We're All In Our Places With Bright Shiny Faces

We're All In Our Places With Bright Shiny Faces
Or
Glowing Like a Supernova

Presented at County Line Brethren Church on February 14, 2010.
Year C, Transfiguration Sunday
Scripture passages: Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-43

Let's set the stage a little bit, before we jump headlong into the passage about Moses glowing like supernova. In
In the liturgical calendar, today is Transfiguration Sunday. The gospel reading describes the transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Moses and Elijah. We are told that Jesus' face turned brilliant white, as he talked with Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John were witnesses to this manifestation of the Glory of God. This passage naturally reminds us of the time that Moses' face lit up with the Glory of God after coming down off the mountain. Our epistle reading also makes reference to this pivotal event soon after the Exodus. We would do well to examine the Glory of God as experienced by Moses and the million people on walkabout through the desert. My hope is that by looking back at Moses we will discover helpful insights as we try to connect with God today.

In the chapters preceding our Old Testament lesson, we read about Moses being up on the mountain with the Lord receiving instructions and the first set of stone tablets. Moses was there for such a long time that the people thought he was dead. Aaron relented to their pestering and led them in their apostasy – the construction of the golden calf. God was ready to destroy the people forthwith, save for the intercession of Moses. And yet, when Moses came down from the mountain and witnessed the rebellion first hand, he was furious, tossed the stone tablets down, breaking them into pieces. Judgment came in the form of a plague as well as the killing of 3,000 relatives at the hands of the Levites.

Soon thereafter, Moses went back up the mountain to meet with the Lord. This time, Moses was there for 40 days, fasting. “He did not eat bread, and he did not drink water” (34:28). As a side note, I believe this to be a supernatural fast. This is beyond the scope of normal human endurance, notwithstanding the recent account of a survivor found in the rubble of Haiti – after 40 days. Moses' fast was both authorized and sustained by God. During this time, a new set of stone tablets were written upon. Moses was given additional instructions by God. Moses also made a bold request of the Lord God in addition to God's continuing presence, “show me your glory.” This is done almost as if Moses is asking God to sign on the dotted line, confirming that his presence will remain with Moses.

And as the story goes, God moves in front of Moses shielding Moses from seeing God's face. But as God passes, he removes his hand, allowing Moses to see God's back.

This sets the stage for our reading today starting with Moses coming down off the mountain glowing like a supernova. The stiff-necked and sinful Israelites were naturally afraid of this supernatural manifestation of the Glory of God. Moses thereafter veils his face when speaking with the people so as not to frighten them too much. There is a lot of study as well as conjecture about what Moses actually looked like – both with and without the veil. These ideas are very interesting to study, but results in little pertinent applications. What is important to emphasize is that the Glory of God was manifested in the countenance of Moses, which produces fear in the people. The scripture also points out that Moses removes the veil when going in to speak to the Lord at the Tent of Meeting. It seems that when Moses speaks with God, the veil gets in the way.

I would like to identify some key aspects of the Glory of God in the Moses story and make applications for us from two different perspectives. We will first consider Moses as the leader of the people. The application for this perspective will be for the pastors primarily but also, in some sense, all leaders of the church today. The second perspective will be as we look at what we can learn in the Moses experience, the Transfiguration and II Corinthians that is applicable for Christians and the church today.

Let's start with Moses, the leader. Let's be clear at the outset. Moses did not seek out this position. God had to virtually hog-tie him and drag him to Egypt. Being a leader of anything is hard work, let alone being the leader of a million people on the run. There was no election here, nor was there a military coup. God CHOSE Moses as his anointed servant for a specific task. Many of you have been leaders of organizations or had supervisory positions. It is not easy, and the church is no exception. Make no mistake about this. The pastors and leaders of this or any church will not depend on any vote of its members. #1-God chooses the leaders for his people.

The next thing I notice about Moses and his experience of the Glory of God is that this imputation of the Glory of God was a product of a very personal relationship between Moses and God. Sure, they spent 40 days together on the mountain in a supernatural way. But, believe me when I say this, those 40 days were a very small part of the intimate relationship between Moses and God. Moses had already talked to God in a burning bush, stared down Pharaoh several times, and watched his armies drown in the sea, by the power of God. Those 40 days were not some kind of spiritual retreat meant to rejuvenate a troubled marriage or relationship. Moses and God had been speaking together as friends for quite some time. Nevertheless, we would remiss if we did not acknowledge that the 40 days clearly accentuates the intimacy of the relationship between Moses and God. Pastors and leaders of the church are people who live their lives in intimacy with God. #2-Intimacy between a pastor and our Heavenly Father is cherished by both pastor and the congregation.

Next we are compelled to note that Moses is committed to God’s law. Though we recognize that he had clay feet like the rest of us, he is also characterized by his passion for obedience. This is manifested in right behavior. I’m not talking about perfect behavior. I see in Moses a devotion and loyalty to God which is seen by others as righteous living, made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. #3- Pastors and lay leaders in the church are consumed with pleasing God, as differentiated from people. This is seen in right living.

