Mountain Climbing 101 - “Success in life is a long hard climb!”
Thesis: Life is filled with mountains that just need to be climbed both literally and spiritually. Why? Because they are there! Why? Because they are in your path and the only way around them is over them. So the wiser we become at scaling spiritual mountains the easier these mountains will be to climb and get over.
Introduction:
When I first moved to Minnesota in 1979 I hitched up with two neighbor guys that were into Mountain climbing here at Taylor’s Falls. We would just about every weekend come up here from Anoka and climb the cliffs through out the St. Croix Valley. We climbed the Old Man of the Dells and other rock formations. I always sensed a great feeling of exhilaration whenever I made a successful climb. I remember my first climb. I got hitched up to a harness that I wore, I had my helmet on, my climbing shoes on, and I off course hitched myself to a safety rope were at the other end I had a person who kept me from falling to far if I slipped. I was pretty nervous about the climb because of the fear of falling. I fell many times on my fist climb. But I was always caught by the safety rope. After a while falling did no bother me anymore because I knew that I was safe.
We became so confident in that safety rope that we use to plan falls whenever the tour boat would go by. We would actually plan on falling 10-12 feet to scare the people on the boat. We would embellish the fall and the boat people would scream and of course we were always caught by the safety rope. We thought it was awesome to hear the screams of the women on the boat and all the “Oh my Lord’s”. We would have people scream and say “He’s slipping, Harold do something!” Like Harold could even do anything about it! But we always heard the “Ahs” It was great to scare the tourists and we where proud to hear the “Ahs.” We would joke after wards and say so how many people did you “awe” today.
Those days were always filled with adventure and excitement. It was great to be young and to be able to climb those cliffs all those weekends. I am sure today it would be harder for me to climb since I am so out of shape and old. But back then I learn that I could do some things I would have otherwise thought impossible. I learned to make moves hanging on the side of the cliffs that I really in the previous year never thought I could do. I learned how to climb and how to hang on with just with my fingers and the tips of my feet. It was always an adrenaline rush to make those impossible moves and climb to the top successfully without falling.
Rock climbing was hard work, I recall times when I would start to shake because my body was so exhausted from hanging on to the cliff. But the more climbed the easier it became. The more I climbed the stronger I became. The more I climbed the more in shape I got and the easier the climbs became.
When I first started climbing I had to learn what type of gear I needed before I even began the climb. I needed a safety helmet, I needed a harness, I needed a safety rope, I needed a climbing buddy, I needed climbing shoes and climbing gloves. Once I acquired all these necessary tools I was then able to get ready for the first climb. Climbing did cost but I was willing to pay the price to experience the thrill of the climb.
So I acquired some gear but I still did not know how to climb. So I had to learn from my two experienced buddies the basics of climbing. Once they gave me a ½ hour crash course on climbing they then said, “Now get up the side of that cliff Mike!” So I reached up and latched onto the side of the cliff and started my ascent to the top. They did, however, direct me from below or above on were to place my fingers, my feet and were to reach out to the next ledge or hold so that I could progress up the side of the cliff. All the time they were telling me, “Don’t worry about falling we got you!” They even at one point told me to let go so that I understood that I was completely safe, even though my mind was telling me otherwise.
So I began my exhilarating experience and immediately became hooked on it. I can honestly say for the next couple of summers I lived to climb. It was always a great time there was always another harder and more difficult climb to tackle next. And you know what I always wanted to go to the next level to do a harder climb. As a matter of fact I do not recall anyone saying in my group, “That’s it! I climbed the Old Man and I never want to do that again!” No! We always wanted to do it again and again and even try something harder and more difficult. It was exciting to get up and over that edge at the top of the climb! You would reach the top stand up and look at the river below raise your hands and say, “I did it!” Sometimes we would even be applauded from the people below. So you always felt like you were on top of the world and in a sense you were because you had a successful climb and you had beaten the cliff.
