Learning to Live in the Land

BE PROMISE CLAIMERS

Joshua 14:6-10  Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea, Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.  and Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land wheron they feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 

• This text is about a promise, a promised land to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israel, and Caleb.

Hebrews 11:8-9  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

• Have you claimed your promise, personally?

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

I John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

I.  THIS PROMISE WAS MADE (Joshua 14: 6, 10, 12)

Here we see our Father and how He makes promises (contrasted by that which is conjured up or fabricated).  Caleb  is not wishing upon a star or having sweet dreams.

Hebrews 6:13  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater:  he sware by himself,

     A. This Promise is made through an Abrahamic Covenant.  God always operates through a promise already made and will not work separate from that Promise.  This land was not negotiated for nor bought, but a result of a promise made many years before Caleb.

      Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph knew about this promise

• Eternal life is not something just hoped for but a promise

• Jesus did not just "show up,"   HE WAS PROMISED

Acts 13:23  Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

• The resurrection of Jesus was not a big spur-of-the-moment surprise, but it was a part of that same promise

Acts 13:32-33  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it  is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

• The Second Coming is not just a religious theory, but a promise.

     B.  This promise was made in Christ

• The Promise to Abraham was given in seven parts, but the two that seemed to stand out was the ones about the LAND and the SEED.

Galatians 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the pomises made.  he saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ

• You cannot have the Land without the Lord.

• Without the Lord the Land is no good!  Israel does not understand this principle to this day.

• All God's promises are IN His Son and THROUGH His Son

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 Corinthians 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

II.  PROMISES ARE MISSED

Here we see Faithlessness in our Promises

     A.  Attitudes of the Past    They may hinder one from claiming their promise

     Caleb is born under a cloud of despair and his parents being so concerned with the state of affairs in Egypt and how things would turn out for them, named their son DOG. (Caleb means dog)  In their heart they were telling everyone around them and more importantly, Caleb,  "You will live a dog's life in Egypt."

Praise God, Caleb became the only dog with a promise!  I can think of a few other "dogs" that came out on top.

• David and His great victory over Goliath

• Syrophoenician woman

     B.  Answer of the People

Numbers 14:10  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.

     C.  Aggravation of Postponement

Joshua 14:10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, AS HE SAID, these forty and five years, even since THE LORD SPAKE THIS WORD UNTO MOSES, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness:  and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

Caleb was not and would not miss his promise because of the unbelief and rebellion of others

III.  THIS PROMISE WAS MAGNIFIED

Here we see Faith

All promises lie dormant behind a door, shut, until the key of faith unlocks that door

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe

     A.  Winds of His Faith (Joshua 14:8,9,10  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt:  but I wholly followed the LORD my God.  and Moses sware on that day, saying, Surly the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness:  and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

The word wholly means to sail with the wind of promise!

     B.  Words of His Faith (Joshua 14:7  I bought him word again as it was in mine heart)

     C.  Walk of  His Faith (Joshua 14:9  the land whereon thy feet have trodden)

SING THAT GREAT HYMN OF THE FAITH WITH ME!

"STANDING ON THE PROMISES"

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring

Glory in the Highest I will shout and sing, Standing on the Promises of God

     2.   Standing on the promises I cannot fall,  Listening every moment to the Spirit's call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the Promises of God

    3.  Standing on the promises I cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear asail

By the living Word of God, I shall prevail, Standing on the Promises of God

Chorus:  Standing, Standing, Standing on the Promises of Christ my Savior

Standing, Standing, I'm Standing on the Promises of God