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. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Sinai still a third time because he shattered the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments upon hearing that the Israelites had manufactured and worshiped a golden calf in his absence. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. Finally, one day he reached the top of his mountain. as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. Like if you take one step forward you will fall endlessly and helplessly. We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved: When your body dies, you are not annihilated. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? A bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! adj. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. Theres only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus! At first they were deathly afraid of what they had seenwho wouldnt be!? To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 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! What we should do is go back every now and then to the memories, the journal entries, the conversations. 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. Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. This often propels us into a greater service for God. My greatest insight from a week of mountain climbing came from the time spent at the bottom of the 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. I created a Chill Pill playlist on YouTube for some relaxing vibes. Then, for another forty days he remained in the fiery cloud of Gods presence, receiving still more revelation from God. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. Upon returning from the top of Mt. There is a mountaintop experience all Christians seek. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. To save this word, you'll need to log in. In other words, the fulfillment of the Messiahs mission of salvation was nearer than the three disciplesknew. Lead me to those where the harvest is ready, for I am Your willing laborer.In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Keep reading Matthew 17 and youll see that during their descent from the mountain the disciples have a frightening encounter with a demon from hell. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mountaintop.' I do not capitalize the name satan in my writing. Still others need to spend time contemplating it all in the quiet of their own prayers. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. Copyright www.personality-insights.com. Whoever has ears, let them hear. No one deserves worship but Jesus! On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. 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. 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 respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life. But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! And if we keep moving upward an onward, we will eventually get to the peak or sum total of our own personal mountaintop experience! Everything is tiny and nothing seems to matter when you are that far away from people. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. Tabor. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. But those were all just moments. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ. God met me in Atlanta and it seemed to me that He was saying, Lets do this together.. 3:17). While such fear is proper, it may and must be accompanied by hearing the other mountain-voice of the transfiguration. Mountain top definition: the top of a natural upward projection of the earth's surface, higher and steeper than a. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. Because whatever happens, God has it all in control. Moses still had flaws that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land. 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. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction. Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! They allow us to listen to our Christian books while driving, working, or cooking dinner. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. (Mark 9:2-3 ESV) Jesus takes his inner circle to a mountain with him and they experience a "God thing." It was something unlike anything they had ever seen. Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. I recently heard a man say that he had worked all of his life to get to the top of his own personal mountain. They are solid and unmovable. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. Their eyes opened and they saw a whole new reality; the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. died on Mt. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . Sinai. Idioms: We long for the mountaintop. 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. And eventually Peter would deny the very one who changed his life. 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. Yet over time we go back to normal life. 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. Moses had asked to see Gods glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says its Mt. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? 17:1). From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. To experience Christ in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. 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. (see Exodus 19)We need the mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. Most of us have had a similar experience, maybe not as intense, but a "mountain top" experience nonetheless. The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. 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. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? Even though winter is ending soon, it does not mean the cold is. Jesus was always getting away to pray and draw strength from His father. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Despite this uncertainty, the definition of a mountain is a landform that rises significantly above the surrounding landscape. 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. Sinai again and again to commune with God and to better understand not just the essential laws for the life of the community, but the rhythms and cycles of what their covenantal life together will be like in the Promised Land. Both had famous departures from this earth. So what next? 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. 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. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Sinai with Joshua and Owen during our last days in Egypt, watching the sun rise over the vast chains of mountains in the desert there, and experience a diverse and international group of pilgrims praying their unique prayers at the top. This will make any chill session that much more enjoyable. Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! adjective situated at the top or summit of a mountain: a mountaintop house. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. (see Exodus 19) 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. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. Question Origin of mountaintop First recorded in 1585-95; mountain + top 1 Words nearby mountaintop V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. They took my breath away from ground level and, when I climbed them, they whisked away any anxious thought Id ever have. Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Our future includes a great change- corruption-incorruption; mortal- immortal. 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). Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. One of the authors of the book, Sharon Swing says, Listening is the art of creating space so God can do His work in the heart of another., This time in Atlanta was a follow-up to similar work I did in Dallas two years ago. As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. top maun-tn-tp Synonyms of mountaintop : the summit of a mountain Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web 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 mountaintop. II. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. It could have been graduating from college and then stepping into a dream job. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. This doesnt mean attempting to recreate our mountain top experience. A sunrise view from the Solid Rock Hideaway our Vision. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. But, maybe you say, The church doesnt hear the voice like Peter did. Maybe the thinness of the air, the lack of oxygen, or the exhaustion when we finally reach the top? Yes, he would soon be nailed to a cross. Just zoom out and think about your problems in the large scheme of things. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. 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. Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). 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. 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. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John accompanied Jesus one day up on a high mountain (Matt. to what Jesus says in his word. He fulfilled what the. Peter, James, and John were caught in heavens high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus. Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! It was their ultimate mountaintop experience. Remember, it was on top of Mt. He will not let your foot be moved;he who keeps you will not slumber. 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. Through His Word, Jesus presents grace to frightened disciples on the mountain. Tabor. 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. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. 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. 17:4). But God never intended for us to live there. 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. 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. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. There we can change the world and share Gods love and faithfulness that is as stolid as the mountains.We come down from the mountaintop because very few people are there. 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. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! We wont be able to implant every detail of the mountain top into the valley, but we cant waste those moments. The believers present experience of hearing the Word of God parallels the experience of hearing the voice of God on the mountain. Moses is a prime example of this. Jesus is the. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. 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. Psalm 90:2; Exodus 19:17-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 54:10. They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. 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. Believe: What Secret Does It Hold For You Today. That somebody is my wife, Joani, and Ive asked Joani to briefly describe her mountaintop experience with us today. Gorgeous mountain views off the deck 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! 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. When I heard that story, I identified with it so very much. Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. The training notes 'Mountain-Top 4 Wheel Driving or reflections on over 40 years of mistakes in the Victorian high country' is a 44-page booklet covering 'Getting the Right Gear', 'Tackling Tough Trails' and 'Touring Tips'. You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. Did we really experience change? Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! At least, that pattern held true for the likes of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. 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. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! If you need it, they have it. 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! 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; . Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. Proclaiming the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. Or did we just respond with emotions that were not actually genuine for the long run? This is the walk Jesus makes of his life. Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. There, for Peter, the mountain-hearing of the Fathers Majestic-Glory serves as the paradigm for the churchs engagement with the Word of God. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. This reminds me of Church! Together they represent the entire O.T. But the ecstasy was short-lived because when Jesus predicted his suffering and death on a cross, Peter reacted so negatively to this unexpected news that Jesus said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! 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.