Yet Not I But Christ Habbakuk 2:1-3, Galatians 2:20

Yet Not I But Christ Habbakuk 2:1-3, Galatians 2:20

Have you ever had a moment where an idea, a sense of reality, or the awareness of something just jumped out at you? Its like a light bulb just comes on. Sometimes for me its what I call a “Duh” moment. Some of you never have a “DUH” moment. But I have a lot of those. Those are the times when I am staring at something obvious. It might make sense to others, but not to me- I guess I’m a little slow like that. I’m the kind of guy that when somebody cracks a joke, I might not get it at first and then later on, after the joke teller has moved on to something else, I start snickering and giggling because I finally understood what it meant. This week I had one of those “Duh” moments. As I was in my devotional time this week, a Scripture leaped off the page and very nearly hit me right between the eyes. I mean, it wasn’t one of those obscure passages like you would find in Zephaniah, etc. It was in Galatians 2:20 where I was reading “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives within me.” Look at the last phrase of what I just read to you: “Yet not I, but Christ.”

I. Its Been an Exciting Year: “Yet Not I, But Christ” Galatians 2:20

Alright, let me bring you up to speed. I had been reflecting upon what God did in our church this past year. It was a fantastic year. You already saw some of the highlights in the slide presentation, and I know I can’t highlight everything. But for starters, God enabled us to baptized 19 people as a result of our VBS. We’ve been averaging in the 90s for Sunday School the last couple of months, God prepared us to do something great during the revival in September, and one person surrendered to the ministry. Then, the first part of November, this church launched off in one of the greatest acts of faith this church has done in probably 50 years. Build a new living quarters for your pastor, and then raise $50,000 (about $30 of that has already come in) on top of that- we surpassed the Lottie Moon Offering goal. Now here is where the Duh part comes in- who do you think did this? Did we do this? No- Christ did it. Yet not us, but Christ. That’s the point. Now friends when you think about it, all the church growth people said that what happened in the past year couldn’t happen. Think about it- we’re off a back road, 12 miles from any major population center- we are not even on a road where anyone else is going because it’s a dead end. Only God can do this. Now, God has showed us this for a reason. To show us that we had better fasten our seatbelts because I believe He is going to do something even greater in the next year. What if instead of 19 people saved, 40 or 50 people got saved? What would you think if instead of 95 in Sunday School, we started averaging 130? What if instead of 110 in worship it was 150? What if instead of $1500 it was $3000? Last year, we had 1 surrender to full time ministry. What if we had 5 do that this year? You say, that’s impossible. You are right, it would be impossible if we were doing it, but like Paul said before, yet not I, but Christ. Which is a theme I would like to propose as a theme for this calendar year. You see what is happening here is that God is multiplying His church.

First of all, let me say that I know there will always be those who do not like growth in the church. They may drive up and there’s no place to park except across the street. They come in and there’s no where to sit- at least not in the back where they like to sit. They try to get to the restroom between Sunday School and church and well, lets just say that they should have booked reservations! That’s because they treat the church as their church. They say, “This is my church!” I don’t think so. Last time I looked in Matthew 16, Jesus said, “And upon this rock I will build MY church.” Whose church is this anyway? We won’t have room for all these people- where are we going to put them? My friends, if this is Christ’s church, that’s up to Him where to put them. Ephesians 4 says that God has placed every member of the body into the church just as it has pleased Him. Acts 4:47 says “And the Lord added daily those who were being saved.” You have the idea. Philippians 4 tells us “It is God which works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” You know this. He just tells us, if you get them here, I’ll find a place for them. Now I don’t know if by this time next year we have 40-50 saved- but if we saw half that amount it is still Christ doing it and not us. But at the same time, we must be available for God to use us and work in us. In other words, even though I said that it is Christ which works in us, that doesn’t mean that all we have to do is just show up here at church its all going to be done for us. That is the attitude of a lot of churches and then they wonder why their churches are crippled up and dying? Do you realize 30 out of 66 churches in this association did not baptize a single soul all last year? And many of those haven’t baptized anybody in several years. I actually went to a church a few months ago where they were using their baptistery to put fake flowers in! I didn’t say this, but I thought- if you fill this thing up with water instead of fake flowers you might get somebody in here.” And here we are, we don’t have the luxury of a baptistery and look what God is doing.

