Climb Series

I. Introduction

I know ladders are not uncommon or awe inspiring. They are simply an everyday tool that we use to reach heights that we would otherwise be unable to reach. So, there is nothing really mind blowing about that. However, because they are so common and because most of you have used a ladder at some point in your life it would seem that it would be unnecessary to talk about ladder lessons. But then this . . .

I won't tell you who did this, but I will tell you that his name starts with an An and ends in a Drew. Pastor Andrew has been grounded for life . . . literally. He has been grounded by me and more importantly by Jess. 7 days before a wedding. It is a blessing from God that Drew is as tall as he is because if he wasn't, then he would never be able to reach anything because he is not allowed to even look at a ladder longingly! We have learned 3 ladder lessons so far. Let's jump into ladder lesson 4.

Ladder Lesson 4: To go up, you have to move up.

This sounds fundamental and obvious. But how many people do you know that want the benefits that are found only at higher levels who will never make any move to go up to get to the higher levels. This applies in so many areas of our spiritual walk. We want the benefits of a more powerful relationship with God but make no moves up. No more time spent in devotions. No more time spent in His Word. We want the benefits of a healthy body, but we make no moves up. No more exercise. No more diligence in eating habits. Want the benefits of being applauded but make no move up. We won't practice an extra 15 minutes a day. We won't take advantage of opportunities for coaching. So, I know this sounds basic, but I have discovered that too many of us want to stand on the bottom rung of our devotional life, our physical health, our talent and long for the upper levels and yet we refuse to move up. To go up you have to move up!

I told you last week I was trying to measure and test your level of spiritual maturity so let's get into this and see if you can make this leap with me. Because the one area I see this ladder lesson more glaringly true than any other area is in the area of our finances. I watch as people quote and claim all the passages of Scripture in hopes and belief that they are going to obtain the highest level of blessings even though they never move off of the lowest rung of obedience and sacrifice in their giving. We are quoting and claiming top level scriptures from low level places. Increase is linked to increase. Sowing and reaping still applies today!

Let me see if I can help you today. My goal is to get you to this level of blessing. However, you can't get this level of blessing from down here!

Paul encouraged the church in Corinthians in this area as well. Listen to what he says . . .

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:7 (TPT)

You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity.

In another version he says . . . I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

He says this group of people has excelled in faith, preaching revelation, knowledge, devotion and in love Now, he is literally pushing them to climb in their giving. To graduate to a level of generosity that they haven't yet obtained.

He recognized that in order to be blessed at the highest levels. To get the best that God has for us we must be a people that are moving upward in generosity.

Paul addressed this in Philemon's life. He said to him . . . Philemon 1:6 - "And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ."

In other words, Paul is literally telling Philemon that when we stay on the bottom rungs of generosity, we reveal lack of faith. We are in essence saying we don't trust God to produce higher levels of blessings and so we aren't sure He will take care of us if we climb higher.

So, let me help you start the climb.

I believe there are three level on this ladder that we need to see and also evaluate where we are. We need to ask ourselves honestly are we excelling in generosity?