Today we are not just going to talk about rock climbing but about mountain climbing - spiritual mountains climbing. The same is true for learning how to overcome the spiritual obstacles in life that we will face in our lifetime. Believe it or not you will face mountains in your life and the truth is you will have to learn how to climb up and over those spiritual cliffs and spiritual mountains. So today I would like to teach you how to spiritually climb mountains that you will find in your path some day. But before I do that listen to what this famous musicians says about the obstacles in her life and how she has scaled the mountains in her life:
Video Clip: From Backstage – Ginny Owens in this interview talks about the obstacles she has had to overcome in life to get to were she is at today. Ginny’s biggest obstacle and mountain in her life is her blindness and she talks about how she is overcoming it.
T.S. - The reality of life is there are always mountains that arise in our path of life and we must have the right gear and the right skills to be able to ascend over these mountains to move on with life and to get to the top.
There is a great quote which says, “Success in life is a long hard climb!”
So you might be thinking right now okay I want to learn to climb and be a success for the Lord but, “What do I need to climb and how do I climb a spiritual mountain?”
The first thing is get the right equipment so your climb is going to be a success and safe!
I. What equipment must I have to climb a mountain?
a. What equipment did I need when I started rock climbing?
i. I remember that when I first started climbing, before I ever put my finger or hands on the side of the cliff, I had to have the right equipment to be able to do the climb.
1. My buddies who were skilled climbers told me that it was important to have the right stuff in order to have a successful and safe climb.
2. This equipments purpose was to protect me and to make sure that my climb was safe. Without it one mistake could have cost me my life or even serious injury.
3. So as we would say in my climbing world these items were, “A must have!”
a. Some of the equipment needed was a:
i. Safety helmet
ii. Safety rope
iii. Climbing shoes
iv. Safety harness system
v. Climbing buddy
vi. Climbing gloves
4. All of these items were necessary so as to have a safe and successful climb.
b. We have learned the importance of having the right equipment in the rock climbing world for the purpose of safety and success. In Ephesians 6:14-18 we discover a list of equipment that we must have to overcome the spiritual mountains in our lives and to have a successful and safe climb.
i. Ephesians 6:10-18: 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
ii. The same is true in the spiritual world of rock climbing. We must have the right equipment to climb cliffs and mountains spiritually and Paul tells us what type of equipment we “Must Have!”.
1. If we do not acquire these spiritual tools then we are setting ourselves up for spiritual failure.
2. If we do not acquire these spiritual tools we are setting ourselves up to get seriously hurt.
3. If we do not acquire these spiritual tools then we are endangering our spiritual lives because our safety system is not in position.
4. So the bottom line is, acquire these spiritual tools!
a. Go out and get them! Find them – grab a hold of them and then use them to climb those tall ominous looking mountains!
iii. Let’s look at the spiritual rock climbing equipment we need to ascend up a spiritual mountain.
1. Paul tells us to put these on so that we can defeat the obstacles that we will face spiritually in life.
2. The spiritual equipment inventory is as follows:
a. The belt of truth – In a sense this is your spiritual safety harness that connects around your waist and your legs and supports you if you slip or fall. On long with the safety harness is the safety rope which is attached to the harness.
i. This is the system that will keep you from falling and getting hurt. This system will catch you if you slip and prevent any serious damage to your life.
ii. This safety system is what holds you up while you climbing and making certain moves.
iii. It makes the climb safe and it will assure you that you will eventually get to the top.
iv. Truth is the safety support system of Heaven and it is the established system which will keep you from falling.
1. Truth is what the Word of God presents to us and it has been proven accurate, it has been established as factual – its reliable – It has been proven verifiable- and it is the only way you can have a successful climb in life.
a. No truth no success - know truth and wear it and you will be successful and safe in your climb.
2. It’s the correct way of doing things. It’s the right way to live life in this world.
a. It is the only safe way to climb!