NOT I, BUT CHRIST! Those are powerful words that are going to guide our steps in this new year, focused us in our ministry endeavors, strengthened us when we felt like we couldn’t go on, and gave us hope when things seemed impossible. Those four simple words, from Galatians 2:20, are the words that will serve as our church motto. They will serve as rally cry as we seek to reach this community and the world with the Gospel.

II. If You Glorify Him, He will Come. John 12:32 We have just observed the fact that God has poured out into this church a lot of talent- especially in the way of worship resources. I mean, He has not only given us a lot of it, but He has given us the very best. May I ask you why is it do you suppose God has given us so many talented singer, musicians, choir members, music leaders, audio/visual and so on when there are some churches twice our size can’t even find somebody to play the piano every Sunday? We talked about this last Wednesday night. Because it is Christ that does it, and not we ourselves. Now, why is that. What makes Salem different? Because we have a group of people here at Salem Baptist Church who want to see God glorified, and Jesus Christ magnified. Jesus said, “And I even if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.” It’s what this is all about. Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and making Him known to people.

A movie that came out about ten years ago illustrates my point. It was called Field of Dreams. The main character, played by actor Kevin Costner, decided to buy a farm way out in the middle of Iowa somewhere, and when he did, he had a vision underscored by this one phrase which was used throughout the entire movie: if you build it, they will come!” What it was referring to was directing the main character to plow under his cornfield and erect a big baseball field right there in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t even owned by a team. But when he did, despite the people around him questioning him and making fun of him about why he would spend so much money and time and effort doing such a thing, the ghosts of baseball players from decades past showed up and started playing- including the character’s own father.

When we give the Lord our best and act in faith, He will show up. He will come when we lift Him up. That’s why we don’t settle for being comfortable, because the more we do that, the more we lose our edge. We become complacent. We quit visiting, we stop witnessing, we let work and a thousand other things crowd out our service. Before long, we become mediocre- just rolling through the motions. And when we roll through the motions in our worship, it will reflect itself in the quality of our service to the Lord. When we don’t show people the Lord in our worship, and do not glorify Him, and don’t show a lot of enthusiasm to find Him- just get in, get through it, and get out fast, our worship becomes about as appetizing to Christ as a bucket of lukewarm saliva. That’s right. I know that doesn’t sound very appetizing, but that’s what Jesus said about a certain church in Revelation “I would that you were either cold or hot…I will spew thee out of my mouth!” Rev. 3:16

Friends let me tell you what, when we make it about Him, and not us, why its like moths drawn to a flame. It creates a passion, a burning fire within us! There is something about fire that gets people’s attention. If there’s a house burning down, or a field on fire, you will have more people there than the fire department, I can tell you that! People are curious. They want to know where’s the fire and who did it happen to? Now that’s not usually a nice thing to happen to somebody. But friends, when we are full of the fire of Jesus Christ, full of the fire of the holy spirit, full of the fire of God- people are going to come out to find out what’s going on! What’s more, they’re going to come out to watch us burn! fan into flame the gift of God that is in you" II Timothy 1:6. God has ignited a spark here in this church caused by His Holy Spirit. But its up to us to fan that spark into a flame of passion and enthusiasm. Passion is important. Do you have Christ’s passion in your blood, pulsing through your veins and coursing from your heart? You don’t have to be jumping over the pews and speaking in tongues to demonstrate that kind of passion, but on the other hand its not going to happen sitting there like a bump on a log, either. Vance Havner used to say that it would amaze him how the same bunch of people could go to a ball game on a Saturday and scream like a bunch of banshee Indians and then come to church on Sunday and sit like a bunch of wooden Indians!

However, the difficult route, the difficult choice, would have been to strengthen our resolve and decide that God is not done with us yet. To stand up, shoulder to shoulder, claiming the promises of Scripture and the protection of the Savior and march forward. That was the difficult choice, but it was the right choice, and it’s the one we all chose.

Not I, But Christ! Four words that have galvanized our spirits and have helped us to see the impact that each of us could make when we put our total dependence in Christ. That’s who is, that’s who we are, and that’s who we will continue to be in the years to come.

