QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS Pt

QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS Pt.4

2/19/01

Josh 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses, the Lord's disciple, God spoke to Moses' assistant, whose name was Joshua (the son of Nun), and said to him,

2 "Now that my disciple is dead, [you are the new leader of Israel]. Lead my people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. 3 I say to you what I said to Moses: 'Wherever you go will be part of the land of Israel-- 4 all the way from the Negeb desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Euphrates River in the east, including all the land of the Hittites.' 5 No one will be able to oppose you as long as you live, for I will be with you just as I was with Moses; I will not abandon you or fail to help you. 6 "Be strong and brave, for you will be a successful leader of my people; and they shall conquer all the land I promised to their ancestors. 7 You need only to be strong and courageous and to obey to the letter every law Moses gave you, for if you are careful to obey every one of them, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Constantly remind the people about these laws, and you yourself must think about them every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed. 9 Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Josh 22:1-4

1 Joshua now called together the troops from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and addressed them as follows: "You have done as the Lord's disciple Moses commanded you, and have obeyed every order I have given you-- every order of the Lord your God. You have not deserted your brother tribes, even though the campaign has lasted for such a long time. 4 And now the Lord our God has given us success and rest as he promised he would. So go home now to the land given you by the Lord's servant Moses, on the other side of the Jordan River.

2 Cor 3:4-5

4 We dare to say these good things about ourselves only because of our great trust in God through Christ, that he will help us to be true to what we say, 5 and not because we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success comes from God.

THIS MORNING I’M GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS MINI SERIES ON QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THESE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS UP HILL CLIMB TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL, PROSPEROUS AND FULFILLED LIFE. THIS MORNING WE’RE GOING TO FOCUS MOST OF OUR ATTENTION ON THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE WE CALL CLIMBERS WHO STAY THE COURSE INSPITE OF DIFFICULTY, FATIGUE, DELAY, DISSAPPOINTMENT, DISADVANTAGE, MISFORTUNE OR EVEN A LITTLE SUCCESS. THE ONE CHARACTERISTIC THAT CLIMBERS HAVE THAT QUITTERS AND CAMPERS LACK IS THE ABILITY TO ENDURE. LET ME REVIEW THE DEFINITION OF A CLIMBER THIS MORNING:

2 Tim 4:5-8

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

CLIMBERS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS VISION ORIENTED. THEY SEE OBSTICALES AS OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF PURPOSE AND PASSION. THEY EMBRACE CHANGE AND CHALLENGE. THEY HAVE STRONG FAITH, THEY’RE TENACIOUS, REZILLENT AND DETEREMINED. THEY GET KNOCKED DOWN BUT THEY GET UP AGAIN. CLIMBERS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE GET HURT, USED OR BETRAYED BY FAMILY OR FRIENDS BUT THEY GET OVER IT. THEY WILL STOP AT A CAMPGOUND TO BE REFRESHED AND REFUEL BUT THEY DON’T STAY IN THE CAMPGOUND THEY CONTINUE IN THE UP HILL CLIMB OF SUCCESS.

Matt 24:13

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

II Th 1:4

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

2 Tim 4:5

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

James 5:11

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

2 Tim 2:3-7

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 and as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. 5 Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. 6 Work hard like a farmer who gets paid well if he raises a large crop. 7 Think over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how they apply to you.

HERE WE SEE THREE ILLUSTRATIONS OF ENDURANCE: IN A SOLDIER, AN ATHLETE AND A FARMER. WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO ENDURE NONE OF THEM CAN ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THEY WANT IN LIFE. LAST SUNDAY NIGHT I ASKED KC TO DO A STUDY ON THE WORD ENDURANCE AND HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. LET ME SHARE WITH YOU HIS DEFINITION OF ENDURANCE: THE WORD ENDURE MEANS TO STAY THE SAME, TO REMAIN UNCHANGEABLE IN VISION AND PURPOSE, TO REMAIN FIRM ON A STANDARD, TO HARDEN UP, TO DIG IN AND TO BE STABLE AND UNSHAKEABLE; TO HAVE EXTREME PRESSURE, SUFFERING OR MISFORTUNE PUT ON YOU BUT YOU DON’T YEILD TO IT OR CHANGE OR BECOME UNSTABLE; TO UNDERGO EXTREME TRIALS AND TESTINGS AND YET BE ABLE TO CONTINUE UNCHANGED WITH THE SAME INTEGRITY, PASSION AND PURPOSE.

