Sermon Central
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It Ain't Over Till It's Over Series
Contributed by Tim Richards on Jun 22, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: The 7th sermon in a series on Joshua. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not giving up when God’s still got work for us to do.
Introduction:
1. A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents for thanksgiving dinner. After dinner, the girl’s mother asked her husband to find out about the young man. The father invited him to his study for a talk. "So what are your plans?" the father asked the young man. "I’m a biblical scholar," he replied. "A Biblical scholar. Hmmm," the father said. "Admirable, but what will you do to provide for my daughter?" "I will study, and God will provide for us, the boy replied. "And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, like she’s going to want, asked the father. "I will concentrate on my studies and God will provide for us," the young man replied. What about later when you and my daughter have children, how will you provide for them?" "Don’t worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiancé. Each time the father asked a question, the young idealist insisted God would provide. Later, the mother asked, "How did it go, Honey?" "Well," the father answered, "I believe we have a problem, he has no job, no plans, and he thinks I’m God!" 10
2. The young man obviously didn’t understand that while it’s proper to rely upon God, that doesn’t mean God is going to do everything for us. There is a part of God’s work that He expects us to do.
3. I hope you have understood that in this series of sermons from the book of Joshua, "Possibilities: the dream of what lies ahead." We are to depend upon God, but depending on God doesn’t mean we aren’t responsible to fulfill our God given responsibilities. How can we balance that out and what are the results when we do?
4. I believe this section of Joshua illustrates that for us in a very practical way. Our text this morning is taken from Joshua 14 and 15. You can follow along in your Bible, or on the screen.
Cell #1—
Joshua 14:6 - 15, 15:13-19 (NASB)
6 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.
7 "I was 40 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.
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 will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.’
10 "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 85 years old today.
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 and for going out and coming in.
12 "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."
13 So Joshua blessed him and 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.
15 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.
15:13 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).
14 Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15 Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
16 And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife."
17 Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.
18 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?"
