BUILDING HOUSES ON THE
MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION

April 23, 2006 pm
Mike Blume

  Scripture Text:

 
Mat 17:1-5 KJV  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.

  Message:



On top of this mountain, or Rock, Christ was identified by the Father as being His Beloved Son in whom the Father was wellpleased.
  • This was spoken as an interruption of Peter's words concerning the construction of three houses on the mountain.
  • The Lord wanted to build a house on this mountain, but not as Peter thought.
  • I pray the Lord blesses you as you read this message about Building Houses on the Mountain of Transfiguration.


Jesus spoke about entering the Kingdom of heaven.

Mat 7:21-27 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Notice He concentrated on the aspect of a HOUSE ON A ROCK that CANNOT FALL.
  • This is associated with the words in Chapter 17 about the Mountain of Transfiguration.
  • And Peter, the one who suggested building three tabernacles on the mountain, also spoke words concerning entering the Kingdom and NOT FALLING.

2Pe 1:2-11 KJV  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  (3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  (5)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Jesus and Peter both mentioned the note about coming into a place in which we never fall.
  • Jesus said a man who hears and obeys His words builds a house on a rock that does not fall.
  • Peter said that adding to our faith seven elements of holiness causes us to never fall.
  • And both also mentioned the entrance into the Kingdom.

2 Peter 2:10 ...ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Mat 7:21 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

It is interesting that Peter notes 7 things to add to our faith when we are saved.
  • And these things cause us to come to a place where we will never fall.
  • This is perfection, or spiritual maturity.
  • Seven implies perfection.

2Co 7:1 KJV  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God.

Cleanse FROM ALL filthiness of flesh and spirit.
  • PERFECT holiness.
  • Be COMPLETE in holiness.
  • And that is our work.
  • He saves us and cleanses us from sin, but we must cleanse ourselves from fleshly and spiritual filth.

Peter said we've escaped the corruption in the world through lust, but must become partakers of his divine nature.

2 Peter 1 (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

So putting it altogether, we realize that we perfect holiness, and come to a place where we partake of his divine nature, or become IMAGES OF GOD.
  • Adam was made in the image of God but fell into sin.
  • This image must be restored.
  • And that is the same thing as becoming partakers of his divine nature.

But we must add to our faith.

Add ...
1) virtue,
2) knowledge,
3) temperance,
4) patience,
5) godliness
6) brotherly kindness
7) charity.

Virtue is courage and manliness or valour.  A backbone.

Knowledge is wisdom so we are mature believers.

Temperance is not allowing the animal part of us to rule us, and it is limiting all earthly pleasures in our lives.

Patience is being able to sustain our Christianity and strength in the midst of tribulations and trials.

Godliness is true love for God and great respect for God.

And brotherly kindness and charity speak for themselves

If these things are not added to our faith, we will fall and never enter the eternal Kingdom!


These PERFECT HOLINESS.
  • Seven things that bring us to NEVER FALL.

Like a house on the Rock that never falls when the storms rise.
  • Our lives are images of Jesus.

Jesus told us to hear His words and DO THEM in order to build our the house of our Christianity on the Rock.
  • Peter mentions the same note.


Mat 7:(24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

2Pe 1:12-18 KJV  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  (13)  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  (14)  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.  (15)  Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.  (16)  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  (17)  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (18)  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Peter recommended people HEED HIS WORDS.
  • Just like Jesus.
  • Jesus said, "Hear my words and do them".
  • And Peter told us to do so because he was a man who eyewitnessed Jesus majesty on the mount of transfiguration.
  • He heard the Father speak about Jesus saying, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."

Mat 17:1-5 KJV  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.

Things start coming together as we study these scriptures, connecting the transfiguration with Peter's words and Jesus' words in Matt 7.
  • Peter saw Jesus SHINE IN GLORY like the sun that day on the ROCK.
  • The mountain was indeed a ROCK.
  • In fact, Peter wanted to build three tabernacles there.
  • We are to build a house, but not like Peter thought.
  • Peter learned the true house to build by the time he wrote his epistle.
  • We build a spiritual House called OUR CALLING AND ELECTION on the ROCK OF CHRIST'S WORD when we hear the words and obey them.
  • The Father told Peter on the mountain that day, "HEAR YE HIM."
  • And Jesus said if we hear His words and DO THEM, we build a house on the rock!
  • Peter had a somewhat correct concept about building a house, but he had the nature of the house all wrong.
  • Jesus wants us to build a house on the Rock or MOUNTAIN of His word!
  • And we do that without physical wood and nails, but rather the wood and nails of the TRUTHS OF THE CROSS.

1 Peter 1:10 ...give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall

Our calling and election is OUR HOUSE!
  • Our houses must not fall.
  • They must become SURE.
  • We are building houses.
  • When you read Peter and correspond his words to Christ's about never falling, and entering into the kingdom, we find the surety of our HOUSE never falling is making our calling and election SURE.
  • The house on the rock was SURE, steadfast and stable.
  • It did not fall.
  • Too many believers do not add to their faith and their election is never made sure and steadfast.
  • Jesus said heeding His words and doing them will qualify us to ENTER HIS KINGDOM, because HIS WORDS ARE THE WILL OF THE FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

Notice that Mat 7:21 said Doing the will of the Father in heaven will allow us to enter the kingdom.
  • And then Jesus said those who do not enter are those whom He NEVER KNEW in Mat 7:23.
  • "Know" means DEEP MUTUAL LOVE in this context.
  • He loves us, but by KNOWING US it becomes a case of BOTH OF US LOVING ONE ANOTHER.
  • Jesus said if we love Him we will keep his commandments - DO HIS WORDS.
  • Hearing His words and DOING them.

If we must do the will of the Father in order to enter into the Kingdom, and JESUS MUST ALSO KNOW US to enter the kingdom, then obviously doing God's will is how Jesus COMES TO KNOW US.

If we add to our faith, and BUILD ON TOP OF THE ROCK of the Word of Jesus, We shall never fall.
  • Peter said our calling and election will be made SURE.
  • SURE means STABLE or STEADFAST.
  • The house we build that is stable is OUR CALLING AND ELECTION.
  • Never falling means we MAKE IT TO THE END all the way through this life of tribulations and trials.
  • And we SUCCESSFULLY ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN ABUNDANT ENTRANCE.

2Pe 1:10-11 KJV  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In order for Peter to mention the point of never falling, and then mentioning an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus, we are to understand that this is the ultimate goal in our lives... to make it and enter this eternal place.
  • As long as we are in this life, there are opportunities to fall.

I've seen many fall and so have you.
  • Jesus spoke of them who did not build their house on the rock, but on sand.
  • They took their calling and election and built it on nothing better than something that shifts and cannot stabilize them.
  • Only God's WORD stabilizes your calling and election.

Peter said we partake of the divine nature when we experience this.

2Pe 1:4 KJV  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This means we are made into God's image.

And after saying we should heed his words, because he was there when The Father spoke to Jesus about being His Son on the mount of transfiguration, we then read:

2Pe 1:19 KJV  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Jesus shone like the sun on that mountain.

And Peter said when we take HEED, THE LIGHT SHINES IN A DARK PLACE, and the day dawns and the daystar arises in our hearts!

Therefore, when the Father said what He did about Jesus being His Son, and then said HEAR YE HIM, we see Peter's words illustrated perfectly.
  • Jesus, the light, shines on us as we hear Him, and we are changed into His image!
  • The light shines in a dark place and we see the day dawn in our own hearts!
  • Let it shine until the day shines in US!
  • Let that word continue to speak to us and speak to us until this occurs!

2Co 3:18 KJV  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2Co 4:5-6 KJV  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul even said that His message he preached was JESUS.

