The Benefits of a Bold Believer

Right. if you would take your Bibles and turn with me to Joshua chapter 14, Joshua chapter number 14 is good to see. All of you who have come out on this beautiful day, beautiful day. If you were a fish, But I do appreciate y'all coming out.

This evening.

Let's pray before we get started, Our Father Lord, we are grateful for this opportunity to come in your house and to sing, just be reminded of of things to come. As we saying about the sweet by-and-by and you think about the Refuge and the shelter that we have now with with you and fall, we pray God. That's we look at this passage of scripture tonight. I pray that you would help us Lord, apply this truth to our heart. I pray that we would see the tremendous example of obedience and faith that is just so greatly exemplified in our text. I pray the Lord for the children and youth that are downstairs. Pray for all the teachers gone, I pray that you bless them and we ask all these things in Christ name, amen. Joshua chapter number 14, the title of the lesson tonight is the benefits of a bold believer. The benefits of a bold believer. That is something that is lacking in our society, especially within the political realm. And in the Christian realm, that thing of boldness boldness, the word bold means Fearless in the face of danger. Fearless in the face of danger in a general living in a day and time where it is past time that we display fearlessness and bold baldness.

Conservative leaders in. D.c. need to be very bold. They need to be Fearless during this time. Because as we all know, the left the Liberals are very bold, they are fearless. And so it's not the time to cower down to that. That's the our problem and that's what our problem has been. For the last several years, we've scoured down to that. I'm trying to play, you know mr. Nice guy and so forth. But that has just embolden the left and a liberal. So there are very bold, they're fearless, and they're pushing their agenda and we do need conservatives who are outspoken. And I thought Sarah Huckabee did a tremendous job last night. Declaring the, the stance that really all Republicans all conservatives should take and guess what? It's just a common-sense stance, right? But we is it's crazy. We're living in a society that is so postmodern is so post-christian that even if you're going to stand for common sense, you have to be bold to do that or you're going to be ridiculed and All sorts of things. So even conservatives, those who are our leaders in the state and DC need to be bold, Christians must also be bold We've lost that in especially as we think about American Christianity.

My boldness is certainly an adjectives, that describes, the individual that's in our text this evening that individuals name is Caleb. Caleb. Notice with me, first of all, the review of the past, the review of the past. We see this in the first 5 verses, Of Joshua's 14. It says these are the areas which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan. Which Ali-A's are the priest Joshua, the son of nun. And the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed as an inheritance to them. Their inheritance was by lot as the Lord has commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and the half tribes. Or half tribes singular for Moses had, given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half tribe. On the other side of the Jordan, but to believe, I see how to give a no inheritance among them, for the children of Joseph or two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim, and they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in whether, in lands for their livestock and their property as a lord had commanded Moses. So the children of Israel did and they divided the land, So we see there in the first 5 verses, I wearied of the review of the inheritance of some of the tribes of Israel. But we notice something inverse number to it is just that they divided the land by lot. They divided the land by lot and that is obviously not by lot Abraham's nephew. But what is this? When it says they divided it by lot. Well, the casting of lots is something that is found many times throughout scripture. As a matter of fact, it's found some 70 x alone in the Old Testament is found 7 times in the New Testament Source found very, very often times throughout the totality of scripture. But in spite of all these many references found concerning the casting of lots, not much is known about the actual lot itself. It could have been at their casting sticks of various sizes. You know, we play that game, you know, you picked the Short Straw or, you know, that type of thing. It could have been some type of a dice that they cast, we could say that a modern-day version of casting. A lot would be a flip of a coin. What would look like as a chance But however, or whatever the case is, whatever that casting the lot was. Here's something that we must realize the lot that was cast, was not by chance, but by God's Direction, And you can write this down, Proverbs, 16:33 by that verse right there, Joshua, 14 to you, the right Proverbs, 16:33 where it says, the lot is cast into the lap. You passed a lot, but it's every decision is from the Lord. So those things that we just think we just randomly cast, the Lord is Sovereign over that. And there we see this thing of Providence. What man thinks he does. As by chance. Allows man to do to carry out the Lord's. Sovereign will the very interesting there, we will see that verse 27 verse 5 indicates that the land is divided exactly as God instructed. It says as the Lord commanded Moses. So did the children of Israel. So the children of Israel did. So, what is the talents about Joshua? Well, it continues to show us that Joshua was totally totally obedient to God's commands. Tremendous. He's a tremendous example of total obedience. To what God has asked. Some people will obey God's word. if number one day agree with it, Lord, I will do this.

I agree with it. Others will obey the Lord if it's convenient for them.

