Prayer Works Morning Devotion: July 23, 2025

In The Presence Of God/The Lord

"Matthew 17:1-8 - This Is My Beloved Son In Whom I Am Well Pleased. Hear Him!"

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Good morning, good morning, good morning everybody. I hope you had a wonderful night. You're well rested and you're ready for another day with the Lord. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father we come before you this morning. 

We thank you for your goodness, your mercy, your grace, your love, your patience with us. And we thank you, Lord, that you love us and we are grateful that you are our Father and we are your children. And we are grateful that we have a place and assurance where we can run to we hope is elevated when we are reminded of who we are in you.  

So, Father, we thank you even for the word, the Bible that you chose to make yourself known to us through the Bible, and we are grateful for your generosity in your spirit and in all these statues and values.  

So to enable us to live in this Kingdom even while we are on this planet Earth. We are grateful that you have chosen this and that our souls they've connected back with you. We know there are so many people that have heard this message, this message of truth, the gospel, and yet their hearts are still hardened.  

But we are grateful Lord that even as simple as it sounds, that we are saved, but our hearts are connected with yours. That we are called of you. So, Father, as we continue to take our place in you in this body of Christ and in everything that we put our minds and our hearts to do.  

We thank you and we continue to ask you to lead us in all things true. We bless you and honor you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen. Today is Wednesday, July 23^rd and we are in the book of Matthew.  

We're going to look at one of the events that Jesus took his disciples and they got to experience a different presence of God. So this let’s read just hold on for a minute, alright.  

Matthew 17 verses 1-8, Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John. His brother let them up a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them. Now, if you remember, most times when Jesus would go pray he would  just leave them and go and pray and comes back.  

Or he will retreat to this secluded area to talk to the Father and come back, but this time he takes Peter, James and John. There's three events in the Gospels where he tracks these three, and this is one of them.  

So let them up the high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.  

And Peter answered and said to Jesus Lord it is good for us to be here, if you wish. Let us make here 3 tabernacles. One for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying.  

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said arise and do not be afraid. When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. I 

You know if we really connect this examine this passage of scripture, there's a lot of things happening here. Jesus is transfigured, in other words he is translucent and he is so bright like the sun. Now if you ever look at the sun during the day, it almost can hurt your eyes and Jesus appears and is translucent and it looks like the sun.  

And these men are seeing this and before them, Elijah and Moses appears. Now, I want you to imagine if you were. Peter, John and James or even imagine this. You've heard of Elijah. You've read the scrolls and you've heard of Moses.  

In fact, they taught you about Moses in school. And on this particular day you see Elijah and Moses and Jesus. Can you imagine what that would do to you? As a person first Jesus is translucent. He looks like the sun. Then Moses and Elijah shows up.  

They start having a conversation and they fell down on their face because what they have seen, the glory of God and I was asking myself last night when I was falling asleep. Like, why did God show them this. Is it because they didn't believe or they didn't know. 

They knew who Jesus was. This is the very, almost late stage of his life. So they knew and they've heard, and they have seen so many things by this time. But this event was to solidify who Jesus was.  

So that they can understand, because look at what God said after Peter answered, he says this is my son in whom I am pleased with. Hear him, why is he telling them that? Because most likely God knew they did not really listen to Jesus. 

Because you don't tell somebody, hear him if they were not hearing him. The reason is saying that is that I want you to hear him and this is my son and this is more evidence I'm putting to you about who this man is.  

They've seen so much by this time. But this event was so significant that Peter opened his mouth and says, you know what, I don't ever want to leave here. Let's build a house for you, Elijah and Moses. 

 And that was not part of the agenda, but to show you how incredibly significant this moment is. They are right in the presence of God. And for us there are so many times we have been in the presence of God. And I can attest most times we don't want to leave.  

You want to stay there. If you ever find yourself listening to a particular song over and over again, you just kind of maybe keep rewinding it. I do it, I hope you do it too. Those times when you're doing stuff like that is because the presence of God is with you and you don't want it to leave.  

You've connected with God in a significant way, and you don't want to change anything. You want it to stay the same. But the issue or the story, the matter of the of this particular scripture is because God is going somewhere and there is things that needs to be done.  

