Facing “The mountains of life.”
Elvis “This time you gave me a mountain” Born in the heat of the desert, My mother died giving me life Deprived of the love of a father, Blamed for the loss of his wife You know lord I’ve been in a prison, For something that I never done Its been one hill after another, I’ve climbed them all one by one
But this time, lord you gave me a mountain, A mountain you know I may never climb It isn’t just a hill any longer, You gave me a mountain this time
My woman got tired of heartaches, Tired of the grief and the strife So tired of working for nothing, Just tired of being my wife She took my one ray of sunshine, She took my pride and my joy She took my reason for living, She took my small baby boy
But this time, lord you gave me a mountain, A mountain you know I may never climb It isn’t just a hill any longer, You gave me a mountain this time.
Ever felt like God gave you a mountain? As we see about Job
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. NKJV
Ever felt like your name came up in that conversation ever felt like saying
” You gave me a mountain this time. “
Well, we need mountains in our life cause they build up your character, they make you what you are. God knew Job was good but did Job.
- Intro.
Bible’s mountains
– Abraham offers Isaac upon Mount Moriah, afterward called Mount Zion, the site of the temple (later in the time of Solomon)
– Mount Horeb was appointed as a place for the Israelites to worship
– Jesus tempted upon
– Jesus preaches from
– Jesus goes up into, for prayer
– Is transfigured upon
– Removed by faith
– Mt. Calvary
- What Mountains Are For
- Mountains make you look up.
- Mountains make you make decisions Around it, Over it, or Thru it.
- Decisions build character (how you handle the mountain)
- Mountains show how Small you are.
- Mountains Get you ready for Bigger Mountains
The bear went up the mountain to see what he could see, he saw another mountain, what did he do then? The bear went up the mountain to see what he could see, he saw another mountain, what did he do then…
No matter the Mountains one has to face there is always another mountain to face.
III. Example
605 B.C. Daniel was taken captive
586 B.C. Judah falls; Jerusalem is destroyed and the temple
538 B.C. Cyrus’s decree allowed the exiles to return.
536 B.C. temple construction begins temple foundation was rebuilt after 2 years then the Samaritans’ delayed the building for 17 years then
Ezra 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. KJV
ZECHARIAH [zack ah RIE a] (Jehovah remembers) –
A prophet in the days of Ezra (Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Zech 1:1,7; 7:1,8) and author of the Book of Zechariah. A leader in the restoration of the nation of Israel following the Captivity, Zechariah was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai, the governor Zerubbabel, and the high priest Joshua. Zechariah himself was an important person during the period of the restoration of the community of Israel in the land of Palestine after the Captivity.
The Book of Zechariah begins with a note concerning the prophet. He is returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon (Zech 1:1,7, also Ezra 5:1; 6:14). This means that Zechariah himself was probably a priest and that his prophetic activity was in close association with the religious center of the nation. His vision of Joshua the high priest (Zech 3:1-5) takes on added importance since he served as a priest in association with Joshua. Zechariah began his ministry while still a young man (Zech 2:4) in 520 BC, two months after Haggai completed the prophecies that are recorded in the Book of Haggai.
Zechariah is walking and talking to an Angel
Zechariah 4:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.
3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Might = chayil (khah’-yil);probably a force, whether of men, means, or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:
activity, (+)army, a band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+)valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).
Power = koach (ko’-akh); or to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard: -ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power (-ful), strength, substance, wealth.
the LORD of hosts = Yehovah (yeh-ho-vaw’); from OT:1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: KJV – Jehovah, the Lord.
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ‘ ”
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
vs 10 ” small thing” Sometimes small things are our mountains (they look big to us.)
Dr. Charles Stanley wrote;
1.) When God calls you to a task, He assumes the responsibility of removing hindrances that would keep you from accomplishing that task.
A.) God is only committed to removing the obstacles and hindrances to those things which are the will of God for our lives
B.) Make sure you are not an obstacle or hindrance.
(God uses only clean pots) my dear friend Ben Bennett when he calls with a prayer request he always asks “Are you clean????”
Well, are you clean???
Hag 1:22 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.
back to Zechariah;
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it…
Note: Zerubbabel was building his own house at the time.
So do not let your plans get in the way of God’s plans.
2.) We are to face our task in the power of the holy spirit, not in our own energy and strength.
“God, in his love, always wills what is best for us.
In His wisdom, He always knows what is best,
And in His Sovereignty, He has the power to bring it about.”
Zechariah 6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
- How to face life mountains
Jesus just finished talking about John the Baptist then:
Matthew 17:14-21 (NKJV)
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Amplified vs:20 “He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [ that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [ that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to younder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. ”
Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
You have to get involved in a relationship with God.
Talk to your mountain and tell it what to do. STOP telling God how big your mountain is and start telling your mountain how big your God is!!!
Is your God too small?
God has a way of getting your needs met.
Your problem is solved.
That way is rooted in your faith becoming a seed, seed faith.
When you plant a seed,
God changes the nature of that seed so that becomes a plant:
Mustard seed: A. THE PLANT ITSELF…
1. The mustard plant is well known for its hot-flavored seeds
2. Among seeds sown in a garden, it was generally the smallest
3. As a plant, it reaches ten, sometimes fifteen feet in height
4. In the fall of the year, its branches have become rigid, and the plant often serves as a shelter for birds of many kinds. (William Hendricksen, Commentary on Matthew)
And the power of life surges in that tender young plant to such a great extent that even a mountain of earth cannot stop it from pushing upward!
Jesus says our faith is like a seed. When we put our faith into action, that is, when we release it to God. It takes on a totally new nature. It takes on the nature of a miracle in the making.
But I do not have faith, God says you do;
- God says you must have a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
It is resident within you. So how do you get more?
- God says that this faith comes alive by hearing.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- God says that you can apply your faith to see your daily needs met. How? You do something as an act of your faith. You sew the mustard seed smallness of your faith into an action of love. Then, when our faith has been planted and it growing, speak to your mountain and watch God set about its removal.
Watch it work in John with Jesus
John 6:3-14 (NKJV)
3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
It is not the amount of faith but what you put your faith in.
Thin Ice vs Thick Ice; I can walk out on thick ice on a lake in the wintertime and have very little faith in the ice but it still holds me, or I can have an abundance of faith in thin ice and walk out on it and end up getting wet and cold. It’s what I put my faith in that matters.
Faith that appears small or weak to us still can accomplish the humanly impossible. This mountain was a figure for an obstacle, a hindrance, for a humanly insurmountable problem none of which is impossible for God to deal with through committed people who accurately understand their authority, and know his power, will, purpose, and provision.
Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV)
17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
Jeremiah 32:26-27 (NKJV)
26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
Is there anything too hard for God.????
Faith is not a dark room we walk in hoping to be ok. But a well-lit room with God’s hand leading all the way.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
I have seen God answer prayers years after someone died that prayed them. By Faith….
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Why am I still facing this mountain?
because you are letting Satin get the victory,
2 powers here working all the time and these mountains make you ineffective for Christ.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Matthew 21:18-22 (NKJV)
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
- you say: to the mountain
- you ask: In Prayer
- you believe: God to handle the problem
- you receive. Which builds more faith;
- Identify you Mountain and deal with It.
What is the mountain of your life? Loneliness, Trouble on the job, Disease, A wounded relationship, Rejection, Trouble in your home? Money or the lack of. something else? Be Encouraged! Jesus shows a way to see that mountain Removed!
- Tired of facing the same mountain??
Deuteronomy 1:6 (NKJV)
6 “The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
MOUNT HOREB, [HOHR eb] (waste) – the “mountain of God” (Ex 18:5) in the Sinai Peninsula where Moses heard God speaking through the burning bush (Ex 3:1) and where the law was given to Israel (see Map 2, B-2).
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Deuteronomy 2:2-3 (NKJV)
2 And the LORD spoke to me, saying:
3 ‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward.
or
You Have dealt with this enough!!! It is time to move on.
VII. Close Trust God.
He will not leave you alone.
Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” NKJV
Deut 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” NKJV
Josh 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. NKJV
1 Sam 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. NKJV
1 Chron 28:20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God — my God — will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. NKJV
Isa 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ NKJV
Know this YOU are not ALONE!!!!
Not my Battle but God’s.
6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Leave it there and move on.
- Mountains make you look up.
- Mountains make you make decisions
- Decisions build character (how you handle the mountain)
- Mountains show how Small you are.
- Mountains Get you ready for Bigger Mountains
(The bear went up the mountain)
