Sermons
June 2nd, 2024 by Pastor Solley052624AM Press On
Sub. Caleb
Theme: Caleb pressing on.
Text: Joshua 14:6-13
“Press On” Joshua 14:6-13
Introduction
This is a Memorial Day message although it may not seem like one until the end of the message. Memorial Day began as a day set aside to honor all those who gave their lives, both North and South, in the Civil War. It has been expanded to include all those who have died in all of America’s wars and then to include all who have served in the different branches of our military. We also remember those family members that we have loved and lost over the years. Memorial Day is a fitting holiday honoring those who fought and died to provide, protect, and keep the freedoms we have in this great nation. The United States of America was founded by Godly men and rests on the sure foundation of the Word of God. No other nation in the world was born into existence the way the United States of America has been. We have a Godly heritage.
But it has become almost impossible to preach a positive message about today’s United States. We no longer live up to the portion of the Gettysburg Address underlined on the back of our bulletin this morning. In the past few years we have moved away from what America was. America is corrupt today. Our government is corrupt, our legal system is corrupt, our educational system is corrupt and America’s churches have become corrupt. Our president hates America and open boarders are proof of that. Our president hates children and his push to unlimited abortion is proof of that. Our president hates the traditional family and his embracing of the LGBTQ and trans gender is proof of that. Our president hates the Christian and the Bible and his proclaiming Easter Sunday trans visibility day is proof of that. Our president hates Israel and his leaning to the terrorist groups attacking Israel are proof of that. Our president hates hard working people who want to make a living, provide for their families, and do it without government interference and his pushing inflation higher and higher is proof of that. Don’t listen to what Washington says because all we get are lies, look at the policies.
We are living in a corrupt nation but praise God this world is not our home and as most of us believe we are living very close to the time we will hear the trumpet sound and obey the shout from the clouds and be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air.
I. But what are we to do until that trumpet sounds? In Joshua chapter fourteen we find a man that can give us the answer to that question. – Josh 14:6-13 – Caleb is one of only two people who crossed the Red Sea on the way out of Egypt and would cross the Jordan river on the way into the Promised Land. God’s desire was for all who came out of Egypt to enter into the Promised Land but only two fulfilled that desire of God, Caleb and Joshua. We can use Caleb as an example of how we should conduct ourselves today.
A. There are some things that are not the same: Israel was not a corrupt nation. Israel was moving toward God and not away from God. Israel at that time was not like America today. Some things are not the same.
B. But there are some things that are similar as we look at Caleb at that time and ourselves today: Some things we can identify with.
1. Caleb is standing at the end of an age: They are making a transition from wilderness wondering to a permanent residence.
2. They faced an unknown: It would be a different life.
3. There would be enemies stand opposed to them that they never faced before: Satanic opposition would increase.
4. Caleb is near the end of his life: Josh 14:10 Caleb is 85 years old and people were no longer living hundreds of years as life spans were shorter. Moses died at 120, Joshua at 110 and while we are not told how old Caleb was when he died he was most certainly near the end of his life.
5. This was a time when Caleb should have been winding down like many of us want to do today:
II. But Caleb still had something to do, Caleb was not ready to wind down: Josh 14:11-13 Caleb wanted another mountain, Caleb wanted to press on, Caleb had something to do.
A. Caleb could have just rested, most would agree that Caleb had done enough: Serving for forty years at the right had of Moses and then Joshua. Faithful all those years, trusting the Lord all those years, Caleb we would say had done enough.
1. Caleb could have asked for a valley to rest in: Caleb had done enough.
2. But Caleb wanted another mountain: Caleb wanted to press on at the end of an age. Caleb wanted to press on into the unknown. Caleb wanted to press on in the face of new enemies. Caleb was near the end but Caleb wanted to press on.
B. Brothers and sisters in Christ we need to press on today: At the end of an age, facing unknown and uncertain days, facing new enemies and new challenges, we need to press on today. Press on for it wont be long. We need to press on today.
PROP: Every born again child of God needs to see the example of Caleb. TS. So like him we may press on for our precious Lord.
Body
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I. Caleb had what we would call good reason to rest on the past: Caleb could look back on a good heritage and rested on those things. We look back on Memorial Day at a rich heritage and we do rest on those things. It is not bad to remember.
A. Think for a few moments what Caleb could look back upon, what he could rest upon, the memorial Caleb had: God used Moses to write down the words of the first five books of the Bible and although Caleb not there at that time Caleb knew these things.
1. Caleb knew of Enoch that man who walked with God: Caleb walked with God much as Enoch had done.
2. Caleb knew of Noah that man who believed God and worked for God: Caleb believed God and worked for God as Noah did.
3. Caleb knew of Joseph that man pure before God: Caleb lived a life of purity before God as Joseph had done.
4. Caleb knew Moses: Caleb knew Moses. Caleb was there for the plagues upon Egypt, there on that Passover night, crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, picked the manna, drank of sweet waters. Caleb experienced all of those things.
5. And Caleb had already received a promise: Num 14:24
6. Caleb had every reason to look back and rest: Eighty five years old, near the end of his life and the end of an age, Caleb had every reason to just sit and rest until the Lord took him to Paradise
a. Why not just ask for a valley to rest in? What would be wrong with that?
b. Why not take his ease and let others worry about tomorrow? What would be wrong with that.
c. Caleb is not going to be around that much longer. Why not let others take care of things in the Promised Land?
B. Many of us can identify with Caleb today: Not speaking of our nation but of individuals and also a church, many of us can identify with Caleb today as we stand near the end of an age.
1. Some of us know we will not be here much longer: We stand in the fourth quarter of life and we do not know when that quarter will end but we know the end is coming sooner than much later. I am 66 years old, why not just rest and coast the rest of the way.