But ignore the word when it seems harsh. Unfortunately, my beloved listen, God is looking for believers who follow God's instructions. Entirely not partially. As you as you know, half obedience are partial obedience is not obedience at all, right? You teach that to your children, you do something halfway. You're not obeying me at all, with the same thing is true with our obedience to the Lord and in that same thing as true as we look at Joshua, he totally is obedient to God's command. So the tribe of Judah was to receive their inheritance first. We see that verses 6 through 7. Then the children of Judah came to Joshua and gilgal and Caleb. The son of Jeff. Jeff Anna McKenna's. I said to him. You know, the word with the Lord said to Moses, the man of God concerning you and me and Katie Bernier. I was 40 years old, when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Pages Barnett to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. So we see the first mention here of Caleb, who is Caleb? Well, as the scripture tells us, he was one of the two spies. He was one of the two spies out of the 12 who came back with a favorable report. To enter the land, they were the only two out of 12 that said, hey Moses, we can take it. We can do this. And I do know the other 10 says, no, we cannot do this at all. There are giants in the land. Caleb and Joshua, Joshua being the other spy. They they agreed one of one with another. But we noticed here, something that is brought out in our scripture is that Caleb disagreed with majority. Which in this case was a brave thing to do because here the majority was wrong. He was obedient to God even when he was in the minority, he was rejected by the crowd. And if you'll read and Numbers Chapter 13, specifically numbers, 14, the crowd was so angry with Caleb and Joshua, they wanted to Stone them. It's amazing. but you see how Joshua and Caleb here being the two men who spoke out

Though, they were in the minority, they were ridiculed. They were, they were put in a very difficult spot. I think you would all. At some point or another, you have stood alone at some point in your life, you stood alone maybe for God in a group of people. Let you know, standing alone. It's tough. When you are the only believer, But it is much more difficult when you are standing alone on an issue, were many so-called Christians have compromised on a certain issue. See these people to whom Caleb and Joshua disagreed. With we're also God's people which made their minority even smaller. Okay. So these are not people that that work atheist or anything of that nature. These were people who said they believe in God. The Joshua and Caleb.

Student loan. Joshua and Caleb Drew strength from one another because of their obedience and surrender to the Lord. Promised to reward them, he promised to bless them. Matter fact, you let both of these men to enter into the promised land. He allowed them to not only enter into it but to live in the promise Promised Land As matter of fact, Caleb is singled out in the book of Deuteronomy. Excuse me, the Book of Numbers chapter 14 And verse 22. It says because all those men God is speaking here because all those men would have seen my glory and my Miracles, which I did an Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted. Me now, these 10 times, I have not hearken to my voice. Surely they shall not see the land, which I swear unto their fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me. See it, but my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him. And have followed me. Fully him. Will I bring into the land where into he went and his seed shall possess it. So, what was happening here? God was honoring. Caleb State, he was honoring, Caleb's courage, and his baldness. So, Caleb and Joshua were both totally yielded to the Lord. When you think about it, the majority of the spies the 10 out of the 12 Spies, the majority measured the Giants, according to their own strength, that's where they messed up. They messed up by measuring the Giants, according to their own strength. But Caleb and Joshua measure the Giants according against God's strength. The majority had great Giants but a little God. Caleb had a great God and Little Giants. The Caleb gone was the greater than the biggest problem. He was greater than the biggest problem. He had faith in the power of God. He had faith in the presence of God. He has faith in the promises of God.

What's so amazing? Is this Caleb's obedience?

Has continued now for 45 years. 45 years. The things that he's referring to, in the verses that we just read and versus six and seven. Those happened. 45 years previously, they guess what he still is faithful. He still was faithful behind the scenes. He was still obedient. We never find Caleb grumbling. We never find Caleb complaining or craving the leaks in the Garlic's of Egypt, like the other Jews. Did we never find Caleb entering into idolatry? No, he was loyal. He was consistent. He was steadfast. And to us tonight. Living in the New Testament era. The days are Gracie is a prime example of a sold-out surrendered, believer.

And I believe the first key to Caleb's success. Was that God had all of Caleb verse 8 noticed this God had all of Caleb. Nevertheless my brother and he went up with me made the heart of the people melt But I wholly followed the Lord my God. The same things repeating, the verse 14. Look at that verse 14 says Because the last part of her sports team, because he speaking of Caleb wholly, followed the Lord God of Israel.

