Divine Radiance (Part B)

Divinity is flashing out before us. God is saying. I control it all some problems with that have problems with the sovereignty of God sometimes… Too deep. There is I don't know why he doesn't exercise that sovereignty. Sometimes when I think you should exercise now Lord would be a good day to flex your muscles doesn't listen and I'm submitted to him as the arrangement we have. Okay, not my will but your will be done. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today.

Pastor Rick will continue his message called divine radiance. This message is for Mark chapter 9 but you will begin in Malachi chapter 4 Moses represents the law. Elijah the prophet's Malachi. Malachi says that the Jews remember Moses remember Elijah because you people have departed from what these two men were all about Malachi 4. Remember the law of Moses my servant which I commanded him in horror for all Israel with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children in the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

So there. Malachi couples the two together. Moses and Elijah.

The law and the prophets and Jesus.

I don't think I came to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them everything they were pointing to.

I am making complete in me my life. So these men appear to talk with Jesus and after their lives. It ended their lives are continuing. There they are, they're not dead. Incidentally, the law could not bring Moses into the promised land, the great lawgiver could not enter the promised land to Jesus to get them in there is a whole sermon right there to be written. Moses eventually died of course when he ministered to his people. He announced stands in the promised land that he was forbidden from entering yet he lives in glory. Elijah, having not died stands in the promised land. Also, he also currently when this event was taking place, lives in glory. So where in the face of splendid things. Divinity is flashing out before us. God is saying.

I control it all. I have some problems with that. I have problems with the sovereignty of God sometimes… Too deep within their because I don't know why he doesn't exercise that sovereignty. Sometimes when I think he should exercise it now Lord would be a good day to flex your muscles doesn't listen to me and I'm submitted to him as the arrangement we have. Okay, not my will but your will be done with this is what we're looking at here than when we sing the songs of the praise to God there built on these kind of things from the Scripture. We mustn't get lost in and out new Testaments and and not see how critical a moment this was again so critical. All of the gospel writers Matthew Morgan that his Synoptics they write about Moses.

He died and he's here from the grave. What encouragement that would be how many lessons are in that Elijah did not die needs to come from glory all one world with God when universe I should say only Luke tells us what they were talking about because you say to yourself why what why we looking at this and why have these two men talking to Christ. Luke chapter 9. Speaking about the move appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus is translated his deceased's death. That's what they were speaking to him about all the things to speak to Jesus about these two men were speaking to him about his crucifixion. How important is a crucifixion is everything. Every hero was stuck without it, is what made Peter when he said the Lord does so it's not so that you going to go to the cross and Jesus said get behind me Satan is a serious business.

I'm going to the cross and are not going as a victim I'm going as a Victoire choice as he spoke of to him of his death which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem because from this point. This is a turning point in the ministry of Christ as transfiguration.

From this point he is now focused on the cross is no longer going up into you know Galilee and then down to judo and then up to you and all of the Gentile regions and doing miracles in teaching. Now he is heading toward Jerusalem and he knows they going to kill him. There is death was no accident. It was an achievement never was he out of control every aspect was an event that he was prepared for because he prepared sovereignty of Christ never was he surprised never was. He put on defense not real defense never was he at a disadvantage. That's what the story is telling us so if you're these three men you're on this mountain which is supposed to come away with that he is God. You think that will they figure that out before he still discusses the shadows that they had burst of real recognition and then the but it was sort of evaporate when you get another one when he still the warrior who can this be only God can do this the race to Dara's daughters like a man.

This is does is more than Moses, so they get this verse five.

Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. No one was talking to you Peter.

Peter answered what he was talking to you. You are supposed to be an observer, you are not a participant terrified in the moment do I mean it. What would you do if Moses walked down the aisle first thing you do is a doesn't look anything like movie guys first think know you would not Jesus and he said to Jesus, Rabbi is good for us to be here will no kidding. That's why brought you up anywhere with me is good to be, but they're comfortable and calling him pastor which is Rabbi teachers to blitz the equivalent of Gentile or the Tristan argent of the Christian pastor Shepherd of the flock anyway and let us make three tabernacles one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.

The plunder of placing anyone on the same level as Jesus, that's what he's doing this. He didn't get what his own view of the Christ the son of the living God. Do you know what that means. Peter, you know what it means to be the these son of God, did not know he's learning and those who equated the Lord with you know, some say your John. Some say you're the prophet Peter is making the same blunder here unintentional blasphemy again because put others on equal ground. This Jesus Christ John's gospel chapter 5. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God.

Okay, that's what he was doing that was exactly what he begins when the Jehovah witnesses they will. Jesus never said he was go well you know the people that were there back then they didn't.

They don't agree with.

They felt he was making himself equal with God, in case you missed that Paul comes out and says it of course. Philippians 26 being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, and that's what were seeing happening here verse six. I am a tell you is I don't know how it is possible to claim to be a Christian and not see Jesus is God the son, you see them as equal with somebody else and you missed that your your Christianity is not matching the biblical requirement verse six because he did not know what to say or they were greatly afraid, or one of the lessons is when you don't know what to say, don't say it, but we all do.

