Sermon Central
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Why Didn't My Mountain Move Pt. 4
Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Jan 27, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Some mountains are to be climbed, some commanded, some conquered, some are cordoned of. This is about mountains you have to conquer.
Intro: Part 4 of a series of messages on:
WHY DIDN'T MY MOUNTAIN MOVE?
This series was birthed on a question a woman asked her pastor, when her sick child died... "Why didn't my mountain move? I prayed, I believed, I spoke to the mountain, but my child died." The pastor she asked, replied:
SOME MOUNTAINS IN LIFE ARE TO BE CLIMBED.
SOME MOUNTAINS IN LIFE ARE TO BE CONQUERED.
SOME MOUNTAINS IN LIFE ARE TO BE COMMANDED.
SOME MOUNTAINS IN LIFE ARE CORDONED OFF. (My addition to his reply)
This week we will be discussing: Some mountains are to be conquered.
We like when mountains fall into the sea, we like when by the grace of God we are permitted to climb the mount and enjoy fellowship in His presence, but the mountains you have to conquer, though these mountain yield the sweetest of fruits, is the one believers like the least. You see this one involves real work.
I like what one preacher once said along the lines of this topic. If God puts a mountain in your way, and you try to sidestep it, you will find that God puts it right back in the middle of your path. You see some mountains can only be dealt with by conquering them.
Caleb said "give me my mountain"
If you try to speak to a mountain you are supposed to conquer, nothing will happen.
Some people quit smoking in an instant, for many others it will be one of the biggest knock down drag out fights in their life.
They will say: "God if you love me take this away." God says if you love me:
Roll up your sleeves, dig in your heels, put up your dukes, and I promise you, you will be the last person standing.
Isn't it wonderful when God supernaturally causes the fruit of the Spirit to be revealed in your life, for example take the gift of, "longsuffering." When its a fruit of the Spirit, and it is God's character being expressed through you its easy. But what about when He challenges you to live out your Christian walk, and bring your anger and frustration with others under His control with no obvious support in your "feelings." That is a bird of a different feather. That is conquering a mountain, and not simply watching it fall into the sea.
Consider Caleb's request:
Jos 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fenced: if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
The Anakim were giants who live in seriously fortified cities. The first sight of them caused the hearts of 10 of the original 12 spies to search out Israel to melt in fear.
Nu 13:28 Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Nu 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Caleb was a visionary for God! He saw the impossible, believed God, and didn't consider for a second an easier route.
David once said, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing." (1 Chron 21:24)
Some things in life will never come to us, unless we count the cost and pay the price, even though God has given them to us! The promised land was given to the Jews by God, some of their enemies God supernaturally removed by sending hornets in to chase them away. Many others the Jews were required to conquer and remove.
The sad truth is that over and over again we read in the book of Judges that the children failed to drive out the inhabitants. This was despite this warning from God: Nu 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
Too many Christians have places in their heart from which they have never evicted the enemy, and the result is unnecessay trouble.
Joshua like Caleb, possessed a different spirit, listen in to this conversation he had with the tribe of Joseph:
Jos 17:14 ¶ And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me [but] one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I [am] a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
