QUIT AVOIDING THE MOUNTAINS!
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF MOUNTAINS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. ABRAHAM HAD A NEPHEW THAT DID NOT LIKE MOUNTAINS.
GOD COMMANDED LOT TO FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS. LOT HAD EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK TO AVOID HIS MOUNTAIN CLIMB.
A. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!
This plan may not be an easy, downhill journey.
The stronger your faith, the steeper the hill will be to test it.
Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
B. I call Lot poor Lot.
Lot found himself at many cross roads, and then he made the POOR choices.
Poor choices have terrible consequences.
Lot chose Sodom and Gomorrah. He pitched his tent the wrong way.
C. Lot’s wife, daughters, and grandchildren will pay because Lot does not want to CLIMB MOUNTAINS.
D. Have you ever heard:
Behind every good man is a surprised mother in law?
E. MOUNTAINS CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN GOD’S PURPOSE IN LIFE.
If we ever move toward total understanding of our fellow man and a good understanding of God --- we must learn to climb mountains.
F. WE NEED A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING OF MOUNTAINS.
KJV
Psalm 121:1 A Song of degrees. 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.
NIV
Psalm 121:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
G. DEFINE:
MOUNTAIN
A land mass that projects conspicuously above the surrounding area.
A mountain is higher or bigger than a hill.
A great mass
A vast number or big quantity
Anything that hard to approach or climb
To arise, to ascend
To increase rapidly
H. The difference between a mountain and a molehill is:
HOW MUCH DIRT IS THROWN.
I. If you throw mud, you are the one losing ground.
J. I heard that a hundred years ago, when the master builder was looking for wood to build a fine violin he wanted wood from trees that grew on the side of a mountain. These trees knew a more harsh climate and
had weathered more terrible storms. Thus the wood made better violins.
Better violins meant better sounds and more money for the craftsmen.
II. HOW SHALL WE APPROACH MOUNTAINS?
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and
it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
III. MOUNT OF GOD: MOUNT SINAI OR HOREB --- DESOLATION.
WE MUST ALL CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN.
Psalm 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
A. SINAI --- a mountain district
Mount Sinai was reached three months after the Exodus
B. There is about a 2 1/2 mile desert before you reach Mt. Sinai.
There was a cliff area high above the ground that was used as an altar.
C. MOSES FIRST ASCENSION OF MT SINAI WAS TO MEET GOD.
HERE ON THIS MOUNTAIN GOD GAVE MOSES THE FIRST COVANENT. (Exodus 19)
D. God appeared on the mountain and gave the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
GOD ALSO PROMISED HIS PEOPLE A GREAT CONQUEST AND VICTORY FROM THIS MOUNTAIN.
E. BLOOD WAS SPRINKLED ON THIS MOUNTAIN.
(Exodus 24:6-8)
F. The blood became the offering system.
G. God gave VISIONS TO THE LEADERSHIP AT THIS MOUNTAIN.
(Exodus 24:9-11)
H. While Moses ascended the mountain a second time, God appeared on the mountain and gave the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I. Moses came down the mountain to find sin and idolatry, and God’s departure from the people.
J. ON MOSES THIRD ASCENT GOD’S PRESENCE IS RESTORED AND GOD GIVES MOSES A NEW VISION AND THE SECOND TABLET OF THE LAW.
K. A great change occurred over God’s people at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
They now have a covenant and are an organized nation that vowed to serve the Lord their God.
L. AT THE FOOT OF THIS MOUNTAIN GOD DESTROYS THE COMPLAINERS AND MURMURERS AGAINST MOSES AND GOD. (Num. 11:1-3)
M. In 1844 Dr. Tischendorf found 43 parchment leaves and a copy of the New Testament in Greek which he deposited in the University Library of Leipsic on Mt. Sinai.
N. MOUNT SINAI IS A TYPE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT --- LIKE HAGAR, THE FLESH, THE OLD LAW.
SLAVERY -- BONDAGE
(Gal. 4:24-- 26)
O. THE CLOUD OF MT. SINAI IS A SYMBOL OF GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S COVERING --- SHECHINAH
TRANSITORY
IV. MOUNT MORIAH --- THE MOUNTAIN OF TRUST AND FAITH.
THIS IS THE MOUNT AROUND JERUSALEM, SALEM, ZION, THE CITY OF GOD. THE FOUNDATION OR POSSESSION OF PEACE.
WE MUST CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN.
A. Over the hill experience... I heard missionaries Bob and Dee Anderson talk of the OVER THE HILL EXPERIENCE. As they approached Jerusalem
and topped the mount there, they just started crying in the presence of God.
