{"id":1202,"date":"2020-02-23T16:39:15","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T00:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1202"},"modified":"2020-02-23T16:44:16","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T00:44:16","slug":"eyewitnesses-of-his-majesty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/23\/eyewitnesses-of-his-majesty\/","title":{"rendered":"Eyewitnesses of His Majesty!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1202-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Transfiguration-Sunday-02-23-20.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Transfiguration-Sunday-02-23-20.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Transfiguration-Sunday-02-23-20.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Transfiguration Sunday<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">February 23, 2020<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">2 Peter 1:16-21<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Eyewitnesses of His Majesty!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory saying, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.&#8221;<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I am an eyewitness to what may be the most spectacular way to lose one\u2019s job.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It happened while I was living in Seattle.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was traveling west on a road that went over a local freeway.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was stopped at the light.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was the second or third car back from the light.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I watched as a truck came barreling up the exit ramp towing a trailer with a big backhoe on it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He tried to go east on the road where I was sitting.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He was going so fast I wondered how he was going to make the turn.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sure enough, as he came screeching around the corner I saw the backhoe begin to lean\u2014 a little more, a little more, a little more until finally the whole trailer began to flip!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The tractor went tumbling into the intersection with glass and parts flying all over the place.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The truck went right by my window dragging the now upside down trailer behind it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once I was able to breathe again and once I got out of my car and found that no one was hurt I thought to myself, \u201cThat has to be the most spectacular way to lose one\u2019s job that I have ever seen!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever been an eyewitness, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have you ever witnessed the miracle of a child being born?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have you ever witnessed the simple stunning beauty of the sun rising or setting across the ocean?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you have ever been an eyewitness to something spectacular or something miraculous or something stunning then you will easily be able to relate to how I would like us to study our sermon text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On this Transfiguration Sunday\u2014 just days before we enter into the solemn season of Lent\u2014 let\u2019s study this portion of Peter\u2019s second epistle under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Eyewitnesses of His Majesty!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we study this text let\u2019s first of all look at the eyewitness testimony that Peter gives to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see how Peter\u2019s eyewitness testimony impacts us today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Peter wrote this letter towards the end of his life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 2 Peter 1:13-14)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reason he wrote this letter was to remind God\u2019s people of truths they already knew so that they would not lose sight of those truths after Peter was gone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 2 Peter 12-14)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, there we already people both inside the church as well as outside of the church who were <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cexploiting\u201d<\/i> God\u2019s people with <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstories they have made up.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 2 Peter 2:3)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>One of the truths that these false teachers had completely dismissed, one of the glorious proclamations of the Christian faith that these false teachers openly denied was the glorious return of Jesus Christ to this earth as the Judge of the living and the dead.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For that reason, Peter begins our text by saying, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWe did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, \u2018This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As we heard in our Gospel lesson for today (Matthew 17:1-9) Peter (together with James and John) was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter was there when Jesus\u2019 face <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshone like the sun.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter was there when Jesus\u2019 clothes became <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cas white as the light.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter was there as Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about His upcoming death on the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Luke 9:30-31)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter heard the heavenly Father proclaim Jesus to be His beloved Son with Whom the Father was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwell pleased.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter saw these things with his own two eyes!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter heard these things with his own two ears!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And even though Peter at one time denied even knowing who Jesus of Nazareth is\u2014 nothing, my friends, nothing like that would ever happen again!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The glorious glimpse of heaven that Peter was given on the Mount of Transfiguration was now another guarantee to Peter that his resurrected Lord <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">will<\/b> return to this earth in <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> of His power and in <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of His glory and in <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> of His majesty\u2014 just as He promised He would.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Yes, my friends, the fact that Peter was an eyewitness of the majesty of Christ was one reason that Peter could be so confident as he reminded his readers about <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But there was more!