GOD WILL ADVERTISE YOU THIS YEAR

GOD WILL ADVERTISE YOU THIS YEAR

The word advertise has been variously defined. It means to describe or draw attention to a product, service or event in a public medium in order to promote sales or attendance. it also means to make a quality or fact known.

Mat 17:1-6 KJV 1 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. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

This is the popular account in the Bible known as transfiguration. Jesus and His disciples went to the mountain and the Bible says while He was praying according to the account recorded by Luke:

Luk 9:29 KJV And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Many things happen when we pray. Only a spiritual man can understand. It was while Jesus was praying that the fashion of his countenance changed or transfigured. The Greek word used for “transfigured” there is “metamorphoō” and it means: to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. In order words Christ’s appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration.
As you pray today may your life be transfigured in Jesus name.

Metamorphosis is the process where the worm or caterpillar is transformed into the winged insect. Jesus was metamorphosed. It is the same word that was used in Rom 12:2 when Paul says be ye transformed. The Greek word used for “transformed” is “metamorphoo” Paul says be ye changed, transformed by the renewing of your mind.
When Peter saw what was taking place, he was shocked and bewildered.

They saw Moses and Elijah discussing with Jesus. Peter said look it is better we stay here, let’s make three tabernacles. Bible says he did not know what to say but while he was talking they heard a voice that says “this is my beloved Son hear ye him”

They had been with Jesus for some years now so do they need anybody to tell them that this is the Son of God? Remember earlier in chapter 16 Peter had made a great revelation which Jesus acknowledged. Jesus had asked them what people think of Him and they gave Him their answer but He directed the question to the disciples who do they think he was?

Mat 16:15-17 KJV 15 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.

So they all know that Jesus is the Son of God. So why is this introduction again?
This is not the first time that the introduction will be made. When Jesus was being baptized at River Jordan, a similar thing happened.

Mat 3:16-17 KJV 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

I love the way St Luke described what took place:

Luke 3:21 KJV Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

It was while Jesus was being baptised and note he was praying at the same time, then heaven opened on Him.

I pray for you that as you pray today, your heaven will be open. Many were baptised but nothing happened to them because many took it as a religious activity but Jesus took it much more than that. He prayed and something supernatural happened.

The voice was heard again just before Jesus entered into His passion.

John 12:28 KJV Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Significant of the voice

It was an approbation and endorsement.

The word “my” distinguishes Christ from other children. For he is God’s natural son, we by adoption; therefore he is called the first begotten among the brethren, because although he is by right the only son, yet he is chief among many, in that he is the source and head of the adoption.

By the voice Jesus was to take preeminence above Moses and Elijah. God says hear Him. There was a time when we heard Moses in time of law and listened to the voice of God’s spokesman in terms of the prophets represented by Elijah but now things has changed. We no longer listen to Moses or Elijah because God is speaking and has spoken by His Son.

Heb 1:1-2 KJV 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The margin Bible actually added the “only” to it which invariably means we are to hear no one except the Lord Jesus. Jesus has now taken the center stage. All the laws and prophets pointed to Him. He is the substance of the Old Testament. The laws are fulfilled in Him.This clearly puts Jesus above the Law and the Prophets. He is not merely another, or even better law giver or prophet.

When people heard the voice in John 12, they reacted:

John 12:29-30 KJV 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Jesus told them that the voice is really for Him.Not to strengthen or confirm me; not that I had any doubts about my course, or any apprehension that God would not approve me and glorify his name.
It was for their sakes to give them a striking and indubitable proof that He was the Messiah; that they may remember it when He had departed, and so they could be comforted, supported, and saved.

God loved Jesus before the foundation of the world. When He said this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. What did Jesus do to warrant this? Nothing. He has not done any miracle or healing. The fact that Jesus came to do His father’s will made God to delight in Him. God was pleased with Him. The same is applicable to us that God loved us independent of our performance. His love for us is not based on what we do or what we don’t do. It is called unconditional love. The love arises from His nature. God is love.

If God says He is pleased with Jesus, it then means that anyone that is in Christ Jesus is already accepted and God is pleased with the person. Because whatever is applicable to Jesus is applicable to us too when we are in Him.We are accepted in the beloved. Ephe 1:6

Eph 1:6 KJV To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Father speaks and He speaks of the Son. He bears witness to the eternal relationship of Himself with Him, who was ever with Him and ever His delight. He calls them away from occupation with Moses and Elias; neither law nor prophets can help you and make you acceptable. Here He is — my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him! He has pleased the Father and in Him the Father and the Father’s heart is revealed. Men are to hear Him, and refusing Him means refusing God

’The ‘well pleased’ is given in the past tense (= ‘on whom I set My good pleasure’), as expressive of the changelessness of the satisfaction once for all placed in Him.

God pointed at Jesus and made him known to the disciples as the Messiah. There is no doubt about it any longer. When God himself introduces someone, it is evidence that the person is well accepted by God. It was not based on what Jesus did that made God to declare Him as well beloved but based on who He was to Him. The relationship. Now we too have a relationship with Jesus and so we are God’s children. We are the sons of God.

The fact is that we are already announced but the people don’t know who we are.

1Jn 3:1-2 KJV 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

God went extra mile to present Jesus over and over again so that no one will be in doubt of who the Messiah is. You and I need such divine proclamation, announcement and public declaration.

This year, may God announce you. May He bring you from obscurity to limelight in Jesus name. May his countenance of favour rest and illuminate you from henceforth.