Base Camp Series: Living at a Different Altitude

Play YouTube video: This Man With No Arms & No Legs Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro | Game On

Base Camp Series Part 3

Living at a Different Altitude

May 20, 2018

 This is the part 3 of the series “Base Camp.” A series where we are examining how living for God and being a follower of Jesus Christ is not for wimps. Just like mountain climbers face obstacles and barriers in scaling the heights so to Christ followers face challenges and difficulties. But we should take heart because these are all a part of the journey of faith and development of our faith.

Go with me to the text today:

2 Tim 2:1-4

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. NIV

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist. 

Just to see what would happen, on Christmas day their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse hay. 

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly. 

"Why are you crying?" the father asked. 

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken." answered the pessimist twin. 

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the piles of hay. "What are you so happy about?" he asked. 

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

As believers and dedicated followers of Jesus Christ we should face every mountain, challenge, hardship, difficult with the attitude – “There has got to be in phony in this somewhere!” That attitude at the base camp of the mountain we face will help us to live at a different Altitude.

Let’s dig into the text:

Climbing Mountains and living at a different Altitude…

I.      Takes Strength (2Tim. 2:1) be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

But notice it is NOT your strength. Paul clearly says be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus When you face a mountain of difficulties -trials… you need grace! Grace can be defined as unmerited favor.

 So, Understand that…

a.    Grace is a catalyst to growth (2 Peter 3:18) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.NIV

When trust and believe in God’s favor and help the face of the mountain, the trail – (the – you fill the blank of what your facing) it IS a catalyst to spiritual development and growth.

Understand the idea of catalyst - A catalyst is an event or person causing a change. Getting kicked out of your parents' house might be a catalyst for becoming more independent. The noun catalyst is something or someone that causes a change and is derived from a Greek word.

God’s desire is that the mountains we face whether of our own making or someone else to transformational for us. Something in us so,,, thru .. beyond us

                         Also important to know that …

b.    Grace sustains us in our trials- mountain climbing (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NIV

When you’re facing a mountain – hardship – lean into his grace. Pray “God, I thank you that your power will be displayed, made perfect in this (name the hardship) and your grace IS sufficient, MORE THAN ENOUGH, for me!

Next, observe with me that Climbing Mountains and living at a different Altitude…

II.    Takes Reliable & Teachable (2Tim. 2:2) entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Climbing mountains whether spiritual or physical requires trust. It requires that we have people and equipment that is reliable. And it is essential that we are both reliable and teachable.

a.    Reliability (2 Tim. 2:2)

This quality is a quality and skill that is developed you are not born with this trait. Reliability is caught and taught! – tweetable quote!

I experienced this first hand after being up in a tree over 200 feet with a chainsaw for 3 and half hours. Not safety harness, with a chainsaw in one hand, tying off ropes, cutting limbs and aiding the lowering as we dismantled this massive tree, cutting it down to size to make it fit in the owner's yard. After 3.5 hours I was exhausted and so my father suggested that I string the rope through a crotch (y of tree limbs) tie a loop in the rope like a stirrup end step out in the air 150 feet off the ground and ‘Rely’ on them to safely lower me to the ground!

When we live at a different Altitude me must cultivate reliability – attacking, conquering the mountain (whatever it is) we face is the place to learn and develop the skill

b.    Teachable (2 Tim.2:2)

Teachable people are approachable. They want to improve – be better. They are ‘finished growing’. They want to scale new heights. They aren’t satisfied with living at sea level. They want to breathe rarified air and live at a different Altitude. 

They understand applied progressive sanctification! They desire and want to grow to learn. It is a value they readily embrace! The mountains of life provide for them the occasion to learn new life skills and become a better believer, follower or soldier of Christ.

Couple more things about Teachable people:

·      Realize there is a reason why I have 2 ears and one mouth

·      Realize I make mistakes & can learn from them

·      Realize that correction & criticism can be helpful and valuable

Third,  note with me that Climbing Mountains and living at a different Altitude…

III.   Takes Endurance (2Tim. 2:3&4) Endure hardship with us like a good soldier… No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs

People – Christ followers who Living at a different Altitude have set aside whining over life’s struggles, mountains and difficulties and accept the words of Jesus. In this world, you’re going to have trouble but be of good cheer I have overcome… 

You see to live at a different Altitude you must …

a.    Endure and sees Hardships & trouble a part of life (2 Tim.2:3)

Soldiers know and understand it’s just part of the package. So they are not surprised and shaken by it!

They also know and understand that is the process that builds faith and trust that we can and will overcome. Overcoming a challenge prepares me to over the next challenge mountain.

            To live at a different Altitude, you must…

b.    Endure by keeping a Singular focus (2 Tim. 2:4)

      No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs

The big idea is to avoid Distractions, to have a singular fixed focus that squirrels will not throw you off the goal. Conquer the mountain (struggle) and please the commander – Christ Jesus

Conclusion:

I want to close with this video this morning before we pray.

Play Youtube video: Nick Vujicic's Most Touching Speech - 2015 Motivation

It time to quit making excuses and change our attitude so we live at a different altitude. That happens when we see the mountains we face as opportunities for spiritual growth.

First, I want to pray with those aren’t sure of their destiny

Second, for those who ready to tackle the mountain!