3. Without truth in our lives then we live a lie and we will fall.
a. A lie is a falsehood which will not support us when we slip and fall as we are climbing mountains in life.
b. Lies never support a life they always bring it down!
b. The breastplate of righteousness – is right standing with God accompanied by right living for God.
i. In climbing there is no equipment necessary for protecting the vital organs of the body but in the spiritual realm you need to understand that this plate of protection is what guards you heart from becoming injured or damaged as you climb.
ii. This plate is your body armor which covers the vital organ of your life – Your heart!
iii. A heart that is protected by righteousness, which means nothing more than right living which gives you right standing with God, is safely protected from injury or even a spiritual heart attack.
iv. This body armor is what will protect if you fall or if a rock falls off the cliff and hits you in the chest.
1. This is your heart protection because you chest is exposed climbing up the side of the spiritual mountains in life.
2. So put it on your body armor.
3. Here is the best deal about this body armor Jesus offers it to you free of charge because he want your heart protected from the dangers in this world!
a. By the way this is the guardian of your heart!
c. Your feet fitted with readiness of the Gospel of Peace - This of course is your climbing shoes.
i. Climbing shoes are designed with a grip on the toe of the shoe to help keep you from slipping as you put your toe on small ledges or in crevices to support your weight.
1. They are essential in helping you in your climb.
2. They are essential in helping to support your weight in the climb.
3. They are essential in helping you keep your balance in the climb.
ii. The Gospel is the Good News of what Jesus Christ brought through His life and His death. That is peace with God.
1. That is a restored relationship with God Almighty.
2. This is a tool that we must wear and have on to keep from slipping. It will help us grip the slippery slopes of the mountains in life.
3. This will help us keep our balance when we are in awkward positions on the side of the cliffs.
d. The shield of faith – this is another protection device or tool. In climbing they do not have a shield.
i. But in a battle the shield was the main defensive weapon used to protect the warrior from the flaming arrows of the enemy.
1. They would raise the shield up to deflect the arrows sailing in over head from the enemy.
ii. The shield of faith is our faith – what we believe about God and it becomes a shield to our body, our soul, and our spirit when we face obstacles in our spiritual life.
1. What we believe about God will determine if we are successful in our climb.
a. We will either trust our climbing buddy or trust the lies the enemy will throw at us as we climb.
2. The enemy will throw the questions of doubt our way as we climb the spiritual mountains in life.
a. He will say things like, “You are going to fall and die!” “You cannot do this it’s impossible!” “Your climbing buddy is going to let you fall and get hurt!” “Don’t trust Him get back down and forget about climbing this mountain.”
iii. Faith is the ability to raise itself up to say “No” to Devil and say “Yes” to the Lord.
1. We must determine to raise up our shield of faith so that we do not allow his arrows to penetrate into our thinking and rational.
2. We must exercise our faith and say, “No I will believe that lie or that thought I will trust my climbing buddy!”
3. “No I will not yield to that temptation and test God!”
4. “No I will no deny God and choose the path of deception and lies I will go the way the master climber went!”
iv. I suppose if you were a climber and people were always throwing rocks at you. I suppose you might be willing to carry a shield with you to protect yourself from the flying rocks of your enemy.
1. So a shield of faith makes sense as you climb the mountains in your life.
v. Faith – our shield - believes God over what the world or even others say in contradiction to His divine direction. It believes what is not seen and climbs through life for the One at the top of the mountain.
1. Micah 4:1-5: 1In the last days the mountain of the LORD’S temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
2. This verse reminds me that I need to learn how to climb now because one day I will want to go up the mountain to be with the Lord.
e. Helmet of Salvation – this is like the safety helmets that climbers wear. It protects them from the falling rocks above and if they fall it protects their heads from injury if their heads slam into the side of the cliff during their fall.
i. This is the protection device which guards your mind and head.
ii. Salvation is the protection for the believer which keeps him from damaging his head and mind set.