In fact, what's coming we are about to really get into the crux of the matter. And what's coming is much bigger than this event. I'm preparing you now, so Jesus meets with Elijah and Moses to talk about whatever they needed to talk about. 

And God wanted this moment of Elijah, Moses and Jesus as they have a conversation to tie up loose ends. Whatever it is they're talking about that these three men get key experience it and all of this is happening in the presence of God. This is why the presence is so important.  

Because God is going to show up and something is going to happen. Someone is going to live with something. And instructions will be given and then you'll get to experience the fullness of his glory.  

That's why most times we don't want things to end, not because it’s because it's so good being in his presence. And we are seeing it here and the response was the Lord let's build the house. There's build 3 houses right now.  

Now I want you to imagine what he's saying. How is he going to build 3 houses while he's on the top of the mountain? Unless his belief is now accentuated. Because if you can see this you almost believe nothing is impossible.  

Like man, if I've seen Moses, Elijah and Jesus standing right here, this is incredible. What can stop us from building 3 houses? One for you, one for you, one for you. And we all can just stay here. Because in the presence of God, that's where we can ask for things. 

That's where we can ask for the impossible. That's where we can ask for things that seems incredibly out of our reach. Because the Father is present. That's why Peter opened his mouth and says, yeah let’s build a house, they built three houses.  

In other words, he was almost. I believe Peter was almost telling Jesus, hey, if the if this can happen, I think you have the ability to just build 3 houses. But it was not so fast. So it voice a cloud now came and covered them and they filter their face till next time they lifted their eyes and looked up.  

They saw only Jesus and the voice says this is my son. I'm well pleased with him. I want you to hear him. Which means that they're heard Jesus, but they probably had some issues they're still dealing with.  

But God says I want you now to hear him. Peter, James and John kind of represent us in our interactions with the Lord, with his presence shows up. James and John didn't say anything. Just enjoy the moment and kept quiet. Peter asked for something. That was beyond his own reach and God spoke.  

So we always want to pay attention to the Holy Spirit, especially when the presence of God is there and we are experiencing a moment. Because God always comes bearing instructions.  

He always shows up with something in his hand. That's why we experience the presence of God. Because he wants to do something, he wants to show you something because there is something that needs to be done.  

So far, all the passages of scriptures we are reading, we are reading about the prophets. Ezekiel experience his presence. And from it there’s things that he had to go into.  

Isaiah experienced the presence of God because there are feelings that I want you to do. God is not going to show up. Because he has nothing better to do, he's going to show up because something needs to be done or needs to be said. Instructions needed to be given. 

Or more so there’s things that he wants to deal with in us, that's why in most passage of scripture in the gospel you hear that the spirit of the Lord was present. And Jesus healed them all, everybody was healed because the presence of God showed up.  

In his presence we need to ask for things that we want God to resolve in us. Those are the times that we want to make sure we ask for the right things. I was thinking about Peter and I'm thinking with all that he had experienced with Jesus.  

How would he had framed his question if he was wise now, when you listen to this, Peter and then you listen to the Peter after Jesus has gone on to heaven. You can see the wisdom behind the same guy in two different separate places.  

When I was a child, I spoke like a child but when I became older, I put away childish things. And right there you can you can, you can look at Peter and say, yeah, there was wisdom lacking here.  

Because if you experience this I'm sure there is some things that you could ask God for than to build a house for Elijah, Moses and Jesus. So for us in the presence of God. In fact, I encourage your brothers and sisters, you should have things that you want to ask the Lord. 

You should know what your questions are ahead of time. So that when these moments presents themselves you can table your requests or your wishes to God in his presence. You don't want to ask for things that does not help you. 

If I was Peter, I would say, Lord, God I've been trying to follow this man. And I'm finding it very difficult and hard to do. And the more I experienced these events with him the more I feel like I'm unworthy.  

Help me what can I do to follow him, that's why God had to speak to these boys. Hear him because you don't say that to people who are not who were hearing you say that to people who were struggling with hearing Jesus.  

