2021-02-14 — Following Elijah as the Lord Directs Us on the Road to Glory.
Transfiguration Sunday: Date: February 14, 2021
– THE SERMON: 2 Kings 2:1-12a
Theme: Following Elijah as the Lord Directs Us on the Road to Glory.
I. Walking the Path of Faith
II. Being Received into Heavenly Glory
SERMON TEXT: 2 Kings 2:1-12a
And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. (NKJV)
PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN 134 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
1. Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem, In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.
2.Manifest at Jordan’s stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, Wedding-guest, In Thy God-head manifest;
Manifest in pow’r divine, Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee expressed, God in man made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight, Quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will, Ever bringing good from ill.
Anthems be to Thee expressed, God in man made manifest.
4. Sun and moon shall darkened be, Stars shall fall, the heav’ns shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine, All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear, All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed, God in man made manifest.
5.Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Mirrored in Thy holy Word;
May we imitate Thee now And be pure as pure art Thou
That we like to Thee may be At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest.
BENEDICTION;
C: Amen.
Hymn 413:6 “My Walk Is Heavenward All the Way”
6. My walk is heavenward all the way; Await, my soul, the morrow,
When thou shalt find release for aye From all thy sin and sorrow.
All worldly pomp begone! To heaven I now press on.
For all the world I would not stay; My walk is heavenward all the way.
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: (p. 22 Worship Supplement 2000)
THE EPISTLE LESSON: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech– 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Mark 9:2-9
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”– 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.