We all do at some point we all do this gets to say something and this is not the first time it happened, Peter. He was zealous. Let us make three monuments supposed to be flattering.

God was supposed to be impressed a lot of work he was willing to serve hard to get the materials up on the mountain, scurrying around, hurry up before they go, but it was wrong. Many times Christians they have a passionate idea to serve what is wrong.

This passion was unacceptable to God and God is going to address is not going to look the other way on this one because it is that important verse seven and a cloud came and overshadowed them in a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son hear him well when the cloud came over, took the son out of the picture for minute with the sun in the sky that was a New Testament you got a moment that got their attention. But the father does not tolerate the notion of an equivalent to his son. Neither Moses and Elijah. Mary or anybody else there be in his class.

They are created beings. They are sinners in need of a Savior and if anybody doesn't like it, tough.

I disagree with them. I disagree with them to their face, and I don't care whose feelings it hurts.

I'm not trying to hurt their feelings, but I'm sorry Mary is not to be prayed to be talked to to be worshiped and if you are doing it, you are committing idolatry. You are messing with you my little have a séance trying to talk to the dead is forbidden in the fact that over a billion people do. It means nothing to me, and should be nothing anybody is interested in truth are not interested what billions of people do they go to McDonald's and sign says billion. Serve.

I want know what God says is hard enough doing that.

I don't know if I'll ever suffer full out persecution, but I sure hope that if I do I go about singing the praises of God in the middle of the flames of whatever they throw at us.

Well, this voice was heard in his baptism, which the baptism of Christ was the beginning of his public ministry, narrative of the father spoke hurt again when Jesus spoke of his death, John chapter 12 verse 28 father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven saying I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. Do we lose sight of our quest to bring glory to God. That's what we wake up in the morning for well coffees right after that for some of us, but you can lose sight of it pain. This takes away the sin you know will shut everything down. That's why mention these men.

They went to their persecutions and their deaths in the light of this experience.

It did not fade again. Decades later, even telling the story tomorrow. Peter recalled we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you power, majesty, the coming of the Lord talking about this moment. Verse nine. Suddenly when they looked around they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves or just tell the father wanted they saw no one but Jesus and Matthew as this, and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid Jesus came and touched them and said, arise, and do not be afraid. I wish he would tell me don't be afraid. More often. Maybe he's tired of telling me told his company times you and at what point did you participate in this non-it doesn't help my weakness.

I noticed that about Jesus Christ. He does not help my weaknesses does help my strengths that there is a great lesson in that I think at least for me. Well, Matthew E. As this. When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, arise, and do not be afraid. So I reread that for us to understand fear is not what God is in encouraging us God as far-reaching plans for his service. He had far-reaching plans for Moses and Elijah, how many thousands of years later, are they still serving him in the in the presence of witnesses helping him to carry out his mission in God as far-reaching plans for all believers and not on the same scale doesn't have to be. But he's got a plan.

So Satan does to incidentally Satan's plan is to disrupt God's plan and that's where the fight is going to be on so a display of life after this life in the service of God, is taking place here verse nine now as they came down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one. The things they had seen till the Son of Man had risen from the dead Jesus.

Sure puts a good boxer. A lot of things show similar got a few things.

You know I don't go tell anybody about this because not everybody can handle these things and mishandling them will cause a problem. We sought insomnia.

No way he could no longer enter into the city because you know the guy blabbed it out in ministry was interfered with. So he's telling them I don't want you to talk about this he knows he's heading towards the cross. They're not so mindful of it and he knows that the opposition is going to grow become more bitter, more organized, until finally it achieves its objective. His death and he doesn't want these things to be thrown offkilter. Verse 10 so they kept his word to themselves questioning with the rising from the dead men, while a good thing is they think they kept his word until after he was risen again didn't tell anyone still don't get the whole dead thing and you know that he's going to be killed, but only for three days managing some idyllic I'm going to die, but only for three days and then I'll come back.

Well no one would believe it.

Nowadays no one believed it, then either.

That's it precisely what he was telling them.

Many of the Jews expected general and time resurrection and judgment of the dead when marker when her brother had Lazarus was dead. Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day that theology was moving around bushes that I am the resurrection they did not expect God to raise a single and of individual prior to that great and awesome day to come. Not literally in their lifetime. That's what they were missing. They did not think he was going to die and rise again in their lifetime so they were perplexed because he Jesus keep bringing this up to them periodically.

This comes out in the probably did like to hear it, the whole death thing again verse 11 and they asked him, saying, why does the scribe say Elijah must come first. Well that's kind of an odd reply to you would think to his statement about death, but they just saw Elijah, and I don't know if they're trying to change the subject of the trying to figure out will then how does this fit in with Elijah's coming. If you going to die is just going to bring in the end of the depot what's going happen here trying to reconcile these things in their head. Elijah did not die as I mentioned taken up to heaven alive and as a result of Malachi's prophecy. Many Jews believed rightfully so, that Elijah would return the Jews believe you return literally the New Testament teaches that the spirit of Elijah.