Very interesting that phrase there is mention some six different times in the Bible concerning Caleb. That's the key to to Caleb's success of being faithful to God. That phrase. Holy followed. The Lord is a phrase that means to close the gap to close the gap. Is a phrase used by hunters. To refer to the closing, the gap between themselves, the Hunter and the prey. it refers to the fact that Caleb was absolutely committed to keeping the distance between himself and the Lord at a minimum He's wholly followed the Lord. You contrast, Caleb who wholly follow the lord to Peter, when Jesus was arrested. And Jesus, previously told Peter, hey Peter tonight, you going to deny me three times and Peterson. No I'm not not me. Lord. Well, you know, when Jesus was arrested Peter was warming himself by the fire and some of the people recognized Peter and said, hey, aren't you one of the followers of Jesus? Peter, of course, deny that he denied this three different times, but there's a key phrase in that, and in the Book of Luke tells us that Peter bottle, follow the lord from afar, Follow the lord from afar. He was following the Lord. But there's a great distance, great distance. That was not the description of Caleb. He wholly followed the Lord. He wanted. He wanted to close in that Gap as much as possible. Every inch, every ounce, every nerve, every fiber belong to God. Pretalen.

Now, it's easy for us to think, well, this only applies to preachers this only applies to deacons or Sunday school teachers or whatever.

But no different. It applies to every single one of us. God, deserves our all. he deserves our all and if you're holding even just a little back,

we ought to be ashamed of ourselves. Because, guess what? Every bit of you already belongs to him. 1st Corinthians 6, 19 and 20. Paul says what? Know, ye not that your body is the temple of God and that you have been bought with a price. Therefore, you are not your own your gods.

so, half-hearted Christians

Are faint-hearted Christians. Who are people who never learn to conquer the Giants in their lives.

The story is told of a man who rode in his car. As it was being towed to be repaired.

When they arrived at the repair shop, the tow truck, tow truck driver told him. He said, man, I did not think we're going to make it up that Steep Hill. To which the man replied. I didn't either. That's why I kept my feet on the brakes and so we wouldn't roll backwards. Well listen, that can be really descriptive of our life and our following of Jesus Christ and living the Christian Life. It's almost like we want to live a total dedicated life and we want to go for. But at the same time we have our feet on the break. We don't want to talk Ali surrender. The one who's leading us.

Reminds us of James, where he says a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. Hey, listen is only one way to stand up against the devil and the hordes of hell that we see so much of today, and that is to be totally surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. So we see the review of the past. I've been noticing verses 10 through 12, we see The request of Jacob maarse. The request of Caleb verse 10 says and now behold, the Lord has kept me alive and he said these 45 years ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now here I am. I this day 85 years old. And yet, I am as strong this day as in a day that Moses sent me just as my strength was then. So now is my strength for war both were going out and for coming in Now therefore give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day. For you heard in that day, how the anakim were there and that the cities were great in 45 and fortified, it may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall be able to drive them out as a lord said. And so Caleb at 85 years old says, give me this mountain. Who are the anakim? In about. Remember the Giants, the Giants. So Caleb requested in his hold years. The area that struck fear into those 10, Young spies the mountain of giants. you said, where did Caleb get his confidence at Well, Caleb's confidence. His face was in God's word, that's where you got it. Deuteronomy chapter 1 verse 34. Says in the Lord heard the voice of your words and was Roth. And swear saying surely they're still not one of these men of this evil generation. See that good land? Which I swear to give unto your father's save the son of Jeff Anna he shall see it and to him will I give the land that he has trodden upon and to his children because he has wholly followed the Lord. So Caleb knew God had given it to him. And what we see there in those verses 10 through 12 is him claiming that. Now, what is that? That's fake. That is fake. And what we see here is that faith is not positive thinking that's not faith. Faith is not having just optimism. Faith is not looking on the bright side save is simply acting upon what God has said. That's what faith is.

Faith is more than saying that, you believe it is acting upon what you say you believe. Hebrews 11. Verse 1 gives us a good definition of Faith. Now, Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen. And bloodless and afford to have spiritual Victory. We must have faith.

In fact, faith in God, alone can give us the victory. That we seek Hebrews 11:6 says, but without faith it is impossible to please God. There's no way, no way possible for us to please. God without faith. Romans 14:23. Tosses that whatsoever. That is in our life. That is not a fake. It's n. Watch, whatever is not of faith is sin. And so, faith is never a blind leap in the dark. Don't ever believe that. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, but rather it is a deep settled conviction that God will do will do what he has promised. He will do. So faith is not a blind leaking, a leap in the dark. Because why we have faith in what God promised. And what he has promised is his word and his word is not dark. Is it his word is light. His word is a light into our path.

So we see the request of Caleb is Faith and what God had told him years and years before.

