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. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. 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. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. , and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. But what, biblically speaking, is a mountaintop experience? But then Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. 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). 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. I doubt any of us will go there. Not all mountain top experiences drip with emotion. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . Sinai. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! 1:19). the law and the prophets. Granted, Jesus did some of his best work on and around water, but he was a mountain man, too. 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. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. The words of Psalm 121 came to my mind each afternoon gazing upon the mountains, and they are what I expect will be transporting me back there over the next several months. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Next came the same audible voice from heaven that had spoken previously at Jesus baptism (Matt. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! 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. I have established you on the mountaintop. Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. 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. Confront the Danger. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. 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. First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. 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". This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. Tabor. 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. And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! Mountaintop. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountaintop. -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. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. But the ecstasy was short-lived because when Jesus predicted his suffering and death on a cross, Peter reacted so negatively to this unexpected news that Jesus said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! Maybe it was getting married or having children. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). 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. Moses was not left unchanged by his time with God. 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). Amen. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths. For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3 CSB). In later reflection, Peter described what he heard as the Majestic Glory (2 Pet. 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. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. 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! Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of God's reality. For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. 3. a huge amount: a mountain of mail. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. Grab a blanket and a glass of hot chocolate, and do these five warm indoor activities for those rainy winter days. Shes still not sure whats she supposed to do with what shes learning, and now shes in her own personal waiting period trusting God to clarify her next move. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. Yet the valley has become a symbol of rough times and depression.I dont believe this should be true. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. (Mark 9:2-3 ESV) Jesus takes his inner circle to a mountain with him and they experience a "God thing." It was something unlike anything they had ever seen. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. The one time I climbed a mountain of any size, I was amazed at how long I enjoyed spending time just looking at the view in the distance, enjoying the air, and experiencing the warm sun. The question is, will you enter into that change as you walk down the mountain into the valley? On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. 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. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. We cant leave them behind us. And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. 1:21). Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? 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. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. The distinction between the two is clear (now). 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! Moses finally made it to the promise land! We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. We are to listen to no voice that contradicts his voice, his word! The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. 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! V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. God met me in Atlanta and it seemed to me that He was saying, Lets do this together.. 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. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. I'd love to go mountain - climbing. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Philippians 4:13. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. encourage them and help them in the days ahead. They are solid and unmovable. while Peter is still talking; God interrupts Peters speech. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. And Im guessing wed have a mountaintop experience at church if we took the time to listen to each other describe our mountaintop experiences. -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. Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. 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. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. 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 glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. It is the most sacred spot on earth! The Rockies are a mountain chain / range in the western United States. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the valley where they seem to dwell most of the time. A bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. (. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was silent, and the three disciples saw only Jesus! Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. They see His Glory and they worship Him! Define mountaintop. died on Mt. The problem .read more 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). The training notes 'Mountain-Top 4 Wheel Driving or reflections on over 40 years of mistakes in the Victorian high country' is a 44-page booklet covering 'Getting the Right Gear', 'Tackling Tough Trails' and 'Touring Tips'. Thats when you see people all around you move forward as they listen to the call of their mountain top experience. Some only lasted for mere minutes. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? Have you ever witnessed an altar call? 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. Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. Moses who represents those who die; and Elijah who represent those who are caught up and never die; will both see Jesus in his glory! 1:19). It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". In the Old Testament, the mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant. He fulfilled what the. those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. If the bible is any guide, theres no better place to meet the divine than on or around a mountain. Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. II. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. Jesus is above all men, Jesus has no Equal! there is only one way to be saved and that is through. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience! Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. Mountains have a logical religious symbolism for Jewish and Christian cultures since they are "closer to God" who dwells in the heavens (as in the sky). Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. 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. Of course, except for Jesus, even people who undergo mountaintop transformations remain flawed. Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. Moses is a prime example of this. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. 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. How does a congregation go However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. 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. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. Remember, it was on top of Mt. I have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. 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. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. The shekinah glory cloud was gone. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. The Mountaintop Experience. Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name. Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! There, for Peter, the mountain-hearing of the Fathers Majestic-Glory serves as the paradigm for the churchs engagement with the Word of God. God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. Believe: What Secret Does It Hold For You Today. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. Just as Christ shone before the disciples in radiant majesty (2 Pet. the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. 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. And it happened at the foot of Mt. 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.. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. 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. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. At the very least, tell a fellow Christian about your decision and ask for guidance. What was the difference? 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. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. 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. Check out my Recommended Resources list. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. 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 speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. Whoever has ears, let them hear. 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. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. 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. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! So what next? But seriously Im glad to have an excuse for Joani to describe the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in her life. 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 When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. This is my favorite source for everything Christian. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. Running Together: Evening Worship at 5:00. 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. 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.. 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. Baptism is NOT something we do. 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. 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 That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. Sleeps up to 6 (one queen bed, one double bed, and two twin beds). Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? And what does really matter in life? 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. Moses and company obeyed, hiking to the foot of the mountain where an astonishing thing happened: they saw the God of Israel, and they lived to talk about it! 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. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. How can we reach this mountaintop?. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. Have you been born again? You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Peter was hoping Jesus would settle in on the summit. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. 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. 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. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! 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.
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