Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about? as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. My belief is the valley is as good as the mountaintop and just as important to our spiritual growth. , the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering. They didnt last for years. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. 3:17). It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us. In that silence, as I sat on the mountaintop looking at the miles and miles of land stretching out before me, I had what some might call a mountaintop experience.. Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. Remember, Moses first met God at the burning bush on Mt. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. It involves a series of visual maps which are designed to help us sort through the chapters of our life story and rediscover clues about those places in our life where God has been, and is continuing to work. They see His Glory and they worship Him! For once weve faced them head on, then well have a better understanding of what to do next. 2. Because whatever happens, God has it all in control. Most of us have had a similar experience, maybe not as intense, but a "mountain top" experience nonetheless. Whoever has ears, let them hear. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. You learn something new about who God is. TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. Together they represent the entire O.T. Tabor. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. But sitting each day in the shadow of the mountains made me wonder how we can find better ways to continue to connect with and draw inspiration from those brief moments when we have been on the mountain - meditating on the scripture or hymns that remind us of our mountain top experiences, bringing images back with us from our spiritual mountain tops and keeping them in places that call to mind our moments on the mountain. There is an actual valley connected to rough times and depression in Psalm 23, known as the shadow of death, that is outside of Jericho in Israel. The valley is not what you may think. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! It doesnt mean well have an answer to every question we faced on the mountain top. encourage them and help them in the days ahead. Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Wrapping up in a warm blanket with a hot drink and some calming music is one of the best ways to spend and indoor kind of day. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. . Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. Recommended ResourcesEasy Bible Study Method, Bold LivingFaithSpiritual GrowthDevotions, I am an author, blogger, Bible teacher, and preacher. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. That thought even reminds me of a song that was once sung by a group that was known as Blood, Sweat and Tears entitled "Spinning Wheel". The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. We long for the mountaintop. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! When Jesus entered this world, he came as a man, he was born in a stable, wore peasant clothing, and worked as a carpenter in a small town. I call them mountain-top experiences! Jesus is dazzling glory is talking to Moses who had been dead over fourteen hundred years and to Elijah who had been gone about nine hundred. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. We learned this word in school, a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis, that caterpillar wraps a cocoon around itself and goes through the process of change. Both had famous departures from this earth. 4. of or pertaining to mountains. Like if you take one step forward you will fall endlessly and helplessly. Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. Mountain top removal means a coal mining operation that will remove an entire coal seam or seams running through the upper fraction of a mountain, ridge, or hill by removing all of the overburden and creating a level plateau with no highwalls remaining instead of restoring to approximate original contour, and is capable of supporting postmining The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". This one might seem obvious, but what if I told you that having a cup of hot cocoa is more than chocolate powder in warm milk? This is my favorite source for everything Christian. Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. There, Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matt. The greatest experiences of my life have been the times when God moved in power, and make himself none to me through his word and by his Spirit; making Jesus real to my heart! Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. Hermon. When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. What we should do is go back every now and then to the memories, the journal entries, the conversations. In the last days the mountain of the Lords house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. Of course, except for Jesus, even people who undergo mountaintop transformations remain flawed. The other gospel writers say his raiment was white as snow, as no washer on earth could make them. Next came the same audible voice from heaven that had spoken previously at Jesus baptism (Matt. Maybe youve realized a new passion you have that you can practice in your community. A true Spiritual mountain-top experience always revolves around JESUS! Every Christian needs a place to be alone and talk with the Lord, when he described this mountain top experience, he called this high mountain; . To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. adj. It was simply a huge heap of stuff (both good and bad) that he had climbed up in order to get to where he was. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. 17:2). And dont forget that Jesus didnt make a move until he had spent his own forty days and night on top of a mountain, and thirty years plying his trade as a carpenter before that. Those moments at a worship concert or at the end of a sermon when the person holding the microphone makes a powerful speech with emotional music playing in the background. Valleys contain lakes and streams and are where rich grasses and varied types of trees grow.Therefore, ranchers take their cattle and sheep to the valley for the rich food. The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. Tabor. Have you been born again? Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. They were the Lords closes friends, they were with him when he raised Jarius daughter from the dead, and they would be with him in the garden of Gethsemane. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. And it happened at the foot of Mt. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. Sinai with Joshua and Owen during our last days in Egypt, watching the sun rise over the vast chains of mountains in the desert there, and experience a diverse and international group of pilgrims praying their unique prayers at the top. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. Jesus is greater than Moses, and Elijah! But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. died on Mt. Send us feedback. At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! 1:20). Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. We see Him working and moving throughout the lives of the people there, and we come home with a new vigor to live life differently, more passionately. On this mountaintop; theyre going to see who Jesus is; theyre going to see the glory of the son of God; theyre going to hear the voice of God as he says this is my beloved son. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! Barkley spent his final four seasons with the Rockets, but the team's big threecomprised of him, as well as Olajuwon and Clyde Drexlerwas never able to get them back to the NBA, Later that day in February, Ms. Dean visited the, The Tanners handed the Red & Black their first loss of the season and reminded everyone who sits atop the Middlesex, The duo in recent days flew back to Los Angeles from the snowy city of Aspen, Colorado, where they were huddled in deep planning, and now like holy figures coming down from the, The best team in the states largest classification reached the, In the film, Korean detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) is probing the death of a climber who fell from a, Post the Definition of mountaintop to Facebook, Share the Definition of mountaintop on Twitter, The businesss new computer system proved not to be a. Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! V:29-the fashion of his countenance was altered, a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. All rights reserved. While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. We all need spiritual refreshing from the presence of the Lord; we need encouragement that can come only from being in the presence of Jesus. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. I love to see goals attained after hard work. I'd love to go mountain - climbing. One of the authors of the book, Sharon Swing says, Listening is the art of creating space so God can do His work in the heart of another., This time in Atlanta was a follow-up to similar work I did in Dallas two years ago. But as Jesus might say, We cant work effectively for God in the valley until we have been transformed spiritually with God on the mountain. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. Some only lasted for mere minutes. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. Moses finally made it to the promise land! My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of stuff. Ironically, remaining on the summit for more than just a few minutes can be dangerous for climberseven life-threatening. How can we reach this mountaintop?. Thats because mountaintop experience is a figure of speech that comes right out of Holy Scripture. 1:16). . 17:4). Remember, it was on top of Mt. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. It so happens that I know of somebody thats had a mountaintop experience just this past week. A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. Im glad Joani could share today because I really needed a fresh illustration of a mountaintop experience for this sermon! 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. 3. a huge amount: a mountain of mail. I love life! There are several reasons. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. But it will give us time and space to allow the intensity of those moments to sit raw and open as we transition back to the valley. For six days Peter and the other 11 disciples have their heads spinning by the prediciton that Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, would die on a cross. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' A review of both the Old and New Testaments makes it clear as daywhen it comes to entering sacred space where you can meet God and/or Jesus face to face, theres no substitute for a mountaintop. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Still, nearly a thousand people everyyear train vigorously, pay steep fees, and make the trip to south Asia for the opportunityto enjoy an ultimate mountaintop experience. The believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. Would you pray and ask God to give you a mountaintop experience; when he does you will see his glory and worship him, understand his work and trust him, hear his word and obey him. Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. 2023. So where one person might be on their knees in tears over an experience with God, another might simply acknowledge the fact that theyve learned something new about God. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. And then there was Jesus. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. If not, why not today? These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. Climbing the mountains in Western North Carolina with my former youth from Indiana who made it a tradition to climb together early in the morning and then share affirmations on the mountain top at the end of a Montreat Youth Conference. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. But seriously Im glad to have an excuse for Joani to describe the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in her life. Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience! The problem .read more Just as Christ shone before the disciples in radiant majesty (2 Pet. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. Husband of Orlena. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. But those were all just moments. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. And you will walk away changed!. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. The relationships he had with family and friends had caused him both happiness and sorrow. Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. Sinai. adjective situated at the top or summit of a mountain: a mountaintop house. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of God's reality. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. 1:19). Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? We recognize that many of us will not have the privilege to live our lives on the top of a mountain, whether literally or figuratively. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: Jesus was not alone on the mountain, two famous men from the Old Testament show up. Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. Six days earlier Jesus had asked his disciples the question of the hour Who do you say that I am? WhenPeter answered, You are the Messiah, Son of the living God, Jesus was ecstatic, and on the spot named Peter the future head of the church. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. (. Philippians 4:13. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. Scripture gives us stories of literal mountain top experiences that color our expectations for what it means to encounter the divine - Abraham and Isaac climbing together in an act of extreme devotion to God and experiencing the mercy of God at its apex. For Christians, it seems that anything from a relaxing woods retreat to a Mountain-Dew-induced sugar-high at a youth conference can gain the mountaintop moniker. However, there will be times of hard work, traffic jams, taxes, wasted time, frustrating situations, wrecked dreams, lost money, broken relationships and the list of challenges that we face at some point in our lifetime could go on and on. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. Peter said it is good to be here. The sum total of all of the things he had done and experienced in life had brought him to the place where he stood at that moment in time. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. Mountain Top TV No monthly fee. If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! , and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! Howdoes that experience encourage you now? It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? 1:18), so the believer does well to pay attention to the Words of the prophets (2 Pet. Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. Keep reading Matthew 17 and youll see that during their descent from the mountain the disciples have a frightening encounter with a demon from hell. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). But dont forget that six days prior, the disciples spent their own time in a theological fog, utterly confused about the proposed suffering and death of Jesus. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. Build a pillow fort on your bed in any clear space using four chairs, an abundance of blankets and all the pillows you can find. Learn a new word every day. How does a congregation go Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. The Rockies are a mountain chain / range in the western United States. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. This often propels us into a greater service for God. Moses climbing Mt. Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. How do you respond? Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. The voice of God clearly identified Jesus as his only son, his beloved son, unique one-of-a-kind son. 1:16), so the Word is as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Pet. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, Come, lets go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. But God never intended for us to live there. But if we dont use what we have experienced on the mountain to affect the valley, then they might as well just be quick reactions to a fleeting moment. Jesus climbing to the top of a mountain not to receive, but to give a new interpretation and understanding of those laws shaping our communal life together as Christians through the Sermon on the Mount. We wont be able to implant every detail of the mountain top into the valley, but we cant waste those moments. He who keeps Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. He reflected on the massive amount of time, effort and energy it took to reach the specific goals that he had laid out for his life. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? Moses and Elijah were still alive and conscience though they had left the earth hundreds of years before this. In Atlanta, as we met and talked and worshipped, I had a strong sense of energy and enthusiasm and knew clearly that God was saying to me, The time is right and you are ready to begin this work of listening. Whereas before, Listen to My Life sounded really interested and well-done, this time it felt truly life giving. How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. They saw things they had never seen before, they were aware of things they were never aware of before, they were in the presence of God! After surviving his 40 day and night fast, Jesus climbs down one mountain only to go up another, where he delivers the greatest sermon of all time, the "Sermon on the Mount.". That is how we need to look at our daily issues. Do you understand that Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life; and took your sin, and died in your place that you might experience forgiveness and salvation? After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! Amen. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. A good book on a rainy day or with calming music is a wonderful way to take a break from the responsibilities of life and escape into another world. We will recognize our loved ones and others in heaven. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. To answer this question, it seems wisest to evaluate the mountaintop experience par excellence of Scripture, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 17:1-3, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-21). And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. Mountaintop. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountaintop. But now Moses is getting to see the glory of God face-to-face, in the person of Jesus Christ.
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