The Ascent Of Man

- Devils Tower WY (a volcanic neck)

- Said to be known among the Indians as Bear’s Tipi "misinterpreted the name to mean Bad God’s Tower, later shortened to Devils Tower.

- President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.

- Devils Tower with it’s vertical face rises 867 from base to summit.

- The top is domed shape 400’x200’ 1 1/2 acres. (roughly size of a football field)

- The first accent was in 1893 using pegs to make a ladder to the top

- The first technical climb was made June 1937

- George Hopkins was the only person to climb down the Tower - without climbing up first! In 1941

- Parachuted onto the top

- He could not get down and had to wait 6 days for a rescue

- It is impossible to reach the top without mountain climbing experience.

- Of almost a half million visitors to devils Tower only 1% reach the top

- Two things here:

- We misinterpret God’s word

- Few climb His heights

1. The Goal v.3

- “The hill of the Lord”

- Look at Christ on Mt. Calvary

- His holy place

- The highest ambition of the soul

- Fellowship with King of Kings

2. The Way v.3

- Who shall ascend”

- Christ “I am the way”

- The way of sin is downward

- Defeat – Bondage

- Drifting downstream

- The roar of the water falls dulling our senses

- Upward – Persistence

– Effort

– Striving – Overcoming

- It is to exalt Christ

- Humbleness

- Brokenness

- Confession - Sin/Christ

- Pure air that is pollutant free

3. The Climber - v.4

a. Hands must be clean

- “He that hath clean hands”

- I Can’t cleanse myself

- We sing I’m pressing On the Upward Way

- It is “LORD lift me up

- Action or work faithfully

- To lift one’s hand is to pledge one’s truth

- Power to accomplish

b. Heart must be pure v.4

- “a pure heart”

- Only through the blood

- Right motives – Aims

- Holiness

c. Soul must be humble v.4

- “hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity”

- Worship only the Lord

- Modern translations (worship idols)

- It’s not about us it’s about Him

- Pride ends growth

d. Life must be true v.4

- “nor sworn deceitfully”

- The functions of life come from what we focus on

- False lives give us away

- Climber trusting his buddies rope which is not tied in - DANGER

4. The Attainment

- Blessing & Righteousness

- Justification

- Assurance

- Unwavering Hope

- Perfect Love

- Full Joy

- The hill (tower) Full protection full protection from the enemy

Ps 61:2-3 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

We constant need reminder

- Bread - Satisfying

- Cup - Refreshing