III. How to Start the Fire Hab. 2:1 -3 (read) In other words, these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. IT will come, and in the coming year God will show us greater and more wonderful things than we have known in years past if we will keep focusing on Christ- keep Him the main thing. A fire doesn’t just happen. When you build a fire, one that you want to last a while you got to start out slowly. Because the quicker you build it, the quicker it will go out. When I was a teenager my grandmother asked to take her trash to the burn barrel and set fire to it, and dispose of it. The problem was, the barrel and some of the old trash in it was damp from rainfall the night. So I poured about 3 gallons of gasoline on it, stood back, and lit a match. The fumes from the gas ignited as soon as I touched off the flame, resulting in a huge explosion that caused the contents of the burn barrel to go roaring and flaming up to about 50 feet in the air. I don’t know how I kept from getting hurt. My baseball cap that I wore also went up in the torrent when the blast knocked me on my behind. And, almost as quickly, the fire was out, at least in the barrel. I was lucky nothing else caught fire. That’s not how to build a fire, friends. You build it a stick at a time, and then throw logs on and then bigger ones, etc.

We have an exciting year ahead of us. Let’s add to the fire God has sparked in us. We can’t add too much or we’ll burn it out, but we don’t want to douse it out with a bucket of water, either. Let’s continue to lift up and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s continue to remember ultimately that it is not us who is doing it, but Christ. God has sparked a flame here at Salem Baptist Church. Let’s do all we can, within His will, and by His grace, to fan that spark into a mighty flame that will draw all men unto Him.

Why I Believe in Sanctity of Human Life

 Why I Believe in Sanctity of Human Life  Psalm 139

 
            This morning I want to introduce you to the Tricia and Nathan Lawrenson of Kill Devil Hills.  They are a young couple in their late 20s.  Two weeks ago, God saw fit to give them a family.  When we plan to bring a child in the world, usually we are thinking of going into the hospital, staying a couple of days, and bringing the baby home to his or her new home surrounded by relatives and proud grandparents.  Unfortunately, this is not the case for everybody, and was not for the Lawrensons.  The picture of the baby that you see there is a tiny, premature baby by the name of Gwenneth Rose Lawrenson.  She was born on January 8 at Duke University Medical Center.  The reason I am telling her story is because she is a local miracle.  Nathan is the minister of music at the church where his father is the pastor:  Nags Head Church.  Tricia, the child’s mother, is a victim of cystic fibrosis.   She has struggled with this disease all her life.  Nathan and Tricia wanted children since they were married while students at Liberty University, but they have been told that it would be a medical impossibility, for it would endanger Tricias life.   Despite their plans to the contrary, God conceived a baby in Tricia’s womb while Tricia was on the list for a double-lung transplant.   The doctors said that the baby’s chances of making it to term would be very slim, and that she would weaken her mother’s already very delicate condition.   The medical team suggested very strongly that the pregnancy be terminated- and that the baby be aborted.  Nathan and Tricia would not hear of it.  Its one thing to be pro-life when you aren’t involved in a decision like the Lawrenson’s, but they elected to go ahead with the pregnancy.  In the meantime, over the Christmas holidays, Tricia’s health took a severe downturn.  An infection entered her lungs.  For a time it appeared that both the mother and the baby would die.  Tricia was placed on a respirator immediately, and placed on a drug induced coma so she would not struggle.   Again, the doctors urged her to have an abortion, to which she refused.   The doctors then elected to try to increase the viability of the baby.   She was delivered, extremely premature, but nonetheless a miracle at 6 ½ months.   She is not completely out of the woods yet, but she continues to grow and develop normally.  In the meantime, Tricia has come out of the coma- though still on the respirator.

 

           Why am I telling you this story? Because God is the author of life.  If this event had happened just 5 years ago, it is likely baby Gwenneth would not have survived.    I know that the costs and the money involved is exorbitant.  But what is the value of a life?  Who is it who determines whether a life is worthwhile to be lived? 

 

I.  Human life is sanctified by God.   (Psalm 139:16)

 

The image of God means that only human beings can fellowship with the Creator

(Genesis 1:26-27). Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

The image of God means that only human beings are crowned by God with glory and majesty (Psalm 8:4-5). You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

The image of God means therefore that  God should determine life's beginning and end (Psalm 139:16). your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me  were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 

II.  Our Lives Belong to God.  (Psalm 139:13-14)

 

The image of God means that we are not only subservient to God, but that also, contrary to popular belief, our bodies are not ours to dispose of as we please.  Since God made us, gave life to us, and sanctified us, it is our responsibility to please God with the use of this sanctified body that he has given us.  We don’t have the right to abuse it, and we don’t have the right to say when it ends and when it begins.   No life is a throwaway, no precious life is disposable. Paul clearly teaches us I Cor 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  

