2819 Church - WISDOM AND WONDER | Look. Receive. Listen. Repent | Matthew 17:1-13 | Kenneth McFarland

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

In the Season 6 premiere of “WISDOM & WONDER,” Kenneth McFarland unpacks a revelatory passage of Scripture found in Matthew 17:1-13. Welcome to the official Youtube channel for 2819 Church. This channel features powerful and life-impacting messages from Philip Anthony Mitchell and guest communicators. As you listen to these sound biblical messages you can expect to be challenged, stirred, matured and inspired in your faith and walk with God. For more information about us visit 2819Church.org.

Welcome to 2819. My name is Kenneth McFarland. Before we sit down, let's just honor the person who gave us an opportunity to even be able to sit in presence like this. He set the tone of this culture. He's the one who teaches us Sunday after Sunday, regardless of what's going on in his life, sacrificing his life for ours. Let's honor Pastor Phillip and Miss Lena Mitchell. You may be seated. I want to spend a special shout out to all of our digital disciples. Coming from far and wide and watching from all over the world,

we saw that we had some individuals watching us from the Maldives, and we also saw some individuals watching from Turkey. With everything that's going on, the word of God is still important. So we thank you for everyone. And this is very important we thank everyone who is a you're a contributor to these messages this this worship and everything that's going on here to be able to get seen by individuals far and wide people's lives are changing and transforming everywhere because of you.

So thank you. All right. We're about to start up season six of a series called Wisdom and Wonder. This will be episode one. Thank y'all. Love y'all. Rocking with me?

I don't know. I don't know if this is going to be a... My goal today is just to encourage everyone. Is that okay with you? Is that okay with you? All right. So last week, last week we went over the last little bit of Jesus's conversation with the crowd and the disciples when we went over that he's trying to explain about his return and also that we need to exchange something in order to really follow him. Do y'all remember that? Half of y'all? All right.

So today we got some work to put in, right? Today is a teaching and it's going to be a little bit different. And if I'm teaching, that means that this is a classroom, and I'm going to need class participation. Amen? All right, so I'm about to put the title of this message on the screen. We're going to say it together. It's very important that we all say it together and we catch a rhythm because it's going to be very important for you to understand these words moving forward. Okay? I just said right. The title of this message is called LRLR, or better yet, Look, Receive, Listen, Repent.

Let's say it again. The title of this message is called Look, Receive, Listen, Repent. We're going to look at some stuff we're going to receive some stuff we're going to listen to some stuff then hopefully we repent so Father right now I pray that your word goes forth

I pray that everyone who you've been working on their heart Father, right now I pray that your word goes forth. I pray that everyone who you've been working on their heart, Father, that they receive your words, Lord. They receive your revelation. They receive everything that you are trying to do in their life so that they can truly turn, turn to you, Father. I thank you for those, Lord, who you already know that they have received you now. In Jesus' name, amen. All right. What was our first word? Look.

We're about to read a scripture, and the first thing that I believe Jesus is trying to get us to do in this first set of scriptures is this first word. What's the word? Look. Look. Matthew chapter 17, verse 1. For those of y'all who have the physicals, Matthew, y'all should already be there. Y'all know we going line by line, verse by verse, right? All right. So Matthew chapter 17, verse one, it says, after six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, his brother, and led them

up a high mountain by themselves. So what does that mean after six days? Well, from the last encounter that we had where Jesus was explaining that we need to follow him and exchange some things, six days from there, Jesus takes with him three individuals up a high mountain. Jesus doesn't do anything by mistake. So this makes me wonder, why did he take Peter, James, and John up, there's this thing that we use, that we use. My wife keeps telling me I need to stop fiddling with this rag. I just looked at her. She looked at me like, amen. Amen. Amen. Back in ancient days and even today, there's this thing that we use that usually proves something happens, right?

It's called witnesses. And back in those days and even now, if you have one witness, it can be considered like a, hey, he said, she said. So it's hard to prove something. But if you have two witnesses, you have a little bit more sound concrete where it's like, well, two people said that they saw and witnessed this. So it proves that whatever's about to happen is true. But you can fight against that. Well, what if

they colluded? But if you have three witnesses who are all speaking the same truth, then it's sort of hard to sort of fight and combat against that. So Jesus isn't, he's not just taking three people for no reason. He's doing that to prove something according to the law that at the mouth of two or three witnesses, what's about to happen is true. So there's no combating, oh, well, this is a hallucinogen. There's no combating, oh, well, they're just like three people sort of fight against that. Especially if their lives keep going until death and they were willing to die for what they believe. Okay? And what is it that they see?

