My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. And so: Often, 2 Peter 1:16-21 is presented with the idea that Peter contrasts the visual mountain experience with the Word-based experience of heeding the prophetic word more fully confirmed (2 Pet. Living, Planning, Dying Well: Getting Your Affairs in Order, 2023 Youth Sunday & Souper Bowl of Caring, Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Advent Gift Market a yearlong commitment to mission. Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. Jesus visage became as bright as the sun even as the long-dead Old Testament heroes Moses (representing the law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) appeared and talked with Jesus. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! We wont be able to implant every detail of the mountain top into the valley, but we cant waste those moments. Moses and Elijah were still alive and conscience though they had left the earth hundreds of years before this. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821.
Mountaintop Experience - Explore the Bible - LifeWay Christian Resources The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. You can read my full article about the importance of the mountaintop experience HERE. Copyright www.personality-insights.com. Like the testing of Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19), the receiving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20:21) and, of course, the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). 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. 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. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. He has it all in control. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! Not all mountain top experiences drip with emotion. I love life! This works in making work more enjoyable too. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. 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. And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. As for how this takes shape in the coming future, I dont really know and I am okay with that because I am very confident that my job is to be willing and available and He will open and close doors.
Mountaintop Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. n. The summit of a mountain. Of all the things the apostles witnessed, none was more spectacular and the vision of the glorified Christ on top on the Mount of Transfiguration. And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! Jesus gives us his word that we might obey it, put it to practice in our lives, and live it out every day! goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. You learn something new about who God is. 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.. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. This is the walk all . This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! 2. a large mass or heap; pile.
Mountaintop Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Others need to share with a close friend a detailed description of all they experienced. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us. There, Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matt. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). One trait that gets very little press is that mountain top experiences often involve waiting. Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? For after the disciples fall in fear, the Divine Voice speaks again on the mountain. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. I love to see goals attained after hard work. Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. Sinai. And what does really matter in life? So what next? Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. The problem .read more 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. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. 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 have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. 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. However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the valley where they seem to dwell most of the time. Some only lasted for mere minutes. The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. No one deserves worship but Jesus! Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. there is only one way to be saved and that is through. There we can change the world and share Gods love and faithfulness that is as stolid as the mountains.We come down from the mountaintop because very few people are there. Baptism is NOT something we do. (. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. 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. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. Living on a spiritual high all the time would make for an exhausting life, but there are lessons we can take from each moment and implant them into our routines. glory cloud Ezekiel saw rise from between the cherubim and move to the threshold of the Temple because of Israels apostasy and then slowly rising to be seen no more from the Mount of Olives. 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. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. It was the voice of the Heavenly Father, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. The experience completely mortifiedPeter, James, and Johnuntil Jesus calmed them, and they saw that only Jesus remained. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. Jesus does not fall to temptation but whips the Devil soundly on the mountain, and the Evil One slinks away, biding his time until he can harass Jesus again. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. When the back doors of the church opened, and there.
Sermon: Mountain Top Experiences - Desperate Preacher On the days when I find myself worrying about temporary issues I need to take a step back and look at life as if I was looking at the world from a mountaintop. It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the Shekinah glory cloud. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. Copyright 2023, Good Faith Media | Site by, Lincoln Lessons: Real Church, Real Theology, New GFM Podcast on Race, Religion and Politics Drops in, Five Things to Listen for in Raceless Gospel Podcast. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. One of the principles of listening to God speak through scripture is that you should notice what causes you to resist as well as resonate. As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of God. V:33-let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 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. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. Then later, on the top of Mt. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. David Benner says, Our challenge is to unmask the divine in the natural and name the presence of God in our lives. The second part of Listen to Your Life is just as important and that is developing the gift of listening to each others stories. A Mountain Top Experience This is such an awesome piece of Scripture that describes the imagery of a future time when "the mountain of the LORD" and "the house of the God of Jacob" will be a holy place for all the diverse people groups from every nation and of every ethnicity, worshipping God and learning the ways of His wisdom - Amen! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. But then Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. All rights reserved. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. There is so much to be done here in the valley. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. 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. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! 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. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. died on Mt. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. Full kitchen, with cookware and dinnerware, dishwasher, microwave, stove/oven, full fridge, coffeemaker. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. Yet over time we go back to normal life. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! 17:4). By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. The valley is not what you may think. 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. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. adj. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. adjective situated at the top or summit of a mountain: a mountaintop house. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. The heap on which he stood consisted of all the experiences and obstacles that he had faced on his journey through life. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 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. those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a 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. We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. II. The story in our text today is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke and I believe it's the source of the phrase "A Mountain Top Experience. Moses finally made it to the promise land! My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. There are several reasons.
A Mountain Top Experience - The Odyssey Online It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain.
These guys had seen Jesus on multiple occasions, do amazing things, but they had NEVER seen him like they are going to see him on that mountain. 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. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. tain maun-tn often attributive Synonyms of mountain 1 a : a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill The sun set behind the mountains. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 1:19). 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. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
Mountain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster We experience gratitude most naturally and intensely when a giver (1) unpredictably and (2) at cost to him- or herself (3) transfers to our full possession (4) a benefit that pleases us. To save this word, you'll need to log in. The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. The disciples needed to know who Jesus was because in the days ahead they would be discouraged, disillusioned as they saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross. 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. 1:16). Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. Whoever has ears, let them hear. 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. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. If not, why not today? Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. Just as Christ shone before the disciples in radiant majesty (2 Pet. I found myself late every afternoon sitting and simply meditating on the mountains, remembering what it was like to be on top of them and giving thanks for their ancient and imposing beauty. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011.