NOW, THERE ARE FIVE GREEK WORDS FOR THE ONE ENGLISH WORD ENDURE AND THEY HAVE THESE MEANINGS: "to abide and then "to abide under, to bear up courageously" (under suffering), "to bear or carry," by being under, is said metaphorically of "enduring" temptation, "bear"; persecutions, "to hold up" (ana, "up," echo, "to hold or have"), always in the middle voice in the NT, is rendered "endure" persecutions and tribulations; "to be long-tempered" (makros, "long," thumos, "mind"), is rendered "patiently endured" "patience," lit., "a remaining under" and is translated patient enduring, or longsuffering. When the going gets tough quitters quit. Campers endure until they achieve a little success which is better than most and settle for predictibility, safety and comfort. Climbers continue, they endure and they become successful in life, in business, in a career, in their relationships and in their ministry. Now there are three things they enable climbers to endure and they are written down for us as a gauntee in god’s word:

1 Cor 13:13

13 There are three things that will endure-- faith, hope, and love-- and the greatest of these is love.

So god says there are three things that will always endure: faith, hoPe and love and if you got those three things ACTIVE in your life you will make it through anything because there are 3 things that aways endure. Faith, hope and love. Now, Last week we looked at the power of a faith filled life and this morning I want to look at the other two: hope and love. FIRST OF ALL LET’S LOOK AT HOPE:

Heb 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

LET ME QUICKLY DEFINE WHAT I MEAN BY A DREAM. A DREAM IS THE VISIONARY CREATION OF THE IMAGINATION. IT IS A STATE OF MIND MARKED BY ABSTRACTION OR RELEASE FROM THE WAY THINGS PRESENTLY APPEAR. A DREAM IS A STRONGLY DESIRED GOAL OR PURPOSE AND BECOMES SOMETHING THAT FULLY SATISFIES A DESIRE. ANOTHER DEFINITION OF A DREAM DEFINES FOR US THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER SOMETHING AS A POSSIBILITY IN THE SPHERE OF YOUR INFLUENCE AND IS VERY CLOSELY RELATED TO THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF HOPE. HOPE AND FAITH ARE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF EVERY GOD-BIRTHED DREAM BECAUSE THE DREAM WAS BIRTHED BY THE SPOKEN WORD OF GOD TO YOUR HEART AND LIFE AND FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

Heb.11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

WHAT IS FAITH? IT’S THE CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR WILL COME TO PASS. THIS WORD HOPE COULD BE TRANSLATED AS A VISION, A GOAL OR A GOD-BIRTHED-DREAM. SO HOPE IS VERY MUCH LIKE A DREAM. IN FACT DREAMS ARE THE SEEDS OF REALITY--EVERY PRODUCT YOU USE IN YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS WAS ONCE SOMEONE'S DREAM BUT NOW IT IS PART OF YOUR REALITY. DREAMS ARE THE SEED OF REALITY. NOW WHAT ARE YOU DREAMING FOR, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR? HAVE YOU STOPPED DREAMING? IT MAY BE TIME TO DREAM AGAIN. IF WE’RE GOING TO ENDURE THE CLIMB THAT HAS TO BE SOME ELEMENT OF HOPE, SOME ELEMENT OF A DREAM OF REACHING THE TOP. WHAT’S YOUR DREAM FOR YOUR MARRIAGE, YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR FINANCES, YOUR MINISTRY OR YOUR CHILDREN? WHAT IS YOUR DREAM OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD UPON YOUR LIFE FOR MINISTRY AND SERVICE TO THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS? YOU SEE, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

Heb 12:1-3

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Look-ing unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such Contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 2:10