So we are changed into His image, or we partake of His divine nature, when we RECEIVE HIS WORDS AND DO THEM.
  • The more we ensure our calling and election, the more into His image we become!
  • And LIGHT SHINES IN OUR HEARTS.
  • That light is KNOWING JESUS - the "knowledge".
  • Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of JESUS.

When Jesus said I NEVER KNEW YOU, he was saying there was no KNOWLEDGE of JESUS in our hearts because His light was unable to shine in us and change us into His image!
  • Shining light of KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS into us is KNOWING JESUS.
  • And the word is the light.
  • What He said.
  • When His face shone like the sun, it is no coincidence the Father said HEAR YE HIM.
  • His WORD is like LIGHT INTO OUR HEARTS.

Our hearts LOVE, and that is why KNOWING JESUS, or MUTUALLY LOVING HIM -- He loves us and we love Him back -- is associated here with receiving His word INTO OUR HEARTS like LIGHT in our hearts.

Therefore, our HOUSE is on the ROCK OF TRANSFIGURATION.
  • Jesus was TRANSFIGURED, but SO ARE WE as we RECEIVE HIS LIGHT and thereby BUILD ON THE ROCK.
  • Being changed into His image is BEING TRANSFIGURED!
  • The same Greek word translated as TRANSFIGURED is translated as CHANGED in 2 Cor 3:18!


2Pe 1:3 KJV  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

All things that Peter refer to include the preaching and the gifts of the Spirit etc.
  • All of that is intended to deal with life and godliness.
  • To make our elections steadfast and sure.
  • To build our houses on the ROCK.
  • And the reason it is a a ROCK or mountain of Transfiguration, is because when we hear His words and do them, we are CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE.

And an important point is that the FATHER told the disciples to HEAR JESUS.
  • That was in Matt 17.
  • The previous chapter, 16, showed Peter with a revelation from the Father.
  • The Father spoke to Peter about His IDENTITY, but then Jesus told Peter "I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE...."
  • Now the SON HAD WORDS TO SAY.

Mat 16:15-17 KJV  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

The FATHER gives His identity.

BUT WE MUST HEAR THE SON NEXT.

Mat 16:18 KJV  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

His words include BUILDING A HOUSE ON A ROCK!
  • The ADDITIONAL WORDS FROM THE SON involve BUILDING ON THE ROCK.
  • The picture is that you can build any old house with the Father's revelation of who the Son is.
  • People who call Jesus LORD have heard from the Father!
  • They have a revelation from the Father.
  • But that is not good enough.
  • WE MUST ADD TO OUR FAITH!
  • That is why Jesus said people will call Him "Lord" and yet not be able to enter the Kingdom.
  • But Jesus said HE MUST KNOW YOU to enter the kingdom.
  • And you must hear HIS WORDS next, and then DO THEM as well as understand His identity.
  • And hearing His words and doing them is building a HOUSE ON THE ROCK.
  • Peopel do not like tol Hear the Son's words, since that involves DOING SOMETHING!
  • To hear the Father's words, you have nothing to DO!
  • But the SON'S words speak of DOING.
  • And too many are lazy to do anything.
  • Peter said we must be DILIGENT.
  • DILIGENT means with all your effort.
  • Salvation is not by works, but we must work to MAKE OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE!
  • TO KEEP it!
  • Never to get it.

2Pe 1:10 KJV  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Our feet are shod with the PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL.
  • PREPARATION is a word many do not like.
  • There is something YOU MUST PREPARE.
  • You must diligently make your calling sure.
  • Your footing is the preparation of the Gospel.

Mat 16:19 KJV  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Notice whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven.
  • His will is done in earth as it is in heaven!
  • All of this is associated with the Lord's prayer in Mat 6:9-10 and Jesus' words about entering the kingdom in Mat 7:21.

