For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

This morning in our text I note that the Lord has used an analogy about coming to a Mountain. I think that is very significant. In the land of Israel there are many mountains. In fact…

Israel is a land noted for it's Hills and Mountains…. We read in…

Deuteronomy 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:

Ezekiel 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

This morning, though, I want to go on a tour of Israel. I want to visit some of these Mountain Tops. I don't want to tour as a site seer' but rather as a Pilgrim or a Seeker. 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims….. This morning I want to ask you to be a stranger or a pilgim for a few moments..

I want to take you on a Must see tour of Israel and I want to view a few mountains.

You that you can not go any further on the tour if you don't stop at Sinai. Modern tourist don't really want to stop here, and if they do stop they don't stop long enough.

This mountain is a famous place in Israel. Yet, Mt. Sinai isn't that pleasant, so folks want to avoid it. The Children of Israel encamped for about a whole year here. Their journey from the Red Sea to this encampment, including all the windings of the route, was about 150 miles. The last twenty-two chapters of Exodus, together with the whole of Leviticus and Num. 1 contain a record of all the transactions which occurred while they were here. At this time a spirit of discontent broke out amongst them, and the Lord manifested his displeasure by a fire which fell on the encampment and inflicted injury on them.

In our Text this mountain was refered too; Heb. 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; THAT THOU MAYEST TEACH THEM.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

At this mountain we get taught that we are lost. Many want to skip this mountain

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster..

1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

You can go no further as a seeker until you stop and learn at Sinai. Why? Because we are Sinners in the sight of God!

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Mt. Calvary, or Golgotha is a little knoll rounded like a bare skull Where Jesus was crucified. The is nothing fancy about this mountain. Perhaps that is why is it missed by so many.

Mt. Sinai will lead you to this hill! You come to this hill because you can not maintain the crest of Sinai.

At this hill the Price of our Redemption was paid! 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

As easy a hill as Calvary is to climb, so many turn away because the want a Sinai to climb.

I Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

6b. Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

This peak reaches to the height of about 9,200 feet above the Mediterranean. It marks the north boundary of Palestine and is seen from a great distance. It is about 40 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It is one of the most conspicuous mountains in Palestine or Syria.

Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Peter never got over the experience of this mountain. But note that not all the disciples got to go here!

2 Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

The word "transfigured", used to discribe what happened to the Lord is "metamorphoo" {met-am-or-fo'-o} - It means to change into another form, to transform, to.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When a person Gets saved… they become new. Old things pass away. Some folks can never be led from the mire, or the vomit, why? Because the Dog will always return to his Vomit! And the Hog will will always return to his Mire! But wait a minute. Surely the new birth has a lot to do with this transformation but what about

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Note Romans 12:2 says this takes place when you renew your mind.

This tranformation comes from close communion with the Lord!

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Carmel - It is 1,728 feet high. It was here, at the east end of the ridge, at a place called el-Mukhrakah (i.e., the place of burning), that Elijah brought back the people to their allegiance to God, and slew the prophets of Baal #1Ki 18:1ff. Here were consumed the "fifties" of the royal guard; and here also Elisha received the visit of the bereaved mother whose son was restored by him to life #2Ki 4:25-37 The head of the bride in #So 7:5 is compared to Carmel.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

We live in a wicked hour.. There are a lot of fights for Christians to be fighting..

I've seen a lot of Christians criticize The Dirty Draft Dodgers who wouldn't stand up and fight when called upon, but that same crowd can't be found to stand upon Mt. Carmel and Fight the Good Fight of Faith! God Help US!

A mountain in the land of Moab from which Moses looked for the first and the last time on the Promised Land. We read of Moses experience here in Deuteronomy 32:49 "Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:"

It is about 2,643 feet in height, but from its position it commands a view of Western Palestine. Close below it are the plains of Moab, where Balaam, and afterwards Moses, saw the tents of Israel spread along.

We need to come here and get a look at What God has prepared for us.

Let's go back to where we started this morning.. Heb. 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.