As we enter into a week of prayer and fasting, we want to first of all engage into this week in a dedicated posture of prayer and with an intensified passion to seek the Lord in the spiritual discipline of fasting. Use the ACTS material both to help you connect to His Word and heart and to engage in heart wrenching prayer before Jesus.

 

"Supernatural Revelation" - Doing ACTS (Monday 12/4/06)

 

Scripture Reading:
Mark 9:1-13

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

 1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 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. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then 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? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
1.                   How many days has it been since Jesus’ discourse with the disciples? (v. 2) It has been after 6 days.
2.                   In your own words describe how Jesus’ appearance and clothes were changed. What do you think God was doing when He allowed us to witness what Jesus was going through? From Scripture, we know that His clothes became white, whiter than anything, greater than what any launderer can achieve. It is as the glory shone, and such was the splendour that was never seen by anyone before. It was certainly a transformation to behold!
3.                   In the amazing encounter, God has a plan for us to listen and hear what was happening more than be involved in God’s work (Read v 6 & 7)
a.       Peter’s behaviour seems contrary to God’s desire for him to listen!
b.      How can we miss what God is doing in a great spiritual encounter when we end up trying to ‘help’ God (v 6) rather than just listen and enjoy His work for us? (v 7) Peter did (said) something that he didn’t know, because he was afraid. But God spoke and affirms that Jesus is the only One we ought to follow.
c.       When God takes us to a great spiritual high, it always begins with Jesus (v 1) and after the ‘high’ is over, it ends with Jesus – He is central to all our spiritual mountain top experiences! (v 8)
d.      Can you notice that after such a spectacular encounter with Christ, Moses and Elijah, they were still not connected to God’s full counsel and plan? (v 10) Why? Could this happen to us like to the disciples? Any example? Surely it is possible. We don’t allow a revelation to sink in, for us to understand fully the plan and purpose of God, because of immaturity or hardened hearts, or minds that are always seeking it’s own ways (of deciphering issues or hidden things). Our minds cannot be compared to the mind of God.
4.                   The disciples just encountered a supernatural revelation of Jesus Christ. The following is obvious about this revelation:
a.       It was revealed in a dedicated spiritual retreat.
b.      It was given to those who were willing to ‘go away’ alone and ‘be away’ alone with the Lord.
c.       It was not a human effort or orchestration.
d.      It was an intimate and personalized revelation that affirms Jesus’ Messiahship (not to be revealed until His death & resurrection). It is a revelation to affirm the disciples’ faith and foundation further.
Summary:
We just have to take time to get away and be with Jesus, spending time in His presence and see His majesty. After all, it is all about Jesus, His resurrection and glory. When you feel disconnected or discouraged, being in the presence of God sharpens our minds and refocuses our attention to the purposes of God. Our hearts need to be open, so that when we seek Him, He will be found (Jeremiah 29:13). That’s when we can allow ourselves to be vessels where God can reveal His incomparable glory!