1. The Climb Journey towards holiness The Psalms of Ascent Psalm 120 The Psalms of Ascent Psalm 120

2. The Climb: Journey to Holiness “There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness.” Eugene Peterson “Make every effort to be holy; (because) without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:13 “Make every effort to be holy; (because) without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:13

3. The Climb: Journey to Holiness “Holiness in the highest sense is belonging to God, consecrated to his service, and conformed in all things to the will of God. Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance.” Easton Bible Dictionary Holiness is perfect conformity to the will of God in all things, at all times, and in all places.

4. The Climb: Journey to Holiness Jesus does not ask you, anywhere in the Gospels, to change the world but to change yourself, to take up your Cross and to follow Him. Only then can you be used by him to change the world. Jesus does not ask you, anywhere in the Gospels, to change the world but to change yourself, to take up your Cross and to follow Him. Only then can you be used by him to change the world.

5. The Climb: Journey to Holiness Songs of Ascent Psalm 120-134 Songs of Ascent Psalm 120-134 Yearly Festivals in Jerusalem: 1.Feast of Unleavened Bread - celebrating the Passover 2.Feast of First Fruits - celebrating the Harvest 3.Feast of Ingathering (Booths) - celebrating God's faithfulness at the end of the year Exodus 23 Yearly Festivals in Jerusalem: 1.Feast of Unleavened Bread - celebrating the Passover 2.Feast of First Fruits - celebrating the Harvest 3.Feast of Ingathering (Booths) - celebrating God's faithfulness at the end of the year Exodus 23

6. The Climb: Journey to Holiness Songs of Ascent Psalm 120-134 Songs of Ascent Psalm 120-134 The upward climb to Jerusalem, reminds us that as Christians we are on "an upward or heavenward journey in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14

7. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "I call on the Lord in my distress, "I call on the Lord in my distress, Psalm 120:1 Psalm 120:1

8. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me." "I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me." Psalm 120:1 Psalm 120:1 The climb begins with a call for God’s help and an assurance of God’s response The climb begins with a call for God’s help and an assurance of God’s response.

9. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "Save me, 0 Lord from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.” Psalm 120:2 "Save me, 0 Lord from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.” Psalm 120:2 The climb towards God is motivated by a dissatisfaction with the present situation.

10. The Climb: Journey to Holiness “Look at us all - we are all lost and in all of our different ways of pretending, we are fooling ourselves into the very same hell. Look at the cross - where we are all loved and where God meets us all at the point of our common need and brings to all who are willing, salvation.” Rich Mullins “Look at us all - we are all lost and in all of our different ways of pretending, we are fooling ourselves into the very same hell. Look at the cross - where we are all loved and where God meets us all at the point of our common need and brings to all who are willing, salvation.” Rich Mullins “Slander occasions distress of the most grievous kind.” Charles Surgeon “Slander occasions distress of the most grievous kind.” Charles Surgeon

11. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "What will he do to you and what more besides, 0 deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.” (v. 3) "Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!” (v. 5) "Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!” (v. 5) The climb towards God is motivated by a recognition of personal unworthiness

12. The Climb: Journey to Holiness A person must be thoroughly discouraged with the way things are before they are motivated to set out in a new direction. A person must be dissatisfied with where they are before they will walk again. "If this is your condition, why are you standing still?” "If this is your condition, why are you standing still?” Pilgrims Progress Pilgrims Progress "If this is your condition, why are you standing still?” "If this is your condition, why are you standing still?” Pilgrims Progress Pilgrims Progress The first step in the climb is a decision to move towards holiness, towards God.

13. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "Repentance is not emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your our own life and be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, education or training to make it on your own. It is deciding that God in Jesus is telling you the truth. Repentance is a decision to trust Jesus Christ and to become his pilgrim in the path of peace.” Eugene Peterson "Repentance is not emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your our own life and be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, education or training to make it on your own. It is deciding that God in Jesus is telling you the truth. Repentance is a decision to trust Jesus Christ and to become his pilgrim in the path of peace.” Eugene Peterson

14. The Climb: Journey to Holiness "It is not difficult to get people interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest.” Eugene Peterson "the essential thing in heaven and earth is that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; that results in the long run in something which has made life worth living." Friedrich Nietzsche

15. The Climb: Journey to Holiness ” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ” 1 John 1:9 Jesus has called for “the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Martin Luther

16. The Climb Journey towards holiness The Psalms of Ascent Psalm 120 The Psalms of Ascent Psalm 120