Through the years they took many people to the top of Mount Moriah and they always had this OVER THE HILL EXPERIENCE.
B. ABRAHAM AND HIS SON ISAAC CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN.
Abraham preached a sermon: God will provide the lamb here. (Gen. 22:2)
Abraham’s faith withstood the test of Moriah.
GOD CONFIRMED HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND ISAAC ON MORIAH.
C. Today the DOME OF THE ROCK sits here.
Moriah stands atop the highest table land in Palestine, 20 to 25 geographical miles.
There are deep and dangerous ravines around her.
D. SOLOMON BUILT THE TEMPLE ON THIS MOUNTAIN.
V. THE MOUNT CARMEL: GO AGAIN! NEW LIFE AND NEW HOPE.
MOUNTAIN OF MIRACLES --- TRUE WORSHIP AND PRAISE.
This lesson must be learned and applied today!
A. There are howling graveyards of sand all around Carmel.
It is known as Miracles of miracles mountain.
Great oasis in a dry place.
A place of spiritual development and growth.
B. THE HIGHEST PART IS 1,728 FEET
Caleb claimed his part near this mountain.
C. Elijah the man of like passions!
Six times it was said go again...
The prophet and his servant wrestle with God on top of Mt. Carmel.
Repeated disappointments and hurts --- GO AGAIN.
D. It was on Mount Carmel Elijah brought back the heart of God’s people to God.
E. 450 prophets of Baal were destroyed here. (I Kings 18)
F. There had been a deadly drought, new life and new hope were birthed on Carmel.
G. It was on Mount Carmel that Elisha received the visit of the Shuminate woman when her son died with the headache.
It was harvest time and the family needed their son.
H. The eastern side of Mount Carmel is rich soil and grows life year round. The western side is bleak and rocky.
I. There are many caves and hiding places on the sides of Mount Carmel. Both Elijah and Elisha found refuge and resort on this mount.
J. It was on Carmel that David encountered the mean Nabal, and Nabal refused to help the King. Nabal’s wife, Abigail was a wise woman and corrected
Nabal’s mean, unappreciative attitude.
Later David took Nabal’s wife Abigail as his wife.
VI. MOUNT NEBO --- FAITH THAT REACHES BEYOND HOPES, TO DREAM, OR VISION BEYOND HUMAN REACH.
IS WHERE MOSES VIEWED THE PROMISE LAND.
A. Pisgah is part of Nebo.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
B. Balaam and his spiritual compromise came from Nebo.
Beware of compromise.
Nebo means to declare, to proclaim, to tell others.
Moses nears the end of his journey and he climbs this mountain in Moab.
C. Moses will have a vision of the promise land, but it is not Moses’ last vision.
D. Moses is buried on Mount Nebo, but it was not the end.
E. MANY SAY MOSES NEVER REACHED THE PROMISE LAND, THEY DO NOT KNOW THEIR BIBLE. MOSES STOOD IN THE PROMISE LAND WITH JESUS, GOD’S ONLY SON.
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.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
F. YOUR VISION AND PRAYERS CAN REACH OUT OF THE GRAVE.
VII. JESUS CLIMBED MANY MOUNTAINS BY HIMSELF.
WE MUST CLIMB THESE SAME MOUNTAINS.
A. JESUS CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN OF DOING SPIRITUAL WORK IN THE FLESH.
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
B. THE REAL TEST IS IF YOU ARE WHO YOU REALLY SAY, PROVE IT.
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
C. JESUS TAUGHT PEOPLE ON THE MOUNT... SERMON ON THE MOUNT... PEOPLE HAD TO LEARN ON THE MOUNT.
The Beatitudes and the great lessons of internal verses external.
D. GETHSEMANE, ALONE, WRESTLE WITH INTERNAL SELF-CONFRONTATIONS.
Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
E. JESUS GIVES IT ALL ON MOUNT GOLGOTHA --- THE PLACE OUT SIDE THE CAMP.
Those Roman soldiers never took Jesus’ life, HE GAVE IT.
Greater love have no man than to give his life...
The love of God brings forgiveness.
F. THE LESSON FROM THE MOUNT --- JESUS TAUGHT AN IMPORTANT LESSON:
IF I GO AWAY --- I AM COMING AGAIN
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
G. WILL YOU CLIMB YOUR MOUNTAINS?
QUIT LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY!
SOMETIMES THE WORSE THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU, MAY HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING.
THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING!
I hope you receive this lesson, God told Lot to go to the mountain, and Lot refused and ended up in Zoar, the place of the little.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on?