1. Salvation is what helps us to think clearly.
2. Salvation is also what directs us in our spiritual climbs in life.
3. Salvation is really our motivation for climbing and it is what protects the way we think and the path we take as we ascend the mountains in life.
iii. I have heard of climbers who were killed because they did not wear their safety helmets.
1. I have heard of some who have received brain damage because they did not wear their helmets while climbing.
2. The truth is in this life if you get a severe head trauma it can impact how the rest of your body functions and how your mind thinks.
3. So be safe wear your helmet always!
iv. So we have learned that we must protect our minds from injury while climbing. It’s a must have!
1. Holman notes this about the purpose of the helmet of SALVATION: The acutely dynamic act of snatching others by force from serious peril. In its most basic sense, salvation is the saving of a life from death or harm. Scripture, particularly the New Testament, extends salvation to include deliverance from the penalty and power of sin.
2. Salvation is what will snatch us and protect us from the perils of sin in this life.
3. So when you climb leave sin below and put you helmet on and go upward!
f. Sword of the Spirit – Is what some climbers us while climbing on ice, they use these climbing picks to help them ascend the mountain of ice. They let it dig into the ice to help them go upward and onward.
i. But once again I don’t ever recall seeing a climber climb with a sword- however I have seen them use picks to climb the icy slopes of some mountains.
ii. Holman Bible Dictionary notes this about the sword:
1. SWORD is a Close-range weapon. The Hebrew word chereb and the Greek word machaira designate either a dagger or a sword. The Hebrew word also designates an iron tool (“axes,” Ezek. 26:9) or a chisel (“tool,” Ex. 20:25). In Joshua 5:2, the word designates stone knives used in the circumcision of the people of Israel. Archaeology has shown that different kinds of swords were used in the Ancient Near East. The sickle or curved sword was used throughout Mesopotamia, Egypt, and in Palestine…There are many symbolic uses for the word sword in the Bible…The Word of God is sharper than a “two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12); the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is part of the Christian’s armament in the fight against evil (Eph. 6:17). (Claude F. Mariottini).
iii. This spiritual climbing tool is the Word of God. It’s the Word of God that is able to helps us to scale the obstacles in life. It’s the Word of God that enables us to defeat the enemy’s in our life.
1. It’s is a spiritual weapon a tool that is used to drive back the mountains and the attackers in our lives.
2. The Sword will help to cut out places in the mountain to stand on and to hold on too as you scale the cliffs of life.
3. It’s to be used to assault the mountain with so as to have successful and safe climb.
g. Prayer is another tool that is used by the spiritual rock climbers in this life.
i. I know for a fact that after I became a Christian I learned the importance of prayer in dealing with obstacles in my life.
ii. Scripture tells us that prayer and faith can even move a mountain out of the way in our lives.
1. Matthew 17:18, 19: Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
2. Mark 11:23, 24: 23“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
iii. So come out and prayer at the end of next month for the community wide prayer meeting the last Sunday of the month and for the prayer meeting here at New Life the last Tuesday of the month.
iv. Pray is where you ask your spiritual buddy what to do and how to do it. It says I need help tell what to do from your perspective!
1. Prayer keeps you in close contact with your climbing buddy!
2. So make sure you communicate with your climbing buddy as you climb!
T.S. – We have learned what we need to do before we ever make a spiritual climb now lets learn what types of skills we need to have to be able to climb the rocky cliffs in life.
II. What skills do we need to have to climb the mountains we face in life?
a. What skills did I need as I started climbing at Taylor’s Falls?
i. The first skill: I was told to reach up to a crevice or ledge and grab a hold of it and cling to it and pull my self up. I had to reach up –grab a hold of the rock and pull! And here is the most important point about this skill “DON’T LET GO!”
1. I had to have arm strength and finger strength to do this action.
2. It took a while to develop this strength.
a. Sometimes I fell because I was not strong enough to hold on and pull up.
b. But remember I always had my safety equipment on and it always caught me so I never got hurt!
3. The ability to do this came through conditioning and practice.
a. The more I climbed the stronger I became and the easier it was to do the strength moves.
i. It was amazing how strong my hands and fingers became!
