A Mountain-Top Experience

“A Mountain-Top Experience”

.

Do you remember the last time you experienced something so awesome, so amazing that you were stunted, thrilled, blown away? You saw something, you met someone, you experienced something so great that you have never forgot about it.

· When the back doors of the church opened, and there stood Tess in her wedding dress!

· When I saw my babies born! A Miracle!

· When my grandbabies were born!

· Spending some time with Adrian Rogers.

· Visiting the Roman Coliseum, and the catacombs.

Those are great experiences that God has given to me, and I am thankful for them.

But as great as those experiences are, there not the greatest experiences of my life. 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! I call them mountain-top experiences! A true Spiritual mountain-top experience always revolves around JESUS!

· When I met Jesus Christ and was saved!

· When God called me to preach!

· When I became pastor of this great Church.

The greatest things that have happened in my life have all been because of Jesus!

When you see Jesus for who he really is, in all of his love, grace and glory, it is a mountain-top experience! Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain; and they see His glory, they have a Mountain-Top Experience.

What is the purpose of a Mountain-top experience?

Why does God allow you to have a Mountain-top experience? From this mountain-top experience, we learn the purpose of mountain-top experiences.

1st Purpose is for you to:

1. See His Glory and Worship Him!

V:28-29.

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.

They knew a lot about Jesus; but on that mountaintop they see him for who he really is.

Herod asked about Jesus, who is this I hear such things about?

Jesus asked his disciples, who do the people say I am? Jesus asked his disciples, who do you say that I am? On this mountaintop; they’re going to see who Jesus is; they’re going to see the glory of the son of God; they’re going to hear the voice of God as he says this is my beloved son.

They would come down that mountain knowing without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus Christ was!

The disciples needed to know who Jesus was because in the days ahead they would be discouraged, disillusioned as they saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross. Jesus deity and glory would be hid; but they knew underneath his humanity, was deity. Jesus was God incognito, dressed in human flesh. Jesus wants them to know that he is the King of glory, and one day he will wear the crown; but the cross would come before the crown.

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.

Use your sanctified imagination and try to imagine what it was like went Jesus showed them His glory up on that mountain. It was a Mountain top experience, as heaven came down on that mountain. They saw things they had never seen before, they were aware of things they were never aware of before, they were in the presence of God!

It was a Mountain experience, because JESUS was there!

When is the last time you had a mountain-top experience? 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. A time when you just felt like God’s Spirit was all over you, and around you, and joy filled your heart, and you just felt like you were going to bust!

How do you respond? You respond in Worship, praise, awe, thanksgiving, tears, and joy!!

And you walk away from that experience knowing more about Jesus, more prepared to live and die for him!

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. 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. That is what happens to Peter, James and John on that mountain. They see His Glory and they worship Him! These three disciples are none as the inner circle; Jesus let them in on things the other disciples didn’t get in on.

They were the Lord’s closes friends, they were with him when he raised Jarius daughter from the dead, and they would be with him in the garden of Gethsemane.

These men where dedicated and devoted to Jesus; these three men went on to be giants of faith in the early church.

· James- Became pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and was martyred for Preaching Jesus.

· Peter- the mighty apostle of Pentecost was a great leader in the early church, crucified upside down.

· John- the last of the apostles to die, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. ()

Oh how they would need this glorious mountain top experience to encourage them and help them in the days ahead.

Their dedication and devotion to Jesus brought special blessings into their lives. Dedication to the Lord still brings special blessings into our lives!

Many people want special blessings, and mountain top experiences but they do not want to be dedicated to Jesus. But dedication to Jesus is the key to blessings. Peter, James, and John climb up this high mountain with Jesus; probably Mount. Hermon.

V:28-29 “went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistering”.

Jesus was always getting away to pray and draw strength from His father. He and his disciples went up this mountain to pray.

Every Christian needs a place to be alone and talk with the Lord. Do you have a regular place to pray?

Later in Peter’s life in when he described this mountain top experience, he called this high mountain; “The Holy Mount”.

The High Mountain became the Holy Mountain because he saw the glory of Jesus there!

Good news- our place “apart in prayer” can become a Holy place when we meet with Jesus, and he reveals himself to us.

The place of prayer is the place of power and glory. It is the most sacred spot on earth! Those who separate themselves to pray are the ones who see the Glory of Jesus!

There closeness to Jesus is connected to Prayer!

The way to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus is to spend time with him in prayer.

-“And was transfigured before them……

The word “Transfigured” is where we get our word, Metamorphosis.

