Text: Matthew 17:1-8; 2 Peter 1:16-18
Six days after promising to give some of His disciples a preview of His coming kingdom, Jesus took three of them to the Mount of Transfiguration. They had prayed every day, as He had taught them, “Thy kingdom come”; now they were to have a foretaste of the resplendent glory and excellent majesty of that Kingdom (Matthew 16:28). It was an uncommon retreat and He knew it was an indispensable part of His training program for them. Christ was forming the pillars of His church and He knew just what to do in order to accomplish His purpose. What manner of “pillars of the church” would Peter, James and John have been without this single retreat? (Galatians 2:9). All the teachings of Christ that they heard and all His miracles that they witnessed made them disciples of Christ, but the events of their retreat with Him at the Mount of Transfiguration made them martyrs for Christ. Through all the years that followed, as Peter, James and John reflected back, this singular retreat became the defining moment of their lives to which all their subsequent usefulness in the Kingdom could be traced. Reading what each of them later wrote about that retreat, it is impossible to miss its deep impact and life-transforming effect upon them (2 Peter 1:16-18; 1 John 1:1-3). For Peter, not even the spectacular experience of walking on water was worth remembering compared with this spiritual encounter. It was for them an unforgettable encounter.
We are called to a place of retreat with the LORD from time to time. The Lord has abundant blessings enough to meet the needs of all His children but expectation determines realization. The law of sowing and reaping applies here too. If we sow real faith, great expectations, serious publicity, earnest prayers and full participation into it, we are sure to reap bountiful blessings, divine revelations and great miracles. If on the other hand we sow a cold, lukewarm attitude, half-hearted participation and lethargic prayers, we cannot justly expect divine visitations. It is our special privilege, to enter the highway of the promised land with the opportunity to walk into heaven’s abundant riches, witness the wonders of Calvary, wash our garments in the blood of the Lamb and worship in spirit and in truth. Retreating with the LORD enables us to move from sin to salvation, from poverty to prosperity, from sickness to sound health and from defeat to dominion. “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come” – we dare not refuse the invitation.
THE REVELATION AND TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST FOR OUR CONSIDERATION
Matthew 17:1-8; 2 Peter 1:16-18; John 1:15-18; 1 John 1:1-3; Revelation 1:10-18; Hebrews 2:9-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Mark 6:30,31.
The Lord Jesus recognized the importance of special moments of withdrawal from public activity to have concentrated, undisturbed fellowship with God. He knew that was the source of spiritual strength and extraordinary revelations. Therefore, He constantly drew His disciples away from the activities of a busy life to instruct, inspire and impart grace and power unto them.
Retreats in Bible days took various forms, had various venues and lasted for various lengths of time. The personalities involved, the great God and His seeking people, have always been the same. The purpose was always to receive direction, instruction and renewal from God. Retreat is the time to:
- Reclaim lost virtues and reach out to God for new blessings;
- Review our lives and return from possible backsliding;
- Rebuild broken altars and renew abandoned consecrations;
- Revive lost visions and receive a new purpose for living;
- Re-examine waning convictions and reaffirm our loyalty to Christ;
- Receive fresh fire from heaven and
- Rekindle old evangelistic and missionary enthusiam.
It is easy to look back now and observe how these purposes and many more besides have been fulfilled in our past retreats. God has not changed; He will do it again if we allow Him.
THE RENEWAL AND TRANSFORMATION OF CHRISTIANS TO CONQUERORS
Matthew 17:4-6; John 12:20-26; Romans 12:1,2; Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:1,10-16; Ephesians 4:23,24; Isaiah 43:18-21; Proverbs 23:18; 24:14.
As the disciples beheld the glory and majesty of the Lord, everything else paled into insignificance. Nothing mattered anymore; neither the events in the valley nor the inconveniences on the mountain. They were content just to remain there. Then Peter spoke the mind of them all, “Lord, it is good for us to be here”.
“Lord, it is good for us to be here”. With you in our company, there is no better place on earth to be, for this is heaven itself.
“Lord, it is good for us to be here”. Your glory filling this place is worth more than all the pleasures earthly things can afford.
“Lord, it is good for us to be here”. We have found the pearl of greatest price.
“Lord, it is good for us to be here”. We have been here but less than a day, and what shall it be if we were to stay here for more days!
Although Peter and his companions did not plan this meeting, yet now they had great expectations at the prospect of remaining on the mount with Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
We shall reap unprecedented spiritual and physical blessings from retreating with the LORD only if we all resolve to approach it with an attitude of positive faith and great expectations.
REASSURING AND TRANSLATING CONQUERORS TO BE “MORE THAN CONQUERORS”
Matthew 17:7,8; Genesis 32:24-28; 1 Kings 19:5-8; Isaiah 6:5-8; Jeremiah 1:9-12,17-19; Daniel 10:16-19; Ephesians 3:16-20; Romans 8:37-39.
After the Mount of Transfiguration experience, things were no longer the same with the privileged apostles. Faith took on a new, deeper meaning and consecration assumed far richer dimensions. They had always known that their Lord and Master was worth living for; now they realized He was also worth dying for. The spiritual impact of the “retreat” upon Peter, James and John continued to reverberate in their lives and ministry.
The blessings of the retreat include: (i) repentance and its fruits, (ii) holiness and righteousness, (iii) fullness of Holy Spirit power, (iv) greater faith for exploits, (v) miracles, signs and wonders, (vi) revived, prevailing prayer life, (vii) faithfulness in life and service, (viii) sweet fellowship among brethren, (ix) fervency in winning the lost, (x) renewed focus in preparation for the Lord’s return.
It is important to have personal retreats with the LORD where we get energized through prayer and the study of the Word. These retreat periods are priceless and solemn and must be sacred to every Christian. It is the time there on your knees at such retreats that transforms a believer into a conqueror. As the Lord calls us to a retreat, let us prepare to fully participate with great expectations. There shall be showers of blessing!
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