Transfiguration of the LORD

Sermon on the theme: Transfiguration of the LORD

By: Rev. Immanuel Wiafe 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Peace Be With You

Today we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a miraculous event in which Jesus Christ revealed his divine glory to his disciples. This event is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and it represents a crucial moment in the life of Jesus and his disciples.

The Transfiguration of the Lord is a powerful reminder of the divinity of Jesus and his mission on earth. It shows us that Jesus is not only a human teacher and healer, but also the Son of God, who has come to save us from sin and death.

In the Gospel of Mark, we read that Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Then, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with him. Peter, who was amazed by what he saw, said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Mark 9:5)

As Peter spoke, a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" (Mark 9:7) At that moment, the disciples fell to the ground in fear. But Jesus touched them and said, "Get up. Don't be afraid." (Mark 9:7)

The Transfiguration of the Lord reveals to us three important truths:

First, it reveals the glory of Christ. The dazzling white clothes and shining face of Jesus are symbols of his divine nature. Jesus is not just a human teacher, but the Son of God who has come to save us from sin and death.

Second, the Transfiguration of the Lord reveals the continuity of the Old and New Testaments. Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest figures in the Hebrew Scriptures, appear with Jesus on the mountain. Their presence shows us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, the long-awaited Messiah who has come to bring salvation to the world.

Third, the Transfiguration of the Lord reveals the importance of listening to Jesus. The voice from the cloud says, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" (Mark 9:7) This is a reminder to us that we must pay attention to the teachings of Jesus and follow his example. We must listen to his message of love, mercy, and compassion and put it into practice in our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Transfiguration of the Lord is a call for us to deepen our faith and to follow Jesus more closely. As we celebrate this feast, let us pray that we may be transfigured by his love and grace, and that we may become more like him in our thoughts, words, and actions. May we always listen to his voice and follow his path, so that we may be worthy of the eternal glory that he has promised us. 

Amen.

THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE (NOKWORE KWAN NO A EKO NKWA MU)

 

THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE (NOKWORE KWAN NO A EKO NKWA MU)

Isaiah 581-12

1 Corinthians 2:1-12

Matthew 5:13-20

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20)

INTRODUCTION

In this end time there are a lot of religious leaders, prophets pastor and so called “men of God” claiming to be showing the people the true way of life. These so called “Men of God” claim that when you carry a bag of cement or a block you will receive your breakthrough. They sometimes ask people to stand on a cutlass so that in a near future their enemies will die. All these do not lead us to true salvation.

Today, I would like you to know and understand the true way of life.

EXPLANATION OF THE TEXT

Matthew 5:20 “…unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven”. The pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws, thinking that is the true way of life but were far from the kingdom of God. Jesus was saying that his listeners needed true way of life altogether (Love and obedience) not just a mere intense version of the pharisees true way of life (righteousness – legal compliance)

HOW CAN WE SHOW PEOPLE THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· We should shout aloud and not hold back (Isaiah 58:1)

· Speak a message of wisdom among the mature (1 Cor 2:6a)

· Be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50)

 

WHO IS THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· Jesus the Christ and Him Crucified (1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 6:14)

WHAT IS NOT THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· When we fast as we please and exploit all our workers (Isa. 58:3b)

· When we light our lamp and put it under a bowl (Matthew 5:15a; Mark 4: 21; Luke 8:16)

 

WHAT IS THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· Cloth the naked (Isaiah 58:7)

· Sharing our food with the hungry and providing the poor wanderer with shelter (Job 31:19)

· Seeking God and being eager to know His ways day after day (Isaiah 5:2)

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· Our light will break forth like the dawn (Isaiah 58:8)

· Our healing will quickly appear (Isaiah 58:8a)

· The Lord will answer when we call and when we cry for help, He will say: here am I (Isaiah 59:9)

 

WHAT PREVENT US FROM KNOWING THE TRUE WAY OF LIFE?

· The rulers of this age (1 Cor. 2:8-9; Isaiah 64:4)

· When we break one of the least of the commandments and teach others to do the same (Matthew 5:19)

· When we lose our saltiness (Matthew 5:13)

 

CONCLUSION

Matthew 5:20 “…unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven”.