Give Me This Mountain

Joshua 14:6-14

Give Me This Mountain

There is a story of a Norwegian fisherman, who took his son out fishing one day, on this day the fish were biting extremely well, and so, the father and son continued to follow the fish farther and father out into the sea. But while they were out there came a terrible storm and it caused the father and son to become lost at sea. Now as the storm raged, the wife of the fisherman became terribly worried about her husband and son, as they had been gone way to long. So, she made her way to the docks to look for them. As she was there at the docks and this storm is raging, there was a streak of lightening that struck their home up on the hill. The wife looked and saw that her home was now on fire. So, she rushed back home, but not able to do anything about the fire, the house burned to the ground. Heartbroken that she has lost her home, husband, and son she went back to the docks once more. But to her surprise there was her husband and son. She was so excited to see them, but then she broke the news to them both that their home had burned down. The husband could only smile during this tragic news, and when she had finished, he told her that if it wasn’t for the home burning, that they would still be lost at sea. You see, the light from the house on the hill burning, gave them the path of which to get back to land. And if the wife hadn’t got worried and came to the dock, she would have been in the house when it burned to the ground.

Often times, we have problems arise in our life that seem like mountains. Scenarios that we can’t see anything good about. But as Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid of the problems that come, nor should we be worried about what could happen. Instead, what we need to do, is look at the problems as opportunities. Opportunities to see God.

This is the case in the passage we find here today. A man with a mountain of problems, but instead of despairing over it, he looked at it as the opportunity to see God shine upon his life.

I look around at us today, and we are surrounded by mountains. Spiritual mountains that are made up of many different problems. Now we can fear those mountains, or we can take on those mountains and claim them in the name of Jesus.

(Read Scripture)

The passage here regarding Caleb is really a motivational passage to remind us, that problems are just unclaimed promises. And today, we need to quit looking at our mountains as impossible situations, but look at them as opportunities to prove our Lord.

Caleb said to Joshua and to Israel, give me this mountain. In essence he is saying give me this problem that you might see God.

Now, I will be honest, I don’t like to look for problems, but problems have a way of coming into our life. But if we look at that mountain, with confidence with Christ, we can see that the mountain will turn from problems into promises.

Now I want you to notice some important things that we find in this passage.

Point 1 – verses 6-7 & 9 Unforgettable Promises

(Explanation)

· It is easy to have a problem arise in our life and we forget what the scripture teaches.

· Mountains look intimidating, they are huge, and some of the things we face in life are just like that.

· The immensity of the mountain often causes us to forget the important truths found in scripture.

(Illustration)

· Caleb had that mountain looming in his life for 45 years, but when he saw that mountain again, he remembered that the Lord had promised it to him.

· David was anointed to be king of Israel even when Israel had a king, he was harassed, chased, and having his life threatened, but he never forgot what the Lord had said through the scriptures.

(Application)

· We don’t need to forget the Lord’s promises (vs 6-7,9) – Caleb didn’t forget.

· Have you ever seen a rainbow in the sky after a storm, what is it a symbol of? God’s promises.

· When there is a mountain of problems awaiting us in life, instead of focusing in on it, focus on what God has told us in his word.

· Example: Matthew 28:20 “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

· Don’t forget the promises of God’s Word, and here is a verse you can pray to help you with this: Psalm 119:116 “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope”

Point 2 – (vs 8) Unbelieving People

(Explanation)

· Where do problems come from? Some we bring onto ourselves, others can come in the form of others.

· Sometimes when I am faced with a problem, I ask myself how did I get myself into this.

· We can allow problems to stand in the way of promises.

(Illustration)

· Where did Caleb’s problem come from? It wasn’t his disobedience or unbelief. His problem came when others didn’t believe.

· Jonah caused problems for those on the ship when he headed to Tarshish instead of Nineveh.

(Application)

· Problems can arise from other’s unbelief or disobedience (vs 8)

· Think about the doubters who surround you in your life. If we are not careful they will cause us to wander in the wilderness instead of receiving the promise.

· When we surround ourselves with the wrong people, we are going to hinder the promises of the Lord in our life.

· Some people we can’t help be around.

· Don’t let the problems discourage your hope in the Lord.

Point 3 – (vs 10-11) Undeniable Power

(Explanation)

· Now Caleb explains that God gave him the strength to face his mountain.

· Every mountain that we face, if we trust in the Lord, he will provide us with the strength to face it.

· Now Caleb was 85 years old but he had the strength of a 40 year old. How is this possible? God made it possible.

(Illustration)

· Jesus being beaten, scourged, and then nailed to a cross

(Application)

· God gives us the strength to face our problems (vs 10-11)

· A parent loses a child, where does the strength come from to keep going on? God

· A bad health diagnosis is given, where does our comfort come from? Jesus

· Whatever the mountain that looms in our life, the strength to face it comes only by the Lord.

· Psalms 121:1-2 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heave and earth.”

Point 4 – (vs 12-14) Unwavering Profession

(Explanation)

· What does Caleb say about that mountain full of giants? He said give me this mountain.

· When you see problems what do you do? Do you run away from them or do you face them?

· Caleb illustrates to us, that problems are not meant to frighten us, but just give the opportunity to see the Lord work.

(Illustration)

· Now what is on that mountain? A bunch of giants. Just more problems. But what did Caleb say, give them to me, because God has already said it was mine.

(Application)

· Claiming those mountains will testify of the Lord to others (vs 12-14)

· We shouldn’t let those mountains intimidate us in our faith in the Lord.

· Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

· You know Caleb stands out in the scripture for what he says right here.

· There are going to be times, where you can stand before people and testify exactly who the Lord is in your life.

Many of us are here, and there is a mountain in our life. Do we see problems or do we see possession.

You see it is all about perspective. The reason why so many are living in fear is that their perspective is in the wrong place. You are looking at the giants instead of God.

Now your problem might be at home, it might be in the work place, it might be with your neighbor, it might be within yourself.

Who are you going to be? Someone who is scared, or are you going to be like Caleb and say give me this mountain?

Give me my home, give me my marriage, give me my life, give me victory. Don’t let the problem rob you of the possession. Today claim it for Christ and have victory.

That mountain make look intimidating, it might be filled with giants, but we have a God who is bigger than any mountain, stronger than any giant, and if we would just trust in him, then that mountain will become our possession.