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT JESUS IS OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE OF A CLIMBER? JESUS, IN HIS HUMANITY, NEEDED TO HAVE ENDURANCE JUST LIKE ME AND YOU. SO HOW WAS HE ABLE TO DO IT? HE SAW PAST THE PAIN OF THE CROSS, HE SAW PAST THE PUBLIC HUMILIATION AND HE SAW RESURRECTION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS. HE SAW HIMSELFD SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD WITH ALL AUTHORITY, POWER, MIGHT AND DOMINION AND HE SAW HIMSELF AS THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION BRINGING MANY SONS AND DAUGHTERS UNTO GLORY. He saw past the PAIN AND HE SAW YOU AND ME AND AN ENUMERABLE COMPANY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED THROUGH HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION TO THE FATHER. JESUS COULD ENDURE THE PAIN AND THE SHAME CAUSE HE COULD SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING. YOU AND I CAN ENDURE PAIN, SETBACK, BETRAYL, OBSTICALES AND HARDSHIP IF WE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING. LISTEN, CIRCUMSTANCES CAN CHANGE WHEN WE HAVE HOPE LIKE AND ANCHOR!

Heb 6:17-20

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of

promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for

God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for

refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we

have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which

entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

YOU SEE GOD HAS CREATED EVERYONE OF US WITH THE INHERENT CAPACITY TO DREAM, TO HOPE AND TO ENVISION THE FUTURE BECAUSE HE HAS SET ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS--HE HAS PLACED WITHIN EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD THE HOPE OF HEAVEN AND THE ABILITY TO DREAM. NOT ONLY WILL OLD MEN DREAM DREAMS BUT THE YOUNG MEN SHALL ALSO HAVE VISIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROPHESY OF JOEL. THE TRUE CLIMBER POSSESS A DIVINE OPTIMISM THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO SEE SO MANY OPEN POSSIBILITIES AND UNDISCOVERED AREAS. THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT DREAMING SPURS THE CLIMBER ON TO SET HIGH STANDARDS OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT. GOD WANTS TO RESTORE TO YOU AND ME THIS MORNING THE ABILITY TO DREAM EVEN THOUGH THE TIME OF INNOCENCE HAS PAST AND WE HAVE FACED DISSAPPOINTMENT AND FAILURE. HE HAS SET ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS, HE HAS PLACED IN EVERY ONE OF US THE HOPE OF BETTER THINGS TO COME. THAT HOPE, THAT VISION AND THE ABILITY TO DREAM IS BIRTHED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT MERE POSITIVE THINKING AND CARNAL GOAL SETTING. GOD WANTS TO GIVE US DREAMS THAT ARE BIRTHED OUT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO HIM. LISTEN, CLIMBERS NEVER CLIMB ALONE, THEY HAVE GOD AS THEIR COMPAINION AND LEADER. WHAT WAS THE PROMISE GIVEN TO MOSES AND JOSHUA: “SUREY I WILL GO WITH YOU AND DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND. SO NEVER CLIMB ALONE, LET YOUR LEADER, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOU EACH STEP OF THE WAY.

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

NOW THE GREATEST HINDERANCE TO OUR DREAMING DREAMS AND

SEEING VISION IS REMEMBERING THE PAST, ITS FAILURES AND

DISSAPPOINTMENTS.

Ps 137:1-4

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

PSA.137 IS AN INDICTMENT AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHO HAD BEEN CARRIED AWAY INTO CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON BECAUSE OF THEIR STIFFNECKS AND HARDENED HEARTS. YES THEY AND THEIR PARENTS HAD MADE SOME TRAGIC MISTAKES BUT THE STORY WASN'T OVER YET. HERE THEY SAT BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON AND WEPT WHEN THEY REMEMBERED HOW GOOD IT WAS IN THE PAST. HERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING THE PAST TODAY AND HAD ABORTED THE FUTURE. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO DREAM. YOU'VE LOST YOUR VISION OR YOU'VE LOST YOUR DREAM AND GIVEN UP. YOU'VE LET DISCOURAGEMENT, DOUBT, FEAR, THE PASSAGE OF TIME, HURTS, DISSAPPOINTMENTS ABOUT WHAT GOD DESIRED TO BIRTH THROUGH YOU, KILL YOUR HOPS AND DREAMS. "BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON WE SAT DOWN" THEY GAVE UP AND BECAME INACTIVE AND THEY WEPT AS THEY REMEMBERED ZION. THEY HAD

NOTHING TO SAY, NOTHING TO DECLARE AND THEY WEREN'T GOING ANY WHERE. THEY SAT DOWN AND BECAME INACTIVE. THEIR GIFTS BECAME INOPERABLE AND INACTIVE. THEY HAD NO JOY, THEY COULD NOT SING A SONG--THEY WERE A BUNCH OF CAPTIVE PEOPLE WHO WEPT OVER THE PAST. Climbers , on the other hand, get over it and they keep on keeping on when all other quit or camp. Peter tells us that we’ve been born again unto a lively or living hope by the incorruptible word of god.

