Ephesians 2: 1-21. Luke 9: 28-36

We read in Luke’s account, “The appearance of Jesus’s countenance altered, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration  conversed with Jesus,  and spoke of his departure which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

The Lord showed me that the appearance of Elijah and Moses is significant because of their great victories over Satan’s kingdom.

Both prophets had acted in faith and were dependent upon God. Jesus seeing them would remind him of His Father’s power over the prince of the power of the air, Satan, and also known as the devil and his hosts of wickedness.  

Moses

Moses and his brother Aaron were dependent upon God to win the victories over the gods of Egypt. God redeemed his people with the blood of the ‘Passover’ lamb.

Having reached the Red Sea Moses lifted his rod and the water parted. The Israelite’s 600,000 walked across the sea on dry land.

The Egyptians caught up with them and as they began to drive their chariots across, Moses lifted up the rod and the ground beneath the chariot began to clog their wheels and the waters came and covered them.  Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s army were defeated. Exodus 12

Elijah

King Ahab and Jezebel had 850 prophets praying for their god Baal to consume their offering and nothing happened. The one and only prophet Elijah totally dependent upon Israel’s God and the fire of the Lord fell and consumed his offering. The people proclaimed Elijah’s God their God.  Elijah’s victory over idolatry. 1 Kings 18: 17-39

King Ahab’s son King Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire from the god of Akron, Beelzebub whether he would get better after falling through the lattice in his upper chamber. Elijah was instructed by an angel to intervene and stop the messengers. He was obedient and Elijah was victorious over Beelzebub. 2 Kings 1: 1-4

Elijah was translated

Elijah was taken from the earth as he and Elisha walked across the Jordan, and as they walked on together a chariot of fire came between them and Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind into heaven.

Over 3 days 50 men searched for Elijah they were unable to find him. 2 Kings 2: 6-18.

Jesus was supported by Elijah and Moses

Jesus I believe was encouraged, by their victories over Satan’s gods strengthened by their dependence and obedience to do God’s will. Their presence and their words to him, gave him support when he needed it.

Jesus only did and said what he heard from his Father God, he was dependent upon his Father, but he was given like us, free will to choose what was the first and most important in his life to do his own will or to do his Father’s will. Jesus chose to do his Father’s will.

Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father. Save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Those standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus said, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out.” John 12: 27-31.

Jesus was troubled he knew the harsh reality of the Roman crucifixion, but for him it wasn’t just the physical, but also the spiritual pain he endured.

God’s witness to those who stood near him  heard God’s voice at this crucial moment. Jesus spoke of his purpose to make known the power behind sin and the defeat of the ruler of this world, his power over death through human hearts falling into sin. This victory Jesus  accomplished at Jerusalem. 

Isaiah’s prophecy

“Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, I smote him, I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and requite him with comfort, creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the Lord; I will heal him.” Isaiah 57: 17, 18,

When we reflect on these words where God revealed how he felt anger as he smote Jesus bearing the sins that separate humanity from God, He watched his Son being mocked, beaten, crucified and die.

“I will heal him” God’s forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus what he did for us on the cross. God raised Jesus from the dead.

Sometimes, for one reason or another a Christian can backslide, that means not to lose faith, but to stop praying, reading the Bible or attending worship with other Christians. These verses remind us of the cost to God and Jesus his Son to redeem us, in order to make us right with God and to enter into the abundant grace of the Lord’s resurrection.

Moses and Elijah’s victories are part of our inheritance in Jesus Christ

Paul wrote that we are in Christ, “For through him we both have access to the one Spirit to the Father . . .  fellow citizens . . . with the household of God, built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets Jesus  being the cornerstone. . . . the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you are also built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2: 18-22.

God has broken down every barrier in Christ, his blood shed for the sins of the whole world. We are adopted into God’s family through his promise to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed.

It’s good to be reminded of Moses and Elijah’s victories over the god of this world. The Holy Spirit  will use these victories written down so that we are encouraged and strengthened by them. We wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against these principalities and powers that they overcame by their faith being dependence on God.

Take God at his word and turn to him in repentance and faith.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2: 20. Through faith I died to sin with Jesus and raised up with him in the power of his resurrection.

Praying using your own words or use the prayers below:

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, where I have fallen away from being an active member of the body of believers, I am reminded of the courage and dependence on God of Elijah and Moses. Please renew in me your love and forgive me of my ________in Jesus’ name. Amen

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

God the Father of us all, sent Jesus his Son into the world, to redeem us from the course and spirit of this world. In his redeeming blood he has united Jews and Gentiles through faith and grace. I accept the word revealed about Jesus that he has redeemed the world by taking my sin upon himself and dying in my place, so that I am reconciled to God. Jesus you died for my sin and in your resurrection the forgiveness of my sin, Please fill me with the joy of knowing that I am redeemed please fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflowing. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Prayer of faith

I have received, God has raised me up in his great mercy and love.I belong to Christ I am saved by faith and grace, Jesus is sovereign over the temple of my body, soul and spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen

God has given us His Spirit to glorify Father Son and Holy Spirit

God’s love revealed in the Spirit of Jesus in the ordinary person when witnessing their faith. Those witnesses who witnessed to me where I saw their face shine like the lady at a Bury Fellowship outreach giving her testimony and the late Ronald Freeman with a beautiful halo around his head from shoulder to shoulder and in the halo the letters of the word ’love’. When I told Ron what I had seen he wasn’t aware of anything himself.

It’s encouraging when someone tells you what they have seen in you.