Radiant Faces – Sermon 10 February, 2013

Radiant Faces

The basic purpose of the church is: To be a positive, transforming agent in the lives of people. In other words: “To grow closer to Jesus Christ, and to each other.”

It is understood that we cannot get closer to Jesus unless we are in motion, unless we are willing to move. We cannot get to where we are going by staying where we are.

We say that the church is in the business of transforming, because that is what God does. God is not out there to only make you better and to improve you. He is out there to completely transform you.

In 1999 a one hour long documentary video called `Transformations’ was produced in the USA and, within a matter of months, it was sweeping the world. This video is a graphic presentation of four cities across the world in which the presence of God has transformed not only the churches, but also entire communities. The message that the video seeks to put out is, “Learn how the power of prayer can deliver similar results in your own neighbourhood”.

God transforms our personalities and even our bodies as Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:51: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed”. In every aspect of our existence, God is at work transforming us as individuals, and as a people; as a church. – That is the GOOD NEWS.

God is in the process of transforming us.

2 Corinthians 3: 13-18 Paul says:

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.

But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.

It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Paul compares the truth of the old and the new glory, one that fades, is temporary and leads to death and one that shines bright, is permanent never to be extinguished and leads to life. We who are unveiled can see the glory of the Lord and be transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory. That is just amazing! This is not a physical transformation and we will not look like the Lord. This is a Spiritual, character forming transformation.

But how does this profound character transformation take place?

When anyone turns to the Lord, confesses a belief in Jesus the veil is taken away. When we have the right relationship with God, we have the transformation process. If we do not surrender our all, if we do not have a passion to seek God, the wholeness of Christ in our lives could be missed; the offer of a relationship with God could be lost.

God wants to purify all of our good from all that is not. He wants to make us Holy by the blood of his son Jesus. He does this by a process of transformation, taking us from glory to glory.

We are transformed by the renewing of our mind. We are transformed into His likeness by reflecting the Lord’s glory. The glory that is being reflected is not some brilliant radiance from a Moses like visitation, but it is the true glory of His authority and directorship in our life. GOD will work to transform us, even in areas of which we are unaware, as we spend time in searching, fasting, and prayer. That is why we have to navigate into an area of searching, study, fasting, and prayer. I believe it is essential for us to go through this time if we are going to accomplish our purpose as a people and as a church.

One of the most amazing miracles of nature is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. When you look at the before and after of the same creature; it is like night and day. It changes from being slow and fat and crawling on the ground, to colourful and thin and flying through the air. Yet the actual metamorphosis is a rather mediocre procedure from our point of view. All we actually can see is the cocoon on the outside, while all of the change is happening inside.

When Jesus Christ went up on the Mount of Transfiguration – the change was much different. In a matter of moments he went from looking normal into a completely bright and awesome looking God. His clothes suddenly started shining like lightning and became as white as snow. It was as if he took off His outer clothing to reveal a completely different side of Himself and the disciples could clearly see who Jesus was. Jesus was God.

Christians also are under the process of a change – a transformation. It’s a part of our nature. Just like a human can’t help but grow old, the Christian also can’t help but change. He has to. But it’s not something that we try to stop or hide – something that makes us ugly and decaying. No, this change is a good thing – it makes us beautiful.

When Moses came down from Mount Sanai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands after speaking with God his face was radiant. In other words he was transformed. Standing in the presence of God transformed him totally. He was somehow a new creation and God’s glory was reflecting through him. He spoke with God face to face and he was completely transformed. The weak Moses we know was completely transformed into a totally new being with a glowing face.

Similarly Jesus’s face changed significantly that day on the mountain. Interestingly this transformation process took place on the mountain; a sacred place, where it is easier to feel God’s presence.

I know some of you are hesitant to join us as we plan our Church Camp or the Weekend away. But I want to assure you that it will be a unique experience. Being at the conference centre, away from the busy city to a peaceful place, where you can have special time to reflect on your life and your needs; as well as having a quiet time with God. This could be a life changing experience. In other words it could be an experience of transformation; a transformation, which could result in having a radiant complexion reflecting the light of God. Jesus, the perfect man was transfigured to reflect God’s perfect and bright image. It was a glorious splendour at the mountain to the point where Peter suggested building three shelters and staying there evermore with Jesus the Lord. Ironically Jesus wanted them to go back to the world and to spread the good news.

For the disciples the mountain experience resulted in a renewing and total transformation to urge them to act and put more effort in the ministry they were called to do.

The church, as the body of Christ should have this transformation first to reflect God’s perfect image and actively endeavour to act as the agents of God and reflect God’s glory to the people around us.

Krikor Youmshajekian