Matthew 17:1-8, "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."

A. Why did Jesus pick out These Three men to go upon the mountain with Him and receive Blessings that were out of this world?

1. Because, they were the Best Prepared, of all the Apostles, for the trip.

2. We Miss Many mountain top experiences because we are Not Prepared for them.

B. Matthew 17:8, "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."

A. Peter wanted to make Three Tabernacles.

B. People have always been prone to Worship Men all down through the centuries.

1. Paul and Barnabas were proclaimed gods after healing the impotent man at Lystra.

Acts 14:15, "And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:"

2. Peter at the house of Cornelius.

Acts 10:26, "But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man."

3. Popes --- Bishops --- Heroes --- Etc.

A. Jeremiah 17:5, "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

B. Job looked to the Lord to solve his problems.

Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."

C. How will the Lord sustain us when we cast our burden upon Him?

1. He will either Take The Burdens Away.

2. Or, Send Us Re-Enforcement that will enable us to travel on with the load.

Paul --- Thorn .....

D. 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

E. Philippians 4:6, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

A. The Wise Men made their gifts to Jesus Only.

B. Let us Not Forget Christ in our Giving.

A. If we would do this, it would Honor God and Solve Many of our Problems.

B. Peter and John were commanded to refraim from preaching Christ.

Acts 4:19-20,"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." --- 5:29, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

C. Jesus Indicts All of Us when He ask the Question:

Luke 6:46, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

A. Jesus is the only one we can accept as our example and Never Have To Apologize For Him.

B. We are to follow Others only As They Follow The Lord.

C. Jesus is our Example in Giving.

2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

D. Jesus is our Example in Forgiving.

Matthew 18:21-35, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Luke 23:34, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

E. Jesus is our Example in Suffering and Humility.

Philippians 2:5-8, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

F. Jesus is our Example in Love.

1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

G. The way of Christians has always been one of Sacrifice.

Luke 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

A. He has Promised to do that very thing and He alone can do it.

B. We churches, we have a big job Doing What God Has Called Us To Do.

1. If We would Tend To Our Own Business --- God will tend to His.

2. Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

C. We Should Preach No Man Saved Jesus Only.

1. We are living in an age that is steeped in Modernism.

2. The ministry of Phillip is the kind of ministry the world needs today.

Acts 8:5, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them."

1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Jesus Is The Greatest Name Known to Man:

Matthew 12:41-42, "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."

J - Judgment

Acts 17:31, "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

John 5:22, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"

E - Eternity

The Soul, Heaven, and Hell are all Eternal.

Think what Heaven will be like:

Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

There Is Nothing That Keeps Man Out of Hell But The Mere Mercy of Almighty God.

S - Salvation

Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Hebrews 10:10, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

U - Universal

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Revelation 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

S - Security

Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

John 10:27-29, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand."

Psalm 37:23-24, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."