Old truths and new stories of the Appalachian experience. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! If not, why not today? On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! 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. Jesus asked his disciples, who do the people say I am? Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. . Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Every Christian needs a place to be alone and talk with the Lord, when he described this mountain top experience, he called this high mountain; . every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. 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. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. Idioms: 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. 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. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. In the Old Testament, the mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience! Remember, it was on top of Mt. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. The people live in the valleys. From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. Not all mountain top experiences drip with emotion. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. He who keeps Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep. 1:17). 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. But God never intended for us to live there. Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). 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. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. 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 ). Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with (Jesus). He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. Peter said it is good to be here. Then, for another forty days he remained in the fiery cloud of Gods presence, receiving still more revelation from God. Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. 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. Baptism is NOT something we do. 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 we forget the promises we made to our Holy God in the midst of that mountain top experience. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. 1:21). Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. In Atlanta, as we met and talked and worshipped, I had a strong sense of energy and enthusiasm and knew clearly that God was saying to me, The time is right and you are ready to begin this work of listening. Whereas before, Listen to My Life sounded really interested and well-done, this time it felt truly life giving. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? They didnt last for years. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. But seriously Im glad to have an excuse for Joani to describe the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in her life. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. I have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. Moses climbing Mt. Learn a new word every day. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. 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. The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. We stayed just outside the park, in full view of the snow-topped mountain range. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. Romances and horrors are great genres to cozy up to in the dark. 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'. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of stuff. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. Yet over time we go back to normal life. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! So what next? In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross! And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. -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. Moses is a prime example of this. Ironically, remaining on the summit for more than just a few minutes can be dangerous for climberseven life-threatening. Here at Mountaintop Worship Center, we spend every Sunday and Wednesday on the mountaintop. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. Upon returning from the top of Mt. 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. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later. 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. 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. Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? there is only one way to be saved and that is through. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Thats when you see people all around you move forward as they listen to the call of their mountain top experience. 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. 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). Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. Maybe youve realized a new passion you have that you can practice in your community. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. 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. Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. The Mountaintop Experience. tain maun-tn often attributive Synonyms of mountain 1 a : a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill The sun set behind the mountains. And appropriately enough, a bright cloud overshadows them, and from the cloud a voice said, This is my Son, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased; listen to him! As great as Moses and Elijah were, Jesus was and is greater still. That had to be a long six days. They didn't last for years. The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. 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. Waiting feels like a waste of my time. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. Jesus transformationcalled a transfigurationwas even more dramatic. 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. Climbing the mountains in Western North Carolina with my former youth from Indiana who made it a tradition to climb together early in the morning and then share affirmations on the mountain top at the end of a Montreat Youth Conference. When Jesus entered this world, he came as a man, he was born in a stable, wore peasant clothing, and worked as a carpenter in a small town. Telling the stories from our mountain tops with others, sharing the insights we have learned and intentionally seeking out stories from others about their time on the mountain. My belief is the valley is as good as the mountaintop and just as important to our spiritual growth. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Jesus climbing to the top of a mountain not to receive, but to give a new interpretation and understanding of those laws shaping our communal life together as Christians through the Sermon on the Mount. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. They are solid and unmovable. Husband of Orlena. TheLordwill keep you from allevil;he will keep your life. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. 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 now Moses is getting to see the glory of God face-to-face, in the person of Jesus Christ. (see Exodus 19) The shekinah glory cloud was gone. In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' Im guessing most of us have had at least one episode in our lives wed call a mountaintop experience. 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. 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! No wonder Peter fell to his face. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. I have established you on the mountaintop. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. Others need to share with a close friend a detailed description of all they experienced. Some only lasted for mere minutes. These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. 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. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? I call them mountain-top experiences! There, Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Matt. We long for the mountaintop. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. 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. 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. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. To get on higher ground, to climb above the mundane, and get in the place where the glory of God can touch our lives, and we can see JESUS as He is in glory and power, and hear God speak to our hearts. Then later, on the top of Mt.