1. Luke 9 – Entering the Fray

2. [They] went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see… Luke 9:28-31 Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Luke 9:33

3. The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. Luke 9:37  So much suffering! Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

4. A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” Luke 9:38-40  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict  The real conflict. For we are not fighting against flesh-and- blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

5. “You faithless and corrupt people!” Jesus said. “How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Luke 9:41  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict  The real conflict.  A great source of defeat. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might…stand firm against the schemes of the devil…resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore… Ephesians 6:10-14

6. “You faithless and corrupt people!” Jesus said. “How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Luke 9:41  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict  The real conflict.  A great source of defeat.  They forgot… And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Luke 9:1

7. While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. … Luke 9:42-43  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict  The real conflict.  A great source of defeat.  Christians should be living a victorious spiritual life. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Revelation 12:11

8. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." Luke 9:43-44  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict  The real conflict.  A great source of defeat.  Christians should be living a victorious spiritual life.  The reason for the cross. But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 9:45

9.  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict  Pervasive. Luke 22:24; Mark 9:34; 10:37-41

10.  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict  Pervasive.  Sickness of the heart. After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Mark 9:33-34

11. …took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;" Luke 9:47-48  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict  Pervasive.  Sickness of the heart.  Misunderstanding God.  Project our priorities on God. Abot 3:10 reads, "Morning sleep, mid- day wine, chattering with children… destroy a man."

12. …took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;" Luke 9:47-48  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict  Pervasive.  Sickness of the heart.  Misunderstanding God.  God wants to convert us. “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11

13. …took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;" Luke 9:47-48  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict  Pervasive.  Sickness of the heart.  Misunderstanding God.  God wants to convert us.

14. John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us." Luke 9:49  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History

15. But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History  God’s “beauty of diversity” There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

16. But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History  God’s “beauty of diversity”  Essential vs. non-essential Essential Non- Essential Same as us

17. But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History  God’s “beauty of diversity”  Essential vs. non-essential Essential Non- Essential Same as us Critique without condemning.

18. But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History  God’s “beauty of diversity”  Essential vs. non-essential Essential Non- Essential Same as us Non-Christian Beliefs Includes “Good Works” ReligionJesus as God-MessiahSource of ‘Revelation’

19. But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts  Bloody Christian History  God’s “beauty of diversity”  Essentials vs. non-essentials.  Support our brothers & sisters!

20. When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. Luke 9:51-52  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts 4. Racial/Ethnic Conflicts

21.  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts 4. Racial/Ethnic Conflicts  Tremendous Racial Hatred!

22. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" Luke 9:54  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts 4. Racial/Ethnic Conflicts  Tremendous Racial Hatred!

23. But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] And they went on to another village. Luke 9:55-56  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts 4. Racial/Ethnic Conflicts  Tremendous Racial Hatred!  Jesus respects them…

24.  So much suffering! 1. Spiritual Conflict 2. Ego Conflict 3. Sectarian Conflicts 4. Racial/Ethnic Conflicts  Tremendous Racial Hatred!  Jesus respects them…  Will not ignore them…

25. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" Lk. 9:35 the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. Ephesians 1:10 Resolved through the Cross Spiritual Conflict Resolved through Conversion Ego Conflicts Resolved through One Body Sectarian Conflicts Resolved through Discipleship Ethnic Conflicts

26. MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCESOR PEACE ON EARTH