Moving on, throughout the scripture there are two complementary qualities of the priest, prophet, pastor, leader. The first is this vivid and rich intimacy with God that produces a glow on the countenance of the leader for all to see. It is this intimacy with God that defines and directs the servant of the Most High. The second is the devotion to obedience. The third of the complementary qualities of the priest, prophet, pastor, leader is a heart that yearns for justice. This heart for justice is an outgrowth of the intimacy with our Heavenly Father. Intimacy with the Father churns our hearts in favor of the poor, compels us to stand alongside those who have been pushed aside, and befriends those who our society deems unworthy. Intimacy with God, without devotion to justice is a self-serving fantasy. Likewise devotion to justice which does not arise out of an intimacy with God easily becomes dejected, angry and hopeless. #4-Pastors and lay leaders are devoted to justice, empowering the weak, freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry.

So, here is a summary of the insights related to Moses as the leader.
#1-God chooses the leaders for his people.
#2-Intimacy between a pastor and our Heavenly Father is cherished by both pastor and the congregation.
#3- Pastors and lay leaders in the church are consumed with pleasing God, as differentiated from people. This is seen in right living.
#4-Pastors and lay leaders are devoted to justice, empowering the weak, freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry.

Now let's look at what Paul is teaching us about Christians and the church and its application for us today. We are told elsewhere that Jesus is the manifestation of the Glory of God. Indeed, Paul says it is Jesus that sets aside the veil, revealing the Glory of God to us – even though now it is as if we are looking in a clouded mirror. The remarkable thing is that this same Glory of God which was in Christ Jesus is now in us “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” As Paul says elsewhere, this is a mystery, “Christ in us, the hope of glory!!!” I'm not sure if I am able to adequately help you understand this. But there is a difference between us and Moses, and we have the advantage – really! While the Glory of God was revealed on the face of Moses for a time on the outside, The Glory of God is now being imputed into our very being in greater and greater measure, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Glory of God – Jesus, the Christ is growing in you daily.

It seems that we must acknowledge is that the manifestation of the Glory of God, as we find it in Moses and the Transfiguration, is not typical. While it may be obvious, we would be wise to admit this, if for no other reason than to reject all human attempts to remanufacture this special grace from God. Our face is not likely to glow like Moses' face did. Unfortunately, there are many who would try to conjure up such displays only to resort to the use of veils hiding the truth; which is that the Glory of God is only for God to release – in his time, in his will, and by his majesty. Allow me to be more specific. Be wary and cautious of those who claim to have a special connection to God, or who claim to have a special word from the Lord – as if they have been on the sacred mountain of the Lord with Moses. Be like the Bereans and search the scriptures to test the spirits. So, let us not be quick to seek to stir up this Glory of God. Why would I say that we should be cautious about stirring up this Glory of God? Because this Glory of God has already been revealed and is being imputed within us by the Holy Spirit. It does not need to be manufactured. It is happening in our hearts already! Wow! #1-Jesus has removed the veil, revealing the Glory of God growing in our hearts today.

Next we are to notice that the manifestation of the Glory of God at the Transfiguration is immediately followed by an act of healing and reconciliation. “Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God” (Luke 9:42, 43). In II Corinthians 3, we read, Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness” (vs. 12). We are not timid. We act with courage. Later in chapter 4:1, 2, we read, “Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.”

Let me try to break this down for you. The Glory of God as manifested at the Transfiguration was not a place, as Peter wanted to make it, but the power by which Jesus’ ministry took place. The presence of the Glory of God in Jesus resulted in the healing of the boy and reconciliation with the boy’s father. Likewise, Paul is saying that the Glory of God, which is growing in us by the power of the Holy Spirit is there for the purpose of ministry. It is not something just to make us feel good when we sing a few worship songs. The Glory of God grows as our intimacy with God develops. But as Moses and Jesus understood, this intimacy with God produces at least these 3 things:
#1-Christians and the church have had the veil removed by Jesus which previously hid the Glory of God. This Glory of God and intimacy with God are inseparable. Indeed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, this same Glory of God is growing in us, from glory to glory.
#2-As a result of this intimacy with God and the Glory of God growing in our hearts, Christians and the church are consumed with pleasing God, as differentiated from people. This is seen in right living.
#3- As a result of this intimacy with God and the Glory of God growing in our hearts, Christians and the church are devoted to ministry, that is, to justice, empowering the weak, freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry.

So, here again are the earlier conclusions for pastors and lay leaders.
#1-God chooses the leaders for his people.
#2-Intimacy between a pastor and our Heavenly Father is cherished by both pastor and the congregation.
#3- Pastors and lay leaders in the church are consumed with pleasing God, as differentiated from people. This is seen in right living.
#4-Pastors and lay leaders are devoted ministry, that is, to justice, empowering the weak, freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry.

Remarkably, our conclusion is essentially the same for pastors, lay leaders, Christians and the church as a whole. I charge you this day, as you seek a pastor to lead you, examine yourselves as well. You are the church. The Glory of God is growing in your hearts. It is your nature to shine in ministry to others.

I see all of you in your bright shining faces, glowing with the Glory of God, ready for ministry.