V:29-the fashion of his countenance was altered, a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE | FaithWriters 17:1). Under his feet lay challenge after challenge that he had encountered along the way in his business and personal life. You are not THE mountain of the Lord, but you are A mountain of the Lord. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. Like you thought you grasped the concept of our large world, but then you realize its more incredible than you believed it to be. mountaintop [ moun-tn-top ] SHOW IPA noun the top or summit of a mountain. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. Life is a continually ascending and descending in our religious experiences. This works in making work more enjoyable too. Granted, Jesus did some of his best work on and around water, but he was a mountain man, too. Carmel that Elijah staged his mesmerizing victory over 450 prophets of Baal when God breathed down fire from heaven at Elijahs request. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. Waiting feels like a waste of my time. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. This reminds me of Church! For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. V:29-his arraignment was white and glistening. the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. 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. The word, . These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. Thats when you see people all around you move forward as they listen to the call of their mountain top experience. Tip: Re-evaluate your mountaintop experience. - Insights The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. The Cross was a great accomplishment; not an accident, tragedy, disaster! Here at Mountaintop Worship Center, we spend every Sunday and Wednesday on the mountaintop. Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus. The first time we see Jesus on a high mountain is in Matthew 4 when he is being tempted by the Devil. But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? V:33-let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the feeling of dizziness. In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross! It is the most sacred spot on earth! When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. Now would be the time to get involved in a church or Bible study. 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. But heaven will be a place of glory! 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. Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. What matters most is that you end up standing on top of it all rather than being consumed by it! Believe: What Secret Does It Hold For You Today. 3:17). The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. By adding some whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, a regular cup of warm chocolate powder in milk becomes more like a dessert. They see His Glory and they worship Him! On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. Sinai. Nighttime temperatures drop wellbelow zero, the air is razor-thin, and killer storms can strike without warning. This is my favorite source for everything Christian. 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. You will recall that Moses had to return to Mt. 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). Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 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. Sinai. Suddenly your problems dont seem like problems anymore. Heaven or Hell! 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? Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. And what does really matter in life? But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. Personally, I find waiting very hard to do. 2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will: 2. First off, there are a variety of flavors, from White Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Mint, Caramel and the list goes on. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. 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. 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! If youll notice, neither Moses nor Jesus retired on top of a mountain. And Im guessing wed have a mountaintop experience at church if we took the time to listen to each other describe our mountaintop experiences. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus! 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. 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. When the back doors of the church opened, and there. The term mountain top experience comes from those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. -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. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. mountain noun [C] (VERY LARGE HILL) A2 a raised part of the earth's surface, much larger than a hill, the top of which might be covered in snow: The Matterhorn is one of the biggest mountains in Europe. Yet we can quickly walk down off the mountain and return to normal life in the valley. 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. It actually turned out to be a good place. 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. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. Perhaps they were previously lost, or filled with anger, depression, addiction, confusion. (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. Delivered to your inbox! To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. Recommended ResourcesEasy Bible Study Method, Bold LivingFaithSpiritual GrowthDevotions, I am an author, blogger, Bible teacher, and preacher. How can we reach this mountaintop?. The valley is not what you may think. After a certain amount of time the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon a butterfly. They didn't last for years. SEE IT FOR THE FATHOMLESS MYSTERY THAT IT IS. to what Jesus says in his word. Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus! The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. Because whatever happens, God has it all in control. Philippians 4:13. Moses who represents those who die; and Elijah who represent those who are caught up and never die; will both see Jesus in his glory! 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. On that mountaintop I realized that all the problems and worries that suffocate me daily were so worldly. Both can be mountain top experiences, moments when we see God in a new way. What is your ultimate mountaintop experience? MTE's 4WD tag-along tours throughout the Victorian High Country and passenger tours around Walhalla became very popular . As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. Now suddenly, Jesus invites Peter, James, and John for an evening hike up Mt. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose. It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! After clarifying among the three who the real hillbilly is (its the one who has Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! How do we come down the mountain and begin living normal life while holding onto what weve learned? God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. 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. 17:4). Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. Think of those wonderfully cheesy G.I. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. How does a congregation go Mountain top definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary The people live in the valleys. 17:7)." Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of God. the law and the prophets. 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. Moses is a prime example of this. TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. 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). Im guessing most of us have had at least one episode in our lives wed call a mountaintop experience.