The word, . Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. Both had famous departures from this earth. On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. 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'. 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. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! 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. Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience! What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! 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). I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. Moses was not left unchanged by his time with God. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. The valley is not what you may think. But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with (Jesus). 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. It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of 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. As a result, God often reveals himself on a mountaintop in the text. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. They are solid and unmovable. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us. About Us - Mountain-Top Experience I'd love to go mountain - climbing. And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. Moses is a prime example of this. One trait that gets very little press is that mountain top experiences often involve waiting. Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! Of all the things the apostles witnessed, none was more spectacular and the vision of the glorified Christ on top on the Mount of Transfiguration. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. 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. The people live in the valleys. The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! 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. 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. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. 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. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. Define mountaintop. But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered. 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! You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. and try to imagine what it was like went Jesus showed them His glory up on that mountain. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. Our job is to share Gods reconciliation with them and bring them to the mountaintop for their own personal experience with God. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. The Danger of the Mountain Top Experience - Youth Ministry Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. It was the voice of the Heavenly Father, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. The experience completely mortifiedPeter, James, and Johnuntil Jesus calmed them, and they saw that only Jesus remained. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. Yes, I was on a literal mountaintop, but I am talking about a biblical mountaintop experience. Mountaintop Experience - Good Faith Media Pastor at Columbus (IN) RP Church. 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. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. I love to see families encouraging and helping one another. 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. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. All Rights Reserved. Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. 4. of or pertaining to mountains. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. there is only one way to be saved and that is through. 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). 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. 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. Remember, it was on top of Mt. The Mountaintop Experience | A Bold Christian 2. Check out my Recommended Resources list. Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us. Copyright www.personality-insights.com. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. Moses is a prime example of this. Maybe youve realized a new passion you have that you can practice in your community. 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. 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. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. And then there was Jesus. Running Together: Evening Worship at 5:00. 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. And what does really matter in life? Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. , and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. Or did we just respond with emotions that were not actually genuine for the long run? Moses and company obeyed, hiking to the foot of the mountain where an astonishing thing happened: they saw the God of Israel, and they lived to talk about it! Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. And we forget the promises we made to our Holy God in the midst of that mountain top experience. Grab a blanket and a glass of hot chocolate, and do these five warm indoor activities for those rainy winter days. Tabor. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. Salvation is not in a program, or a plan, but in a person-. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. 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. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Granted, Jesus did some of his best work on and around water, but he was a mountain man, too. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. Mountaintop Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com 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. Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. (see Exodus 19)We need the mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. 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. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. A Mountain-Top Experience - Faithlife Sermons In. 17:1). To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began. Mountaintop. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountaintop. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. A review of both the Old and New Testaments makes it clear as daywhen it comes to entering sacred space where you can meet God and/or Jesus face to face, theres no substitute for a mountaintop. If not, why not today? This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. 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. 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) and is alluded to in Johns Gospel (John 1:14) as well as in 2 Peter 1:16-18 underscores that Peter, James, and John never forgot their trip with Jesus up on the mountain. Living Your Mountaintop Experience Everyday - Spiritually Hungry What Is the Significance of Mountains in the Bible? I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. 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! 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. Recommended ResourcesEasy Bible Study Method, Bold LivingFaithSpiritual GrowthDevotions, I am an author, blogger, Bible teacher, and preacher. 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. 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 ). Thats when you see people all around you move forward as they listen to the call of their mountain top experience. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. 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. Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about? You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. Now this isnt to say drop everything you are doing in life because it doesnt matter. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. Why Elijah and Moses? How can we reach this mountaintop?. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? The Mountaintop Experience. It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! Yet over time we go back to normal life. The heap on which he stood consisted of all the experiences and obstacles that he had faced on his journey through life. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. 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.". Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. There will be times of recognition, success, fun, laughter, happiness, financial success and many wonderful experiences together with family and friends. But, before we get into the prophetic message, lets look at the importance of the mountaintop experience.The mountaintop experience is something many Christians seek after. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. 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. The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been. 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. 1:19). You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! The fact that the transfiguration is reported in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matt. In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. adj. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! I call them mountain-top experiences! That is how we need to look at our daily issues. That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. 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 last days the mountain of the Lords house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. This is my favorite source for everything Christian. 3. a huge amount: a mountain of mail. to what Jesus says in his word. died on Mt. 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. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. On one day, we drove to the top of the mountains on Trail Ridge Road that cuts right through Rocky Mountain National Park peaking at an elevation of 12,000 feet - a literal arctic tundra in northern Colorado. So what next? (see Exodus 19) The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. 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. mountaintop synonyms, mountaintop pronunciation, mountaintop translation, English dictionary definition of mountaintop. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Baptism is NOT something we do. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? 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? At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? Bible Verses About the Mountaintop Experience & Godly Journey Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. The Rockies are a mountain chain / range in the western United States. Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the valley where they seem to dwell most of the time. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. SEE IT FOR THE FATHOMLESS MYSTERY THAT IT IS. Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. 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. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. 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. 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. If the bible is any guide, theres no better place to meet the divine than on or around a mountain. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! Peter, James, and John thought that Elijahs appearance on the mountain with Jesus that day surely was a fulfillment of prophecy. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. The goal is "Living All Out For Jesus". Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! But God never intended for us to live there. 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 Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. 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. This passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. Full kitchen, with cookware and dinnerware, dishwasher, microwave, stove/oven, full fridge, coffeemaker. 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 is to be led to the mountaintop. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? You learn something new about who God is. Address it with all of them, and make them aware of the pros and cons of the mountain top. I have established you on the mountaintop. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. It is a high point in your life when youre with Gods people and Jesus in his glory shows up! We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. (Mark 9:2-3 ESV) Jesus takes his inner circle to a mountain with him and they experience a "God thing." It was something unlike anything they had ever seen. It was a great privilege to see Moses and Elijah, but Jesus was the son of God! Moses climbing Mt. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. 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. How does a congregation go Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. Things may not be the way you want them to be right now, but as long as you do the next right thing and move in a positive direction, you will continue to learn and grow. Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. The believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. One moose, two moose. Whoever has ears, let them hear. In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books.