2023. 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. You feel overcome by a greater awareness of Gods reality. Mountaintop. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/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! 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. The voice of the father, encouraged Jesus in his preparation for the cross. 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. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. Maybe it was getting married or having children.
About Us - Mountain-Top Experience When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. 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. On one particular hike, the sun was setting, the warm air brushed against me, and the silence engulfed me. Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy! Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. We cant leave them behind us. I suddenly gained a perspective about life I had never had up until that moment. Our moments with God shouldnt remain hidden in the past. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. Jesus skin and clothing no longer glowed. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. 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. We must take what weve learned and processed, allowing it to change us. 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.. One of the principles of listening to God speak through scripture is that you should notice what causes you to resist as well as resonate. Philippians 4:13. I would classify Atlanta as a mountaintop experience. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! V:29-the fashion of his countenance was altered, a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! Thats because mountaintop experience is a figure of speech that comes right out of Holy Scripture. He has performed miracle after miracle and, in that mountaintop experience, my blinded eyes were healed. Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. those moments in the Bible when God revealed Himself to people on a mountain. They didnt last for years. It is interesting to imagine what it would be like to staff other peoples mountain top experiences. It also known valleys are quiet places of rest and peace. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. 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. 1. a natural elevation of land rising more or less abruptly to a summit, and attaining an altitude greater than that of a hill. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. Because whatever happens, God has it all in control. 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'. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside. That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!! Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later. And Im guessing wed have a mountaintop experience at church if we took the time to listen to each other describe our mountaintop experiences. 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. But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. The only way to properly do this is to be comfortable, because why relax when you could relax? , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. Thats why he wanted to build dwellings or booths on top of Mt. 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. from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him! It actually turned out to be a good place. It is regularly updated with the latest 4WD developments, and with amusing anecdotes and stories . As the transfiguration reveals, the voice of Majestic Glory in the Word is a fearful thing. The "deeper something" comes when one takes the divine voice as a motivation to trust in God during the hardships on the journey. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. No wonder Peter fell to his face. This is the walk all . I have established you on the mountaintop. Worrying about finances doesnt measure up to what really matters in life. The Holy Spirit really works through the sacrament of baptism. And suddenly, it appears like what we experienced was just an emotional reaction crafted by the situation at hand. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. 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. Heres another rhythm to add to the listcoming up the mountain to be with God; then going down the mountain to serve Gods people. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. And we forget the promises we made to our Holy God in the midst of that mountain top experience. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. What an amazing sight! 4. of or pertaining to mountains. Enjoy the teamwork of tackling 4WD challenges, being part of caring community and learning about history and nature as we travel. The High Mountain became the Holy Mountain because he saw the glory of Jesus there! And as we immerse our lives in the majestic glory of the Word of God, we never need to. 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. Just as Christ shone before the disciples in radiant majesty (2 Pet. We forget what it felt like to trust God while on the mission field. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. Both had been shown Gods glory on those mountains. 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. 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 soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. 5. living, growing, or located in the mountains. 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. Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. Youve never seen something so beautiful and peaceful. Mixed in with all of that were some great memories and wonderful times of happiness, too. We know how important it is to feed our faith and build our knowledge through reading Christian books. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! You come down from the mountaintop ready for a changed life. 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. Notice, too, that mountaintops offer a perfect setting for life-changing transformation. Upon seeing Jesus shining as the sun, Peter offers a surprisingly casual and perhaps clueless initial response. We stayed just outside the park, in full view of the snow-topped mountain range. They didn't last for years. The valley is not what you may think.
Mountain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Jesus is dazzling glory is talking to Moses who had been dead over fourteen hundred years and to Elijah who had been gone about nine hundred. (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. We cant disqualify a mountain top experience as just an emotional reaction.
Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory! The question is, will you enter into that change as you walk down the mountain into the valley? There are several reasons. Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives! From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences. The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! 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. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? 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". Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. How do you respond? First, unlike other benefactors, God is unwaveringly benevolent. 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. For after the disciples fall in fear, the Divine Voice speaks again on the mountain. I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. Afterwards, we go back into the valleys where we live our lives. Yes it was temporary eclipsed by the cross, but they remember it after the resurrection and they spoke about it for the rest of their lives. When is the last time you had a mountain-top experience? He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. Full kitchen, with cookware and dinnerware, dishwasher, microwave, stove/oven, full fridge, coffeemaker. 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).
Mountain top definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 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. Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast & Goodbye to Jack Liskey! Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the roof of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. Now for the Lords prophetic word: This is what the Lord is saying to the people of Mountaintop Worship Center. The Cross was a great accomplishment; not an accident, tragedy, disaster! But never forget that it is a rhythmic, ordinary encounter with the Majestic Voice of God speaking in His Word. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? Though it had not been easy, it had all been well worth the journey to get to where he wanted to be in life. Apart from Jesus they fail miserably in dealing with the demon. In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences.
The Danger of the Mountain Top Experience - Youth Ministry Cable TV and high speed internet. V:31-Which he would accomplish at Jerusalem. Did we really experience change? It is on the mountaintop we receive revelation from God, and it is where we often experience the tangible, felt presence of God. 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. For once weve faced them head on, then well have a better understanding of what to do next. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! This passage in Isaiah carries a prophetic word for Mountaintop Worship Center. Thousands of people would say the answer is to stand on the "roof of the world," the summit of Mount Everest. There will be times of recognition, success, fun, laughter, happiness, financial success and many wonderful experiences together with family and friends. 1:19). When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. All rights reserved.
Mountain-top - definition of mountain-top by The Free Dictionary Yet over time we go back to normal life. TheLordwill keepyour going out and your cominginfrom this time on and for evermore. 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. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. Tabor. Yes, I was on a literal mountaintop, but I am talking about a biblical mountaintop experience. Define mountaintop. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. TheLordis your keeper;theLordis your shade at your right hand. Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about? Heaven will not be a place of strangers. I thought about all the ways God had provided up until that day and I felt like a fool. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. Now would be the time to get involved in a church or Bible study. 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. I recently heard a man say that he had worked all of his life to get to the top of his own personal mountain. One trait that gets very little press is that mountain top experiences often involve waiting. For six days Moses lingered in the cloud of God at the top of the mountain. I wasnt so eager to leave the mountaintop. 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. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son of God. Accessed 4 Mar. Build a pillow fort on your bed in any clear space using four chairs, an abundance of blankets and all the pillows you can find. Of course, except for Jesus, even people who undergo mountaintop transformations remain flawed. 17:5), and Peter and the disciples fall to their faces (17:6). But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. As Christians, when we know what we have, we never want to leave the mountain of God. Moses and company obeyed, hiking to the foot of the mountain where an astonishing thing happened: they saw the God of Israel, and they lived to talk about it! They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was! Jesus was always getting away to pray and draw strength from His father. Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before. Branded DISC Profile Service Back Office Login (has a different login than this website). Joe cartoons from the 80's that said, " Knowing is half the battle! These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. After a certain amount of time the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon a butterfly. 1:20). And you will walk away changed!. 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. 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).
Mountain Top The shekinah glory cloud was gone. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. 6. resembling or suggesting a mountain, as in size. 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. 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. Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do! This reminds me of Church! The mountain top experience was a sanctuary, and a challenge. All Rights Reserved. It doesnt mean well have an answer to every question we faced on the mountain top. The distinction between the two is clear (now).
Mountaintop Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster My belief is the valley is as good as the mountaintop and just as important to our spiritual growth. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. On the Mountain of Transfiguration it looks like things happen in a hurry. Our God is an awesome God, and He loves to come to us in ways He knows will change us.
4WD Adventures - Mountain-Top Experience But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! Moses is a prime example of this. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. every Bible should be bound and shoe leather. As Christians, we long for experiences of the transcendent that we believe will forever change our perspective on life. But what, biblically speaking, is a mountaintop experience? Sinai. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821. Peter, James, and John were transformed by the transfigured Christ. So what next? Things may not be the way you want them to be right now, but as long as you do the next right thing and move in a positive direction, you will continue to learn and grow. Stick with that original version of your mountain-top experience--the way you have experienced God. 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. Appropriately enough, both Moses and Elijah, the greatest lawgiver and the greatest prophet, show up to talk with Jesus. 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. If the bible is any guide, theres no better place to meet the divine than on or around a mountain. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. 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.
Soaking in the memory of what God revealed to us on the mountain will remind us of our purpose in the valley. Peter, James, and John thought that Elijahs appearance on the mountain with Jesus that day surely was a fulfillment of prophecy. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. 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. The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. He talked about the struggles and challenges he had faced both personally and professionally. Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will.
Living Your Mountaintop Experience Everyday - Spiritually Hungry But as Jesus might say, We cant work effectively for God in the valley until we have been transformed spiritually with God 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. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. Then in Matthew 17, Jesus is once again climbing a mountaintradition says it's Mt. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. The speaker concludes talking with an invitation to come to the altar and lay your burdens down at the feet of Jesus. You are a stumbling block to me. Jesus recognized the voice of the Evil One again, this time speaking through Peter, and he told him to back off. This past week I attended a two day conference in Atlanta for facilitators of a program called Listen to Your Life. This past summer I worked every day in a place surrounded by mountains. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! Whoever has ears, let them hear. The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. 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. -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. Here at Mountaintop Worship Center, we spend every Sunday and Wednesday on the mountaintop. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. Peter said it is good to be here. 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. I love life! 1:21). Our job is to share Gods reconciliation with them and bring them to the mountaintop for their own personal experience with God. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places.