Sermon Cloud

You can’t swim the ocean without getting in the water

Thus the sons of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land. (Joshua 14:5)

Then the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the word which the LORD spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh-barnea. (Joshua 14:6)

"I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. (Joshua 14:7)

"Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the LORD my God fully. (Joshua 14:8)

"So Moses swore on that day, saying, `Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.' (Joshua 14:9)

"Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. (Joshua 14:10)

"I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. (Joshua 14:11)

"Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken." (Joshua 14:12)

So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. (Joshua 14:13)

Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite until this day, because he followed the LORD God of Israel fully. (Joshua 14:14)

Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba; for Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war. (Joshua 14:15)

Chapter 15

Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron). (Joshua 15:13)

Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak. (Joshua 15:14)

Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher. (Joshua 15:15)

And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife." (Joshua 15:16)

Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife. (Joshua 15:17)

It came about that when she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" (Joshua 15:18)

Then she said, "Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water." So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. (Joshua 15:19)

Judges

Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised; and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak. (Judges 1:20)

I title this sermon “You can’t swim the ocean without getting in the water”  Today, I want to talk about the walk that we have, our faith, and what we are doing with it.  In the verses we just read, Caleb goes to Joshua and reminds him of what Moses had said and asks for the hills of Hebron for his inheritance.  They are covered by fortified cities with giants(Anakim) living in them.  It is going to take a little work to conquer them.  Did I mention the small fact that Caleb is 85 years old.  An old man and his family going up into the mountains to fight with giants.  That is either absolute faith or absolute craziness. Take your pick. 

The Challenge Ahead

1. Challenge: to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.,   difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.

This last week I made a challenge to Brit to read a chapter of Galatians and then expound on it.  This is something that I am doing as well.  This week, it will be on Ephesians.  This is something that will help us learn and understand what the Word of God is saying.  So many times, when we read the Bible,  it is not to understand, but to read it.  It is like reading a newspaper, we read and then forget unless it is something that just sticks out to us.  I made that challenge so that we could take the time and learn what the Scripture is trying to tell us.  We just have to make the time to listen.  This challenge is something we took upon ourselves for our growth.  It was not easy, it took time, but because of it we learned and we grew.

Caleb’s challenge is a result of his faith.

The nation of Israel had been conquering the land of Canaan and had gotten far enough to start dividing it up.  Each part of tribes got a portion of the land and Caleb wants his portion.  Caleb had faith in God and the promises made that the portion he wanted would be his. Caleb had faith, there is no question about that.  The next part is he actually challenged his faith.  He put it to the test.  Caleb asked for a piece of land that he had faith would be his.  He then went out and conquered it.  He tested his faith.  He took up the challenge that had been laid before him and went out to battle.  Caleb’s faith in the promise of God resulted in action. 

Is your faith justified

"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. (Matthew 25:14)

"To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. (Matthew 25:15)

"Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. (Matthew 25:16)

"In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. (Matthew 25:17)

"But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. (Matthew 25:18)

"Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. (Matthew 25:19)

"The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, `Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' (Matthew 25:20)

"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' (Matthew 25:21)

"Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, `Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' (Matthew 25:22)

"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' (Matthew 25:23)

"And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. (Matthew 25:24)

`And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' (Matthew 25:25)

"But his master answered and said to him, `You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. (Matthew 25:26)

`Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. (Matthew 25:27)

`Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' (Matthew 25:28)

"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. (Matthew 25:29)

"Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)

Here is the story of three men that were entrusted with the master’s possessions.  Two did something with it while one hid it and waited for his master’s return.  The first two had to do some work to make the talents grow.  They probably endured some sleepless nights worrying about investments made, and they had to spend a lot of time to ensure that the master’s money was increasing as it should.  They had faith that the master would return and would hold them accountable for what was given.  They were not content though just to sit and wait but instead went to work for the master’s sake.  The third servant was either too lazy or made himself believe he was doing all he could for the master.  He did exactly as asked but made no more effort than that.  The other two took the entrusting of the possessions as a challenge to make them increase. God has entrusted us with his living word, his plan of salvation, and his church.  Will we bury them out of fear of losing something or will we accept the challenge placed before us.  God has gave us challenges to do. 

Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. (2 Timothy 2:14)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Read and study the words of God.  This is not just reading but an in-depth study.  It takes time and labor but it is worth it. Ephesians is this week’s challenge.  I dare you.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:19

Here is a challenge to take up, show me the proof you are doing it.

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, (James 2:15)

and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? (James 2:16)

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (James 2:19)

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:20)

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21)

You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (James 2:22)

and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:23)

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (James 2:25)

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)

These verses are pretty self explanatory, if you have faith you will have works, not talk.  Get your faith in action, make your faith stronger.  Challenges make us stronger just as going to the gym works out your muscles, working for God works out our faith and makes it stronger.

A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was OK and to tell him how sorry they were. In the midst of the works of pity, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, "I care 25 cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?" James 2:16 points out that words don't mean much if we have the ability to do more.

Faith and works are a very risky business.  We run the risk of failure, humiliation, loss of time, loss of wages, loss of respect.  How much do you care about this work that God has given us.  Are you willing to put the effort in to see it through, to make it grow.  Or would you prefer to bury it in an attempt to keep it from losing value.  How much do you care.  Are you willing to take the challenge that has been set before you.  If Brit wants to continue, the challenges will get harder.  But the harder the challenge, the greater the reward.  How much do you care.  What are you willing to sacrifice to take up the challenge that has been set before you.  Get up and do something.  If you do not get wet you will never cross the ocean.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8)

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9)

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10)