The Mountain is symbolic: It speaks to us of the place and the characteristics of prayer in the life of the believer
In the gospels alone this story appears 3 separate times (Lu 9:28 Mat 17:1 Mk 9:2)
also In the book of exodus there is the story of Moses on the mountain with the rod of God in his hand with his hands raised to heaven, while Joshua carried on the battle in the valley (as long as his hands were raised the battle went for Israel but when his hands dropped the enemy prevailed.
Every believer needs to understand the meaning and purpose of the mountain In their lives,
We should at all times maintain the spirit and the attitude of Prayer,
but it is on the mountain that this prayer life is birthed, and on the mountain is energized from time to time.
#1 On the Mountain of prayer: the heart and the mind receive an ability to see things from Gods perspective, (Big problems become small when viewed from the prayer perspective of the mountain).
#2 The air is cleaner, clearer,: Above the smog, the pollutants, and the agitates = pollen, mold, ragweed, etc. (spiritualize that) = above the little things that irritate us, and try to steal our peace).
#3 On the Mountain it’s quiet: It’s the place of solitude where we still ourselves, and tune our ear to the masters voice, (Once we have learned his voice on the mountain alone we can recognize it in the busy routines of life above the clatter of the crowd.
#4 From the mountain: we get glimpses of future glory, snapshots of destiny.
God took Moses to the mountain and gave him a snapshot of what was to come, even though he didn’t get to go in, from the mountain he saw where they were going before they got there. (Moses saw where God was Leading).
#5 The Mountain is the place of Spiritual Warfare: Jesus knew the real battle was a spiritual one, The mature believer knows that the real battle is not with flesh and blood, not with what he can see, or hear, or feel on the sense level, but with principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in heavenly (high) places.
(Through prayer we enter this higher realm of the spirit and conduct spiritual warfare).
#6 On the mountain of Prayer we connect with Gods plan: As Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the mountain, it connected him with the ministry of the Law and the Prophets.
(So many had determined that it was either Jesus or the law and the prophets, they saw them as opposed to each other).
On the mountain of prayer God shows us how things can fit together, and work together for his glory.
Jesus Said:
Matt 5:14 –16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
#1 A city on a hill = Stationary, stable, visible from a distance, Many lights in unity.
#2 A candle on a candlestick = Portable, movable, = (carry to the darkness)
Ac 20:8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
Eutychus fell from the window on the third story to the street, and was taken up dead,
(so there was light in the upper chamber but darkness in the street, Life in the upper chamber but death in the street.
Peace and Joy in the upper chamber but sorrow and mourning and despair in the street.
Paul left the upper chamber and went down to this dead young man in the street and fell upon him and his life returned to him.
Here is where we discover what the mountain is really all about, It’s the place of preparation for the work in the valley, It’s the place where we receive from God so that we can impart it to others,
We cannot expect the dead to climb up three stories to receive life, ( like Paul someone has to come down, leave their comfortable surroundings, leave the environment of many lights) and take the light into the darkness.
#1 Jesus came down when he left his heaven of light, and peace, and Joy, and came to a world of sin sickness, sorrow, disease and death.
#2 Paul went down and fell on the young man, (Light left the upper room and went into the darkness of midnight). Life went looking for the dead.
#3 Remember the woman who lost One of her coins, (She lit a candle and searched diligently until she had found it). Then called all of her neighbors to rejoice with her because she had found her lost coin.
Lu 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
We thank God for the mountain, We must have the reality of the mountain top in the presence of God.
But Christians tend to adopt a mountain top mentality and attitude ( we tend to want to stay where it’s safe, in a comfortable controlled environment, surrounded by others that are just like us. (Many lights in the upper chamber)
It’s good for us to be here, ( Peter was saying it’s better for us to be up here together, in this wonderful heavenly controlled environment ) let us build 3 tabernacles and just stay here on the mountain.
What Peter spoke foolishly, and selfishly, and fearfully, has almost become the normal for the church of our day,
We have built our churches, and our denominations, and we have forgotten why we came to the mountain.
The mountain was not so Jesus could escape the people, but so he could be better-equipped and prepared to minister to them.
Lets go to the mountain, lets ask for some powerful mountain top revelations, lets stand in his presence and bask in his glory, and then lets do what Moses did, he brought the glory down.
He didn’t stay up on the mountain, and he didn’t leave it up on the mountain, he brought it to the people, (The glory shone on his face as he spoke with them).