Verse 2. And he, who is he? Jesus, was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his glow, his clothes became white as light. Now, what's our first word? What we're about to do is look at the glory of Jesus. Here, Jesus is being transfigured. And the words are very specific. They say that he was transfigured before him and his face shown.

That means that everything about him was changing in the face of three witnesses. everything that was earthly was moving away, and he's being changed right before their eyes. And then it said that his face shined like what? Like the sun. There's another account in the scriptures. There's another account in the scriptures there's another account in the scriptures where somebody's face shined like the sun so much so that people couldn't see his face that guy's name Moses but in order for that to happen Moses had to spend 40 days in the presence of God in order for that to happen. Oh my God. Moses had to spend 40 days and here it is. Jesus is just stepping into all glory and all honor.

That don't seem important to you but that lets me know because he didn't have to spend time in the father's presence means that that glory was already his to begin with. And everything about him changed. Even his clothes changed. Even the things that was touching him couldn't stay the same, but became transfigured. And verse 3, it says, and behold, there appeared to him, or to them, Moses and Elijah talking with him. Again, because Jesus doesn't make mistakes it makes me wonder why Moses and why Elijah there are there are mightier men that I can think of why not David or Solomon why not Adam like it made me think and go down this rabbit hole.

Well, who was Moses? The one who was given the law. And who was Elijah? Considered the prophet of prophets. So here it is. Jesus takes Moses representing the law. And Elijah representing the prophets.

And he starts fulfilling a prophecy right before their eyes. Matthew 5, 17 says, do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. So here it is. Jesus takes the law and the prophets and he inserts himself in them that if anyone look at the law or the prophets they should be able to see him and I'm blown away because, again, it's three witnesses looking at Jesus, fulfilling prophecy, making sure that we can see his glory. What is our first word?

Look. Look. Look, look lets us glare. It just gives us a peek into something that is so miraculous and spectacular of his where we cannot deny it. So that we can, what's our second word? Receive. So he's showing us to look so that we can receive and unfortunately this is where a lot of people sort of fall off because the receive here is we're going to receive revelation of Jesus and not the thing that you want. Because truth be told,

a lot of us try and follow Jesus because we want bread and fish. Well, when is the next miracle? Because my hip. Or when is the, like, we're following Jesus for the things that he can do for us. And not for true revelation of who he is.

17, starting in verse 4, and it said, And Peter said to Jesus, first, stop. The scripture before this just read, I want us to pay attention to this. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Jesus, Moses, Elijah having a conversation and then it says and Peter said Lord it is good that we are here because Lord knows what you would have done if it was not, if I wasn't here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He was still speaking. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talking.

And then the scriptures say, Peter. Still talking. Peter can't get right for nothing. Like, dang, man. You just got called Satan a little while ago wait as a matter of fact it says six days you ain't making a whole week bruh he was still speaking when behold a bright cloud overshadowed them them and a voice from the cloud said this is my beloved son with whom i am well pleased listen to him. Jesus wants us to receive true revelation of him and we're bombarding him

with a lot of our issues. God, please help me. I want you to do. Yeah, but I understand that's what you're telling me to do, Lord. But I need you to save me. Their issue was a real issue. The Romans were killing them and really taking them out. And Jesus is saying, I understand. Listen to me. But save us from the Romans.

Well, when they want you to walk one mile, walk two. Y'all don't like that. Okay. All right. I want us to think about this. Which one is more important? His presence or his presence? Which one is more important?

The product or the producer? The comfort or the comforter? Because a lot of us, if we be honest, a lot of us, we just want the one fish in the bread. Stop trying to teach me how to fish. Just give me what I want right now so that I can come to you and beg again and ask again and plead again because if you teach me then I gotta do

it makes me it makes me really question because we sing a lot of these songs that glorify him and we say, oh, you are all I need. Well, is he enough? Is he enough? Or do we need other things thrown in to satisfy our Jesus fix our convenience is like sometimes sometimes if I be honest sis if I be honest sometimes I want to shake people and be like, he not here for your comfort and convenience. But I can't because he is a comforter and he is here to also help to make sure that your convenience is set. But it was never meant for your comfort to be here and your convenience to be met here because there's sin in the world and because there's let

me let me say something uh let me not say sin in the world it's sin in the camp like that means that there's sin in the building that means that we're people who are trying to follow Jesus with sin that means that as I live and breathe sin still inhabits me. That means that there is something inside me that still makes me go further away from Jesus if I do not lay that at his feet. That's right. But we want comfort and convenience. We want that more than his kingdom. You want me to prove it to you?

