Yes it was temporary eclipsed by the cross, but they remember it after the resurrection and they spoke about it for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. 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. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. V:29-the fashion of his countenance was altered, a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. That is how we need to look at our daily issues. This often propels us into a greater service for God. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. 17:4). 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. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. Then later, on the top of Mt. 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; . Sinai still a third time because he shattered the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments upon hearing that the Israelites had manufactured and worshiped a golden calf in his absence. Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. 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. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. 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? 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. No one deserves worship but Jesus! They didn't last for years. You learn something new about who God is. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Check out my Recommended Resources list. 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. 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. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! This is where audiobooks are helpful. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? How does a congregation go Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! A glorious, spiritual experience where you were alone with Jesus and your soul was lifted above this old world, and you got a taste of heaven. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. 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. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. They see His Glory and they worship Him! Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. All Rights Reserved. Yes it is, it is good to be in the presence of Jesus, it is good to be in good company, Moses, Elijah, James and John. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. 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. (see Exodus 19)We need the mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. 17:7)." My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! adj. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! 1:18), so the believer does well to pay attention to the Words of the prophets (2 Pet. 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. Baptism is NOT something we do. TheLordwill keep you from allevil;he will keep your life. Sinai. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. And appropriately enough, a bright cloud overshadows them, and from the cloud a voice said, This is my Son, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased; listen to him! As great as Moses and Elijah were, Jesus was and is greater still. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has The word, . It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". I love to see families encouraging and helping one another. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. The other gospel writers say his raiment was white as snow, as no washer on earth could make them. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. I do not capitalize the name satan in my writing. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. It is always a good to say nothing when you dont know what to say! 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. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. So many of us begin to desire to leave God's mountaintop through lax engagement with God's Word because the experience feels so ordinary. 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 saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. The fact that the transfiguration is reported in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matt. 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. Both had famous departures from this earth. Or you were convicted about something in your life that you now need accountability for from a friend or mentor. 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. 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. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". Things may not be the way you want them to be right now, but as long as you do the next right thing and move in a positive direction, you will continue to learn and grow. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. 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. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. But God never intended for us to live there. Mountains typically have steep slopes and are understood to be. I have had my fair share of mountain top experiences, both literal and spiritual. We wont be able to implant every detail of the mountain top into the valley, but we cant waste those moments. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. 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. If not, why not today? There are several reasons. Branded DISC Profile Service Back Office Login (has a different login than this website). 4. of or pertaining to mountains. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. Have you ever witnessed an altar call? You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 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. The sun shall not strike you byday,nor the moon by night. Most of us have had a similar experience, maybe not as intense, but a "mountain top" experience nonetheless. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! Peter said it is good to be here. 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. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. But, before we get into the prophetic message, lets look at the importance of the mountaintop experience.The mountaintop experience is something many Christians seek after. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. 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. 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. 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. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. 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. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. 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 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. 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. And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. The relationships he had with family and friends had caused him both happiness and sorrow. 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). As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. I call them mountain-top experiences! My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things. And what does really matter in life? Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. Nighttime temperatures drop wellbelow zero, the air is razor-thin, and killer storms can strike without warning. And you will walk away changed!. Tabor. Ron & Andrea Camier established Mountain-Top Experience in 1998 following Ron's retrenchment from brown coal research and development engineering due to the privatisation of the power industry. This is the walk Jesus makes of his life. Some only lasted for mere minutes. 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". Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Yet over time we go back to normal life. 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. When is the last time you had a mountain-top experience? That had to be a long six days. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. and try to imagine what it was like went Jesus showed them His glory up on that mountain. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. Just as Christ shone before the disciples in radiant majesty (2 Pet. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. Tabor. Peter himself later recounts that the disciples were "eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Pet. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus. Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. 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. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. 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. 17:1). Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. The shekinah glory cloud was gone. First off, there are a variety of flavors, from White Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Mint, Caramel and the list goes on. Jesus is the. Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. Delivered to your inbox! We forget what God said to us when we approached the altar during that sermon. as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. 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. The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. 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. But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. 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. Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. I love to see goals attained after hard work. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. This is my favorite source for everything Christian. Maybe thats why to this day so many Christian retreat centers are on top of or around mountains. We cant leave them behind us. adjective situated at the top or summit of a mountain: a mountaintop house. In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross! The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! 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. 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. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. It so happens that I know of somebody thats had a mountaintop experience just this past week. Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. Finally, its just Moses moving to the top of Mt. Old truths and new stories of the Appalachian experience.