as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. Have you ever witnessed an altar call? Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. Why Elijah and Moses? What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. 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. As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. Maybe thats why to this day so many Christian retreat centers are on top of or around mountains. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. There is so much to be done here in the valley. Jesus is the. Others need to share with a close friend a detailed description of all they experienced. Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. 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. Peter was hoping Jesus would settle in on the summit. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. the law and the prophets. Some only lasted for mere minutes. Then later, on the top of Mt. So what next? Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. Yes, I was on a literal mountaintop, but I am talking about a biblical mountaintop experience. But God also spoke, it was Gods voice. To get on higher ground, to climb above the mundane, and get in the place where the glory of God can touch our lives, and we can see JESUS as He is in glory and power, and hear God speak to our hearts. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. TheLordwill keep you from allevil;he will keep your life. There will be times of recognition, success, fun, laughter, happiness, financial success and many wonderful experiences together with family and friends. b : an elongated ridge 2 a : a great mass a mountain of a man E. K. Brown b : a vast number or quantity a mountain of mail a mountain of debt every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. 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. God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. Baptism is NOT something we do. 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. the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. They didn't last for years. -The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamb is the light thereof. Dan Allender has written, God has crafted our character and gives us a role that will reveal something about Him that no-one elses story can reveal in quite the same way. I am excited to see How God can lead us to discover our unique stories and then become Holy Listeners for each other. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. Horeb, which is described in the bible as the mountain of God. Later, Moses will climb Mt. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. It so happens that I know of somebody thats had a mountaintop experience just this past week. And what does really matter in life? It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". 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. Idioms: Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. We need to pray with Neil Griffith, Builder of mountains, make me like a mountain, Firm let me stand against the winds of strife; Give me a soul that reaches up to heaven, But plant my feet in needs of human life. The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. You learn something new about who God is. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. 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. That had to be a long six days. The glory cloud was the sign of Gods approval on the work that Jesus Christ had come to do; to die on the cross as a sacrifice for mans sin, and be raised from the dead the third day. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. The valley is not what you may think. It was a great privilege to see Moses and Elijah, but Jesus was the son of God! Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. Husband of Orlena. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. I have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been. First things first, don't be afraid to talk openly about mountain top experiences with your students. V:29-the fashion of his countenance was altered, a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! There, for Peter, the mountain-hearing of the Fathers Majestic-Glory serves as the paradigm for the churchs engagement with the Word of God. Sinai. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. As a result, God often reveals himself on a mountaintop in the text. Sinai again and again to commune with God and to better understand not just the essential laws for the life of the community, but the rhythms and cycles of what their covenantal life together will be like in the Promised Land. These three disciples are none as the inner circle; Jesus let them in on things the other disciples didnt get in on. 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. We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. Yet over time we go back to normal life. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. Sinai. To experience Christ in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains. Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. Now, even though Joanis Listen to Your Life conference in Atlanta took place in the suburbs rather than on top of nearby Stone Mountain (which is where, by the way, I proposed to Joani), she still refers to the conference as a mountaintop experience. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. 17:4). Is what youre worried about really worth the worry? adj. This passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. about evangelism. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. Next came the same audible voice from heaven that had spoken previously at Jesus baptism (Matt. Moses is a prime example of this. The sun shall not strike you byday,nor the moon by night. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! Philippians 4:13. What an amazing sight! This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. 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 But Jesus saves the day, and then sends his disciples on deeper into the valley, urging them to have the kind of faith that can move mountains, because they were just on one. My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. Jesus was always getting away to pray and draw strength from His father. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? Many of us have walked through our own mountain top experience. If you keep striving and climbing you will eventually get on top of it and you will have a life that is helpful to you, profitable to your family and a good influence on your friends. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. Carmel that Elijah staged his mesmerizing victory over 450 prophets of Baal when God breathed down fire from heaven at Elijahs request. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. 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". They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! Send us feedback. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. 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. Some people need to journal each moment while still on the mountain. , it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel. 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.. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. They took my breath away from ground level and, when I climbed them, they whisked away any anxious thought Id ever have. When you looked at Jesus he was a common, ordinary Jew-, YET Jesus Christ was much more than a common man when he walked on this earth. But God never intended for us to live there. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' 1:19). Howdoes that experience encourage you now? 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. I love to see families encouraging and helping one another. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. Hermon. So, over the past week I went searching for stories and quotes about Mountain top experiences, and I stumbled on this comment: "The Outing Club is hosting world traveler and Mount Everest Climber, Jeff . Questions for further thought: Where and when have you been overwhelmed by a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for you on the cross? 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. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. V:36-And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone. This past week we spent our vacation at the base of the Rocky Mountains and went into the National Park each day to climb this mountain or that mountain - all reasonable morning hikes. Our future includes a great change- corruption-incorruption; mortal- immortal. Yet, if we keep going and if we keep climbing, the sum total of all those experiences will keep us moving upward in the right direction. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. 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. to what Jesus says in his word. Copyright www.personality-insights.com. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! This is the walk Jesus makes of his life. There are several reasons. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. As we walked onto a short trail through the snow and frozen ground, Owen remarked that it must be a strange job to drive to the top of a mountain and talk with thousands of visitors who pass through the center every day - like an environmental guru waiting at the peak for travelers to come seeking knowledge and insight. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of God. from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him! Most of us have had a similar experience, maybe not as intense, but a "mountain top" experience nonetheless. The Apostle who once fell at Jesus knees upon a miracle of Christ (Luke 5:1-11) now offers His skill in tent-making to the transfigured Messiah (Matt. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. We cant leave them behind us. Both had famous departures from this earth. But now Moses is getting to see the glory of God face-to-face, in the person of Jesus Christ. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. Jesus dead on the Cross as the Lamb of God means Exodus, freedom from sins bondage to all who will apply the blood of Jesus to their heart in faith! In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. , the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering. The aspect of a beautiful mountaintop experience has a whole new meaning when you realize that it does not matter what the mountain is made of. Maybe it was getting married or having children. V:30-31-And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. We dont know the name of the mountain or its heightthe tallest peak in the region was less than ten thousand feet highbut we know this eventbecame the trios ultimate mountaintop experience. Telling the stories from our mountain tops with others, sharing the insights we have learned and intentionally seeking out stories from others about their time on the mountain. Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of God's reality. Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us. Moses climbing Mt. Sinai a third time to get a new copy of the commandments we read in Exodus 34 that Moses face was shining so brightly with the spirit of God that he had to veil his face when he was around people. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. The next time you have a mountain top experience, whether its at church, on the mission field or in the comfort of your room for not all experiences are charged with emotion know those moments arent wasted. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. Recommended ResourcesEasy Bible Study Method, Bold LivingFaithSpiritual GrowthDevotions, I am an author, blogger, Bible teacher, and preacher. For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Define mountaintop. It is a high point in your life when youre with Gods people and Jesus in his glory shows up! If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. If not, why not today? He has it all in control. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. A time when you just felt like Gods Spirit was all over you, and around you, and joy filled your heart, and you just felt like you were going to bust! encourage them and help them in the days ahead. The heap on which he stood consisted of all the experiences and obstacles that he had faced on his journey through life. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was silent, and the three disciples saw only Jesus! We, of course, visited the ranger station and gift shop at the top, and chatted with one of the rangers about what short hikes we could do while we were at the top and about the recent snowstorm that made the road impassible. These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. 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. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. 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? Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. They allow us to listen to our Christian books while driving, working, or cooking dinner. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. Nighttime temperatures drop wellbelow zero, the air is razor-thin, and killer storms can strike without warning. On one day, we drove to the top of the mountains on Trail Ridge Road that cuts right through Rocky Mountain National Park peaking at an elevation of 12,000 feet - a literal arctic tundra in northern Colorado. 1:17). Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! SEE IT FOR THE FATHOMLESS MYSTERY THAT IT IS. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. I doubt any of us will go there. One moose, two moose. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. 17:7)." But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. died on Mt. 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.

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