 

            The fact that our bodies and everything about our lives belongs to God.  In fact we don’t have one thing that God hasn’t given to us in the first place.  This can be illustrated in a conversation I had with one of my children when they were very small.  I took them to McDonalds when they were toddlers so Robin could get out and go get her hair done.  So I bundled them up and let them play in the little playground, and then ordered their meal.  When we were finishing up, it didn’t appear that one of them was going to finish her French fries.  She was too distracted about playing with the other kids in the ball pen.  So, not wanting to waste them or let them get cold, I reached over and picked a couple of French fries out of her bag, and put them in my mouth.  She took her thumb out of her mouth and glared at me, and then said, “Hey!  Those are my French fries!  You can’t eat my French fries!  Gimme back my French fries!” she said.   I thought, “Why you little rascal you, I bought those French fries.  If I want to eat one, I’ll eat one.”  But I didn’t waste that argument on her because she couldn’t have understood the concept of what’s mine is mine and what’s is mine…but anyway.”   God gave us our bodies.  He gave us not only His breath but has provided every means to sustain it.  If He gives life, He gives it, if He takes life, He takes it- and that is up to Him. 

 

Psalm 139: 13-14  For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 

 

         Marvelous are your works- the Psalmist says.  That means that God don’t make a mistake.  He doesn’t goof up.  He doesn’t say “Sorry, my bad!”  There’s nothing “my-bad” about God- as though God has to explain Himself to any of us.  I know what you are thinking, “What about the people who are born with mental deficiencies.  What about the ones who are born with physical deformities?  What about kids who are born as Conjoined twins, or have Down syndrome, or born with gross abnormalities?  Did they somehow fall through the cracks of God’s sovereign quality control?

 

         I can’t begin to explain all that.  I wouldn’t even if I could.  I know that infirmity and death were not part of God’s original creation.  They were a direct result of the fall and man’s disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.  But I do know this.  If God gives us His grace to bear up under our own infirmities, He gives us sufficient grace to love and to deal with the infirmities of others. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

 

        I have a first cousin whose first child was born with Down’s Syndrome.  His name is Mark.  Mark is now 26 years old.  But along with Mark’s deficiencies came all of the love and the joy of what it means to have a kid like Mark around.  Mark has enriched all of our lives, and his parents are a wonderful testimony to the strength and sufficiency of the grace of God.  God gave 3 other brothers and sisters in that home to care for Mark should Mark outlive his mom and dad.  

 

         God in His wonderful Providence, demonstrates and declares His image and creative genius in us everytime we come up with a breakthrough in medical technology to sustain life and give it hope.  If we have the means to sustain life through medical technology, the fact that it is a possibility is a gift from God.   Jesus said in Luke 12:48  For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

 

            There’s so much more I can share about the Sanctity of Human Life- but let me conclude by saying that this issue is not some isolated thing that we don’t have to deal with.  This issue affects all of us.   It is very likely that if it doesn’t affect you personally, it affects someone you know and love.  Because of this, we bear the witness of a loving, personal God who gets involved personally at every level of life to help us in our times of greatest need.   Remember that all of us came into this world deformed- deformed by sin and alienated from God.  Yet God spared no expense to save us and to give us eternal life.  The gift of everlasting life is the basis by which we define the value of every human life, whether born or unborn, whole or not, because we were made in the image of God to reflect the love and grace of God that He has gives every single one of us. 

Continue to pray for Tricia and Nathan and Gwenneth, Lawrenson, and for my cousin Darla and her husband Steve, and for Mark.  They know God, and they fully believe that He was greater than their rights, their plans or their inconveniences.

 

 

"I Want That Mountain!" Jan 13 '08

“I Want That Mountain”

Joshua 14:6-13

You may have heard the news that Sir Edmund Hilary, the first white man to ever scale to the peak of Mt. Everest, passed away on Friday at the age of 89. He was the one you might recall, when asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest in 1953, was reputed to have said, “Because its there!” Dr. Elmer Towns, my professor who taught me this week at Liberty Seminary, had an on-going friendship with Edmund for many years. One thing that most people did not know about him was that he had a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ- and he never actually said “Because its there!” He actually said “I did it for the glory of God.” The press of course, not wanting to give credit where credit is due, changed the story. Edmund Hilary had a vision of what God wanted him to do in his life, and to climb that peak, he could scale anything in life that came his way.