We learned this word in school, a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis, that caterpillar wraps a cocoon around itself and goes through the process of change. After a certain amount of time the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon a butterfly. Metamorphosis- An outward change that comes from the inside.

When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured, it means that He became on the outside what He was on the inside. 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.

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. He was the God-Man, Immanuel- God with us! That night on the mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God that was within shined-forth through his humanity.

V:29-“the fashion of his countenance was altered…

-“His face did shine as the shine…

This was not a reflection of another light, but this was light, this glory was from within! This was the glory of God that had been veiled by his human flesh shining through. In , when Moses met with God on Mount Sinai he came down with the glory of God radiating off his face. Moses was reflecting the glory of God because he had been in the presence of God; that is something we all should do!

But Jesus was not reflecting the glory of God; He was shining out the glory of God from within. Jesus is the glory of God! Jesus is the light of the world, and when we get to heaven he will be the light.

-“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”

V:29-“his arraignment was white and glistening”.

The other gospel writers say his raiment was white as snow, as no washer on earth could make them. White in the Bible speaks of purity, absolute holiness. Jesus is the sinless, perfect, pure, holy son of God. John would later say, -“There is no darkness in him at all” He is light, Holy through and through!!

They saw for the first time the dazzling Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus is the only one to ever walk this earth who was absolutely sinless and holy!

These men NEVER forgot what they saw that night. 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.

-“we beheld his glory…

-“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter, James, and John were caught in heaven’s high beams as they saw the glory of God shining through the humanity of Jesus.

As they saw his glory:

They were seeing something from the past. This was the glory that Jesus had with his father before the world began.

They were seeing something from the present.

Jesus was fully God, in a human body.

They were seeing something from the future.

They were catching a glimpse of the glory that God would reveal in Jesus Christ in the future. After his death, would come his resurrection and exaltation! Jesus would rise in a glorified body, ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of the throne of God. And one day he would return with clouds of glory at his second coming.

2nd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will:

2. Understand His Work and Trust Him.

V:30-34.

Jesus was not alone on the mountain, two famous men from the Old Testament show up.

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”.

Why Elijah and Moses? Why not Isaiah and Jeremiah? There are several reasons.

· Both these men had talked with God on mountaintops before.

Moses on Mt. Sinai ()

Elijah on Mt. Horeb (.).

· Both had been shown God’s glory on those mountains.

· Both had famous departures from this earth.

Moses died on Mt. Nebo, and God buried him in a grave known only to God.

Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire.

· Moses was the great lawgiver.

· Elijah was the great prophet.

· Moses was the founder of Israel’s worship of God.

· Elijah was the restorer of it.

Together they represent the entire O.T. the law and the prophets. The law and prophets all meet in Jesus, they point to Jesus, and they preach Jesus. Jesus is in every book in the O.T.

Moses finally made it to the promise land!

Moses had asked to see God’s glory, and only got to see the backside of God as he passed by. But now Moses is getting to see the glory of God face-to-face, in the person of Jesus Christ.

? What were they talking to Jesus about?

-“They spoke about his decrease, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem”

There on that high mountain with the representatives of the O.T. - the law and the

Prophets; the son of God and the three great apostles of the church they are talking about the Cross! The word, “Decease” is the word- Exodus, departure.

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!

Jesus would die on the Cross, be buried in a borrowed tomb, and rise again three days later.

V:31-“Which he would accomplish at Jerusalem”

The Cross was a great accomplishment; not an accident, tragedy, disaster!

Jesus was the fulfillment of everything the Law and prophets pointed toward. He fulfilled what the sacrificial system was teaching. He fulfilled every Messianic prophecy.

We also learn something about how things will be in the next life for the saved:

· Life does not cease at death.

When your body dies, you are not annihilated. Moses and Elijah were still alive and conscience though they had left the earth hundreds of years before this.

Death moves our soul to another place, and that particular place is determined by what you do with Jesus in this life. Heaven or Hell!

· Heaven is a place of Glory.

- Moses and Elijah appeared in glory”

The saved are in glory, this life is one of suffering and humiliation for the saints. But heaven will be a place of glory! Our future includes a great change- corruption-incorruption; mortal- immortal.

· We will recognize each other in heaven.

Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John. We will recognize our loved ones and others in heaven. Heaven will not be a place of strangers.

But as great as it will be to see our loved ones, the main person we will want to see will be JESUS!

It was a great privilege to see Moses and Elijah, but Jesus was the son of God!

What an amazing sight! 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. 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! If there ever was a time for silence, this was it. Peter a man who always had something to say when nothing should be said; said:

V:33-“Jesus, master, it is good for us to be here…

It is always dangerous to say something when you don’t know what to say! It is always a good to say nothing when you don’t know what to say!

