Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. While such fear is proper, it may and must be accompanied by hearing the other mountain-voice of the transfiguration. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! How can we reach this mountaintop?. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! 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. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. The Mountaintop Experience. adjective situated at the top or summit of a mountain: a mountaintop house. Jesus is above all men, Jesus has no Equal! Pastor at Columbus (IN) RP Church. 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! as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. And it happened at the foot of Mt. For once weve faced them head on, then well have a better understanding of what to do next. Our future includes a great change- corruption-incorruption; mortal- immortal. 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 The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. II. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! How does a congregation go Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. Moses is a prime example of this. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. V:33-let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Sinai. 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 that moment made such an impression on Peter that years later he would refer to it in one of his New Testament letters as proof positive that that he didnt make up the gospel, but was an eyewitness to the very power and majesty of Jesus that changed his life forever. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. But God never intended for us to live there. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. And Im guessing wed have a mountaintop experience at church if we took the time to listen to each other describe our mountaintop experiences. . Question Origin of mountaintop First recorded in 1585-95; mountain + top 1 Words nearby mountaintop I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. 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 passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. 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. And you will walk away changed!. First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. 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! No wonder Peter fell to his face. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. The other gospel writers say his raiment was white as snow, as no washer on earth could make them. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! 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. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. 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. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. God met me in Atlanta and it seemed to me that He was saying, Lets do this together.. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? I do not capitalize the name satan in my writing. Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. But it seems that the visual experience did not generate the immediate fear and awe one might expect. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. And minds that were already spinning are now completely blown. SEE IT FOR THE FATHOMLESS MYSTERY THAT IT IS. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Sinai. about evangelism. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. Sleeps up to 6 (one queen bed, one double bed, and two twin beds). Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. Tag-along Tours run for past customers by the MTE club enable you to travel in your own 4WD vehicle, but with the confidence of knowing you are being looked after. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. Our job is to share Gods reconciliation with them and bring them to the mountaintop for their own personal experience with God. For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. Copyright www.personality-insights.com. 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. Yet the valley has become a symbol of rough times and depression.I dont believe this should be true. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. 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. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. 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. In the Old Testament, the mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant. As for how this takes shape in the coming future, I dont really know and I am okay with that because I am very confident that my job is to be willing and available and He will open and close doors. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. You can read my full article about the importance of the mountaintop experience HERE. 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. 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 pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Tabor. Have you been born again? The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. This reminds me of Church! As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. Would you pray and ask God to give you a mountaintop experience; when he does you will see his glory and worship him, understand his work and trust him, hear his word and obey him. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. Learn a new word every day. 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! Some only lasted for mere minutes. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. died on Mt. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! Wrapping up in a warm blanket with a hot drink and some calming music is one of the best ways to spend and indoor kind of day. 1:16). Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. This works in making work more enjoyable too. 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. 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. Tabor. Yes, I was on a literal mountaintop, but I am talking about a biblical mountaintop experience. Jesus was God incognito, dressed in human flesh. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. Is what youre worried about really worth the worry? Moses and Elijah were still alive and conscience though they had left the earth hundreds of years before this. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? There, for Peter, the mountain-hearing of the Fathers Majestic-Glory serves as the paradigm for the churchs engagement with the Word of God. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. 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 Lastly, the best part is the toppings. -They spoke about his decrease, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem, There on that high mountain with the representatives of the O.T. Philippians 4:13. In Exodus 24 God summoned Moses and a company of others to come back to the mountain. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? 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. Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. The question is, will you enter into that change as you walk down the mountain into the valley? Remember, it was on top of Mt. , it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel. But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. 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! Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. MTE's 4WD tag-along tours throughout the Victorian High Country and passenger tours around Walhalla became very popular . He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. 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. If we stifle what weve seen and heard and done during those mountain top experiences, then we wont know how to carry them with us into the valley. 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. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". Send us feedback. 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! This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. You learn something new about who God is. 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. Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? Husband of Orlena. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. 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. 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. 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". It actually turned out to be a good place. They are solid and unmovable. This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. 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. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. Then later, on the top of Mt. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. Sinai. Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. 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. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. All Rights Reserved. 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 cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. The voice of the father, encouraged Jesus in his preparation for the cross. 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. as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. Delivered to your inbox! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. We long for the mountaintop. 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.. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. 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. They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. Now this isnt to say drop everything you are doing in life because it doesnt matter. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. It is a high point in your life when youre with Gods people and Jesus in his glory shows up! Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. All rights reserved. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. 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. 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. Your Promised Land Is Chosen by God for Your Freedom and Success. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. 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 . When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. This is where audiobooks are helpful. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. (. Maybe it was getting married or having children. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Yet over time we go back to normal life. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? We are to listen to no voice that contradicts his voice, his word! That is how we need to look at our daily issues. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. Yet over time we go back to normal life. How do you respond? Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. Some people need to journal each moment while still on the mountain. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. IN THE BOREDOM AND PAIN OF IT NO LESS THAN IN THE EXCITEMENT, AND GLADNESS: TOUCH, TASTE, SMELL YOUR WAY TO THE HOLY, BECAUSE IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, ALL MOMENTS, ARE KEY MOMENTS AND ALL OF LIFE ITSELF IS GRACE. Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. You learn something new about who God is. They are solid and unmovable. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. I have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. We stayed just outside the park, in full view of the snow-topped mountain range. As a result, God often reveals himself on a mountaintop in the text. 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. 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. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! You feel overcome by a greater awareness of God's reality. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Now, even though Joanis Listen to Your Life conference in Atlanta took place in the suburbs rather than on top of nearby Stone Mountain (which is where, by the way, I proposed to Joani), she still refers to the conference as a mountaintop experience. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. 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! The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. Check out my Recommended Resources list. Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. to what Jesus says in his word. Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. 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. This mountaintop experience takes place during a time of prayer! And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. They see His Glory and they worship Him! I love life! In later reflection, Peter described what he heard as the Majestic Glory (2 Pet. Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. 1:20). We cant leave them behind us. The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. 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. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. Confront the Danger. Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. I call them mountain-top experiences! After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. -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. Carmel that Elijah staged his mesmerizing victory over 450 prophets of Baal when God breathed down fire from heaven at Elijahs request. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. When you looked at Jesus he was a common, ordinary Jew-, YET Jesus Christ was much more than a common man when he walked on this earth. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. 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. How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? mountain noun [C] (VERY LARGE HILL) A2 a raised part of the earth's surface, much larger than a hill, the top of which might be covered in snow: The Matterhorn is one of the biggest mountains in Europe. Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed 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).