The Transforming Power of a Mountaintop
()
About this ebook
The Transforming Power of a Mountaintop explores life from the vantage point of one particular mountaintop—the Mount of Transfiguration.
Dr. Clark G. Armstrong, who has pastored four churches and overseen the planting of fourteen more during forty years of ministry, explores the significance of the transfiguration miracle in the life of Jesus, his disciples, and all Christians, including the readers of this study.
The author examines the miracle and uses it as an opportunity to ask questions such as:
• Have you experienced your own Mount of Transfiguration moment of worship?
• Why did Jesus need to be on that mountaintop?
• How did events on the mountaintop confirm Jesus is the Messiah?
Over thirty years later, Peter was still overwhelmed by what he saw on the mountaintop when he wrote about it in his second letter. What he draws the most attention to is the affirmation and endorsement of the Son by His Father. His affirmation was nearly the same as it was at Jesus’s baptism except that, at the transfiguration, the Father added the phrase “listen to him.”
Dr. Clark G. Armstrong
Dr. Clark G. Armstrong is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Director of the Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Ministry degree program for Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary located in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines. He has pastored four churches and overseen the planting of fourteen more during forty years of ministry. He has also been involved in the theological training of ministers, missionaries, communicators, and educators.
Related to The Transforming Power of a Mountaintop
Related ebooks
Transformation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStudying the Gospel of Mark: Exploring Christ, the Cross, and the Contemporary - Session 5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fulfillment of Passover: And the Timeline of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Jesus Said . . . and Didn’t Say Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne Gospel in Clear English Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCameos of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Cunningly Devised Fables: The Bible as History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeditations on the Cross Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Voice from the Heavens: God's Universe Revealed in the Holy Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Testament of Joseph Smith Jr. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThinking Rightly of Christ: What Scripture Really Says About Him-And Why it Matters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Jesus Revolution: Learning from Christ's First Followers Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Jesus Christ and His Revelation Revised and Updated: Commentary and Bible Study on the Book of Revelation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChrist Jesus the Rock: An adventure through the Old and New Testament Tracing the identification of God as "The Rock of Israel." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus: His Earthly Life in Chronological Order Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Messiah Revealed in Prophecy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnalyzing Notes in the Book of Luke: The Divine Love of Jesus Revealed: Notes in the New Testament, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Redemption and Relationship: Meditations on Exodus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus Christ the Pivot Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Significance of the Post Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bible's Amazing Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Royal Priesthood: What It Is and How It Works Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLessons from the Bible: Volume 2: Matthew-Revelation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProof The Bible Is True: Defeating the Giants or Nephilim In the Holy Land - Joshua to Job Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTransfiguration: 50 Pilgrim Steps Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus and Myth: The Gospel Account’s Two Patterns Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Son of God, the Clone of God: Solving the Mystery of "The Trinity" Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus is Calling You! You may have a calling on your life! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThrough the New Testament with Michael Green: Matthew to Revelation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind Workbook: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Transforming Power of a Mountaintop
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Transforming Power of a Mountaintop - Dr. Clark G. Armstrong
Copyright © 2022 DR. Clark G. Armstrong.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or
by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the
author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author
and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of
the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of
people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or
links contained in this book may have changed since publication and
may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those
of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,
and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are
models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission
of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
The NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered
in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
ISBN: 978-1-6642-6836-4 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-6838-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-6837-1 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022910661
WestBow Press rev. date: 07/19/2022
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1 Hos To Phos
Chapter 2 Jesus
Chapter 3 Peter
Chapter 4 Elijah
Chapter 5 What It Means When Elijah Comes On The Scene In God’s Salvation History
Chapter 6 Moses
Chapter 7 Personal Application
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Bibliography
Dedicated
to Connie
INTRODUCTION
Image1.jpgO h, the intrigue of a majestic mountain! However, I have always been afraid of heights. I know mountain climbing has appealed to many, but it was never for me. I have heard all the reasons for climbing mountains, such as the exhilaration of the view and the sense of accomplishment, and not the least of the simplistic reasons: because it was there.
But none of these has ever been able to overcome the feeling of fear (more like terror) that I had trying to cross a swinging bridge as a young boy when our family visited Lookout Mountain high above Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Our guide pointed out to us how we could see six states from that spot and that was true. Today, a marker suggests the viewer can see seven states.¹ He told us how a battle of the Civil War helped the South, who fought from the top of the mountain as the Northern troops tried to climb up and take control of it. All I thought was, Why would they fight for control of this mountain? There is nothing here but a few caves and rocks and scraggly trees! At the time of my visit, there was also a little building with a monument and some other things in it, but those weren’t there in 1863 when the battle happened.
This book is about the Mount of Transfiguration and what happened when Jesus took his three closest disciples with him and went up there. Scholars say that it probably happened on Mount Tabor (or possibly on Mount Hermon) in Israel. It had similarities with Lookout Mountain, and also differences. Mountains in Israel were considered to be safe havens against enemy attacks. However, mountains were also considered to be sacred places, and often worship of the gods happened atop these high places, where idols or altars for sacrifice were constructed.
As we explore the significance of this Transfiguration event, we will find some parallels with our opening illustration. There will be an incredible view, but it will not be so much of the surroundings as of the revelation of Christ’s preexistent glory. There will be a tremendous fear, but it will be more a fear of the Lord. There will be a desire to make a monument of remembrance for such a sacred place, but Jesus will put that into a greater perspective.
This narrative is shared in all three of the synoptic gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and is referred to in Peter’s second letter (2 Peter 1:16–18). The full story of the Transfiguration is printed below from the account given by Matthew.
Matthew 17:1–13 New International Version (NIV)
(Mark 9:2–13, Luke 9:28–36)
THE TRANSFIGURATION
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. Get up,
he said. Don’t be afraid.
When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.
The disciples asked him, Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?
Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.
Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
CHAPTER 1
HOS TO PHOS
65966.pngO ne thing about the top of most mountains is that it seems so much brighter up there. Of course, the air may be thinner, and it is probably fresher. But you are likely to be several thousand feet closer to the sun and may well be above the cloud line. In reference to that, there is a dramatic comparison of the sun to the brightness of Jesus’s appearance in the account given by the scripture writers. In the original language, it is a wonderful use of written communication.
The Greek of Matthew 17:2:
ὡς ὁ ἥλιος (hos ho helios) = like the sun
ὡς τὸ φῶς (hos to phos) = like the light
Jesus’s face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light: hos to phos. He was