· Peter said something that was right.

V:33-“It is good to be here…

Amen, we all agree with that; to be on the mountain top in the presence of Jesus and to see His glory!

Yes it is, it is good to be in the presence of Jesus, it is good to be in good company, Moses, Elijah, James and John. It is a high point in your life when you’re with God’s people and Jesus in his glory shows up! Peter said it is good to be here. This reminds me of Church! In the presence of Jesus with the saints, talking about the Cross!

Peter said something that was right!

· Peter said something that was wrong!

V:33-“let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”.

What is wrong with this proposal?

It dishonored Jesus; it put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah! Jesus is greater than Moses, and Elijah! Hebrew tells us he is greater than all the O.T prophets! Jesus is above all men, Jesus has no Equal! The person and name of Jesus is a name that is above every name! Above: Muhammad, Buda, Knish, or any other name.

Built a tabernacle of PRAISE for Jesus alone in your heart! No one deserves worship but Jesus!

There’s only one tabernacle where God dwells, Jesus Christ! There’s only one place to meet with God; only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus!

V: 34, while Peter is still talking; God interrupts Peter’s speech. A bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud…

· What was this cloud?

This was the shekinah glory cloud, it was a manifestation of the presence of God, the form in which God revealed himself to Israel.

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night went before Israel in the wilderness.

This was the cloud which covered the Tabernacle with God’s glory.

This was the glory that came down on the temple when Solomon dedicated it.

It was the same glory cloud Ezekiel saw rise from between the cherubim and move to the threshold of the Temple because of Israel’s apostasy and then slowly rising to be seen no more from the Mount of Olives.

It had been six hundred years since anyone in Israel had seen the Shekinah glory cloud.

But as Jesus and his inner circle stood on that mountain the Shekinah glory cloud overshadowed them. The glory cloud was a sign that Jesus was God’s dwelling place on earth, Jesus was the Mercy seat, he alone provides salvation and forgiveness!

The glory cloud was the sign of God’s approval on the work that Jesus Christ had come to do; to die on the cross as a sacrifice for man’s sin, and be raised from the dead the third day. The glory of God shines the brightest with the topic of conversation is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ!

Jesus death on the cross is the topic of conversation when you have a mountaintop experience!

Do you understand that Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life; and took your sin, and died in your place that you might experience forgiveness and salvation? Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you been born again? If not, why not today?

3rd Purpose for a mountain-top experiences is that you will:

3. Hear His Word, and Obey Him.

The cloud alone would have been enough to confirm God’s presence and blessings on Jesus. But God also spoke, it was God’s voice.

God, unlike Peter knew exactly what he was talking about.

V:35-“And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son: hear him.

The voice of the father, encouraged Jesus in his preparation for the cross.

The voice of God clearly identified Jesus as his only son, his beloved son, unique one-of-a-kind son. The chosen son of God, the Savior of the world!

“Hear him!” was the command!

-“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”

Peter, James, and John were to listen to what Jesus said.

We need to listen to what Jesus says in his word. For Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.

We are to listen to no voice that contradicts his voice, his word!

Listen to Jesus, and respond as he calls you to trust him for eternal life.

Listen to Jesus when he says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Listen to Jesus when he says to love God more than anything else, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Listen to Jesus as he calls you to leave bitterness behind, and to forgive and find joy.

Listen to Jesus as he tells you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him.

Listening to Jesus means obeying Jesus!

Jesus gives us his word that we might obey it, put it to practice in our lives, and live it out every day!

DL Moody said, “every Bible should be bound and shoe leather”.

Listening implies obedience!

V:36-“And when the voice was passed, Jesus was found alone…

The shekinah glory cloud was gone. Jesus’ skin and clothing no longer glowed. Moses and Elijah had disappeared, the voice of the Father was silent, and the three disciples saw only Jesus!

This is what all our experiences, all our theology, all our work should come to; bring is to the place to see Jesus!

V:36-“Jesus was found alone”

Jesus only for salvation:

The Bible does not teach:

Universalism- everybody is going to be saved.

Pluralism- there are many ways to be saved.

The Bible teaches- Exclusivism- there is only one way to be saved and that is through JESUS!

The sum total of the Christian life is listening to and doing what Jesus says. Christianity is living a life of obedience to Jesus!

Salvation is not in a program, or a plan, but in a person-Jesus only.

The Bible is about Jesus only!

Prophecy is not about a happening, an event, is about a person, Jesus only!

The church exist for Jesus only!

This mountaintop experience takes place during a time of prayer! 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. And you will walk away changed!!