The notice Lashley, the reward for Caleb as we hear the thunder roll. The reward and verse 13. And Joshua blessed him. And gave Hebron to Caleb. The son of Jeff Anna as an inheritance.

Hebron, therefore, became the inheritance of Caleb, the son of Jeff Anna. The kenizzite to this day because he wholly, follow the lord god of Israel. And the name of Hebron formerly was courage at Arbor. Author was the greatest man among the anakim among the Giants, then the land had rest from war. So we're either that Caleb experience. But God had promised, he climb the mountain. He defeated the Giants and he claimed his possessions that God had already given to him. And remember, this man is 85 years old. He's great headed. But yet God uses him and my what a great example that is to us that God uses us even in our old age to do amazing things. That's right! Right there. Okay.

John said, amen with thunder. We noticed the name. of the place that Caleb inherited was the name Hebron Hebron the name, Hebron means Fellowship. I love that because we see here that Caleb refused to stop. Until he had totally obtained that place of intimate fellowship with God. And folks, listen to ought to be our Battle Cry tonight.

We have to refuse to give up. We ought to refuse to back up. We ought to refuse to shut up. Against the evil against the Demonic tie, that is sweeping over our nation. Savvy. The church as a whole has largely failed to understand our calling right now, just as it was in Caleb's day and Joshua's day and that the church

Is to be militant. We are in a war. It's a battle. And we have an American Christians, have lost that. We think the battle is more of a festival or some type of a party. That's why we've lost so much ground. And Silent many, do not understand that. And that is why. Since these bullets have started flying here? Lately, many. Sadly, Evangelical leaders in the church. I've got nervous and they have said something like this. Well, wait a minute, wait a minute. We got to do something to stop the bullets from flying. I think we just need to be nicer. That's what we ought to just be nice and maybe they wouldn't try to oppose us as much maybe for this extra nice. Compromise. Just on some small things, maybe we won't be as hated as much. No, no, no.

You cannot compromise. Or make deals with a rattlesnake. You cannot do it.

And you just being nice is not somehow going to make things better for you as a Christian.

Just think about this. Jesus was the sweetest and nicest man who ever walked on the face of this Earth.

He healed the sick. He even raised the debt. He cast out demons.

Sweetest man who ever walked upon this Earth executed. They did not execute him because he wasn't being nice. They executed him because he was telling the truth and they wanted to somehow try to silence the truth. So don't ever believe the lie that we just need to lay down our doctrines and lay down our convictions. Just be nice, that's a lie, Straight From Hell?

We do not hate people. When we tell them the truth, even though they can screw it that way and turn it that way. Know, we love them enough to stand for the truth and to try to help them understand the truth. Because if they stay on that same path, they're going to hell. I love what the late great, dr. R G Lee said, he said, I know some people call the preacher who stand squarely upon the teaching of Christ and the apostles Narrow harsh and cruel. And then he said, asked to being narrow. I have no desire to any broader to be any broader than was Jesus. After being cruel, is it? Cruel to tell her tell a man, the truth Is a man to be called cruel. Who declares the whole counsel of God and points out, two men there. Danger. Is it cruel to arouse sleeping people to the fact that the house is on fire? Is it cruel to jerk a blind man away from a rattlesnake. Is it cruel to declare two people, the deadliness of disease and tell them which medicine to take. Then dr. Lee said this. He said I'd rather be called cruel for being kind. Then to be called kind for being cruel. And that's awesome that sums up exactly what we as a church ought to be. By our kindness, we're showing our kindness by telling them the truth in love. And may God help us to have the same conviction. Caleb ID of old and not just a one-time courage. Or obedience and Faith, but a lifetime of obedience and faith. Alright, well, let's take some prayer request.

and maybe by the time we get through praying, the rain Would have. Settle down a little bit. Do we have a special prayer request tonight? We need to mention or any updates on this list.

Anybody.

All right. We'll just pray for our Our church. Our country for sure. and, I do need to mention Mike Heflin, he's on this list, he's in between Richard Hartley's, aunts and darling Hensley. He's a visitor that's been coming in. His wife have been coming. The last Several months, but the last two months, he's been unable to come due to his house. He has stage 4 cancer of the liver. And he fell on Christmas day in. Cracked the skull spent several days in the hospital. and now, it's just In the last stages of cancer itself. So pray for the Heflin family, we don't know them very well but they're going through a very difficult time in their life.

Continue Piper. Do want to love Kia. She's recovering.

I will lead us in a word of prayer and those who feel led to pray and pray and then Rob, if you would close this in a word of Prayer,

Are gracious and kind father week.