THE COMPANIONS OF JESUS CHRIST

1. Now after six days Jesus took PETER, JAMES, and JOHN his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2. AND HE WAS TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5. 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!”
6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid."
   Matthew 17:1-6 (NKJV)

• Peter, James and John were taken to a mountain by Jesus Christ where He transfigured (Mark 9:2-8; Matthew 17:1-7).
THE trio were companions of Jesus Christ

• He usually takes them along wherever He wanted to go, especially important places (Matthew 17:1; Mark 14:33; Luke 8:51).
• In your relationship with God, you must grow to the point of becoming His companion (John 15:14).
  A COMPANION is someone who spends a lot of time with you, who has similar tastes, interests, to your own; and whose company you enjoy.
  JESUS wants to dine with you and be with you (Revelation 3:20).
• Your relationship with God, and Jesus Christ should not be shallow, but DEEP. It should be taken to a friendship and companionship level.
  AND that is done by obeying His command: "YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU" (John 15:14).
  THUS, there is a need to work on your relationship and Fellowship with Him.

• Christianity is about relationship and Fellowship with God.

• Being born-again means you have established a relationship with God through faith in Christ Jesus (John 3:3-6; Romans 10:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17,21).
  IN Christianity we learn about walking with God.
• The essence of attending Church meetings, reading the Bible, and the books of other proven authors; are mainly about learning to Walk and relate with God (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).
• Christianity is not about asking God to solve your problems ONLY, without knowing Him intimately.
  YOU should not seek God, attend Church meetings, because you only want your problems solved, but to learn how to be intimate with Him.

• If you know Him and become His companion, your problems would no longer be your focus. In other words, how to solve the problems would be made known to you: "HE MADE KNOWN HIS WAYS TO MOSES, His acts to the children of Israel" (Psalm 103:7 NKJV).

• When His ways are made known to you, you become a solution to other people's problems. That is, you become an instrument with which He uses to solve the problems of OTHERS (2 Timothy 2:20,21).
• All you need is to know more about Him: Apostle Paul says, “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10 NKJV).
• Apostle Paul did strive to know Him. Your ultimate goal should mainly be about knowing Him the more (Philippians 3:7-14).
  WHEN you know Him and walk with Him intimately, that gives you an understanding of Him, and it leads to the solution of whatever the problem you have.
• Your needs are met when you know Him!
  STOP looking for MIRACLES! Start striving to get God!
• The signs are meant to follow those who believe, not the ONES looking for signs: "THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED: IN MY NAME [Jesus' name] THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS, THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES" (Mark 16:17 AMP).

• How to Know Him

• Give attention to reading, studying, praying, praising, and Fellowshipping with Him—spending quality time with God.
• Knowing God is mainly through the knowledge of His Word and PRAYER.
  GOD is known through The THINGS that are written about Him (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).
  YOUR depth in the Word of God, the Bible, and how you put it to work (James 1:22,25); that is, how you obey and practice the Word of God determines the understanding of Him you have, and the depth of your intimacy with Him.
• Give attention to the Kingdom assignment (Luke 12:31).
• Give attention to Prayers and fastings (Matthew 17:21; 2 Corinthians 11:27).
• Give attention to the growing of the fruit of the SPIRIT in your Life (Galatians 5:22-23).
• Give attention to Giving, seed-sowing (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
  THE true level or state of a Believer's maturity is known by the promptness of the person in Giving. THE laying down of their substances, money or any material possessions, when such are called and instructed by the Holy Spirit to do that (Acts 4:34-37).

• How obedient are you in the area of Giving?
THE test of your loyalty, Commitment, is known through sacrificial Giving.

• You have to abound in Giving: "BUT JUST AS YOU EXCEL IN EVERYTHING, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, SEE THAT YOU EXCEL IN THIS GRACIOUS WORK [of giving] ALSO" (2 Corinthians 8:7 AMP).
  CAN you give when you are in need? (2 Corinthians 8:2)
  CAN you give when it is not convenient?
  "1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the GRACE OF GOD bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 THAT IN A GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLICTION THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED IN THE RICHES OF THEIR LIBERALITY. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, AND BEYOND THEIR ABILITY, THEY WERE FREELY WILLING, 4 IMPLORING US WITH MUCH URGENCY THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints" (2 Corinthians 8:1-4 NKJV).
• A Mature Believer would not just spend any money that comes to their hands, especially substantial amount, without asking God what the money is meant FOR—the Purpose why God has channelled the money through their hands.
• The money which God has allowed to PASS through your hands is a SEED while a part of it, is a fruit, YOU eat the fruit and sow the seed: "FOR GOD, WHO GIVES SEED TO THE FARMER TO PLANT, and later on good crops to HARVEST AND EAT, WILL GIVE YOU MORE AND MORE SEED TO PLANT AND WILL MAKE IT GROW SO THAT YOU CAN GIVE AWAY MORE AND MORE FRUIT FROM YOUR HARVEST" (2 Corinthians 9:10 The Living Bible).

• How is your commitment to God and His Kingdom? (Luke 12:31; 2 Timothy 2:3,4)
WHAT have you suffered for God since you gave your life to Christ? (1 Corinthian 4:11-13; Philippians 3:7,8)

• Christianity will cost you something AND eventually pay you back, if you can pay the price (2 Timothy 3:11,12).
  IF your faith, that is, your walking with God has not cost you anything, it means you have not started.
• Forget about abundance if you have not sacrifice anything because of Jesus, God and His Kingdom.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!