However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. 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. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. Others need to share with a close friend a detailed description of all they experienced. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! Branded DISC Profile Service Back Office Login (has a different login than this website). Have you ever witnessed an altar call? Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. But those were all just moments. 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. Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? died on Mt. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably 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. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. MTE's 4WD tag-along tours throughout the Victorian High Country and passenger tours around Walhalla became very popular . 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. At the very least, tell a fellow Christian about your decision and ask for guidance. Grab a blanket and a glass of hot chocolate, and do these five warm indoor activities for those rainy winter days. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. Or did we just respond with emotions that were not actually genuine for the long run? , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples 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! TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. But those were all just moments. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the Shekinah glory cloud. That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. In the Bible, mountains are often the places where God encounters His people, changes their lives, and sends them back down to the world with a prophetic message. 1:18), so the believer does well to pay attention to the Words of the prophets (2 Pet. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. 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. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name. They didnt last for years. 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. It is the most sacred spot on earth! When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. Our future includes a great change- corruption-incorruption; mortal- immortal. Moses finally made it to the promise land! 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 . Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Recently, when I was complaining to a friend about waiting for God to do something, this spiritually wise person noted that God almost never hurries. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Maybe your mountain top experience was giving your life to Christ for the first time at that altar call. That had to be a long six days. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. 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. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. 1:16). Finally, its just Moses moving to the top of Mt. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! 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. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? to what Jesus says in his word. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. When is the last time you had a mountain-top experience? It is a high point in your life when youre with Gods people and Jesus in his glory shows up! What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? We will recognize our loved ones and others in heaven. 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. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. top maun-tn-tp Synonyms of mountaintop : the summit of a mountain Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web 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 mountaintop. 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 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. the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. Heaven or Hell! Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. Jesus was God incognito, dressed in human flesh. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) and is alluded to in Johns Gospel (John 1:14) as well as in 2 Peter 1:16-18 underscores that Peter, James, and John never forgot their trip with Jesus up on the mountain. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things. 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. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! adj. A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began. (see Exodus 19) In later reflection, Peter described what he heard as the Majestic Glory (2 Pet. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Since the first reported successful climb of that 29,000-foot peak in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, more than four thousand different individuals have experienced the thrill. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. 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. 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. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. And it happened at the foot of Mt. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. Top selling author and speaker, Robert Rohm Ph.D. is founder of Personality Insights Inc. and The Robert Rohm Co. As you will see, Dr. Rohm specializes in helping people better understand themselves and others. -In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! In the Bible, mountains are often the places where God encounters His people, changes their lives, and sends them back down to the world with a prophetic message. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? The problem .read more My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. 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. Jesus transformationcalled a transfigurationwas even more dramatic. As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. At those times, we receive revelation and teaching from God. All rights reserved. There is so much to be done here in the valley. For after the disciples fall in fear, the Divine Voice speaks again on the mountain. Personally, I find waiting very hard to do. n. The summit of a mountain. as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. 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. BRICKS IN THE VALLEY Text: Matthew 17:1 - 9 We all know from the laws of gravity that what goes up must also come down. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. 1:21). These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. 17:4). 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. Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus. 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. The shekinah glory cloud was gone. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. 1:17). We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. 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. They are solid and unmovable. 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. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. A variety of day trips, long weekends, and extended . 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. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. encourage them and help them in the days ahead. 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. Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! Learn a new word every day. 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. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. These three disciples are none as the inner circle; Jesus let them in on things the other disciples didnt get in on. Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! 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. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. , and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. Horeb, Elijah stood in the mouth of a cave and heard God speak not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the sounds of silence. 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. Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has Jesus is above all men, Jesus has no Equal! What we should do is go back every now and then to the memories, the journal entries, the conversations. You are a stumbling block to me. Jesus recognized the voice of the Evil One again, this time speaking through Peter, and he told him to back off. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! All Rights Reserved. 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). How does a congregation go 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. First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. Under his feet lay challenge after challenge that he had encountered along the way in his business and personal life. Moses is a prime example of this. This mountaintop experience takes place during a time of prayer! There are several reasons. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. 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. 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. Many of us have walked through our own mountain top experience. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. Jesus deity and glory would be hid; but they knew underneath his humanity, was deity. This often propels us into a greater service for God. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Old truths and new stories of the Appalachian experience. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. Jesus wants them to know that he is the King of glory, and one day he will wear the crown; but the cross would come before the crown. 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. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. In the Old Testament, the mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. . This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. I love to see goals attained after hard work. As I rest in the valley and meditate on my mountaintop experiences, please have Your Holy Spirit reveal to me what I need to know.Here in the valley, I will rest and feed on the goodness of Your Word. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. Tabor. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with (Jesus). Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. This is the walk all . In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. -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. You can read my full article about the importance of the mountaintop experience HERE. 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. These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. 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. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. Pastor at Columbus (IN) RP Church. Jesus is the. This reminds me of Church! Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was silent, and the three disciples saw only Jesus!
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