4. The key as they taught me that we need to learn today is do grab a hold of that of that hand hold and don’t let go!
ii. I was told by my buddies to then put my feet onto a ledge or crevice and use that to support my weight.
1. So I had to learn to balance my weight on a small ledge or crevice.
a. Balance was and is very important in climbing.
iii. I was taught by my buddies to press through the pain and it would get easier the more I did it.
1. They told me that “No Pain is no gain!” So I needed to press through it and understand that my body would get stronger and stronger. They even told me that “I would eventually be able to do more than I could imagine.”
2. They also told me that there really was not another way to learn how to climb than by just doing it. Because your body does not normally use a lot of the muscles that your use by climbing you just needed to climb, and climb.
iv. I also had to learn to be flexible with my body and it was amazing some of the positions I had to put my body in to make a move up the mountain.
1. I definitely had to be limber and flexible while climbing those rocks and cliffs.
2. The more flexible I was the more moves I could make to get up the mountain.
v. I also had to overcome the fear of my mind saying, “Don’t do this!”
1. Overcoming fear is a requirement for mountain climbing.
2. If you don’t defeat the fears then you will never climb. The truth is many don’t climb because they are afraid and therefore they get stuck right were they are.
3. So we had to take on the motto, “No Fear!”
b. What skills do we need to learn to spiritually climb the mountains in life?
i. I have to learn to reach out and grab a hold of the rock and to pull my self up to the next level. The key here is “Don’t let Go!”
1. This is spoken about in Romans 12:9-12: 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
a. We need to learn to cling to the rock and that which is good for us to ascend higher in life.
2. We need to be willing to reach out for the next crevice or ledge even if we cannot totally see it from our angle or position, you have to feel for it.
a. Psalms 63:8 states, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
b. Hebrews 11:1-3: 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
c. James 2:26: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
i. Faith must be accompanied by action or we are dead!
d. Remember sometimes we need to reach out in faith and feel around for the ledge that God created that we can grab a hold of and pull our self to the next level in our life of faith with Him.
i. Remember He created the handles we need to get to the next level in our faith walk. So find them and hang on!
ii. Remember this climbing quote: Perseverance- “You cannot let go and still win!”
ii. The second skill we need in spiritual mountain climbing is we have to learn to put our feet in the crevices or on the ledges to helps us support our weight and keep our balance.
1. My mind thinks of that verse in Ephesians 4:27: “and do not give the devil a foothold.”
2. Could you imagine a mountain climber or rock climber saying to someone who has been throwing stones at them to come and put their foot on one of their essential footholds.
a. This could and would jeopardize their ability to climb because their enemy has the necessary foothold they need to get to the next level.
b. It becomes a hindrance to their spiritual ascent!
3. We need to make sure that we put our feet on ledges that will not crumble under our weight they need to be sure foundations to help us be supported in our climb.
a. 1 Cor. 3:11: 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
i. We need to understand that as we follow in the path of Jesus and move toward Him He knows were we need to put out feet and were the sure foundational spots are in life.
ii. He has climbed before us and knows the way to get to the top! So put your feet were the Master climber put His feet!
b. 2 Timothy 2:19: 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
i. God’s foundation is firm. It will not break or crumble under your weight.
ii. God’s foundation is rock solid!
4. We must make sure we keep our balance in the climb by balancing ourselves against the cross and His Word.
iii. We must learn to press through the pain and the fatigue of the climb.
1. Paul tells us in Phil. 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
2. Romans 5:1-5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
3. The truth is the more you learn to press through the pain and the fatigue the more able you are to endure and conqueror the mountains in life.
a. Scripture frequently tells us to press on and not to quit when things get tough!
4. The more I pressed through the tough climbs the more able I was to do it again until it was not as hard.
a. No pain no gain!
b. I grew stronger as I went through the training and the climbs.
c. I became more mature in my climbing experience as learned and did more climbing.
d. This all helped me to eventually succeed and get to the top of the cliff and the mountain.
