There are several reasons. the law and the prophets. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. Mountain Top Experience's season generally runs from April through December each year. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. Thats because mountaintop experience is a figure of speech that comes right out of Holy Scripture. the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. And minds that were already spinning are now completely blown. I have had my fair share of mountain top experiences, both literal and spiritual. TheLordwill keep you from allevil;he will keep your life. On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. 1:16). Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. 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 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. 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. Many of us have walked through our own mountain top experience. 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! the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. But those were all just moments. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. The believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. The word, . Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. To experience Christ in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! Moses finally made it to the promise land! The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! Is what youre worried about really worth the worry? By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. 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. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. Amen. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! What we should do is go back every now and then to the memories, the journal entries, the conversations. Carmel that Elijah staged his mesmerizing victory over 450 prophets of Baal when God breathed down fire from heaven at Elijahs request. the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. 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. , it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821. First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. They see His Glory and they worship Him! If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. Enjoy the teamwork of tackling 4WD challenges, being part of caring community and learning about history and nature as we travel. We stayed just outside the park, in full view of the snow-topped mountain range. It doesnt mean well have an answer to every question we faced on the mountain top. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. 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. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the Shekinah glory cloud. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. They are solid and unmovable. Then, for another forty days he remained in the fiery cloud of Gods presence, receiving still more revelation from God. Hermon. I wasnt so eager to leave the mountaintop. After surviving his 40 day and night fast, Jesus climbs down one mountain only to go up another, where he delivers the greatest sermon of all time, the "Sermon on the Mount.". And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? He reflected on the massive amount of time, effort and energy it took to reach the specific goals that he had laid out for his life. 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. 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. 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. I'd love to go mountain - climbing. 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. , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. 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. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? Maybe thats why to this day so many Christian retreat centers are on top of or around mountains. Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about? Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. 17:7)." Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later. 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. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. 1:19). How does a congregation go from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him! Under his feet lay challenge after challenge that he had encountered along the way in his business and personal life. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. (see Exodus 19) 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. Tabor. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. 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. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. 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. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. 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. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. mountaintop synonyms, mountaintop pronunciation, mountaintop translation, English dictionary definition of mountaintop. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. They didn't last for years. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. Moses was not left unchanged by his time with God. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. These guys had seen Jesus on multiple occasions, do amazing things, but they had NEVER seen him like they are going to see him on that mountain. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. 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. Yes it was temporary eclipsed by the cross, but they remember it after the resurrection and they spoke about it for the rest of their lives. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! While such fear is proper, it may and must be accompanied by hearing the other mountain-voice of the transfiguration. Full kitchen, with cookware and dinnerware, dishwasher, microwave, stove/oven, full fridge, coffeemaker. 1:18), so the believer does well to pay attention to the Words of the prophets (2 Pet. Some people need to journal each moment while still on the mountain. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! The shekinah glory cloud was gone. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. Peter, James, and John thought that Elijahs appearance on the mountain with Jesus that day surely was a fulfillment of prophecy. Yet the valley has become a symbol of rough times and depression.I dont believe this should be true. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. But those were all just moments. Now this isnt to say drop everything you are doing in life because it doesnt matter. Delivered to your inbox! The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. Of course, except for Jesus, even people who undergo mountaintop transformations remain flawed. That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity. Frankly, I cant imagine being stuck in a dense mountain fog for six days with absolutely nothing to do but look at the fog! This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Sinai. Idioms: 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. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. 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. Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. 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. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. 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. It means when you worry, stress, or get angry, think about your struggles from a different perspective. I love to see families encouraging and helping one another. 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. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. 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. All Rights Reserved. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. And it happened at the foot of Mt. Cable TV and high speed internet. What an amazing sight! This often propels us into a greater service for God. And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. 1:17). Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus. Tabor. Not all mountain top experiences drip with emotion. 3. a huge amount: a mountain of mail. Even so, flaws and all, God sends us from our mountaintops into the valleys below. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. That is how we need to look at our daily issues. Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? They didnt last for years. 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. Jesus gives us his word that we might obey it, put it to practice in our lives, and live it out every day! On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. We forget what God said to us when we approached the altar during that sermon. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. 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. There is so much to be done here in the valley. Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. You can read my full article about the importance of the mountaintop experience HERE. 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. It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. 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. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. But heaven will be a place of glory! Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. revisiting them will prove a way to spur us on as we continue to live changed. The Rockies are a mountain chain / range in the western United States. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. 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. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. II. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. 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. 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. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! Heaven or Hell! Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. . 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. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. 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 relationships he had with family and friends had caused him both happiness and sorrow. As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. Ironically, remaining on the summit for more than just a few minutes can be dangerous for climberseven life-threatening. Peter said it is good to be here. Accessed 4 Mar. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. It so happens that I know of somebody thats had a mountaintop experience just this past week. The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. We are to listen to no voice that contradicts his voice, his word! That could prove dangerous and manipulative. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. Jesus asked his disciples, who do the people say I am? Peter was hoping Jesus would settle in on the summit. Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. 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. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. 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. 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! Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. 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. The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. 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. While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? The voice of God clearly identified Jesus as his only son, his beloved son, unique one-of-a-kind son. Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. 3:17). Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? Then later, on the top of Mt. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. And you will walk away changed!. Mountaintop. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountaintop. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. Define mountaintop. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. 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.
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