David Diga Hernandez - Ascending the Mountain of Glory

The Scriptures tell us that the children of Israel knew God’s actions, but Moses knew His ways. The children of Israel judged God by what He did; Moses knew God for who He was. Moses was often called to the top of the mountain to fellowship face-to-face with God. He was invited to know the depths of God’s glory. The mountain was a place of seclusion; it was a place of disconnection from the valley. God would call Moses to the mountain that he might disconnect from the responsibilities he held in the valley while leading the people of Israel. The mountain represents a long time with God; it represents the privacy of prayer. We see that Moses was invited to the mountain in Exodus, chapter 24. I am going to begin reading at verse 12. Watch this: then the Lord said to Moses, «Come up to me on the mountain; stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands, so you can teach the people.» First and foremost, we see that when God called Moses to the mountaintop, He gave him revelation. It is in the place of seclusion with God, it is on the mountaintop that the believer receives revelation by the Holy Spirit. Continuing to read now, verse 13: so Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God. Often, you and I, when we’re praying, might feel like we’re climbing, like we’re fighting. Now, while I don’t necessarily believe in this idea of desperation—because you and I aren’t desperate, we’re positioned in Christ—I do believe that there is something to discipline in prayer. We must choose to climb the mountain, and God will meet us there. The reality is that God has given all believers this invitation to know Him fully—this invitation to know His glory, this invitation to ascend to higher places in the spirit. God has given that invitation to you, but you must climb the mountain. You must make the decision to disconnect from the problems of the valley; you must make the decision to disconnect from worldly distractions so that God might speak to you. Again, I understand that prayer is by the Holy Spirit; I understand that the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us pray, who gives us the desire to pray, and who leads us when we pray. But there is also an aspect of discipline that the believer must have if he or she is to develop a lifestyle of mountaintop prayer. Verse 14: Moses told the elders, «Stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while I am gone, consult with them.» Moses told the people to wait; he told the people who usually would interact with him to wait. Moses had to make an intentional decision to tell those around him, «I cannot be disturbed when I am on the top of the mountain. You cannot go with me when I go into the place of seclusion.» Those of you who have spouses, those of you who have children—all of us who have friends, family, and church family—we must recognize that there are moments when we need to tell even our closest loved ones, «I cannot be disturbed. You can’t come with me to the mountaintop.» You know, I love my wife; I love my daughter; I love my friends. But when it’s time for me to seek the face of God, my wife knows to leave me alone; my wife knows to make sure my little Aria doesn’t wander into the place where I’m praying. My friends—I don’t even tell them anything; I just turn my phone off. You have to make the same decision when you go to the mountaintop! When you go to the mountain of glory, you must tell your loved ones, your acquaintances, those who pull on you for various things—you must make it clear to all that you’re going to the mountaintop alone and they can’t go with you. Verse 15: then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. There we see the partnership of God and man, the partnership that is prayer. Moses climbed the mountain, and God covered it in His glory. You must make the time to pray, and God will reveal His presence there. Verse 16: and the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Now, watch this! Verse 18: then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. We must take time to ascend the mountain of glory. We must become people of the mountaintop, for God has given the invitation to all believers; though few respond. If you want to be able to handle the issues and trials of the valley, then you must become a man or a woman of the mountaintop, so to speak. You must become a mountain man or a mountain woman. And no, I’m not talking about being one with nature or being someone who knows how to camp or survive in the wild. I’m talking about being a person of the mountaintop, being someone who makes a lifestyle of visitation with God—not just visitation but residence, continual fellowship. We understand that the presence of God abides in us and that He goes with us everywhere we go, but we also understand that there are times we must set aside for prayer.