—so they could be alone.

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Jesus wants to be alone with each of us.  Won’t you allow Jesus to lead you to a quiet place? It can be wonderful!

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AS THE MEN WATCHED THEY SAW JESUS DIFFERENTLY

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It is so very hard when we are surrounded by the cares, noises, and distractions of the world to see who Jesus really is.

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Let’s look further and see what Peter, James, and John experienced and learned as they chose to go to a quiet place and be alone with Jesus.

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When we spend time alone with Jesus we can expect:

 

• ​To see our Lord Jesus more clearly.
• Our time with him will be wonderful.​
• To want to tell Him how wonderful our time was.

A BRIGHT CLOUD OVERSHADOWED THEM AND A VOICE CAME FROM THE CLOUD!

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This wasn’t a dark storm cloud that came over the scene, but a bright cloud.  A cloud filled with the light, love, and joy of God.

The voice said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.  Listen to him.”

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1.   This is my dearly loved Son

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When the three disciples allowed Jesus to lead them to a quiet place, Jesus revealed himself to them.  They saw him in another ‘light.’  God confirmed to them who Jesus was.

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2.   Who brings me great joy

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The Son of God, brought joy to his father.  Jesus Christ is our example and we are to do as he did.  We are to bring  joy to God the Father.  And precious people it isn’t as hard as you might think.  Just as we delight in watching small children growing up, God delights in watching us grow up.

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3.  Listen to him

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We are to listen to Jesus, with both ears, all the time.  We are never to be like the child who sticks his fingers in his ears and squeals over the top of a parent’s request, “I’m not listening!”

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WONDER TO TERROR!

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Matthew 17:6 says, “The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.”

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First, Peter was excited with what he was seeing.  Then Peter was ready to do something.  God spoke – Peter hit the ground face first in terror.

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Peter went from wonder to terror in a matter of moments.  Being alone with Jesus—what a trip!  You don’t want to miss it.

And the experience isn’t over for then

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JESUS TOUCHED THEM!

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Jesus came to the terrified tough guys lying flat on their faces and He touched them.  Next he said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”

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Guess what, the three tough guys listened to Jesus.  They obeyed what God told them.  They got up, walked down the hill and faced life.  As these three tough guys grew in their relationship with Jesus they listened and believed.  When faced with the choice of denying Christ or being killed, they didn’t cower in fear.  They were martyred.  They were men’s men.  They lived and died for what they believed.

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WOW!  WOW! WOW!

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Time alone with Jesus is absolutely, incredibly, indescribably fantastic.​

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The touch of Jesus and the words of Jesus can change your life!