In your suffering, I want you to serve me. In my suffering, why do I have to suffer? See, that's the crazy part. Some of us, some of us is real die hard i'll suffer for your glory lord until suffering hit when i was uh when i was in the military um i i in the military, and I remember these dudes who used to be like super gung-ho. I remember being deployed overseas, and I was being deployed. I remember there were these new dudes who just came, and they were just like, oh, I can't wait.

Oh, like, I'm going, they got their gun in their hand. Oh, I'm going to take out so many insurgents and they came with the the quote-unquote intentions of being like this super soldier until it was time to be a soldier now we two weeks in and and bombs are are flying over our heads heads and they didn't realize that the enemy just don't sit there and wait for us to shoot them. The enemy actually shooting at us. And it's so damaging that now I had individual...

Y'all forgive me. Y'all remember I wasn't saved always right y'all remember that okay I say that cause buddy would come and he'd be like I'm gonna kill myself and he had a

butter knife from an MRE and I'm like, you got a gun. It sounds dumb, right? But how often do we come before God with that same mentality of save me from, and he's like, did I not give you my spirit? All right, all right, all right. We so throw it off. The enemy's shooting, Lord. The enemy's firing, God. Things are happening. This week has been so hard for me.

Like y'all have no idea. And yet still, the scriptures are true that they're true that no weapon formed against me shall prosper does that mean it can't be made does that mean it can't be fired here's here's the reality does it mean that it can't hit me? If the weapon was to prosper, that means it would kill me. Does that mean that it can't wound me? Y'all don't want to hear that. Many a days I laughed at the TikToks that be like, Lord, these weapons looking like they prospering. That one almost got me. Because we need real reality checks.

And here it is. God is saying, well, if you look at my glory, what will you receive? A real revelation of who? Jesus. What's our first word? Look. What's our second word? Receive. He wants you to look at his glory so you can receive a revelation of him.

And what's our third word? So you can listen to the words of Jesus. Hallelujah. No jumping up and down now, right? No get up and down now, right? No get up and claps now, right? You mean I'm just receiving revelation so I can listen to what he's saying? Matthew 17 verse 6, it says, when the disciples heard this, what did they hear? When they heard God speaking, say, this is my beloved son who I am.

Well, please listen to him. When they heard that, they fell on their face and were terrified. Now, some of us, some of us would really feel some type of way like, man, like, this is crazy but it blesses my heart that the God of heaven and earth of all things would bring his presence over to stop everything to speak to me to get me to listen are you listening are we listening God stopped everything so that we can listen to the words that mattered

but do they matter let me ask you a question that mattered. But do they matter? Let me ask you a question. What does God's word mean to you? Do we truly value what he says? Do we? that we really do value what he says says do we do we value what he already said some of us waiting for the next prophet to give us the next set of information. Because we want a different revelation or a different understanding or a different interpretation. We're looking for another word from God.

Do we care? Are we paying attention to what he has already said? What does God's word mean to you? Are we taking the time to actually read this, understand it, go through it? Or are we just waiting for another Sunday to let somebody else tell us? Are we? Oh, how is this motivation? How is this encouragement?

What happens if you actually listen and apply the word of God in your life? Does it change things? Does it transform things? The way we value what he's already said speaks volumes to how we listen now. I told y'all I got a 14-year-old son, right? I also got a 14-year-old nephew right here. It's really hard when my nephew and my son come to me asking for something, but they didn't follow the last set of instructions that I gave them. Can we go to the pool? Did you wash the dishes like I asked you to? Can we go to our friend's house? Did you clean your room? Y'all not liking this?

God, can you pay these bills? Did you die to anger? God, can you take this away? Is my grace not sufficient? If we honestly listened, if we honestly listened, I truly believe the amount of transformation that we would see, like I believe that this gathering is not just a normal gathering because individuals are really trying to like grab a hold of what Jesus is saying. But what about the dark areas? What about the things that we're trying to hide in the closet? What about the things that we're trying to sweep under the rug?

Do you not think that those things matter? That he doesn't want to get those too? If he's cleaning our house, if this is our house, and God is cleaning our house, you think he wants the closet to be dirty? Or we just want the outside to look good so that when people see it, it looks nice. But if they were to actually come in the inside

and see the filth. Matthew 17, verse seven, it says, but Jesus came, touched them, saying, rise and have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, tell no one the vision Now verse 7 will send, like, that'll send us through there. And Jesus touched you, and you rose from the dead.