Notice that in both the prayer and the words in 7:21 that Jesus mentions the Kingdom of Heaven and the Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:9-10 KJV  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat 7:21 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

In other words, we pray for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COME because we want to enter and are ready to do so because we are doing his will in earth as it is in heaven.
  • After we read THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, we also read we enter the kingdom of heaven by doing the will of the Father in heaven.
  • Compare Mat 6:9-10 with 7:21 and you see we are actually reading, "THY KINGDOM, INTO WHICH I DESIRE TO ENTER, PLEASE COME, AND I SUBSCRIBE TO ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO ENTER IT BECAUSE I SEEK TO DO YOUR WILL IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."

If we're doing his will in the earth as it is in heaven, then we might as well enter His Kingdom of Heaven, and pray for it to come here to earth!
  • If we do His will as much as it is done in Heaven, we will throw down anything in our lives that is not of God, as fast as lightning, just as God threw satan out like lightning!
  • And we will make our claling and election sure!
  • We will buuild our houses on ROCK!
  • THE MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION.
  • This will change US INTO GOD'S IMAGE!

Matt 7:21 is saying that the Kingdom for which we pray to come, noted in Mat 6:9, is what we enter if we do His will in earth as it is in heaven of 6:10.

No wonder we beome images of God like Jesus if we do the will of the Father!

Joh 5:30 KJV  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 8:29 KJV  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

He always did the will of the Father.
  • And the more you ADD TO YOUR FAITH that you get when you are saved, the more you BUILD ON THE ROCK and become images of God like Jesus.
  • You build on THIS WORD of Jesus and YOU ARE CHANGED BY THE WORD INTO HIS IMAGE!
  • THE ROCK OF TRANSFIGURATION!!!
  • Jesus showed us an example of HOW WE CAN CHANGE and be transfigured that day in Matt 17.
  • Just as Jesus was baptized and the Father spoke of Him being His beloved Son, since Baptism is our example!

If we do not ADD TO OUR FAITH, we will be people who build our callings and election on SAND.
  • We will never become stable and steadfast, and we will fall.
  • Flesh was made from dust, and we build on DUST when we do OUR thing.

When Peter was speaking about building three tabernacles, it was as though The Father told him to stop talking and LISTEN TO JESUS!
  • So many get saved and never learn from the Word, and immediately contrive their own christianity based upon what THEY think.
  • The Father tells us to BE QUIET AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS SO YOU BUILD PROPERLY, adn not on your fleshly opinion of sand.

So Jesus is the SUN and HE SHINES ON US.
  • He wants us to come up to the mountain of transfiguration with Him.
  • And He shines as the sun.
  • He wants us to build houses on that mountain, or rock.
  • But not the way Peter thought about physical tabernacles.
  • He wants us to build on the ROCK OF HIS WORD.
  • The rock of HEARING HIS WORD AND DOING IT.
  • And when this ocurrs, we not only make our calling and election sure and steadfast, but that occurs because we ARE BEING TRANSFIGURED INTO HIS IMAGE.

TRANSFIGURED is the same Greek word for CHANGED in 2 Cor 3:18.

METAMORPHOO.

It is also the same word as TRANSFORMED in Rom 12:2'

Rom 12:2 KJV  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

And it is associated with THE WILL OF GOD!

These words above were not given to sinners, but believers who knew Jesus' identity!
  • They had to be TRANSFIGURED NOW and build their election and calling ON THE ROCK!

Rev 2:26-28 KJV  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  (27)  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.  (28)  And I will give him the morning star.

He will give us the MORNING STAR if we overcome.

Rev 22:16 KJV  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

He is the MORNING STAR!

He gives us HIMSELF by changing us into His image!

When He says LET THERE BE LIGHT, He gives us Himself!

Isa 60:1-3 KJV  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  (2)  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  (3)  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

SHINE means LET THERE BE LIGHT.

Peter told us that the day star will arise in our hearts!

Praise God, let us BUILD OUR ELECTION ON THIS MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION!