Over the last seven messages I touched on the subject of climbing the spiritual mountain, through unlimiting God in our lives. Today, we’re starting a new series of messages called, “The Exchanged Life!” We will be looking at Christian Men and Women who’ve experienced such change. As a result of their exchanged lives, they lived fruitful lives for the Lord and climbed the spiritual mountains in their lives. Prayerfully their insights and lives will serve as examples and inspirations for us.

I’d like us to consider a quote by Oswald Chambers, a Scottish Baptist Evangelist that lived in the late 1800’s. I think it gives us insight in to the method needed to successfully climb that spiritual mountain set before us.
“Climbing in the Spirit is accomplished by kneeling, and not by running, by surrender and not by determination.”
Oswald Chambers

I can understand why we need to be in prayer…
I can understand not running ahead of God…
I can understand surrendering my life to God…
But, why is it that we’re not to have the determination to climb that spiritual mountain?

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, which has several definitions relating to the word “determination”; the best definition to describe the use of this word in Oswald Chambers’ quote is this one cited in 3b:
“firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end or fierce determination to succeed.”

What I want us to see in this definition of “determination” is that there is a person who has decided that they will achieve and succeed. This is what Oswald Chambers’ quote directs us not to do.

We cannot achieve nor succeed in that spiritual climb by our own strength.

I love this next quote from Oswald Chambers:
“Many a soul will turn back to accustom marshlands of defeat, rather than brave the fogs of frustrations; but the mountain peaks rise high above the mountain gloom.”

We have to be “determined” to rely on God’s power to endure the “spiritual fog”.

We need to have faith that God will guide us through the fog to His desired destination, no matter how long it takes. For those of us who have driven through the dense fog of the valley, we know that sometimes the trip to where we are going takes longer. We just need to stay focused and drive slowly.

Now, let’s look at a Biblical example through the life of the Apostle Peter. Turn with me to John 1: 35 - 42.

Simon Peter decided to follow after Jesus and learn from Him. Why did Jesus change Simon’s name to Cephas? Cephas means a piece of rock.

Jesus began His work in Simon Peter’s life.

When we come to know Jesus as our Messiah, He begins a work in us, as well.

Peter’s ambition for Christ was great. Look at John 13: 36 – 38.

Peter’s ambition was great, but Jesus knew his heart and his future, as He knows ours.

Let’s look at the great crisis of belief that Peter would face when Jesus was brought into the High Priest’s house. Look at Luke 22: 56 – 62.

This was a critical point in Peter’s following Jesus. He could have decided here not to follow Jesus anymore, but later we read that he chose to remain faithful. He came to the tomb when Mary reported that she had seen the Lord in the garden.

But there was something still missing for Peter. He needed for the relationship between himself and Jesus to be restored. Look at John 21: 15 – 19.

Countless Christians have encountered a pattern, step by step to a higher plain in Christ that involves crisis of belief like Peter. Rev. Chambers puts it this way:
“First there is the hunger of the heart, often followed by a sense of desperation that leads to utter surrender of self.”

Many times, there is a crisis that must be endured to discover a deeper life in Christ.

Not only did Peter let go of his old life totally, but he committed his life fully and completely over to Jesus and the purpose God had for the rest of his life. Peter exchanged his old life of being a fisherman, to being a fisher of men for Jesus.

God desires to live His life totally and fully through us, but it requires each of us to be willing and ready to embrace what I call “the Exchanged Life.”

Will you exchange your life, for the life Christ wants to live through you?