And he said, have no, that would really, it could preach it could really preach but if you take the whole thing in context it said Jesus Jesus told him to rise have no fear and when they lifted their eyes they saw no one but who they saw no one but who? That means at some point in time, the law and the prophets are going to leave. At some point in time, the law will fade away and the prophets will go away. But the only thing that's going to be left standing is our lord and savior

it would be wicked of me to teach anything other than what what we need to do is focus on Jesus. So much so that he makes everything else go away so that we can focus on Jesus. He wants us to focus on him. Focus on him. Lord, but look at what's going on in my life. Focus on me, my son. Focus on me, my daughter. But this pain, this pain, focus on me. Focus, look at me, pay attention to me. Listen to me. Because when all of this fades away, I will still be here. And for those who don't want to listen.

Verse 9 really just like breaks my heart, right? Because it said, and as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, tell no one the vision until the son of man is raised from the dead. He said, tell no one the vision. Was it not Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talking? So this was more than a vision. But it's only a vision when you keep talking and work. Oh, my God. We're so busy about what's happening on earth and not seeing what's happening in the spirit. That as we come to God, he's trying to tell us about something that's happening in the spirit. And we're bothering him with things that are happening on earth.

And instead of actually catching real revelation and everything that was said, all we do is see. So when it is time to tell people what happened, I don't know. Well, let's take the scriptures for what they are we know Jesus Moses and Elijah was there right what what did they say nobody knows nobody knows what they said why Because instead of listening, Peter was doing what? Man of God, are you saying that I should not be praying and telling the Lord about my issues? That is not what I'm saying at all. But when the Lord is speaking, are you listening? Or instead of listening, are you rebutting and rebutting everything that he's saying?

One of the words that I really don't like, I'm not going to say I hate, I really don't like, is this word called but. Why? Hey, I want you to make sure that everything in the kitchen is clean. And after you clean it, I want you to come back here. Yeah, I hear that. But that means you're negating everything. You heard it, but you don't care. Are we budding God? Are we really budding God? I want you to fix your heart i have fixed my heart but listen

like these people are we are we budding god i i want you to forgive the person that hurt you like I'm gonna forgive them but first what I need to happen is I need this this and that which one is more important his word or what we want okay I'm getting on y'all nerves. I understand. I understand. Verse 10, and the disciples asked him, then why do the scribes and the Pharisees, that first, why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? And he, Jesus, answered saying,

Elijah does come and he will restore all things. And I'm an inquisitive person. So when I read stuff like this, it makes me ask a lot of questions. And I write these questions down because I want to go back and find out. It says, what does it mean for Elijah to come first? Did anybody else catch that question? What does it mean that he will restore all things? Well, Elijah came to heal, to correct, to put things in proper order and proper state. He would be the instrument or the reforming that the people needed to restore them in the same measure to proper notion about the Messiah

and preparing them for his coming. What was Elijah's message? Elijah's message was to show Israel the evil of their ways and encourage them to return to the Lord. That was Elijah's message. To show them the evilness of their ways and tell them to return to the Lord.

What's beautiful to me? Here it is, Peter did all of this stuff. He sees all of these beautiful things he saw Jesus transfigured and instead of going back and just marveling and what God did and what he could do for him he comes back because he was listening now he's reminded of scripture that he heard from the past and now he's trying to figure out, well, if you're telling me that I need to listen to you, can you help me to figure out what this means? Because the scribes are saying that in order for things to really be the way that they need to be, in order for you to really come,

Elijah's supposed to come. But I see that you're here, Lord. You are the Messiah. He says, I see you here, so how is it that Elijah's supposed to come first? Because he remembered in scripture that something needed to happen before the Messiah came. And then Jesus says, what was our first word? Yeah, I just threw y'all for a loop. What was our first word? What was our second word? What was our third word? We're going to look at the glory of God.

We're going to receive revelation of Jesus. We're going to listen to the word of God so that we can repent. Jesus. Jesus. here it is in everything. He's catching a revelation that if the Messiah is here, Elijah needed to come first, but didn't get it because he saw the Messiah there and didn't understand, well, when did Elijah come back? And verse 12 says, but I tell you, Jesus, Elijah has already come. And they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they please. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. They received revelation just that fast. Because all these people who are doing these things to try and bash Jesus, drags at the Olympics trying to say that they're portraying the Last Supper, individuals who are blaspheming God relentlessly. He's speaking and he's saying, you see the Christ now, but you didn't see the revelation of what was supposed to come beforehand. Elijah was supposed to come before the Messiah. And he's saying, Elijah already came because he was telling them what was John the Baptist's message. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

But because you didn't see what was really happening, you his message really was or to see the revelation and what it really was that God was here. Elijah spoke that the Messiah is coming John the Baptist spoke the kingdom of God is at hand and here it is we've been preaching God is going to return the revelation is so clear to me

I believe we have the revelation is so clear to me. I believe we have modern day John the Baptist right now. And one of them leads us. And he's been trying to get, he's been trying to get us to understand that his return is near. And if he is to return, we need to repent. Because we don't know how much time we have.

