After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! 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. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. Tabor. 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. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. while Peter is still talking; God interrupts Peters speech. 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. The problem .read more Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! about evangelism. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? Grab a blanket and a glass of hot chocolate, and do these five warm indoor activities for those rainy winter days. Old truths and new stories of the Appalachian experience. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. 2. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, Come, lets go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". 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, Later that day in February, Ms. Dean visited the, The Tanners handed the Red & Black their first loss of the season and reminded everyone who sits atop the Middlesex, The duo in recent days flew back to Los Angeles from the snowy city of Aspen, Colorado, where they were huddled in deep planning, and now like holy figures coming down from the, The best team in the states largest classification reached the, In the film, Korean detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) is probing the death of a climber who fell from a, Post the Definition of mountaintop to Facebook, Share the Definition of mountaintop on Twitter, The businesss new computer system proved not to be a. On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. Baptism is NOT something we do. Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. The fact that the transfiguration is reported in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matt. Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. SEE IT FOR THE FATHOMLESS MYSTERY THAT IT IS. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. This passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. (see Exodus 19)We need the mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. 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.". TheLordwill keep you from allevil;he will keep your life. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 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. Amen. 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. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. mountaintop synonyms, mountaintop pronunciation, mountaintop translation, English dictionary definition of mountaintop. You learn something new about who God is. Time to forget about any work you have to do, and treat the weekend as a weekend. Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. They didn't last for years. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! If not, why not today? 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. At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. 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. Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began. 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. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. You can read my full article about the importance of the mountaintop experience HERE. Peter, James, and John thought that Elijahs appearance on the mountain with Jesus that day surely was a fulfillment of prophecy. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? 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. 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. as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. Upon returning from the top of Mt. That is how we need to look at our daily issues. Moses was not left unchanged by his time with God. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. But God never intended for us to live there. Mountain Top TV No monthly fee. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. Question Origin of mountaintop First recorded in 1585-95; mountain + top 1 Words nearby mountaintop 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; . Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. Horeb, which is described in the bible as the mountain of God. Later, Moses will climb Mt. 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. 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). But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. Now would be the time to get involved in a church or Bible study. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. 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. If you keep striving and climbing you will eventually get on top of it and you will have a life that is helpful to you, profitable to your family and a good influence on your friends. And it happened at the foot of Mt. 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. 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. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. We will recognize our loved ones and others in heaven. Mountain top definition: the top of a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a. They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! A bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud. But what, biblically speaking, is a mountaintop experience? 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences. There is a mountaintop experience all Christians seek. 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. 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. A glorious, spiritual experience where you were alone with Jesus and your soul was lifted above this old world, and you got a taste of heaven. Most of us have had some type of mountaintop experience during our lifetime. 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! The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. Maybe it was getting married or having children. Maybe your mountain top experience was giving your life to Christ for the first time at that altar call. That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. The believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. At the very least, tell a fellow Christian about your decision and ask for guidance. 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. those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? 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. There is so much to be done here in the valley. He fulfilled what the. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. 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. So what next? Why Elijah and Moses? He has it all in control. 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. If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. How does a congregation go 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. Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced 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. Im glad Joani could share today because I really needed a fresh illustration of a mountaintop experience for this sermon! 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! Sinai again and again to commune with God and to better understand not just the essential laws for the life of the community, but the rhythms and cycles of what their covenantal life together will be like in the Promised Land. 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. 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. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. What an amazing sight! But as Jesus might say, We cant work effectively for God in the valley until we have been transformed spiritually with God on the mountain. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. Like if you take one step forward you will fall endlessly and helplessly. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. These three disciples are none as the inner circle; Jesus let them in on things the other disciples didnt get in on. Some only lasted for mere minutes. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. goats), the guys get to the true subject at hand. They took my breath away from ground level and, when I climbed them, they whisked away any anxious thought Id ever have. So many of us begin to desire to leave God's mountaintop through lax engagement with God's Word because the experience feels so ordinary. Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. 17:2). And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. 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.. (. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. The shekinah glory cloud was gone. And if weve implanted them in some way in our present, then revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. The disciples needed to know who Jesus was because in the days ahead they would be discouraged, disillusioned as they saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross. Do you understand that Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life; and took your sin, and died in your place that you might experience forgiveness and salvation? Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. I have had my fair share of mountain top experiences, both literal and spiritual. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. 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. adj. On this mountaintop; theyre going to see who Jesus is; theyre going to see the glory of the son of God; theyre going to hear the voice of God as he says this is my beloved son. All rights reserved. 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. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. For after the disciples fall in fear, the Divine Voice speaks again on the mountain. As I rest in the valley and meditate on my mountaintop experiences, please have Your Holy Spirit reveal to me what I need to know.Here in the valley, I will rest and feed on the goodness of Your Word. 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. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. They witnessed Jesus transfigurationa majestic visualization of the Lords divine nature as well as His approaching death and resurrection. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! Philippians 4:13. V:36-And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. , and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. Hermon. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! Still, nearly a thousand people everyyear train vigorously, pay steep fees, and make the trip to south Asia for the opportunityto enjoy an ultimate mountaintop experience. Peter was hoping Jesus would settle in on the summit. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. What was the difference? V:33-let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. mountaintop [ moun-tn-top ] SHOW IPA noun the top or summit of a mountain. At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. Moses is a prime example of this. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. 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 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! Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821. to what Jesus says in his word. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. And then there was Jesus. the law and the prophets. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. 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. Salvation is not in a program, or a plan, but in a person-. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . 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. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. Then later, on the top of Mt. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. But now Moses is getting to see the glory of God face-to-face, in the person of Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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. Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? This works in making work more enjoyable too. 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. Sinai. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. -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. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? 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. Jesus asked his disciples, who do the people say I am? Questions for further thought: Where and when have you been overwhelmed by a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for you on the cross? from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him! God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. 1:20). , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. Heaven or Hell! As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? But God also spoke, it was Gods voice. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. Have you been born again? God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. 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. Sinai. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. . Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. Running Together: Evening Worship at 5:00. Jesus was always getting away to pray and draw strength from His father. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! n. The summit of a mountain. One trait that gets very little press is that mountain top experiences often involve waiting. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! 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. 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. If the bible is any guide, theres no better place to meet the divine than on or around a mountain. Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was silent, and the three disciples saw only Jesus! 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. In. On the days when I find myself worrying about temporary issues I need to take a step back and look at life as if I was looking at the world from a mountaintop. 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. You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a 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. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. In Exodus 24 God summoned Moses and a company of others to come back to the mountain. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. there is only one way to be saved and that is through.