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. Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. 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 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. Send us feedback. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. 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). Then later, on the top of Mt. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! 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. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. That had to be a long six days. The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! 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. Tabor. Next came the same audible voice from heaven that had spoken previously at Jesus baptism (Matt. 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. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. There will be times of recognition, success, fun, laughter, happiness, financial success and many wonderful experiences together with family and friends. But heaven will be a place of glory! Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. 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. In the Old Testament, the mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant. 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. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. For that reason, even people who follow God to the mountaintop will likely find themselves waiting patiently and praying for Gods guidance for their next move. The High Mountain became the Holy Mountain because he saw the glory of Jesus there! Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. Here at Mountaintop Worship Center, we spend every Sunday and Wednesday on the mountaintop. Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. For Christians, it seems that anything from a relaxing woods retreat to a Mountain-Dew-induced sugar-high at a youth conference can gain the mountaintop moniker. When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. Accessed 4 Mar. We forget what God said to us when we approached the altar during that sermon. It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the Shekinah glory cloud. He who keeps Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? But Jesus saves the day, and then sends his disciples on deeper into the valley, urging them to have the kind of faith that can move mountains, because they were just on one. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! First things first, don't be afraid to talk openly about mountain top experiences with your students. Keep reading Matthew 17 and youll see that during their descent from the mountain the disciples have a frightening encounter with a demon from hell. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? But those were all just moments. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? 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. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. Some people need to journal each moment while still on the mountain. 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). There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! Baptism is NOT something we do. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. How can we reach this mountaintop?. But what, biblically speaking, is a mountaintop experience? We wont be able to implant every detail of the mountain top into the valley, but we cant waste those moments. 17:2). He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. They are solid and unmovable. Jesus deity and glory would be hid; but they knew underneath his humanity, was deity. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of God. The sun shall not strike you byday,nor the moon by night. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! We cant leave them behind us. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. It is part of your sacred story and it will be a tremendous source of comfort and strength to you when you have to face the dark valley. I have had my fair share of mountain top experiences, both literal and spiritual. However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. Why Elijah and Moses? TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him! I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. But our mountaintop moments are not designed by God just to give us warm fuzzies at high altitudesthey are designed to go fill us with the Spirit of God that we have the courage and strength to do the work of the kingdom in the valley. It is a high point in your life when youre with Gods people and Jesus in his glory shows up! I thought about all the ways God had provided up until that day and I felt like a fool. As he stood there looking out over his life and all of his accomplishments, he looked down and realized that the mountaintop was not at all what he thought it would be. The question is, will you enter into that change as you walk down the mountain into the valley? Personally, I find waiting very hard to do. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! But God never intended for us to live there. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. (. All rights reserved. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. V:30-31-And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. Full kitchen, with cookware and dinnerware, dishwasher, microwave, stove/oven, full fridge, coffeemaker. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. At the very least, tell a fellow Christian about your decision and ask for guidance. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. This is the walk Jesus makes of his life. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. 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. Moses is a prime example of this. For once weve faced them head on, then well have a better understanding of what to do next. (see Exodus 19) I'd love to go mountain - climbing. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. In later reflection, Peter described what he heard as the Majestic Glory (2 Pet. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. And you will walk away changed!. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. Confront the Danger. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. 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. 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). Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. They were the Lords closes friends, they were with him when he raised Jarius daughter from the dead, and they would be with him in the garden of Gethsemane. 1:16). That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. 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. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. If not, why not today? 17:1). He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. My belief is the valley is as good as the mountaintop and just as important to our spiritual growth. Remember, it was on top of Mt. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. All Rights Reserved. But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. Im glad Joani could share today because I really needed a fresh illustration of a mountaintop experience for this sermon! 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. 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! 3:17). 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. No one deserves worship but Jesus! the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. 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. As a result, God often reveals himself on a mountaintop in the text. Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later. And what does really matter in life? And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. 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. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! Some only lasted for mere minutes. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. Our job is to share Gods reconciliation with them and bring them to the mountaintop for their own personal experience with God. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. to what Jesus says in his word. As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. What an amazing sight! The voice of the father, encouraged Jesus in his preparation for the cross. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 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 Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. And minds that were already spinning are now completely blown. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. 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. They didnt last for years. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. 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. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 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. Peter said it is good to be here. 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. The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been.
Used Pontoon Boats For Sale Craigslist Maryland,
Taurus Single Love Horoscope Tomorrow,
Articles M