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! Out of this experience I mentioned last week that we need to learn to cling on to God so that He will cling on to us. However, I want us to go a little further, but we need to ask this question . . . How do we cling tighter so that we won’t fall?
Text: 1 Chronicles 23:28-31 (NIV), 1 Peter 2:5 (TLB), Hebrews 10:24-25 (Voice)
The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the special flour for the grain offerings, the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals. They were to serve before the Lord regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.
And now you have become living building-stones for God’s use in building his house. What’s more, you are his holy priests; so come to him—you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ—and offer to God those things that please him.
Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches.
I know those seem to be odd passages of scripture to read as it relates to ladders but stick with me just a few seconds. The goal isn’t just to climb the ladder. If you just climb the ladder but can’t stay on the ladder, then gained height only increases the damage when you fall. So, my assignment is to not only help you go up, but to stay up. So, before we dive into the lesson today to keep you on the ladder, we must retreat back to Andrew’s fall for just a few second because his fall reveals the lesson to keep us on the ladder. The ladder was capable of holding Andrew. The problem is that he got higher than the ability of his points of contact to sustain his balance. Andrew had to let go of the ladder with his hands so that he could adjust the projector. If he had had both hands on the ladder, then chances are he would not have fallen. Bottom line … he violated one of the cardinal and time proven ladder lessons and it caused his fall that if followed helps you maintain height.
Ladder Lesson 3: You are safe when you maintain multiple points of contact.
The safety protocol for ladders is that you need to maintain 3 points of contact to be safe. So, the more points of contact you are the more likely you are to be able to hold to the ladder.
This Ladder Lesson can be perfectly illustrated in how it works spiritually by several biblical accounts.
The parable of the man who built his house on the rock in Matthew 7 for instance. This man didn’t fear storms, and not only did he not fear the storm he survived the storm because his foundation or points of contact were strong enough to withstand the blow. The only one that had issues and injuries from the storm was the one who didn’t have a foundation strong enough to hold him. Another example is Peter and his denial of Christ. This occurred because rather than walking next to Jesus, tight with Jesus the Bible says he followed from afar. As distance developed his points of contacts diminished and so too did his ability to stand strong in his relationship with Jesus when challenged. However, the best example is probably Judas. Here was a man that was attached to Jesus, but not connected. He was around Him. He travelled with Jesus. He ate meals with Jesus. He attended services. He attended prayer meetings. He witnessed miracles at the words and hands of Jesus. But as you know Judas shows us that attached isn’t the same thing as connected. He had some contact, but he couldn’t withstand the impact of temptation. Therefore, because he didn’t have enough points of contact, he falls.
I want to submit to you that the problem with many of us is that we are experiencing shifts, quakes, changing seasons, storms that would not normally have the ability to knock us off course, cause concern, or down us except for the fact that we don’t have enough points of contact. So, what should just be a small bump in the road, just a small wave, just a moment of discomfort unseats us, and the end result is we are injured.
If we had had enough points of contact, then we would blow off the bump that now blows us off.
So, it is of utmost importance to examine our points of contact to make sure that we can stay connected to the ladder.
That is why I read the passages to you that I did. The passages I read declare when Jesus arrives the priestly system is in fact transferred and established in us. Believers in Christ are now functioning in the role of priests. If that is the case, it is important for us to understand the responsibilities of the priest. 1 Chronicles chronicles for us those responsibilities. Notice what it says . . . They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the Lord on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals.
Again, stand every morning and every evening to give thanks. Then on the sabbath make sacrifice. Notice the points and number of contacts. Every morning, every evening and every sabbath. Every morning, night and sabbath. These are multiple points of contact with the ladder.
We have missed the ladder lesson and it is causing too many of us to be unstable, unable to stand the storms of life. As priests we should have multiple points of contact daily and then on sabbath. In other words, this is teaching us that Sunday contact with God. Encounters with the Holy Spirit on Sunday is inadequate to sustain us and to stabilize us. In order to fulfill our calling as a priest there should be multiple points of contacts daily and weekly.
Let me be blunt! The reason some of you are faltering and falling is simply some of you only have one contact point and that is Sunday morning. No interaction with the Word except on Sunday and even then you only see what is on the screen. No prayer except the moments someone is leading from a microphone. The result is we are on a spiritual starvation diet and so due to lack of contact points we are too weak to stand.
May I remind you David practiced multiple points of contact. Listen to Psalms 55:7 - Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice!
We are also aware that Jesus made a regular practice of going into moments of solitude to be with His Father. If He practiced multiple contact points, then shouldn’t we?
Listen, I live for Sunday. I love Sunday. It is my favorite day of the week. My whole life revolves around Sunday. But hear me clearly Sunday isn’t enough. An “Only Sunday” relationship with Jesus is Andrew on the ladder. You have to intentionally start your day, end your day, bookend your day with contacting Him!
This is why the writer of Hebrews declares in Hebrews 13 that “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” That is why the writer of 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says pray without ceasing. It is the idea of consistent and constant contact with Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews says there is another aspect of developing multiple contact points. The writer says don’t forsake the assembling of the believers. I know you have heard, and I have preached that this means you should show up on a regular basis to Sunday services. That is right. That is correct. That is one of the duties of the priest to show up on the sabbath. However, I don’t want us to miss the truth here that this also goes beyond Sundays. I think what the writer is also saying is that in order for us to be able to spur one another on, in order for us to be able to hold onto truth and survive the storms that are approaching in the last days we must have multiple contact points with community. We can't limit this or crunch this into a one-hour time frame one time a week. This isn't either or this is both and.
Have you ever wondered why it is that some people seem to have numerous people rally to them in their time of need? I mean you are hurting, struggling, fighting for your life and it seems like no one even notices. Could it be because the person who is being rallied around has worked to establish and maintain multiple points of contact. Perhaps no one rallies around you because your only point of contact is Sunday. It isn’t that no one cares it is that no one knows. There isn’t enough interaction during the week in circles or ministry team times of service for anyone to even find out that you need support. Let me say it another way, if you are faithful to attend every Sunday, but that is your only point of contact with the community of Christ and if Sunday is your only moment of contact with the body, then it is inevitable you will fall. Something will shake you loose simply because you aren’t connected you are attached.
The only way for me to maintain the spiritual height I gain is that My life must become intentionally intertwined with not only Him but them. Too many of are trying to do this thing with one or the other. It requires both. Some of you only connect to God. Others only connect to the body. It takes both!
I challenge you today to check your contact points. It can’t be singular. The more contact the more ability to cling. Is God a once-a-week thing? Is contact with the body a once-a-week thing? Is so, don’t be surprised when the bump or blow comes that you are toppled. If live attached but not connected we will fall.
Contact produces connection!