Today we are going to go back to the book of Joshua- back where we left off at thanksgiving. AT that time we left Joshua defeating the Amalekites, and even Balaam got trampled in the victory of Israel’s final conquest. We saw that on the day that the sun stood still and how God turned a defeat into a victory at Ai. Before that we saw the walls of Jericho falling down flat and how Joshua lead the children of Israel across the Jordan on dry ground. We even saw how God transformed a prostitute into the great-great-great grandmother of David. Today, in chapter 14, most of the Israelites are taking possession of the land and settling down. There’s a little mopping up resistance by insurgents here and there but basically the Land of Promise is cleared of her enemies. Here we find a senior saint who is taking possession of his territory, along side of his younger comrades at arms- his name is Caleb.

I. We are as strong as our faith will allow ourselves to be. (V.11)

Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re too old- or young, to do what you know God would have you to do. Caleb was 85 years old when he finally got back to Hebron. He had seen this mountain 40 years before, and thought, when I get done killing the giants, that’s where I’m going, stake out my claim, build me a log cabin, plant me a garden, get me a wife, settle down, and have a family. That was the dream Caleb had for the place until the other ten spies he and Joshua had gone with were too afraid of the giants and the people of the land. Caleb had great faith then, but God punished the entire nation and Caleb was not able to get the mountain then. I’m sure he was disappointed. Disappointment is very difficult to deal with. Disappointment is something that may shatter our dreams. Sometimes people get so discouraged with disappointment that they want to give up- that they quit. Their youthful enthusiasm dies. I know some who are so full of faith and enthusiasm- its amazing what a few short years in the ministry will do to it. Its true that people let us down, people discourage us, people disappoint us, but Caleb never let them do that to his faith. Notice he says, “I am 85 years old and I am just as strong now as I was the first time I ever saw this place.” Was he as strong physically at 85? Possibly- but we can’t deny that Caleb had a heart of a man half his age. He was ready to take it all on and conquer a mountain, when most men his age are ready to hit the casket. This was no easy task. The mountains were where the Canaanite resurgents fled after they were defeated. They could have hid up in those hills for months or even years. Caleb didn’t care. Paul says to Timothy in Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Tim 4:12 in the same way- don’t let anyone despise you of your age, either. We have a culture that doesn’t value old age or respect. About the only thing they respect is technology and gadgets. My friend, don’t ever let anybody point out your limitations and try to hold you back. Your’e never too old for God to use you. We have some beloved senior saints in this church that are dear to all of us. They are some of the most progressive and remarkable people I know. Why if it weren’t for them doing the work in this church, we wouldn’t have much going on, I tell you that. We have much to learn from them. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t do anything. Caleb was old, but there was a lot of fight in him. He wasn’t going to the rocking chair. Don’t tell yourself that you are too old and set in your ways. What’s more, Caleb’s faith was just as vibrant- even more so. Caleb fought a lot of battles in the journey to the Promised Land. There was much too much to do to sit in a rocking chair.

He had learned a lot. One thing about his wisdom that we need to learn from Caleb- that I’m having to learn more and more like Caleb:

II. Before you climb a mountain be sure that you will choose the one you are willing to die on. (V.12)

Caleb learned that there was one mountain worth dying on- Hebron- the one he would stay on and live out the rest of his days there. What I find interesting about Caleb was his commitment to the truth in verse 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. In other words, the other spies incited fear in the hearts of the people of Israel. Their words were heard above the mouths of Caleb and Joshua who were crying out- yes its true there are giants in the land, but we can take them on! Fighting them will only make us stronger! They would not listen to them. Disappointed, they followed Israel to wonder for 40 more years. They did not carry the day, but they did not insist on their way. Love is like that. 1 Corinthians 13:5 Love It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.” Notice Caleb did not seem bitter about it- he knew that God would allow him to have it, eventually. "No man who puts hand first to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God!"

Ever notice that when we are young we think that everything is essential, everything is important, everything is such a big deal! We know the cost of everything and the value of nothing! We think we know all the answers. We’re more judgmental, more critical of others, have less patience with people. But as you observe older people- most of them, anyway- the things that used to upset them doesn’t tend to upset them anymore. The things that used to embarrass me or hurt my feelings or make me upset 20 years ago don’t seem to affect me that way. Less trivial things don’t matter, which helps me to give greater focus to the things that really do matter. How do we get that way? By growing in grace. 2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The more you are growing in Jesus, the more your eyes are opened to the things that are really important, what really matters. Some one once said that “not many mountains are worth fussing over, few mountains are worth fighting over, and even fewer mountains are worth dying on.”