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter\u2019s boldness and Peter\u2019s confidence also rested on the rock-solid foundation of the inspired Word of his God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Peter says concerning the Word of God in verses 19-21 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnd we have the word of the prophets made more certain\u2026Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet\u2019s own interpretation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Peter believed in the inspiration of God\u2019s holy Word long before he had even heard of Jesus of Nazareth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That heartfelt trust in the Scriptures only grew exponentially deeper as Peter became an eyewitness of Jesus\u2019 majesty over and over and over again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Peter read or recalled our Old Testament Lesson for today (Exodus 24:12, 15-18), as Peter watched the Old Testament Messianic prophecies come to fulfillment before his very eyes, as Peter witnessed Jesus perform miracle after miracle from healing the sick to casting out demons to raising the dead, as Peter listened to Jesus teach the Truth of Scripture with an authority and a clarity unmatched by anyone else, as Peter watched Jesus of Nazareth carry out the Father\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world\u2014 a Plan that was clearly laid out in the holy Scriptures, Peter understood even more that the Old Testament prophets were indeed men who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cspoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, the testimony of Scripture became even <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmore certain\u201d<\/i> for Peter each time Peter became an eyewitness of the majesty of his God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Wouldn\u2019t it be absolutely amazing, my friends, if you and I could be like Peter?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Wouldn\u2019t it be absolutely amazing if we too could be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Eyewitnesses of Majesty<\/i><\/b>? (Pointing to the cross) You know, of course, that I am being facetious.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">are<\/i><\/b> eyewitnesses of the majesty of our God!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the day you were baptized in the Name of the Triune God you were given both the power and the privilege of being an eyewitness of the majesty of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now, every single time you watch someone receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism you are an eyewitness of God\u2019s majesty as you watch the God of heaven adopt even the tiniest infant as His dearly beloved child.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time you approach this altar to receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion you are an eyewitness of His majesty as your God gives you the visible tangible assurance that all of your sins are completely forgiven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time you see either a child or an adult stand up on the day of their Confirmation and publicly promise to remain faithful to God even to the point of death you are an eyewitness of the majesty of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time you see the power of God\u2019s Law lead someone to say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGod, have mercy on me, a sinner\u201d<\/i> (Luke 18:13) and then see the glory of God\u2019s Gospel lift them up by saying to them, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cTake heart\u2026your sins are forgiven\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 9:2) you are an eyewitness of the majesty of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time you open up your Bible and with the eyes of faith see the Creation of the world, the deliverance of God\u2019s people from slavery in Egypt, the birth of the Promised Messiah, the crucifixion of this world\u2019s only Savior from sin, the resurrection of our Victorious Lord\u2014 over and over again God\u2019s holy inspired Word gives you an opportunity to once again be an eyewitness of the majesty of our God!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why is this so important to remember?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why can you never lose sight of the fact that you are an eyewitness of God\u2019s majesty?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because just as in the days of the apostle Peter so also there are people today\u2014 people outside the church, people inside the church, people<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>who claim to be \u201cbiblical scholars\u201d\u2014 there are people today who will try to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cexploit you with stories they have made up\u201d<\/i> (2 Peter 2:3).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For example, there are people today who see the Bible as nothing more than a collection of \u201cmyths and stories,\u201d \u201clegends and allegories\u201d that you need to logically dissect in your own mind to see if you can find a \u201ckernel\u201d of truth that applies to you and to your life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why Peter continues to say to his readers right down to this very day, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSo I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have\u201d<\/i> (2 Peter 1:12).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why you often hear me emphasize the same basic objective unchangeable truths of Scripture over and over again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We need to be confident of what we are eyewitnesses of so that we can not only treasure what God has revealed to us in His Word, but so that we can also share what with others what we ourselves have witnessed!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As I sat at that stop light in Washington, as I watched that truck come screeching around the corner, as I watched that tractor tumble across the road I became an eyewitness to what I still think is the most spectacular way for a person to lose their job.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine explaining that one to your boss!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You may also be able to recall amazing, stunning events of which you are an eyewitness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But it all pales in comparison, my friends, to what God in His grace has enabled us to be eyewitnesses of as we read and study His holy inspired Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the saved children of God we have stood alongside Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration and witnessed Jesus\u2019 face <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshine like the sun\u201d<\/i> and His clothes become <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cas white as the light\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 17:2).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the saved children of God we have stood alongside Mary on the Mount of Calvary and watched as our sins nailed God\u2019s Son to the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the saved children of God we stood alongside the disciples in that locked room on that first Easter Sunday and heard the victorious risen Christ say to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/i> (John 20:19)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the saved children of God we have stood alongside the disciples on the Mount of Ascension and heard the heavenly angels\u2019 promise that our Brother Jesus will one day return to this earth in all of His power, in all of His glory and in all of His majesty.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And, as the saved children of God we will one day stand at our King\u2019s right hand and become eyewitnesses of the events that will usher us into a glorious eternity.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we stop to contemplate all of this, when we stop to realize how often the God of heaven allows us to be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Eyewitnesses of His Majesty<\/i><\/b> (Pointing to the cross) how can we not say:<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Transfiguration-Sunday-02-23-20.mp3\">Transfiguration-Sunday-02-23-20.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Transfiguration Sunday February 23, 2020 2 Peter 1:16-21 Eyewitnesses of His Majesty! &nbsp; We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.&nbsp; For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1202\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}