God is trying to get us to look at his glory so that we can receive real revelation of who he is so that we can listen to his word to cause us to repent. I'm begging with you right now. If you're a prayer warrior, pray. Because right now,

there's someone in here who understands. I needed to just be here for some reason and don't know why. Or someone who did not believe. Or someone you just wanted to, you didn't even get past the revelation part because you didn't receive what you wanted to receive. He wants us to repent. Repent. Repent of everything because he is coming back and he's coming back soon.

What is the encouragement? To get you to see the truth. Because if he comes back while you're still in your sin, there is no time left. And now he's beckoning unto you. He's calling you. You feel it in your heart. You feel it in your heart. You feel it in your heart.

You know for a fact you've done wrong. You're not the only one. I'm a sinner just like you. I have done things that have, I have done blatant things to disrespect God. I have not listened to him time and time again. If you've lied a little white lie, it's enough to cause for you to be eternally separated from him.

And he's saying right now, right now, you have an opportunity to look at his glory, receive true revelation of who he is so that you can listen to his words ringing in your ears to repent. Ask him for forgiveness of what you did. And he gives us this opportunity because of how much he loves us. He loves you so much that he drew you.

And you're here right now because he loves you and he wants you. So right now, if you feel that beckoning, if you feel that pull, come. Nothing spooky. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. There are no special words that are going to save you. Have a conversation with him now. Ask him for forgiveness now.

Tell him you're sorry now. Ask him to forgive you now. Have a conversation with the God of all things. The one who has all power in his hand. For where you have idolized yourself or idolized other things done what you wanted to do instead of listen to him father thank you thank you Lord you. Thank you, Lord. Jesus, I pray that you gain glory. Let this be evident, Father, that your word

works. It is real and it is true and it is sharper than any two-edged sword, that it cuts and divides, Father, our hearts. And where there is not clarity, Father, I pray that you give clarity. And where there is not understanding, Father, I pray that you give understanding, Lord. Work in the hearts of your children right now, God. Work in the hearts of your sons and your daughters right now, Father. As they cry out to you, God, I pray that you wrap your arms around them, Father. May they feel you right now, Lord. Oh, God. May they feel you right now, Lord.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Don't just sit there pray don't just spectate pray souls are trying to give their lives over they're asking

God for forgiveness Jesus Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. All eyes on me. All eyes on me.

I really pray that you had a true encounter of Jesus. And I pray that you also understand that every tear that fail does not just fall to the ground. The scriptures say that he bottles all of those tears. He cares so much for you that even your tears are important. Do you understand that? He loves you. And with that, as we asked him for forgiveness, as we had a conversation with him,

the scriptures are clear that when one sinner repents, all of heaven rejoices. repents. All of heaven rejoices. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Jesus. Jesus. But we're not just going to leave you like this. All eyes on me.

We're not just going to leave you like this. So after this, when you turn around, You listening? You're no longer alone. You're no longer alone. And you're not going to walk this thing out alone. You have brothers and sisters behind you. They're going to help you when you fall. They're going to pick you up. And we just keep pointing back to Jesus.

Do you understand that? You understand that? You understand that? So after this, don't just leave and not do something. Like, I'm extra. I know that. If I find new family, I get contacts. Because I want to be able to reach out. Reach out.

Whether it be through the connect tent, going to growth track, joining a squad, reach out. Do y'all hear me? There's a squad for you. You hear that? You hear that? Because men have a tendency to not want to chill with other men. There's other men who go through the same thing that you go through and they're ready and willing to give you everything that they have. Y'all, you hear that? Do you believe it? Father, I pray that you continue to pour out into your children.

You give them everything that's needed, Father. Lord, give them more revelation of you, God. May they see that the glory that you are shining, Father, so that they can return to you time and time again, Father. Let them see, Lord, Lord, that falling doesn't mean that they have fell out of your grace. That they can pick themselves up and run right back to you, Lord. And right now, Father, I thank you for every soul that has decided to really come to you, God. And we glorify your name.

We glorify you as the King, Lord, Savior, Redeemer. We pray this in your holy name, in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. If you're faithful, stay faithful. If you're not faithful, get faithful. There's all kinds of ways to give, all this other stuff. Y'all see all these people that were up here? I hear all the clapping.

Instead of running out the building, why don't y'all run to the front and love on them. Love you. I love you. Go in peace.