mountain top experience definition
Soon, weekends can be filled with park trips and beach adventures, but for now, the weather is temperamental, so a movie night can suffice. Many of us have walked through our own mountain top 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. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. The transfiguration was a foreshadowing of that event, but Christs followers would not be able to clearly see that until after the resurrection. 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. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. 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! Here is our startling recognition: the Christians mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. And that moment made such an impression on Peter that years later he would refer to it in one of his New Testament letters as proof positive that that he didnt make up the gospel, but was an eyewitness to the very power and majesty of Jesus that changed his life forever. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. 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. 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. My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the mountains. Do what I have called you to do, and people will say, Let us go to Mountaintop Worship Center. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. 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; . 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. Mountain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster 1:16), so the Word is as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Pet. To save this word, you'll need to log in. (see Exodus 19) The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. , it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel. They didnt last for years. 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. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. Mountain-top - definition of mountain-top by The Free Dictionary II. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. V:36-And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone. Or you were convicted about something in your life that you now need accountability for from a friend or mentor. Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! There is a mountaintop experience all Christians seek. But heaven will be a place of glory! He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. He who keeps Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. 4WD Adventures - Mountain-Top Experience Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. The Word communicated the fullness of the glory of God manifested to them. -The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamb is the light thereof. A variety of day trips, long weekends, and extended . 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. Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. This is the walk all . In Exodus 24 God summoned Moses and a company of others to come back to the mountain. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. 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. The Cross was a great accomplishment; not an accident, tragedy, disaster! Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. And you will walk away changed!. Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! Once weve processed our mountain top experience, well be able to face the valley without resentment or guilt. Jesus deity and glory would be hid; but they knew underneath his humanity, was deity. And we forget the promises we made to our Holy God in the midst of that mountain top experience. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. But then, everything about Peters mountaintop experience changes. Horeb, which is described in the bible as the mountain of God. Later, Moses will climb Mt. 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. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. Theres only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! 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. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. Im glad Joani could share today because I really needed a fresh illustration of a mountaintop experience for this sermon! Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. Peter said it is good to be here. The voice of the father, encouraged Jesus in his preparation for the cross. At the very least, tell a fellow Christian about your decision and ask for guidance. The shekinah glory cloud was gone. V:35-And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. Salvation is not in a program, or a plan, but in a person-. David Briscoe is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources. 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. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. 2. 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. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. died on Mt. I love to see families encouraging and helping one another. Husband of Orlena. 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. 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. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. Heaven or Hell! Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. But if we dont use what we have experienced on the mountain to affect the valley, then they might as well just be quick reactions to a fleeting moment. -They spoke about his decrease, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem, There on that high mountain with the representatives of the O.T. He has it all in control. Now suddenly, Jesus invites Peter, James, and John for an evening hike up Mt. Thats when you see people all around you move forward as they listen to the call of their mountain top experience. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. They took my breath away from ground level and, when I climbed them, they whisked away any anxious thought Id ever have. Together they represent the entire O.T. To grow and restore the family of Christ on the foundation of His Word and His promises. 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. Moses finally made it to the promise land! Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. 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. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. 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. n. The summit of a mountain. -For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. 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. You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. Wood burning fireplace, gas grill, washer and dryer, central heat. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. 1:20). Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. Maybe your mountain top experience was giving your life to Christ for the first time at that altar call. Thats almost seven weeks of sitting around in the fog! Climbing the mountain we now claim as Mt. What was the difference? But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. Did we really experience change? Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. I have had my fair share of mountain top experiences, both literal and spiritual. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. About Us - Mountain-Top Experience Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. 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. God truly does reveal Himself to us in different ways, some more intense than others. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.