Part 3 of John After the Mountaintop

John 6:1-3 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

John 6:14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."

John 6:22 The next day the crowd...

The mountaintop is... 1.The place we can visit but can’t stay. It’s not usually where we minister The mountaintop is about what we get from God. The valley is about what we give to God. Oswald Chambers’ wisdom

John 6:22, 6:25 –27 The next day the crowd... found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

John 6:51-53 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

The mountaintop is The place we can visit but can’t stay. 2. Used by God to call us to a higher level of sacrifice.

John 6:41-42 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."

John 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

The mountaintop is The place we can visit but can’t stay. 2. Used by God to call us to a higher level of sacrifice. 3. The catalyst for a Crisis of Faith. (We’re challenged by Satan, Sin or self).

Self It starts with (internal/external) grumbling. Grumbling degenerates into a refusal to accept the tough teachings of Christ.

Satan and Sin Satan often attacks after a mountaintop experience/great victory. The most profound [challenging] thing in a person is his will, not sin. Oswald Chambers

John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

The mountaintop is The place we can visit but can’t stay. 2. Used by God to call us to a higher level of sacrifice. 3. The catalyst for a Crisis of Faith. (We’re challenged by Satan, Sin or self). 4. Where we make the decision to “go” (leave) or “grow”. 5. Not the defining moment of our lives.

The mountaintop experience is not the goal. The goal is being brought closer to God and changed lives.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The questions we need to ask ourselves after a mountaintop experience are: Why did this happen? What’s next?