Climbing Higher

Spruce Knob

- Tallest mountain in WV

- Height 4,863 ft., .9 miles above sea level

- 5 mile drive to the top

- Half mile handicap trail along it’s rim

- You can see about 50 miles

- Just need an afternoon to enjoy the trip

Mt. Everest

- Tallest mountain in the world

- Height: 29,028 feet, or 5 ½ miles above sea level.

- You need to allow 10 weeks according to Berg climbing group

- Cost to climb $26,000-$65,000

- You can see over 200 miles.

- 4,000 people have attempted to climb it

- 660 people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest:

- 142 people have died trying to climb Mt. Everest:

- YouTube gives you a virtual conquest of the summit in 1:35

- We want an easy climb with little effort, or cost

- Others who have climbed

- Ge. 22:2 - Mount Moriah was where Abraham took his son

• There God provided a ram

• Later called Mt. Zion the site of the temple

• Mt. Zion meaning Defense, Fortress, Protection

• Ps 132:13-14 Where God dwelt

- Ex 343:29 - Mt. Sinai – Moses receives the law & his face shone

- De 34:1, 4 - Mt. Pisgah Moses sees the land

- Mt 17;1-7 - Jesus is transfigured

- Jn 19:17 - Golgotha, (Aramaic is used in NIV, ESV, NET), meaning mount of execution

- Mt. 28:16-20 – Jesus give the Great commission

Jer. 3:6 – Mountains used for idolatrous worship

PSALM 24:3-6

Psalm 22 we have the Lord's sorrowful descent to man.

Psalm 24 is man's climb to the Lord.

I. The Aim.

v. 3 - "The hill of the Lord... His holy place."

- Jesus climbed the mount & mounted the cross to make a way

- The highest ambition of the soul should be the fellowship of God

- The aim is His glory

II. The Approach.

v.3 - "Who shall ascend?"

- The way of sin and impurity is downward

- The way of holiness is ever upward.

- No one can climb this hill without having their lives changed

III. The Adventure.

v. 4 - Four commitments of this hill-climber are given:

• Actions

• Thoughts

• Motives

• Words

1. His HANDS must be clean. "He that hath clean hands."

ACTIONS

Isaiah 55:7 (AV)

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

- The laver stood outside the door of the tabernacle, at which the

approaching priest must wash his hands.

2. His HEART must be pure

THOUGHTS

- Holiness has to do with the heart,

- Without holiness no man shall see the Lord

Matthew 5:8 (AV)

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Romans 10:10 (AV)

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

3. His SOUL must be humble.

MOTIVES

"Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity. "

- When pride, gets into the soul, this is the end to growth

- 1 Pe 5:5 …. be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud,

and giveth grace to the humble.

- My only motive is to be submissive to the the will of God

4. His WORDS must be true

“nor sworn deceitfully”

Deceit ,lies, exaggeration & boasting

- Satan Ge. 3;5 - The first lie brought us into bondage of sin

- We are outraged when we find that we have been lied too

Proverbs 12:22 (AV)

22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

IV. The Attainment.

v.5 - "He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. "

The blessing of perfect rightness with God is a crown of life within the reach of every spiritual pilgrim. The blessing of the Lord embodies every needful and desirable thing.

V. The Application.

v.6 - "This is the generation of them that seek Him"

- This is the character the attitude of the seeker

- These are the marks of the children of God

- The reward promised twice v. 7, 9 “The King of Glory”

Psalm 121:1–2 (AV)

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.