And six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him.  Matthew 17:1-3 AMP

Peter, James, and John went up a high mountain with Jesus and as they watched, His appearance completely changed. His face shone clear and bright like the sun and His clothing became as white as light. Luke 9:29 says that, “His raiment became dazzling white” and Mark 9:2-3 says that, “He was transfigured before them and became resplendent with divine brightness. And His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller (cloth dresser, launderer) on earth could bleach them.”

What Peter, James, and John saw was the glory of God upon Jesus and shining out from him. God’s glory can be both seen and felt. 1 John 1:5 AMP says that, “God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].” There is not one drop of darkness in God—only light. God’s glory is indescribably, brilliantly radiant. There is no earthly light that shines as brightly as the glory of God!

Luke 9:31 AMP says that Moses and Elijah appeared in splendor and majesty and brightness and were speaking to Jesus about His death—His exit from life—which He was about to bring to realization at Jerusalem. In Matthew 16:28 Jesus said to the disciples, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in (into) His kingdom.” People think that the kingdom of God is only in heaven, but God’s kingdom is here on earth in those who have believed the truth that Jesus died for their sin and was resurrected from the dead and who have recognized Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Once Jesus was raised from the dead and poured His blood on the heavenly mercy seat it was done. The New Covenant was activated and Jesus became Lord of a brand new kingdom and the dispensation of the church began. Jesus’ disciples lived to see the kingdom of God, just as Jesus has proclaimed. They were each made a brand new creation that had never existed before. The kingdom of God was alive in them!

Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here–one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him! 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were seized with alarm and struck with fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid. 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus cautioned and commanded them, Do not mention to anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.  Matthew 17:4-9 AMP

Looking back in time, we know that Jesus is the Son of God, who was born into the earth in the body of a man and who died on the cross, was raised from the dead, and who presently sits at the right hand of the Father, but when Jesus walked on the earth, all the disciples saw was a man who looked like them, but who did and said extraordinary things. When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter, momentarily inspired by the Holy Spirit, replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) However, none of them truly understood the significance of the things Jesus said and did until after He was raised from the dead and He had visited them and explained things to them.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter offered to put up three booths—one each for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. In his mind you built a building to house the glory of God, in the same way as the temple was built to house the glory of God on the Ark of the Covenant. However, this is Old Covenant thinking. When Jesus cried, “It is finished!” the veil of the temple was split in two and God came out of the temple made with the hands of man and He came to live in you and me forever: God’s glory—His precious treasure—revealed in an earthen vessel.

For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 AMP

For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.  2 Corinthians 4:6-7 AMP

Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, [my] beloved child: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing), mercy, and [heart] peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! 3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers, 4 And when, as I recall your tears, I yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also. 6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:1-7 AMP

God has a wonderful plan and purpose for every person on the face of the earth, but most of them don’t know it at all, because the devil tries to keep them ignorant of the perfect will of God for their lives. Even Christians sometimes are ignorant of the word of God and His calling on their lives, because they don’t keep God’s word before their eyes and in their mouth. Even if you know that God has called you, anointed you, and appointed you, you might forget to trust and rely on Him and the power of the Holy Spirit that already resides on the inside of you.

Paul speaks to Timothy here in this epistle, but his advice applies to all of us. Stir up the gift of God that is in you. Don’t forget what God has done in you and don’t take His anointing for granted. God anoints you for the same purpose that He anointed Jesus. He anoints you with the Holy Spirit, strength, ability and power so that you can do good and heal all who are harassed and oppressed by the power of the devil, in the wonderful Name of Jesus (Acts 10:38). Because of this, the devil will try to stop you by causing you to draw back through the fear – through fear of the devil, himself, and through fear of man. When you are too afraid of man you will back off of the word of God, the power of God and the anointing that resides in you.   

However, God has not given you a spirit of timidity – of cowardice or craven, cringing and fawning fear – but He has given you a spirit of power and a spirit of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and He has given you a spirit of discipline and self-control. You have the ability and the spiritual equipment to carry out the plan and purpose of God for your life. Do not allow the devil to hinder you or harass you. Don’t be afraid of people’s opinion. Don’t allow them to stop you from operating in your call and your anointing and your gift.

Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God. 9[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. 10[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.  2 Timothy 1:8-10

God has not called and anointed you because of anything of merit that you have done, but because of His own purpose and grace, which was given to you in Christ Jesus, and also in order to further this purpose and grace. You will suffer persecution and some even are killed for the Gospel’s sake, but don’t be afraid, because Jesus has conquered death for you. He is the One who set you apart, called you, and who will never let you down. There is no pressure on you to perform. Put the pressure on the word! Trust in the Spirit that lives in you! Do not be ashamed to testify of Jesus and what He has done and what He will do!