1 Pet 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (KJV)

NOW IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE INNOCENCE OF A DAYDREAM AND THE PLANTING OF A DREAM BY DIVINE INTERVENTION. ALL THE DREAMS THAT GOD BIRTHS IN YOUR HEART WILL COME TO PASS BECAUSE THOSE DREAMS WILL BE BIRTHED BY THE WORD OF GOD WHICH LIVES AND ABIDES FOREVER. WHAT THE ENEMY TIRES TO PERPETRATE IN OUR HEARTS IS THAT THESE DREAMS WERE NEVER FROM GOD BUT ONLY THE FABRICATION OF OUR IMAGINATION. SO WHEN DELAY COMES OR DISSAPPOINTMENT COMES WE BEGIN TO QUESTION THE

WORD THAT GOD HAD DROPPED INTO OUT HEARTS. YOU SEE THIS IS WHERE A VISION, A DREAM AND A GOAL BEGINS--WHEN GOD SPEAKS HIS WORD TO OUR HEARTS.

Hab 2:1-3

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT A GOD-BITHED-DREAM IS THAT HE WILL KEEP IT ALIVE IN YOUR HEART EVEN THOUGH THE VISION MAY

TARRY. HE WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH OF PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURANCE TO SEE THE THING COME TO PASS. REMEMBER JOSHUA, HE HAD TO WAIT 40 YEARS BEFORE HE COULD ENTER THE PROMISED LAND AND AT THE AGE OF 84 HE HAD THE SAME STRENGTH, DESIRE AND PASSION TO OBATIN THE PROMISE. WHAT KEPT HIS DREAM ALIVE ALL THOSE YEARS? IT WAS A GOD-BIRTHED DREAM, IT WAS A DREAM THAT BEGAN WITH THE ETERNAL GOD AND POSSED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ETERNAL! LISTEN, YOU AND I NEED THOSE KINDS OF DREAMS AND VISIONS IF WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THEIS UP HILL CLIMB OF SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God

be for us, who can be against us? (KJV)

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered

him up for us all, how shall he not with him

also freely give us all things? (KJV)

NOW THERE IS YET ANOTHER PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN A GOD- GIVEN DREAM. WHEN GOD BIRTHS A DREAM IN YOU, HE SIDES WITH YOU AND BRINGS ALL OF HIS SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO HELP YOU FULFILL YOUR DREAM. WE SEE THIS HISTORICALLY IN THE REBUILDING OF THE WALL. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD BEEN CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO BABYLON FOR 70 YRS. THEIR LAND WAS PLUNDERED, THEIR ENEMIES ROBBED THEM, BEAT THEM, SOLD THEIR CHILDREN AND RELATIVES INTO SLAVERY. THINGS WERE NOT GOING GOOD FOR THEM: THEIR PAIN LEVEL WAS GREATER THAN THEIR COMFORT LEVEL AND GOD BIRTHED A DREAM IN THEIR HEARTS TO REBUILD THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, REPAIR THE WALLS AND RESTORE THE TEMPLE. NOW THEY COULD EITHER BELIEVE GOD AND STEP OUT BY FAITH AND BEGIN TO WORK OR THEY COULD LOOK AT THE IMPOSSIBILITES AND GIVE UP. WHEN WE CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD THERE ARE SUPERNATURAL RESULTS THAT OCCUR TO BRING IT TO PASS!

THE PRUPOSE OF THE DREAM IS TO MOTIVATE YOU TO BEGIN TO CHANGE AND TO RISE UP AND DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS IN LIFE. SO DARE TO DREAM AGAIN, BREAK OUT OF YOUR APATHY, INDIFFERENCE, INACTIVITY AND PROCRASTINATION AND STEP OUT BY FAITH IN THE SUPERNATUAL FULFILLMENT OF YOUR DREAMS!

7 REASONS WHY PEOPLE QUIT OR CAMP AND FAIL TO REACH THEIR DREAMS:

1. PEOPLE WHO GET TIRED OF GROWING AND CHANGING WILL FAIL TO REACH THEIR DREAMS.

2. PEOPLE WHO COMPARE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THOSE AROUND THEM WILL SETTLE FOR MEDIOCRITY OR DEFEAT.

3. PEOPLE WHO KEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING WHERE THEY ARE GOING WILL FAIL TO REACH THEIR DREAMS

4. PEOPLE WHO TRY TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS BY THE STRENGTH AND ABILITY OF THE FLESH WILL NOT REACH THEIR DREAMS...DON'T TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!

5. PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO PASS HARD TESTS WILL NOT FULFILL THEIR DREAMS.

6. PEOPLE WHO CHASE EVERYTHING WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. PAUL SAID, THIS ONE THING WILL I DO--THERE NEEDS TO BE A SINGLENESS TO OUR VISION, A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.

7. PEOPLE FAIL TO REACH THEIR DREAMS BECAUSE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP--THE MAN THAT HAD ONE TALENT DID NOTHING WITH IT AND HE FAILED TO REACH HIS DESTINY IN GOD'S KINGDOM.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE UP HILL CLIMB OF A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE, A SUCCESSFUL CAREER OR A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ENDURE BY POSSESS FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.

1 Cor 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and endures. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

NOW, LET’S QUICKLY LOOK AT THE LAST QUAILITY OF ENDURANCE AND THAT IS LOVE: CLIMBERS WILL ALWAYS BE ON THE GIVING SIDE OF LOVE AND ALWAYS FINDING THE BEST IN OTHER PEOPLE. YOU SEE, WHEN I’M OCCUPIED WITH SERVING OTHER PEOPLE’S NEEDS THEN I DON’T HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT, RESOURCE AND STAFF A PITY PARTY FOR MYSELF. WHEN YOU’RE HANGING ON A CLIFF WITH 1500 FEET BELOW YOU, YOU DON’T HAVE TO SCRATCH AN ITCH OR TO NURSE A CUT ON YOUR ELBOW CAUSE IT’S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. SO WHEN YOU’RE REACHING FORWARD IN LIFE FOR SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE YOU DON’T HAVE ANY TIME TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE LITTLE PROBLEMS THAT CAN SO EASILY DISTRACT YOU EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE. A CLIMBER WILL FOCUS ON WHERE THEY’RE GOING AND NOT WHERE THEY’VE BEEN AND NOT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO YOU. LOVE WILL HELP YOU GET OVER THAT PAST AND GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY.

Rom 12:9-21

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

NOW THE CLIMBER IS NOT ONLY ON THE GIVING SIDE OF LOVE BUT THEY MUST ALSO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF LOVE.

Eph 3:17-19

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and ength, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

EVERY CLIMBER WILL UNDERSTAND THAT RECEIVING THE LOVE OF GOD FOR THEMSELVES IS REALLY RECEIVING THE MOST POWERFUL SUPPLY OF ENERGY IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE BECAUSE GOD IS HIMSELF THAT LOVE, IN A REAL, PERSONAL AND INTIMATE WAY. HIS LOVE IS THERE TO ENCOURAGE, TO COMFORT AND TO ASSURE OUR HEARTS BEFORE HIM. EVERY CLIMBER IS SUSTAINED BY THE LOVE OF GOD EXPRESSED IN HIS DAILY PROVISION AND NOURISHMENT FOR THEIR LIVES. LISTEN, EVERY CLIMBER KNOWS THAT GOD IS HIS SOURCE AND HE IS DAILY DRAWING THE LIFE, LOVE AND POWER OF CHRIST TO TRIUMPH OVER ANY AND ALL ADVERSITY AND TO PRESS ON TO SUCCESS IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIVES BOTH PRIVATELY AND PUBICALLY.

Rom 8:31-39

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE A CLIMBER FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS SO THEY’RE ABLE TO ENDURE. CLIMBERS WILL POSSES THESE THREE THINGS, FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO PERSEVER AND ENDURE THROUGH THE HARD TIMES THAT CAUSE QUITTERS TO QUIT AND CAMPERS TO CAMP. BE CERTAIN OF ONE THING THIS MORNING, GOD IS FOR YOU AND NOT AGAINST YOU AND HAS GIVEN YOU A DESTINY TO CLIMB AND BE SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT EVER HE A CALLED YOU TO BE OR DO.