The mountain Caleb chose to die on was Hebron. Caleb might have postponed his dream of a mountain, but that did not mean he brushed it off, either. Look at the commitment he had in getting it. The Hebrew Hebron means the “friend of God.” It was the same mountain where Abraham buried Sarah when she died, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are also buried there. Caleb himself wanted to be buried there. It was truly the mountain Caleb chose to die on. There are some things that are worth dying for- essentials. Essentials for life, essentials for faith. But not everything is essential when it comes to getting along with people. I heard two deacons engaged in a heated discussion, going at it over the sound system like two grumpy old men do. Royce was a retired cameraman from NBC Nightly news, so when it came to electronic equipment, he knew his stuff. John, on the other hand, was a musician, and knew the kind of volume he wanted. Royce asked, “John why is it you insist on doing things your way all the time?” John said, Royce I don’t insist I do it my way. If you want to do it your way, go ahead. You do it your way, and I’ll do it God’s way!” Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31- I die daily! He died to himself, his ambitions, the things he had planned and hoped for- many times he had seen the stuff he had sweated and fretted over come to naught. In Hebrews 11^th chapter we read: 3 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.-- 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. That better place, the place that Caleb found, was that spot God had prepared for him. How blessed he was that he had lived to see it when so many did not get to. Caleb found his mountain, and it was worth it. You see, Caleb already knew the promise God had given him years before: v.9 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. You put your best efforts into the things that really matter.

III. The best way to conquer your enemies, and to be victorious over your critics is this- outlive them! (V.8)

And when Caleb looked at Hebron and looked around, and went down to Joshua and the council and said: “You remember when we were here the last time and what God said to me then? Well, Joshua, I’ll take my mountain, now, thank you very much! The other spies who had gone with Caleb and Joshua, who said they would never get to this place, were gone. They were no where around. They were dead! Nobody was around who said he couldn’t do it. Why wait around and let somebody talk him out of it.

There was a man in the same church I mentioned earlier, his name was Ed Putnal. When I knew Ed, he was approaching 100 years old. He was a navy veteran of World War I. He actually lived to be 101, born in the year 1900. I asked Ed, "Sir, what is the greatest thing about being 100 years old. With a smile and a gleam in his eye, Ed said “No peer pressure!”

That’s one of our problems at times as people of God. When the Calebs and Joshuas and other men and women of faith see the vision for something- usually its going to involve money, time, and in Israel’s case- people-the more people who get involved will sometimes work against the vision instead of supporting it. Just like what happened 40 years before this. The other ten spies treated Joshua and Caleb like they didn’t know anything, like they weren’t being realistic, like they didn’t have any common sense. Sure Caleb knew that some people might have to die to occupy the land, but in comparison to the alternative, it would have been a phenomenal return on their investment.

My friend, don’t ever let anybody else make a decision for you about what you believe in your heart God is leading you to do. Other people can only live their dreams, not yours. You give your dreams to somebody else, and they will probably stomp on them every time. Don’t trust anybody else for them- only trust God for them.

President Ronald Reagan one time told the story of when he was a teenager, he needed a new pair of boots made. In those days, you couldn’t just go to a shoe store, you went to the shoemaker shop. The cobbler asked the young man- “Do you want blunt end toes or pointed end toes?” Reagan shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t care, whatever you think.” When the boots were ready, Reagan examined his new boots and looked at the toes. One of them was flat, the other boot was pointed. Reagan said, “How can I wear a pair of boots like this?” The cobbler said, “You said you didn’t care.” From that day on, Ronald Reagan said “If you don’t make a decision about the things that matter the most to you, somebody else is going to make them for you.” If you live like nothing matters, then don’t be disappointed when you see other people fulfilling what they believe God is leading them to do.

Like Caleb, Jesus was undeterred in his purpose to get to His mountain. Only His mountain was not Hebron. Jesus mountain was Mount Calvary. In Matthew 16, 21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Do you want this mountain badly enough? What things in life really matter to you? What mountains in your life are really worth dying for?