5. Hebrews 12:1-3: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
a. So we need to not grow weary and quit but press on to top of the mountain!
iv. We need to make sure that we stay flexible and limber and not become rigid and stiff.
1. The problem with some people who spiritually climb is they get rigid and inflexible in the way they climb and then they get stuck in that position because they are unable to flex to make the necessary move to get to the next level in the ascent.
a. 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
b. People who are inflexible are people who become to rigid and set in their ways and become more stiff. This attitude and rigor mortis sets in and stunts their growth and their ability to climb.
2. Swindoll states: But when “grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ,” a long-awaited revolution of the heart began to set religious captives free. Fear-full bondage motivated by guilt was replaced with a fresh motivation to follow Him in truth simply out of deep devotion and delight. Rather than focusing on the accomplishments of the flesh, He spoke of the heart. Instead of demanding that the sinner fulfill a long list of requirements, he emphasized faith, if only the size of a mustard seed. The change spelled freedom, as the Lord himself taught, “…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Rigid, barren religion was, at last, replaced by a grace-orientated, relationship-liberating grace. His followers loved it. His enemies hated it… and Him. Without a doubt, the earliest grace killers were the Pharisees (10).
a. The Pharisees are spiritual people who become so rigid that they quit climbing and they quit growing and therefore were stuck on the side of the mountain with no were to go.
b. In climbing you may have to make some moves that require flexibility to be able to get to the next level in your climb. So it is imperative that you stay limber!
v. We need to make sure that we do not allow fear to keep us from the climb and therefore keep us trapped in the valley.
1. 1 John 4:18: 8There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
a. The truth is when I was climbing I loved it and enjoyed the victory and the fulfillment I felt when I reached the top.
i. It was the Love of the climbing that drove out the fear from doing it.
ii. I discovered that when you love something then the fear fades away! Love is stronger than fear!
2. Psalm 34:4: I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
a. The truth is when we seek the Lord and look to Him and listen to Him he will deliver us from our fears.
b. Don’t let fear hold you back from climbing upward to the top. Remember you spiritual buddy is there to help you if you slip and fall.
Conclusion:
The important point of spiritual climbing is to make sure that when you get to the top you celebrate the accomplishment. When I reached the top of the cliff on my first climb I turned and looked from where I had come and I was amazed that I could have ever done it. I lifted my hands in the air and the people below began to clap and cheer for me. My buddies were hooting and saying “Great job’, “Well done!” It was a great feeling of success and I felt like the king of the hill. I shared my success with all kinds of people and told them of the great adventure I had been involved in and I also told them I could not have done it without my faithful climbing buddies. They showed me how, taught me how and then let me do it so that I could experience what it was like to climb a mountain and a cliff that looked impossible.
So my thought for you today is: “How many here want to become spiritual mountain climbers and experience the feeling of being on top of the world?”
Then make sure you do the necessary steps to success in Mountain Climbing 101:
1. Attain the spiritual equipment to make the climb a success and to protect you as you climb.
a. The belt of truth – your safety harness
b. Breast plate of righteousness – your body armor over your heart
c. Feet fitted from the gospel of peace – your climbing shoes that help you keep from slipping.
d. Shield of faith – your defense weapon from rock throwers.
e. Helmet of salvation – you protection of your mind and head from falling rocks.
f. Sword of the Spirit – your offensive weapon to drive back the rock throwers
g. Prayer – your communication with your climbing buddy
2. Learn the skills necessary to be a successful climber.
a. Grab a hold of the side of the cliff and hang on and pull upwards.
b. Use your feet to support your weight and keep you balanced.
c. Determine to press through the pain and the strain so you get stronger.
d. Stay flexible and limber and make the unbelievable moves as you go upwards.
e. Do not allow fear to keep you from moving upwards toward the top
3. Remember to celebrate your victory and tells others how you made it.
Revelation 12:11: They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
