Caleb's Unyielding Strength

Intro

Text - Joshua 14.6-12

Joshua 14:6–12 NKJV

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 7 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 back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 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 and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

Title - Caleb’s Unyielding Strength

Series - Lessons From The Book Of Joshua

Background

Caleb was 40 years old when he was picked to be one of the 12 men who spied the land of Canaan from Kadesh-Barnea.

He and Joshua outlived all the men of war that went out of Egypt. They all died in the wilderness journey.

7 years into the conquest of Canaan, he stood before the same piece of land that he walked that day. At 85 years old, he was now ready to fight for and claim his inheritance!

After 45 years he was as strong as he was at Kadesh-barnea!

Main Thought

Many Christians step away from active service when they feel they have achieved enough for God and the church.

Also, many Christians lose steam and passion in service as they get older.

Caleb is the image of a Christian who is not - and cannot be - conquered by age and its side effects! A christian who will not lay down his armor because he/she is old, but will continue to fight, and they have the strength to fight for as long as there is work to be done and a promise to be claimed in Christ!

Calebs in our day

I was privileged to get acquainted with some of the valiant Calebs in our time.

Sis Luciana (nanay Luz) and her contemporaries - they died serving the Lord

Pastor Franco - he died while on a mission at 72 years old

Pastor Menong - preaching until he cannot preach anymore

Pastor Lito Ramoso - ministering to the churches despite his condition

Pastor Felipe Salazar - preached to his last breath

bro Rodel Manidlangan - he was a child in lolo’s church, began to preach as a youth when he moved to Marikina; became a missionary to the Dumagats; married late and became pastor in his forties, died of heart attack after preaching

Question

What kept him going all those 45 years?

What was his secret to unwavering, unyielding strength?

Sermon Points

Caleb wholly followed the LORD

Joshua 14:7–8 NKJV

7 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 back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

his convictions were according to God’s words/promises

he believed they were able to overcome the giants in the land

Numbers 13:30 NKJV

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

he submitted to God’s ordained leadership

he did not rebel against God, as his contemporaries did

hundreds of thousands died over the course of 38 years, except Caleb and Joshua

38 years = 333, 101 hours

approx. 2 male Israelite died every hour, or 48 persons every day

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Don’t be a Christian only on the outside - be a Christian in spirit, soul and body!

Make sure you the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NKJV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

these words shall be in your heart - memorized, meditated

teach them to you children when you sit, walk, lie down, rise up - make it part of your family life

bind them as a sign on your hand and eyes - perform them, see them

write them on your doorposts - make them part of your family goals

Caleb never forgot the LORD’s promise to him

Joshua 14:9–10 NKJV

9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.

he remembered every word of it

Numbers 14:23–24 NKJV

23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

he fed and lived on those words

he was the exact demonstrated of the words - Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!

he filled his heart and mind with those promises

God is looking for men and women with the same determination -

Psalm 119:10–16 NKJV

10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 37:29–31 NKJV

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

God’s words have more power than all the nutritious foods on earth combined!

It has power to give life eternal

it has power to heal sickness and diseases

it has power to restore

it has power to enlighten the mind

The power of God’s word is activated only by faith - faith in the Word of God!

Caleb prepared for his battle

Joshua 14:11–12 NKJV

11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 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 and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

He was ready to fight the enemies because he prepared for it!

He anticipated the battles -

he knew they will fight for every inch of the promised land

he knew the enemy will not easily give up

he prepared himself for the biggest enemies - the Anakim!

He focused on conquering his mountain - the land he walked over 45 years ago

he recalled its every hill and valley

he had in his mind the strategies he will make to conquer that mountain

He reserved his strength for these battles

he shunned worthless fightings

WHAT’S THE POINT?

learn to anticipate your battles - they will surely come

focus on claiming God’s promise for you - your mountain

save your strength for the battles ahead

don’t waste your strength on useless strife among brothers and sisters

wasteful use of your strength -

worry about the future

entertaining hearsay

arguments

debate over doctrines, etc.

Satan wants you to spend your strength on temporal things

The best use of your strength is for the battle for the promises of God!

Conclusion

When it looks like you are old and too weak to fight another war - think again!

Old age is not a time to retire, for God’s servants in the Bible

Moses - 80 years old when God used him to be Israel’s deliverer

Abraham - 100 years old when he birthed the promised son

Jacob - 130 years old when he saw his son Joseph governor in Egypt

King David - 70 years old when he prepared the building materials for the house of God

Noah - 500 years old when he began to build the ark

Paul - in his 60s when he went to Rome for his last mission trip via imprisonment

John - in his 90s when he received vision at Patmos and returned to continue preaching

When it looks like you’ve fought every possible battle - think again!

Have you fought for and claimed every promise of God in His Word?

What are the tasks that remain unfulfilled in your life?

BE A FIGHTER TO THE END!

UNTIL YOUR TIME IS UP, OR

UNTIL EVERY INCH OF THE PROMISED HAS BEEN CLAIMED!

Illustration

Vikings believed they will not enter Valhalla (heaven) if they died without a sword on their hands.

SONG -

The Fight Is On