Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there! Well have a better understanding of how that intense moment can fit into our everyday. MOUNTAIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary 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 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. And then there was Jesus. 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. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience. There is so much to be done here in the valley. My time in Dallas was informative and meaningful and challenging, but I would not say it was a mountaintop experience. b : an elongated ridge 2 a : a great mass a mountain of a man E. K. Brown b : a vast number or quantity a mountain of mail a mountain of debt When the Word is preached, the power and majesty of God are communicated to His people. 2. 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. The Mountaintop Experience | A Bold Christian When we read His Word, the Majestic Glory of God speaks through His Spirit. Three of Jesus disciples would no doubt put a different experience atop their list. After hearing those commandments, Moses came back down the mountain and reported to the Israelites all that God had said to him. I commit myself to daily sharing with others good things You have done for me. Just as the disciples heard the Word on the mountain (2 Pet. This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. The mountaintop transfiguration of Jesus Christ was certainly a transcendent visual experience for Peter, James, and John. Moses is a prime example of this. 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. But God also spoke, it was Gods voice. when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us. DISC Certification, Speaker Boot Camp etc. V:31-Which he would accomplish at Jerusalem. There we will walk in His paths and will be taught His ways. For instruction and revelation will come out from Mountaintop Worship Center. This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus! This looks differently for everyone, but its a step we cannot ignore. What an amazing sight! You have your hot chocolate made, playlist downloaded, movie set and books chosen. These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. Moses was not left unchanged by his time with God. For this reason, friends, its only fair to tell you that mountaintops can be dangerous places. 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. However, the truth of the matter is simply this: the mountain really is made out of a lot of stuff (both good and bad). 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. 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. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. As soon as Jesus and company reach the summit, he undergoes the mysterious process of transfiguration. But the valley experience is just as important to our Christian walk. I do not capitalize the name satan in my writing. But God never intended for us to live there. Valleys contain lakes and streams and are where rich grasses and varied types of trees grow.Therefore, ranchers take their cattle and sheep to the valley for the rich food. 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. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. Ironically, the three disciples misunderstood nearly everything about that experience as it was occurring. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) and is alluded to in Johns Gospel (John 1:14) as well as in 2 Peter 1:16-18 underscores that Peter, James, and John never forgot their trip with Jesus up on the mountain. I love life! They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they. The prophet Elijah had his share of mountaintop moments as well. God knows how our brains work and how our individual personalities respond. But Jesus explained that Elijah had already come in the ministry of John the Baptist. the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Finally, its just Moses moving to the top of Mt. Now would be the time to get involved in a church or Bible study. - the law and the, Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! 4WD Adventures - Mountain-Top Experience Branded DISC Profile Service Back Office Login (has a different login than this website). In any case, whenever something really wonderful happens to us, our excitement causes us to view it as one of lifes mountaintop experiences. Some of us may prefer to not be confronted with such a frightening voice whenever our Bibles are opened. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. 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. Those moments will hide themselves away, unsure as to their place in our routines. Peter, James, and John thought that Elijahs appearance on the mountain with Jesus that day surely was a fulfillment of prophecy. Mountain Top Experience will be re-opening on June 1, 2023. Today would Idioms: Salvation is not in a program, or a plan, but in a person-. Certainly, there is a rhythmic, ordinary nature to daily encounter with Gods Word. Mountain top removal Definition | Law Insider Moses climbing Mt. Mountain Top TV No monthly fee. Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience! Question Origin of mountaintop First recorded in 1585-95; mountain + top 1 Words nearby mountaintop , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. That is the reality of the experience of this thing we call life. Maybe it was getting married or having children. -For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13. We will recognize our loved ones and others in heaven. But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. 2023. I love to see groups of people work together and everyone succeed. Like if you take one step forward you will fall endlessly and helplessly. 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. Not sure of the resources you need for Bible study? Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. 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. as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him. , the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name. Did you notice that Joani is in a waiting period after her time on the mountain? Mountain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster We need to pray with Neil Griffith, Builder of mountains, make me like a mountain, Firm let me stand against the winds of strife; Give me a soul that reaches up to heaven, But plant my feet in needs of human life. Delivered to your inbox! It matters not that the mountain is composed of a lot of "stuff". and try to imagine what it was like went Jesus showed them His glory up on that mountain. Father of 5 (David, Jenny, Elisha, Esther, Seth). But heaven will be a place of glory! CAMIER PTY LTD HISTORY. To hear the voice of God is to be led to the mountaintop. God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about. (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. 17:4). Now, as we review Exodus 24 and Matthew 17, I want us to notice certain traits of mountaintop experiences. Some experiences are more calm and rational moments. Gratitude and the Asbury Revival | Kent Dunnington | First Things Pastor James McDonald describes the biblical mountaintop experience as one that involves your mind, emotions, and will. 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. adj. While such fear is proper, it may and must be accompanied by hearing the other mountain-voice of the transfiguration. These moments can be truly genuine and beautiful. Is what youre worried about really worth the worry? 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. 