God is so good all the time. Today we had a blessed time of sharing and fellowship in the House of God!
We opened our service with prayer and praise ad worship with Liz
Then we had some testimonies.
Pastor Karen shared a poem she wrote
Then We Experienced more praise and worship with Dave and Debbie
Then Pastor Ron shared His message from Mark Chapter 9:2-29
The Transfiguration
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,[b] it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[c] listen to him.”8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”[e]
We see two different experiences:We see Jesus up on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John. These men were up on the mountain with Jesus. It feels good to stay on the mountain with Jesus! The Word tells us Peter said “It is good that we are here!” The mountain is a wonderful place, but we can’t stay on the mountain for ever. Peter wanted to build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah so that they would stay on the mountain. Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t stay on the Mountain? We can’t stay on the Mountain anymore than Jesus (or Peter, James, and John) did because we are needed in the valley. People are hurting in the valley and they need the Lord. When we are on the mountain it is to build us up and refresh us so we can minister to the need in the valley. Jesus went down into the valley and there was a man with an evil spirit that the disciples couldn’t cast out. Jesus told them that this kind only comes out by prayer and fasting. Sometimes there are things in our life that we have to cut out so that we can spend time in prayer and fellowship with God. Always make sure to spend time with the Lord.
We look forward to launching into the new year with all of you. Come be a part of everything Jesus is doing in us, to us and through us at Set Free Church of the High Desert!
JESUS LOVES YOU!
