We recognize that many of us will not have the privilege to live our lives on the top of a mountain, whether literally or figuratively. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! What Is the Significance of Mountains in the Bible? That had to be a long six days. If not, why not today? Living on a spiritual high all the time would make for an exhausting life, but there are lessons we can take from each moment and implant them into our routines. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. The term "mountain top experience" comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. To hear the voice of God in His Word is to be led to the mountaintop of glory and grace. 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. 3:17). 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! They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. . Lastly, the best part is the toppings. They are solid and unmovable. V:36-And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. What is Your Mountain Top Experience? - Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 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. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. Confront the Danger. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us. Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. And you don't have to settle for regular milk! They allow us to listen to our Christian books while driving, working, or cooking dinner. And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. How can we reach this mountaintop?. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. It was simply a huge heap of stuff (both good and bad) that he had climbed up in order to get to where he was. 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.. In later reflection, Peter described what he heard as the Majestic Glory (2 Pet. 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. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? 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. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. Send us feedback. 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. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. Mountain Top TV No monthly fee. Yet, if we keep going and if we keep climbing, the sum total of all those experiences will keep us moving upward in the right direction. The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm Gods presence and blessings on Jesus. 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? 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! How does a congregation go But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. 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. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Whoever has ears, let them hear. If you have Netflix or Hulu, the possibilities of movies are endless. Maybe it was getting married or having children. He fulfilled what the. This is the walk Jesus makes of his life. But those were all just moments. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. It doesnt mean well have an answer to every question we faced on the mountain top. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. Mountains typically have steep slopes and are understood to be. I have separated the list into Free Resources, Basic Resources, and Advanced Resources. I recently heard a man say that he had worked all of his life to get to the top of his own personal mountain. 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. What is it about mountains that invoke a spiritual or religious response from us as human beings? Living, Planning, Dying Well: Getting Your Affairs in Order, 2023 Youth Sunday & Souper Bowl of Caring, Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Advent Gift Market a yearlong commitment to mission. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. 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. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. Tabor. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. 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. -They spoke about his decrease, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem, There on that high mountain with the representatives of the O.T. Mark 9:2-3 - The Mountain Top Experience | Daily Devotionals Husband of Orlena. Running Together: Evening Worship at 5:00. Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. 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. And the thought of spending an additional 40 days in the fog listening for the voice of God doesnt excite me either. At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Jesus gives us his word that we might obey it, put it to practice in our lives, and live it out every day! Heaven will not be a place of strangers. Sinai. We cant leave them behind us. Moses finally made it to the promise land! and try to imagine what it was like went Jesus showed them His glory up on that mountain. Consider how Peter engages this question in 2 Peter 1:16-21. But it seems that the visual experience did not generate the immediate fear and awe one might expect. Heaven or Hell! My help comes from theLord,who made heaven and earth. They didnt last for years. Personally, I find waiting very hard to do. Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. For once weve faced them head on, then well have a better understanding of what to do next. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? As for how this takes shape in the coming future, I dont really know and I am okay with that because I am very confident that my job is to be willing and available and He will open and close doors. 1:19). That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. What an amazing sight! 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.". 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. Finally, its just Moses moving to the top of Mt. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. A good book on a rainy day or with calming music is a wonderful way to take a break from the responsibilities of life and escape into another world. 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. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths. For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3 CSB). And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. 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. Peter immediately recommended the building of three shelters, presumably so that all six people could stay together on the mountain indefinitely. Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. How to Use the Mountain Top Experience in the Valley Copyright www.personality-insights.com. Horeb, which is described in the bible as the mountain of God. Later, Moses will climb Mt. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. 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. 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. About Us - Mountain-Top Experience Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. 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. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. 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. When is the last time you had a mountain-top experience? as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. Unfortunately, busy schedules can interfere with reading time. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. 4WD Driver Training - Mountain-Top 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. The Mountain Top Experience - Sermon Central Amen. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross! 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). Copyright 2023, Good Faith Media | Site by, Lincoln Lessons: Real Church, Real Theology, New GFM Podcast on Race, Religion and Politics Drops in, Five Things to Listen for in Raceless Gospel Podcast. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. Mountaintop Experience - Good Faith Media Dear Lord, I thank you for every mountaintop experience I have had and look forward to more of them. Mountain Top Experience will be re-opening on June 1, 2023. Today would 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. However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. 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. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. The Apostle who once fell at Jesus knees upon a miracle of Christ (Luke 5:1-11) now offers His skill in tent-making to the transfigured Messiah (Matt. the law and the prophets. 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. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. A Mountain-Top Experience - Faithlife Sermons 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". Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. It is always dangerous to say something when you dont know what to say! Your Promised Land Is Chosen by God for Your Freedom and Success. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. 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. Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? Jesus dead on the Cross as the Lamb of God means Exodus, freedom from sins bondage to all who will apply the blood of Jesus to their heart in faith! MOUNTAIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary 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. 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? They witnessed Jesus transfigurationa majestic visualization of the Lords divine nature as well as His approaching death and resurrection. But the Holy Spirit is not constrained to work through baptism only in the moment when it is administered.