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. Don't start to rationalize it, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to some. He neither deserves the honor or respect that entails. 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. Your Promised Land Is Chosen by God for Your Freedom and Success. Here is our startling recognition: the Christian's mountaintop experience is to come in contact with the Word of God. Just as the Majestic Glory spoke on the mountain (2 Pet. The mission field proves a common place where we experience God in new ways. Copyright 2023 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Heaven will not be a place of strangers. In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross! 1:17). 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. A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., March 6, 2011. And minds that were already spinning are now completely blown. Theyre moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. 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. But then, out of nowhere, God's presence became real to them. God's benevolence stretches this description to the breaking point. All rights reserved. In those moments, do we lose the passion and the awe we once felt on top of that mountain? Still, nearly a thousand people everyyear train vigorously, pay steep fees, and make the trip to south Asia for the opportunityto enjoy an ultimate mountaintop experience. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mountain top experience. Jesus face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. I have placed you on the mountaintop for my glory in the last days.. They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! At those times, we receive revelation and teaching from God. He has it all in control. How to Use the Mountain Top Experience in the Valley Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. Taborthis time with his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. Define mountaintop. The realization that I could release control was like lifting bricks off my shoulders. That could prove dangerous and manipulative. All Rights Reserved. Jesus is the. Howdoes that experience encourage you now? 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. Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. 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! Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church625 Montgomery AvenueBryn Mawr, PA 19010(610) 525-2821. The Israelites were deeply moved by what Moses reported, and promised to obey all that they had heard. 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. There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer! The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world! But Jesus came and touched [the disciples], saying, 'Rise, and have no fear' (Matt. But make no mistake Jesus was the unrivalled son 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. One moose, two moose. Mountaintop experiences are moments where people experience a dramatic expression of faith. And if such an experience is to be sought after, how can the Christian be found on the mountaintop time and time again? Peter was hoping Jesus would settle in on the summit. the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with Gods glory. there is only one way to be saved and that is through. Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the valley where they seem to dwell most of the time. Any place be it mountaintop, retreat center, or worship service, that can change you inside out should be considered dangerous. 2. a large mass or heap; pile. Yet over time we go back to normal life. They see His Glory and they worship Him! Finally, Jesus directed the three disciples not to tell others about their experience until after His resurrection. 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. 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! This Lent, follow something deeper than identity The Father speaks from the cloud (Matt. Thats because mountaintop experience is a figure of speech that comes right out of Holy Scripture. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming. 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. 1:17), the words of Scripture are words from God as carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. But those were all just moments. Processing doesnt mean well understand each detail of our experience. Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mountaintop, Nglish: Translation of mountaintop for Spanish Speakers. 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. Mountains typically have steep slopes and are understood to be. died on Mt. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the feeling of dizziness. Then, only Moses and his associate, Joshua moved further up the mountain. Properly understood, it is something we receive just like our salvation. Or did we just respond with emotions that were not actually genuine for the long run? In Atlanta, as we met and talked and worshipped, I had a strong sense of energy and enthusiasm and knew clearly that God was saying to me, The time is right and you are ready to begin this work of listening. Whereas before, Listen to My Life sounded really interested and well-done, this time it felt truly life giving. There were many heartaches and tears shed over painful relationships with family members and close friends which were also part of the pile. 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! He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! The word, . They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience? Now this isnt to say drop everything you are doing in life because it doesnt matter. 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. The people live in the valleys. I recently heard a man say that he had worked all of his life to get to the top of his own personal mountain. Mountaintop Experience - Good Faith Media The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ! Why not begin to consider what stuff makes up your own mountain? Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. This unmediated view of the living God happened once, and only once in the Old Testament. By now, its a Christian clich: the mountaintop experience. And you will walk away changed!. These days weve been talking about the sacred rhythms of spiritual formation. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the idea of feeling miniscule. Have you been born again? First off, there are a variety of flavors, from White Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Mint, Caramel and the list goes on. If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. Perhaps it was getting our drivers license at the age of sixteen. Instead of presenting a contrast of experiences, Peter presents a parallel. If youve ever been to a mountaintop, then you are familiar with the sensation of inexplicable awe. But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS! And I find myself squirming when I read that Moses spent six days engulfed in the clouds on the top of Mt. 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. I'd love to go mountain - climbing. For that reason, even people who follow God to the mountaintop will likely find themselves waiting patiently and praying for Gods guidance for their next move. With this idea, though, one final observation must be made. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. 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. about evangelism. 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.