Mountains of Faith: Finding Hope in God

 

Summary

Standing amidst the majestic Swiss Alps, I am reminded of the profound symbolism mountains hold in our spiritual journey. These towering peaks, immovable and awe-inspiring, serve as a metaphor for the challenges and aspirations in our lives. As I reflect on Psalm 121, "I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?" I am reminded that our help does not come from the hills themselves, but from the Creator of those hills. This is a call to shift our focus from our limitations to the boundless power of God.

In our daily lives, we often face mountains—obstacles that seem insurmountable. Yet, Jesus teaches us in Matthew 17 that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. This is not about the quantity of our faith, but the greatness of the God in whom we place our faith. It is better to have a little faith in a big God than a lot of faith in a small one.

Mountains also remind us of the idols we might unknowingly worship, such as wealth or status. These "high places" can become distractions, pulling us away from the true source of our security and peace. As the stock market fluctuates, we are reminded that our security is not found in material wealth but in the Lord.

Moreover, God is not only the God of the mountains but also the God of the valleys. In 1 Kings 20, God demonstrates His power in both the hills and the plains, affirming that His presence is with us in both our high and low moments. Whether we are experiencing a mountaintop moment of inspiration or walking through a valley of despair, God is with us.

Finally, the ultimate hill, Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, represents the pinnacle of God's love and sacrifice. It is here that we see the mystery of a God who dies so that we might have life beyond death. This is the hope we cling to, the assurance that our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Directing Our Focus: We have the power to choose where we direct our attention. By lifting our eyes beyond our immediate problems and limitations, we open ourselves to God's presence and guidance. This act of lifting our eyes is a daily invitation to worship and trust in God's sovereignty. [00:56]

2. Faith in a Big God: Jesus teaches that even a small amount of faith can move mountains. This emphasizes the importance of the object of our faith rather than its size. Trusting in a big God, even with a mustard seed of faith, can lead to miraculous changes in our lives. [04:45]

3. Identifying Idols: Mountains can symbolize the idols in our lives, such as wealth or status, which we might mistakenly rely on for security. Recognizing these idols helps us refocus on God as our true source of help and security. [06:11]

4. God of Hills and Valleys: God is present in both our high and low moments. Whether we are on a mountaintop or in a valley, God's presence is constant, offering us strength and comfort in every situation. [07:55]

5. The Hope of Calvary: The hill of Calvary represents the ultimate expression of God's love and sacrifice. It is a reminder that through Jesus' death and resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life and the assurance that our struggles are not the end of our story. [09:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - The Beauty of the Swiss Alps
- [00:41] - Psalm 121: Lifting Our Eyes
- [01:35] - Redirecting Our Path
- [02:16] - Source of Our Help
- [03:06] - Personal Mountain Experiences
- [04:19] - Faith and Moving Mountains
- [05:09] - Inspiration and Transcendence
- [06:11] - Identifying Idols
- [06:51] - God of Hills and Valleys
- [08:21] - Meeting God in Every Place
- [09:00] - Transfiguration and Humanity
- [09:14] - The Hill of Calvary
- [09:45] - The Hope Beyond Death
- [09:58] - Closing Reflections

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 121:1-2 - "I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
2. Matthew 17:20 - "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, 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.'"
3. 1 Kings 20:28 - "The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, 'This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.'"

Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 121, what does the psalmist mean by lifting up their eyes to the hills, and where does their help truly come from? [02:04]
2. According to Matthew 17:20, what is the significance of having faith as small as a mustard seed? [04:45]
3. How does 1 Kings 20:28 illustrate God's power and presence in both the hills and the valleys? [07:40]
4. What are some examples of "mountains" or challenges mentioned in the sermon that people might face in their lives? [04:19]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of directing our focus, as mentioned in Psalm 121, relate to the challenges we face in our daily lives? [00:56]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between the size of our faith and the greatness of God? How does this impact our understanding of faith? [04:56]
3. In what ways can mountains symbolize idols in our lives, and how can recognizing these idols help us refocus on God? [06:11]
4. How does the story from 1 Kings 20 challenge the idea of God being limited to certain areas or situations in our lives? [07:40]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge or "mountain" in your life. How can you shift your focus from the problem to God's power and presence? [02:04]
2. Consider a situation where you feel your faith is small. How can you remind yourself of the greatness of God in that situation? [04:56]
3. Identify a potential idol in your life, such as wealth or status. What steps can you take to ensure it does not distract you from your relationship with God? [06:11]
4. Think about a time when you experienced a "valley" moment. How did you sense God's presence during that time, and how can you apply that experience to future challenges? [07:55]
5. How does the message of Calvary, as the ultimate expression of God's love, influence your perspective on life's struggles and the hope of eternal life? [09:28]
6. What practical steps can you take to lift your eyes and heart daily, focusing on God's sovereignty and guidance? [01:47]
7. How can you encourage someone else who might be facing their own "mountain" to trust in God's power and presence? [04:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Lifting Our Eyes to God's Sovereignty
In the midst of life's challenges, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by our limitations. However, the act of lifting our eyes beyond these immediate problems is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and presence. Psalm 121 encourages us to look beyond the hills, symbolizing our challenges, to the Creator of those hills. This daily practice of redirecting our focus is an invitation to worship and trust in God's guidance and power. By choosing to focus on God rather than our limitations, we open ourselves to His presence and the peace that comes with it. [00:56]

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific challenge you are facing today? How can you intentionally shift your focus from this challenge to God's sovereignty and presence?


Day 2: Trusting in a Big God
Faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. This teaching from Jesus emphasizes the importance of the object of our faith rather than its size. It is not about how much faith we have, but in whom we place our faith. Trusting in a big God, even with a small amount of faith, can lead to miraculous changes in our lives. This perspective encourages us to rely on God's greatness and power, rather than our own strength or understanding. [04:45]

"And Jesus answered them, 'Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea," it will happen.'" (Matthew 21:21, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God more? How can you begin to place even a small amount of faith in His power today?


Day 3: Recognizing and Releasing Idols
Mountains can symbolize the idols in our lives, such as wealth or status, which we might mistakenly rely on for security. These "high places" can distract us from the true source of our help and security, which is God. By identifying these idols, we can refocus our attention on God and find true peace and security in Him. This process involves a conscious effort to recognize what we are placing above God in our lives and choosing to release these idols to Him. [06:11]

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one idol in your life that you need to release to God? How can you begin to refocus your attention on Him as your true source of security?


Day 4: Experiencing God in Every Season
God is present in both our high and low moments. Whether we are experiencing a mountaintop moment of inspiration or walking through a valley of despair, God's presence is constant. This assurance offers us strength and comfort in every situation, reminding us that we are never alone. By acknowledging God's presence in every season of life, we can find peace and hope, regardless of our circumstances. [07:55]

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you become more aware of God's presence in both the high and low moments of your life? What is one way you can invite Him into your current season?


Day 5: Embracing the Hope of Calvary
The hill of Calvary represents the ultimate expression of God's love and sacrifice. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life and the assurance that our struggles are not the end of our story. This hope is a powerful reminder of God's love for us and His desire for us to experience life beyond death. By embracing the hope of Calvary, we can find strength and courage to face the challenges of life, knowing that our help comes from the Lord. [09:28]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: How does the hope of Calvary impact your perspective on your current struggles? What is one way you can embrace this hope in your daily life?

Quotes


"That little phrase I lift up my eyes reminds me that I'm able to direct my attention I'm able to choose what it is that I will focus on. While we're here Nancy and I will often take long hikes and you go from one little village through the mountains get to another one." [00:50:48]

"I lift up my eyes I look beyond myself I look beyond my little problems I look beyond my limitations God constantly invites me to do this beyond my inadequacy I lift up my eyes to the hills where's my help come from and now it's important to remember that when the psalmist said those words the idea was not my help cometh from the hills." [00:118:79]

"But what I cling to is the promise of Jesus that it's a much better thing to have a little bit of faith in a real big God than a whole lot of faith in a real little God and so I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from doesn't come from the hills it comes from the one who made those hills." [00:296:40]

"Heals in the ancient world were also a place where idols were worshiped and if you're a bible person at all if you read much about the old testament you know that very often they will talk about it is the job of the leaders of Israel to destroy the high places the high places where where altars were built and sacrifices were made sometimes chilling ones sometimes even infant sacrifices to idols." [00:335:91]

"The stock market which is another one of those hills which can be another one of those idols um economy and money is not doing too well it is on its way down it is not on its way up and it's an opportunity to remember oh yeah I don't find my security in that particular hill on that particular mountain." [00:379:60]

"Israel is at battle ben haydad of the arameans comes up against them and and loses to them God gives the victory to the israelites in the city of samaria which is located in the hills so the advisers to this pagan king say to him well the reason that we lost is that the Israel's god is the god of the hills." [00:415:68]

"Because they think that I am the god only of the hills and not the god of the plains I will give you the victory in the valleys so that you might know I am the god of the hills and I am the god of the valleys and I love that thought as I walk through my life we have a natural tendency to think of mountaintop experiences." [00:460:96]

"When I come to a day when I feel low I don't have to try to elevate myself I don't have to try to make myself feel good or strong he is the he is the god of the hills he is the god of the valleys I will meet him either place how beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news." [00:494:31]

"Where we see what humanity can be Jesus is transfigured he glows he is radiant with the presence and the power of god and part of why that's so significant is it has always been understood this is a picture of how Jesus became like us what our humanity might yet become I lift my eyes to the hills." [00:533:44]

"Where he is lifted up on a cross and on that hill we see not the mystery of a human being becoming fully alive we see the mystery of a god who dies from suffering love so that our death doesn't have to be the last word in our lives so that we can have the hope of life beyond death." [00:559:51]

"So that's the word from this place of great mountains where we lift up our eyes and we remember where our hope really lies he is the god of the mountains he is the god of the valleys he will meet me he will meet you today however high or low we may be." [00:587:36]

"I love you have a great day." [00:608:95]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 20, 2022. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?