And instead of asking the right question, Peter asked to build a house. When we are done, read this chapter and see what happens right after when they leave here. Because it will reveal to you again the condition of Peter's heart. And the disciples issue with following Jesus.  

So brothers and sisters in God's presence let's know what to ask for. In fact, he should have questions to ask God when the presence of God shows up. And let's take heed for instructions.  

That God might give to us, or vision that God might show you and know for a fact is not pulling you into his presence and showing you remarkable things. So that you can go back and be the same person. But rather because there is things that needs to be done, things that needs to be said and things that need to be fixed.  

In his presence, there's fullness of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Let us go to the Lord of your prayer. Let us pray. Heavenly Father we are grateful that in so many ways and so many times you have chosen to reveal yourself to us.  

We thank you for your holy presence, we thank you that you indulge us and show up in different places random places. Just to accentuate our faith. We thank you that you see ahead of us and you are always trying to prepare us for what's coming. 

So Father in our efforts may we continue to find strength, courage, boldness, determination in your presence. I pray that the fullness of joy that is promised by this scripture, by the scriptures that will be in your presence and we'll get to enjoy it.  

And the places that comes with your presence they are ours as an inheritance. So, Father, I pray that in our time of worship, in our time of prayer, in our time of study. May your presence continue to indulge so that our experience is in you continue to grow and continue to solidify our faith.  

As we know, we are getting near to the end. I thank you that you have chosen us to handle holy things, to experience your presence. So, Father, I pray for our inner ears that Lord, as we experience you, may we hear you and take heed of the instructions that should give us.  

Make them so clear that there will be no doubting or misunderstanding that it is you. I pray for wisdom to receive and wisdom to execute.  

We know there are so many things that the enemy tries to throw at us. So that we lose our sight in the things that you are calling us to do. But Father, I pray that through Peter, James and John, we may learn what needs to be learnt when we encounter your presence. Holy Farther continue to call us into the righteousness of Christ.  

We pray for holiness. We pray for clean hands, pure hearts and pure minds. May our thoughts be pure in your presence. So that wisdom to ask what needs to be asked is present. I pray Lord for healing for those who might be dealing with issues.  

And I pray Lord for emotional healing for those who may be dealing with things that we can’t touch or see. And I'm praying, Lord, that as you continue to grow us spiritually, may our mind continue to be transformed and renewed.  

So that we can prove and attest to what is right in you. We thank you for Jesus, for dying on the cross. So that we can have a strong tower, we can run into and continue to find safety in the midst of this challenging world.  

I pray for every family represented here. May the blessings of the Lord be upon them. I pray for children as they wind down summer and getting ready to go to school. May you turn their focus to holy things.  

So that they continue to be transformed to in their journey. Holy Father bless us in everything that we do. Bless the works of our hands. Bless the works of the one who sent us. May our eyes be opened to what you desire for us to do and to execute.  

Thank you for courage and boldness to say and to do that which you are calling us to do. And I pray Lord That may you provide where we lack, may you provide where we desire to do more. Thank you for the love that you have for us.  

We appreciate it because no way we will be without it. So, Father, we are grateful. So as we look ahead to this day, we know you have already gone ahead of us and you've already set the agenda and idea for this particular day. Align u to what you are doing in the earth today. 

Let us hear your voice as you speak loudly and clearly to humanity. And Father as we know, the days are getting shorter and nearer and nearer. Help us to keep our eyes fixated on you. We thank you for holiness and righteousness that it belongs to Christ and he is making us right with you.  

So we thank you, now continue to lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen. Brothers and sisters let's keep one another in prayer.  

I pray for you, you pray for me. Let's stay connected in the spirit as we continue to journey along. I get on the road I drive to Pennsylvania with the kids for vacation, pray for us. That we may have journey mercies that all will go well with us as I pray for you too.  

If mother Carrie is online, we want to wish you a happy birthday. I know you are up there now. May the Lord continue to bless you and for all our seniors, may the Lord continue to bless you.  

Stay hydrated in the sun and make sure you are out of this heat and stay somewhere where you are safe. May the Lord bless you and may we all have an incredible phenomenal day in Jesus name, Amen.