Today, before we look at our lesson in Luke 9, I want to thank everyone that is a part of our “Pastor Chat” ministry, for your love, prayers, and support over these past years as we have traveled overseas on different occasions to advance the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! You have been so faithful, and I can’t thank you enough and tell you how much I appreciate you! I actually feel and sense your prayers in a special way as we travel and minister! It is amazing!
Again, I want to remind you that tomorrow morning, Saturday the 11th, I will be leaving for a Southeast Asian country. I will be spending time with a national leader there who works with over 600 plus pastors. It is my goal and prayer to connect each of these pastors to a prayer partner here in the states that will take him into their heart and regularly intercede on his behalf.
Please consider becoming one of our Pastor Prayer Partners and join me in this great ministry of intercession so that the multitudes in this Asian country can hear the Truth of God’s Word and find out who Jesus really is! Please let me know by sending me an email at: pastormike@pmiministries.org Also, if you would like to financially support this great opportunity, please go to my website: https://www.pmiministries.org/ Under the donate button you will see a place there to do that: (Mission Travel Support). Thanks again for all your prayers and support!
I will do my best to continue to post a chat each day, but because of access to internet and time-change issues, it is highly likely that they will not be consistent or a continuation of our study in Luke. Thank you for your patience, and when I return, we will pick up where we left off.
Friday January 10
Daily Spiritual Transformation
Luke 9:27-31
27 "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God." 28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
In Luke 9:18-36, Jesus is teaching. He first teaches His disciples about His person (vv. 18-20). Secondly in verses 21-22, Jesus is teaching about His coming suffering and sacrificial death. In verses 23-26, Jesus is teaching about discipleship. Now, in verses 27-36, Jesus is teaching about His kingdom by giving three of His disciples, a glimpse of His coming glory and kingdom. Luke gives us a description of this event that we call “The Transfiguration”.
Yesterday we talked about how this “Transfiguration” occurred while Jesus was praying. Luke tells us that Jesus specifically took Peter, John, and James “up on a mountain to pray” (v 28). And verse 29, notes, “As He prayed”, the appearance of Jesus was altered! Also, Moses and Elijah appeared in a glorious form and spoke with Jesus about His coming suffering and death that would shortly take place in Jerusalem.
I believe from this event there is also a wonderful and practical lesson for us today! We can have a spiritual "transfiguration" experience each day as we walk with the Lord. Both Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us how. Read Romans 12:1-2 carefully: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
When we pray and meditate on the “mercies of God” found in the crucifixion of Christ on the cross, we can’t help but surrender our body, mind, and will, to the Lord as a “living sacrifice”. And as we “renew our mind” with the Word of God, it is then that we are transformed from within so that we are not conformed to the world. And then we experience what is the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God”!
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18 carefully: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As we behold Jesus in the Word (the mirror), we are "transformed" by the Spirit "from glory to glory." Every day we become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ and reflect His glory! This is the Father's goal for each of His children (Romans 8:19, 28-30; 1 John 3:2).
Are you experiencing a daily “Spiritual transformation”?
God bless!
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