I doubt any of us will go there. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. Maybe youve realized a new passion you have that you can practice in your community. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. You learn something new about who God is. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. It doesnt mean well have an answer to every question we faced on the mountain top. Sleeps up to 6 (one queen bed, one double bed, and two twin beds). 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. 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". That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Moses finally made it to the promise land! Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. 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. Horeb, which is described in the bible as the mountain of God. Later, Moses will climb Mt. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! 17:2). 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. After a certain amount of time the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon a butterfly. Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. And you will walk away changed!. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. . It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of stuff. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. about evangelism. 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. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. 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. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. 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 is the walk Jesus makes of his life. These three disciples are none as the inner circle; Jesus let them in on things the other disciples didnt get in on. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. There, for Peter, the mountain-hearing of the Fathers Majestic-Glory serves as the paradigm for the churchs engagement with the Word of God. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. That is how we need to look at our daily issues. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! The other gospel writers say his raiment was white as snow, as no washer on earth could make them. So what next? 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. (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. Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. 1:19). Believe: What Secret Does It Hold For You Today. 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. V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. He has it all in control. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. Granted, Jesus did some of his best work on and around water, but he was a mountain man, too. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. MTE's 4WD tag-along tours throughout the Victorian High Country and passenger tours around Walhalla became very popular . Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. Others need to share with a close friend a detailed description of all they experienced. You learn something new about who God is. But those were all just moments. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. We learned this word in school, a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis, that caterpillar wraps a cocoon around itself and goes through the process of change. While such fear is proper, it may and must be accompanied by hearing the other mountain-voice of the transfiguration. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. -For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The glory cloud was the sign of Gods approval on the work that Jesus Christ had come to do; to die on the cross as a sacrifice for mans sin, and be raised from the dead the third day. 3. a huge amount: a mountain of mail. He fulfilled what the. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? Yet over time we go back to normal life. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. 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. The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! All Rights Reserved. One moose, two moose. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus. My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. Peter himself later recounts that the disciples were "eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Pet. A variety of day trips, long weekends, and extended . We long for the mountaintop. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. And what does really matter in life? Nighttime temperatures drop wellbelow zero, the air is razor-thin, and killer storms can strike without warning. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. 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. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. 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. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. . Peter a man who always had something to say when nothing should be said; said: V:33-Jesus, master, it is good for us to be here. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! Old truths and new stories of the Appalachian experience. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. 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. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. Mountain Top TV No monthly fee. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. The distinction between the two is clear (now). The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has 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. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. Baptism is NOT something we do. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. Then later, on the top of Mt. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. They saw things they had never seen before, they were aware of things they were never aware of before, they were in the presence of God! Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. 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! The aspect of a beautiful mountaintop experience has a whole new meaning when you realize that it does not matter what the mountain is made of. 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. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. And it happened at the foot of Mt. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. 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. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. But seriously Im glad to have an excuse for Joani to describe the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in her life. On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. 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 . , the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering. 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! Mountains typically have steep slopes and are understood to be. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. (see Exodus 19) Jesus asked his disciples, who do the people say I am? Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. We recognize that many of us will not have the privilege to live our lives on the top of a mountain, whether literally or figuratively. This works in making work more enjoyable too. And we forget the promises we made to our Holy God in the midst of that mountain top experience. died on Mt. Jesus was God incognito, dressed in human flesh. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. Moses climbing Mt. Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. We see Him working and moving throughout the lives of the people there, and we come home with a new vigor to live life differently, more passionately. 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. What was the difference? But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 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. To experience Christ in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Mountaintop Experience. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. 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. It was a great privilege to see Moses and Elijah, but Jesus was the son of God! I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. Tabor. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. 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. Accessed 4 Mar. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. But God also spoke, it was Gods voice. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. How does a congregation go White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! Or you were convicted about something in your life that you now need accountability for from a friend or mentor. Moses and Elijah were still alive and conscience though they had left the earth hundreds of years before this. 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. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with (Jesus). Yes, I was on a literal mountaintop, but I am talking about a biblical mountaintop experience. They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. Question Origin of mountaintop First recorded in 1585-95; mountain + top 1 Words nearby mountaintop for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! 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 ). In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. First off, there are a variety of flavors, from White Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Mint, Caramel and the list goes on. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. Now would be the time to get involved in a church or Bible study. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. Remember, it was on top of Mt. No one deserves worship but Jesus! Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. 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. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. 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. Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. 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. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. Enjoy the teamwork of tackling 4WD challenges, being part of caring community and learning about history and nature as we travel. 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. 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. Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. But heaven will be a place of glory! My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. They see His Glory and they worship Him! The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". This mountaintop experience takes place during a time of prayer! 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. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. (. Heaven or Hell! It actually turned out to be a good place. Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. 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! Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. That had to be a long six days. Jesus transformationcalled a transfigurationwas even more dramatic. 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. 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. 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). 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. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? 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. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. 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). Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. Check out my Recommended Resources list. On one day, we drove to the top of the mountains on Trail Ridge Road that cuts right through Rocky Mountain National Park peaking at an elevation of 12,000 feet - a literal arctic tundra in northern Colorado. Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things.
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