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When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. 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. 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. 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. Husband of Orlena. Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! 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. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. 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. (see Exodus 19) I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? 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. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. One trait that gets very little press is that mountain top experiences often involve waiting. This reminds me of Church! We experience gratitude most naturally and intensely when a giver (1) unpredictably and (2) at cost to him- or herself (3) transfers to our full possession (4) a benefit that pleases us. mountaintop [ moun-tn-top ] SHOW IPA noun the top or summit of a mountain. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. Most of us have had some type of mountaintop experience during our lifetime. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. All Rights Reserved. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. Accessed 4 Mar. I have established you on the mountaintop. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Moses finally made it to the promise land! I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. Mountain top definition: the top of a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a. 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. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. 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. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. 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. They witnessed Jesus transfigurationa majestic visualization of the Lords divine nature as well as His approaching death and resurrection. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. 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). Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. Especially if you have school work to do, background music can help fill the silence of late night studying. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. Send us feedback. 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 Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. Under his feet lay challenge after challenge that he had encountered along the way in his business and personal life. 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. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. 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. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. Im glad Joani could share today because I really needed a fresh illustration of a mountaintop experience for this sermon! 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 term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. Sinai. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. 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. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. 17:2). You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. It means when you worry, stress, or get angry, think about your struggles from a different perspective. Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples They allow us to listen to our Christian books while driving, working, or cooking dinner. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. When you looked at Jesus he was a common, ordinary Jew-, YET Jesus Christ was much more than a common man when he walked on this earth. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! V:31-Which he would accomplish at Jerusalem. I thought about all the ways God had provided up until that day and I felt like a fool. 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. Remember, it was on top of Mt. The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been. How does a congregation go Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821. Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the valley where they seem to dwell most of the time. To get on higher ground, to climb above the mundane, and get in the place where the glory of God can touch our lives, and we can see JESUS as He is in glory and power, and hear God speak to our hearts. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. the law and the prophets. However, along the way there were broken relationships and many long hours of hard work and study. Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. This one might seem obvious, but what if I told you that having a cup of hot cocoa is more than chocolate powder in warm milk? It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! If not, why not today? The relationships he had with family and friends had caused him both happiness and sorrow. 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. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. 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. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. 2023. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. 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. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. 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). My purpose is to lead believers into a deeper relationship with God, resulting in them becoming A Bold Christian. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! The Rockies are a mountain chain / range in the western United States. Sinai a third time to get a new copy of the commandments we read in Exodus 34 that Moses face was shining so brightly with the spirit of God that he had to veil his face when he was around people. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. 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. 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. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 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. This passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. The stress I feel towards a particular class is so small compared to what really matters in life. 17:1). How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. Finally, its just Moses moving to the top of Mt. 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; . Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. , it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel. Yet, it seems that Peter actually does the opposite. 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. There is a mountaintop experience all Christians seek. Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. 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. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. And you will walk away changed!. That had to be a long six days. 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. as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! 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. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? And it happened at the foot of Mt. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. 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. Peter said it is good to be here. This is so prevalent that the mountaintop experience has become a Christian clich of excitement and zeal. I walked down that mountain with a fresh, new fear for the Lord and new readiness to serve Him and only Him. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. Learn a new word every day. 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. Have you ever witnessed an altar call? He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally.