Your Faith Provision-III—Josh. 14:6-15
A young woman brings home her fiancé to meet her parents.
Father invites the young man into his study.
"So what are your plans?" the father asks.
"Sir, I am a seminary student studying to become a pastor," he replies.
"Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?"
"I will study,"—"& God will provide for us."
"And how will you give her the lifestyle she is accustomed to & deserves?"
"I will preach the word,"—& God will provide for us."
"And children?" asks the father. "How will you support children?"
"I will feed the flock—& God will provide"
Each time the father questions, the young man insists that God will provide.
Later the mother asks the father, "How did it go, honey?"
The father answers, "Well, I’m not impressed.
“He has No job... No finances...”
“But what really bothers me is...He thinks I’m God!"
God provides for men & women of faith.
But what kind of faith moves God’s hand?
Caleb’s faith was granted God’s special provision.
Personal faith is granted God’s special provision.
What kind of faith warrants God’s provision?
Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is...
1. A Bold Faith
2. An Alluring Faith
3. A Feasting Faith
4. A Patient Faith
5. Defiant Faith
6. Complete Faith
7. Rewarded Faith
8—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
RESPECTFUL FAITH(:9-10) Role
Explanation:(:9-10)Regard/Influence
:8—“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.”
:9—“So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance to you & to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.’”—Num. 14:24; Deut. 1;35-36
:10—“And 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; & now behold, I am eighty-five years old today.”
BUT—?How did Caleb follow the Lord?
ROLE REGARD
1)Caleb imposed his faith within the bounds of his role as spy/informer.
2)Caleb pressed his case, as opportunity arose.
a.)Urged/Advocated following God’s path—As a seasoned & experienced Spokesman.
*Our role as Christians as well!
b.)Pleaded with the sons of Israel.(Num. 14:6-9)
Passion allowed
Caleb knew that a majority of Israel must buy in to the prospect.
3)Caleb relinquished his experience with the Lord to the crowd.
Caleb could exert pressure & influence on others but could not enforce his vision.
Moses, Aaron & Joshua had leadership roles. Caleb was a leader among his tribe(Judah), as was Joshua but Joshua had been given charge of the military.
*What happens to your faith in majority rules situations?
Comply wholeheartedly/unquestioningly with the majority & Continue in the faith influencing others OR Compromise your faith?
Govt. decision to regulate Tobacco, Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Pornography, etc...Comply OR Compromise
*Respectful of God’s handling/allowances of the situation
Argumentation:
1Tim. 6:1—“Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God & our doctrine may not be spoken against.”
Illustration:
Body/Mosquito bite/Poison present/But work continues/Cells don’t rebell against one another/Respectful Faith
Application:
?You have a Respectful Faith?...
...One that honors the role God has given you?
Mumble grumble or act accordingly?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
9—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
ACKNOWLEDGING FAITH(:10)
Explanation:(:10)Grateful/Recognize
“And 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; & now behold, I am eighty-five years old today.”
Caleb recognized the source & author of his strength!
Caleb stood because of what God had allowed.
God had honored His promises.
Argumentation:
Pr. 3:6—“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”—Acknowledging God
Ps. 62:7—“On God my salvation & my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”—Acknowledging God
2Cor. 2:14—“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, & manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
1Thess. 5:16-18—“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—Acknowledging God
1Tim. 1:12—“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service;”—Acknowledging God
Heb. 13:15—“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”—Acknowledging God
Rev. 7:11-12—“And all the angels were standing around the throne & around the elders & the four living creatures; & they fell on their faces before the throne & worshiped God, saying, “Amen, blessing & glory & wisdom & thanksgiving & honor & power & might, be to our God forever & ever. Amen.”—Acknowledging God
Ps. 103:1-4, 10-11, 13—“(A Psalm of David.) Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness & compassion;....“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him....“Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”—Acknowledging God
Lk. 17:11-19—READ—Ten leprous men—“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, & he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered & said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they?”
Illustration:
Web site/Graphics/None are my own/Haven’t Recognized those responsible/Grateful yet no effort to thank them openly
Application:
?You have a Acknowledging Faith?...
...One that leaves you speechless in God’s presence?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
10—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
RENEWIBNG/ENABLING Faith(:11)
Explanation:(:11)
“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 & for going out & coming in.”
Deut. 34:7—“Although Moses was one hundred & twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.”
Argumentation:
Isa. 40:30-31—“Though youths grow weary & tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run & not get tired, They will walk & not become weary.”
Ps. 103:5—“Who[the LORD) satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
2Cor. 4:16—“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
Illustration:
Mike’s Hawg Repair/Re-Chromed metal pieces/New life from outside source
Vernon Eanes/Indian motorcycle/Rusty-Uncared for-Luster gone-Wouldn’t run/Refurbished it/Renewed its strength
Application:
?You have a Renewing Faith?...
...One that sees possible physical ‘hindrances’ as merely secondary?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
11—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
INSTRUMENTAL FAITH(:12)
Explanation:(:12)Complementary/Gap filler
“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, & I shall drive them out as the LORD has spoken.”
Place oneself in God’s hands, with sense of usefulness, regardless of circumstances.
‘Instrumental’— ‘Serving as a means, agent or tool.’
Argumentation:
Rom. 6:13—“... & do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, & your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Illustration:
Political hopefuls/Genuine concern for welfare of city-county-state-country
Upcoming Senatorial leaders/Genuine concern for welfare of state/
Application:
?You have a Complementary/Instrumental Faith?...
...One that ?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
12—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
RESTING FAITH(:13-14)
Explanation:(:13-14)Satisfied
:13—“So Joshua blessed him, & gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
:14—“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.”
Don’t expect more than the promise.
Promise alone is enough to go on.
Argumentation:
Heb. 4:1, 9-11—“Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it”....“There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.”
Illustration:
Adoption in America/No longer certain, decisive or final/Violations by judicial imperialism rather than Congressional right/
Application:
?You have a Resting Faith?...
...One that ?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
13—Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is
REPLACING FAITH(:15)
Explanation:(:15)Dispossessing
“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.”
Israel’s right granted by the authority over both themselves & all nations—God Almighty
On a smaller scale, Caleb’s right guaranteed as well.
Argumentation:
No qualms about replacing worldly ‘faith’ with Christian faith.
Illustration:
Alex/Urinating on ‘his’ bushes
Application:
?You have a Replacing Faith?...
...One that ?
?Does your Faith warrant/hold God’s Attention & Provision?
Conclusion
Action:
Faith that warrants/holds God’s attention & provision is...
Respectful Faith
Acknowledging Faith
Renewing/Enabling Faith
Instrumental Faith
Resting Faith
Replacing Faith
A Bold Faith
An Alluring Faith
A Feasting Faith
A Patient Faith
Defiant Faith
Complete Faith
Rewarded Faith
We all have common provisions in order to give us life & opportunities for faith. But once we enter the realm of saving faith God supplies special provision.
Your Faith Provision(Joshua 14:6-15)
Your Physical/Political Provision(Joshua 15--19)
Your Follow-thru Provision(Joshua 18:1-10)
Your Moral Provision(Joshua 20:1-9)
Your Spiritual Provision(Joshua 21:1-45)
