ImpactWeek 2013
We just completed ImpactWeek 2013, which united several churches from different denominations in a week long outreach to our community. The theme was “Your Gifts, Our Passion, His Love.” This is one of four messages preached at the joint worship service of the participating churches that addressed the “Our Passion” portion.
Our passion must be His passion. We need to set our face toward eternity with our eyes focused on His eternal purpose. To do so we must only see, listen and be touched by Jesus. The church needs an impact moment that will prioritize our mission.
The Transfiguration
The transfiguration of our Lord allegedly occurred on top of Mount Tabor in northern Israel. The Gospels document that Peter, James and John were present and accompanied by Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:5-8). It was Jesus’ impact moment that energized His passion to fulfill His eternal purpose in God. It is my opinion that the glory experienced at that moment was preparation for His death, burial and resurrection. Moses and Elijah were sent from heaven to strengthen and encourage the Lord and explain the final stages of the mission. From that moment His face was set (like flint) toward Jerusalem and there was no turning back.
Peter’s off the cuff suggestion to build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah was interrupted by the booming voice of our Heavenly Father. His suggestion may be viewed upon as reasonable, or even religious, but it was definitely not Scriptural. We worship God alone and not man, even if the righteous come back from the dead. God interrupted that glorious moment and when everything faded away “they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.” As it should be.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. We are commanded to see only Him, listen to only Him and be touched by only Him. It is time for the fear and ways of man to be minimized and allow the desire and passion of God to arise and come to the forefront.
On to Jerusalem
After the transfiguration Jesus continued to cast out devils, heal the sick, lame and blind and raise the dead. He paid taxes to Caesar with money found in a fish’s mouth. He was saddened when the rich young ruler walked away from the greatest ministry opportunity ever. He experienced Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal. He cleansed the temple of religion and man’s traditions and established communion with God at the Last Supper. So much to do and so little time.
Above all, He raised Lazarus from the dead after four days in the grave. Did He know that commanding Lazarus to come forth from the grave was committing Himself to the grave? I believe so. From that moment the religious leaders sought to kill Him because their control and power base was diminishing. He didn’t fit their eschatology, charts or graphs and in desperation they had to do something. Their solution was violating all ten commandments, including number six “thou shall not murder.”
On into Eternity
After the ascension and subsequent baptism of fire the disciples were impacted by His impact moment and His passion became their passion. Jesus taught they would have to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23-25). This teaching came immediately before the transfiguration. He knew the cross was before Him even before His impact moment. But it didn’t stop there. The transfiguration provided the strength and courage to see beyond the cross to the resurrection, the ascension, the 2nd advent, the millennial reign and on into eternity.
See beyond your impact moment and make your life matter, as if eternity depends on it. It did for Jesus. What about you?