More than likely not reincarnation.

God is God moves he is not fully revealed but we know this, that this is a twofold fulfillment concerning Elijah coming back and ministering to the people get to Malachi a moment. Verse 12 and he answered and told them indeed. Elijah is coming first and restores all things, and how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt so he directly answers the disciples question the prophecies of the advisors coming out, fulfilled, and John the baptizer that was one part of the fulfillment. Remember we we covered this quite a few times and brought biblical prophecy quite often there is the near fulfillment and there is a far fulfillment and the near fulfillment of Elijah's return was in the spirit and ministry of John the Baptist, turning the people to the hearts of God.

That's what John was doing with his baptizing his repentance.

His message of repentance is not the same message of repentance. Jesus Christ is water baptism is not identical to the water baptism in Jesus Christ.

But it is a forerunner to it as he was the forerunner.

It was part of the process and again Elijah's ministry was to return the Jews back to Yahweh as given in the law of Moses and Elijah's day it was Jezebel that really introduced the paganism are on and heighten the levels and Elijah combated these very things and many individuals benefited from Elijah's ministry. Many refuse so it says here in verse 12 and how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt will come back to Elijah. This reference to the Son of Man. Daniel seven is joined with the messianic prophecies of the suffering of the siren. Isaiah 52 and 53, another places to know Psalms 22. For example, but Jesus had many false and he had many friends and his foes hated him immensely, but his friends loved him dearly, and that is ongoing there to this day.

Those who hate him and those who love verse 13 but I say to you that Elijah has come as also come in they did to him whatever they wished. As it is written of him.

I mentioned I was going to quote Malachi and I'm going to do that this you go home and say I lied.

Malachi chapter 4. Closing of our organization of the Old Testament is Malachi. The last of book of the Old Testament and there in Malachi chapter 4 verse five well verse four will start. Remember the law of Moses my servant as I read this earlier. I remember now, which I commanded him in horror for all all Israel with the statutes and judgment. Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. So there's a coming of Elijah that was fulfilled by John the Baptist and there's a coming before the great day when is that one going to be fulfilled. One hour into the book of Revelation and the two witnesses that will be dispatched from heaven with miraculous powers. Fierce powers they call things down under judgment down people just like that, just like Elijah did and they will from their ministry will, hundred and 44,000 Jews and from the ministry of the hundred and 44,000 crews will come. Tribulation converts Jew and Gentile alike is a lot of work to be done after the rapture. There's a lot of work to be done in the midst of the great tribulation. That involve saving souls, and so we Christians are supposed to be soul centered people were not super not die when we talk about, you know, we present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord. What is that mean does it mean okay I'm just going to sacrifice pleasures just to please God will have that please God, all you do need a doughnut God's happy.

It doesn't make any sense would make sense is I'm trying to be a vessel for God so he can use me for his purposes. What is its purpose.

Essentially, to get people into heaven because he is willing that none should perish in his told to do that is us otherwise get us out of the way and send the Angels but no, it's up to us. So these are duel achievement, dual achievements, I say to you. Verse 13 Elijah has also, and they did to him whatever they wish at me. They killed him at his as it is written of him out with nowhere do we have a description that is written of Elijah or John the Baptist or any of the forerunners being killed is likely a reference to Elijah comes, as is written to him and he throws in this word concerning they did to him whatever they wanted to do to him what Revelation chapter 11 will give you more insight onto these two witnesses that are coming.

Chapter 7 will tell you about the hundred and 44,000 Jews that will be used to preach the gospel there and that retreat relation. They will be untouchable.

Incidentally, antichrist will be able to get to them. And so Jesus is sort of rationing. Without these revelations we get it as fast as we can read it or hear it preached to us and then we have to study it and have charts and understand if you want to be a serious Bible student, you've got to have charts and maps because there too many fragments of information when I say fragments.

I don't mean they don't make sense. I mean this separated by books. The menu may have one piece in Ezekiel and then you have another piece of you in Matthew 24. How do you get them to come together well.

This will charts will do for you, and that the knowledge of the word is supposed to be ammunition to launch you fuel to be useful to God, the more you know about the Bible, the more you can use it to preach to those who don't. So you can say to someone that doesn't know the Bible who act like they know the Bible is the only thing you know about it is you about is not original stole that from Bob Gibson baseball pitcher we got a minute left, and baseball time so the catcher was coming out. Tell Bob Gibson something about his pitching and Bob Gibson said go back letting you know about pitching is your anointing about pitching and I found that to be true in Christianity and so I stole it and I'm not giving it back and they did whatever they wish to him.

They killed John so I close with this we must utilize invested divine radiance when something flashes out from God is for us to use some many times it's personal. Many times I need this to keep moving forward. Personal, but many other times just for me to share and the more you use it the better at it. You will get move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time.

As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Rocky on cross reference radio