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. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. It means when you worry, stress, or get angry, think about your struggles from a different perspective. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. 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. Then later, on the top of Mt. First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. That had to be a long six days. Delivered to your inbox! 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 Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. For that reason, even people who follow God to the mountaintop will likely find themselves waiting patiently and praying for Gods guidance for their next move. The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. 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. How can we reach this mountaintop?. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. I do not capitalize the name satan in my writing. Cable TV and high speed internet. Jesus deity and glory would be hid; but they knew underneath his humanity, was deity. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. I found myself late every afternoon sitting and simply meditating on the mountains, remembering what it was like to be on top of them and giving thanks for their ancient and imposing beauty. And minds that were already spinning are now completely blown. 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. But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. 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. 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. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! 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. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. Some only lasted for mere minutes. 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. The word, . And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. Top selling author and speaker, Robert Rohm Ph.D. is founder of Personality Insights Inc. and The Robert Rohm Co. As you will see, Dr. Rohm specializes in helping people better understand themselves and others. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? about evangelism. 1:19). What was the difference? the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. 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. Send us feedback. 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. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. 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! Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. Some people need to journal each moment while still on the mountain. 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 . 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. Enjoy the teamwork of tackling 4WD challenges, being part of caring community and learning about history and nature as we travel. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! The sun shall not strike you byday,nor the moon by night. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. 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. 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. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. 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! That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. -For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. Now suddenly, Jesus invites Peter, James, and John for an evening hike up Mt. If not, why not today? Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. 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. Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things. 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. It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. I doubt any of us will go there. II. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of God's reality. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. They witnessed Jesus transfigurationa majestic visualization of the Lords divine nature as well as His approaching death and resurrection. The glory cloud was a sign that Jesus was Gods dwelling place on earth, Jesus was the Mercy seat, he alone provides salvation and forgiveness! This mountaintop experience takes place during a time of prayer! Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. 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. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. They took my breath away from ground level and, when I climbed them, they whisked away any anxious thought Id ever have. The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. Recently, when I was complaining to a friend about waiting for God to do something, this spiritually wise person noted that God almost never hurries. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. They allow us to listen to our Christian books while driving, working, or cooking dinner. 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. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. . God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. It is always a good to say nothing when you dont know what to say! 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 believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. 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". We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. 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. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! Tabor. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. I love to see goals attained after hard work. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. Now this isnt to say drop everything you are doing in life because it doesnt matter. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. 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. 17:2). The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been. When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Jesus gives us his word that we might obey it, put it to practice in our lives, and live it out every day! To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. Most of us have had some type of mountaintop experience during our lifetime. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. The valley is not what you may think. (. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. Why Elijah and Moses? For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. Yet over time we go back to normal life. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. 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. 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. Granted, Jesus did some of his best work on and around water, but he was a mountain man, too. But it seems that the visual experience did not generate the immediate fear and awe one might expect. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Maybe your mountain top experience was giving your life to Christ for the first time at that altar call. the law and the prophets. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! 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. We need to pray with Neil Griffith, Builder of mountains, make me like a mountain, Firm let me stand against the winds of strife; Give me a soul that reaches up to heaven, But plant my feet in needs of human life. 1:17). The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. 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. Mountains typically have steep slopes and are understood to be. I recently heard a man say that he had worked all of his life to get to the top of his own personal mountain. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. Jesus Christ, furthering His kingdom, and bringing glory to God through it all. We, of course, visited the ranger station and gift shop at the top, and chatted with one of the rangers about what short hikes we could do while we were at the top and about the recent snowstorm that made the road impassible. You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. Ironically, remaining on the summit for more than just a few minutes can be dangerous for climberseven life-threatening. (see Exodus 19)We need the mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". n. The summit of a mountain. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. 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. Maybe thats why to this day so many Christian retreat centers are on top of or around mountains. 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. Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. 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! And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? Learn a new word every day. 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. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. We are to listen to no voice that contradicts his voice, his word! Check out my Recommended Resources list. 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. Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. 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! He who keeps Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep. But dont forget that six days prior, the disciples spent their own time in a theological fog, utterly confused about the proposed suffering and death of Jesus. Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. 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. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. while Peter is still talking; God interrupts Peters speech. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. 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. 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. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. 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? The Mountaintop Experience. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. As a result, God often reveals himself on a mountaintop in the text. David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. Pastor at Columbus (IN) RP Church. But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. Jesus is greater than Moses, and Elijah! 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. Peter a man who always had something to say when nothing should be said; said: V:33-Jesus, master, it is good for us to be here. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. 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. How does a congregation go To experience Christ in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! God doesnt intend for us to live in a perpetual state of emotional highs when it comes to faith. 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. Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them. 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. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. What an amazing sight! revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. Under his feet lay challenge after challenge that he had encountered along the way in his business and personal life. By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. 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! The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. It actually turned out to be a good place. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began. In Exodus 24 God summoned Moses and a company of others to come back to the mountain. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. They see His Glory and they worship Him! How do you respond? Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about? DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. 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. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us!
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