2. Most of us believe the rapture to be close and according to the Bible things are not going to get better, they are going to wax worse and worse: 2 Tim 3:1-7 , 13 We are not going to change Scripture so why not just sit and rest?
3. As a body of believers in this local church we can look back at all God has done over the years: God has done a lot and allowed us to be a part of His work.
a. We have built only this little country church four times and it doesn’t even look like the old church. Each time the church getting bigger and bigger and more and more things added.
b. We have built and are building a church camp. From our camp ministry pastors and missionaries have been called.
c. We have two multi million dollar properties and no debt load
d. We are expanding our nursery and will have to do it again.
e. No other pastor I fellowship with has the amount of young couples that we have.
4. I could conclude this morning that we have done enough: Why not just rest in the valley until Jesus Comes or of calls us home?
C. Caleb had what we would call good reason to rest on the past:
II. Caleb knew it was no time to rest on the past but it was time to press on to the end: Josh 14:10-14 Did Caleb have right to rest on the past? Perhaps. Would any have blamed Caleb for resting on the past? Probably not him being at least twenty five years older than any other than Joshua.
A. But for Caleb it was time to press on and for several reasons: Notice again. – Josh 14:10-14
1. Caleb was still alive: Josh 14:10 All through those years in the wilderness God kept Caleb alive. From the time that he crossed the Jordan river God kept Caleb alive. God kept Caleb alive for a reason and that not to rest on the past.
a. As long as Caleb was alive God had purpose for him.
b. Moses was 80 when God used him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. God could still use Caleb.
c. Noah was about 500 when he began to build the Ark. God could still use Caleb.
d. God kept Caleb alive for a reason. – Joshua 14:10
2. There was still strength in Caleb: Josh 14:10-11 Now an 85 year old is not as strong as a forty year old. That is what Caleb is claiming. – Josh 14:11 – We know Caleb could not do at 85 all that he did at 40 years of age. All of us growing older know that. But there is no mistake here in the Bible and I am not doubting the word of Caleb or the Word of God. What is the answer.
a. God strengthened Caleb for every task when he was 40.
(1) When Caleb went to spy out the land God strengthened Caleb.
(2) When Caleb gave a good report and tried to still the people God strengthened Caleb.
(3) When there were battles to fight in the wilderness God strengthened Caleb.
(4) When Moses need one to lean upon God strengthened Caleb.
(5) When Joshua needed one to lean upon God strengthened Caleb.
b. The God Caleb served had not lost strength over the years. God was still the same.
c. Caleb received strength to serve from his God and he was as strong at 85 as he was at 40 for his God had not changed.
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3. There was still a job to do: Josh 14:12 Who better to do it than one who had served the Lord faithfully all those years?
a. Caleb would continue to serve with all his might as long as there was still a job to do. – Eccl 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
b. Caleb would finish the work God gave him to do – 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
c. Caleb was going to finish well.
4. Others were watching Caleb: Josh 14:8 People were watching Caleb forty years before and they were still watching Caleb. Not the same people but people were watching Caleb.
a. What was Caleb going to do now that he was older? Would Caleb keep keeping on for the Lord? What would Caleb do?
b. Was Caleb going to keep the faith? Would Caleb continue on for the Lord.
c. Others were watching Caleb.
5. Caleb knew it was no time to rest on the past, it was time to press on for the Lord:
B. I see so many professing Christians today stop before their time in this world is over: But why not be like Caleb?
1. We are still alive today: many of us are nearing the end and although we do not know when that will be we are still alive.
a. Just because we can be called senior saints does not mean we need be called inactive saints. Keep pressing on.
b. I am 66, retirement age, but there is no reason to stop before God says to stop.
c. Why not keep being what we have been in the past?
(1) Faithful in the past, stay faithful.
(2) A worker in the past, keep working.
d. As long as we are alive God has something for us to do. – Rev 4:11 – Let God tell us when our time is over.
2. We still have strength if our strength is in the Lord: At 66 I am not as strong as I was when I was 26 or 36, or 46, or even 56 but that does not mean there is no strength left.
a. Strength in the Lord has not diminished because God’s strength does not diminish. God is as strong today as God was when I was 26 so I need to draw my strength from the Lord.
b. In many ways I am stronger now than I was at 26 because we can grow stronger in the Lord.
c. The Bible says we can grow stronger even while we grow older. – 2 Sam 3:1 – David gaining strength as time passed.
d. We still have strength when our strength is in the Lord.
3. There is still a job to do: Until that trumpet sounds there is still a job to do.
a. People still need to hear the gospel, people still need to be saved.
b. Young people still need Jesus, still need VBS, still need camp.
c. There is still much to do.
4. And we are being watched: The Christian is still being watched, you are being watched, I am being watched.
a. What if I were to just stop? Stop pastoring, stop going to church, stop serving?
(1) What would that tell the people here?
(2) What would it tell my children and grandchildren?
b. We are still being watched.
5. Friend it is no time to stop and rest, it is time to press on for the Lord: Press on it wont be long.
III. Caleb was rewarded for pressing on: Josh 14:14-15 This inheritance passed to Caleb’s children and their children and their children. Caleb was rewarded.
A. But it was more than a material inheritance left by Caleb: Caleb left a much more valuable inheritance. – Prov 13:22 – Who is a good man? A good man is one who knows the Lord, follows the Lord, serves the Lord.
1. Caleb left some steps for his children and their children to follow: Ps 37:23 Caleb left some good steps to follow.
2. To know he left something spiritual for the following generation was a great reward:
B. That is still the reward for pressing on: Most of us here this morning are not going to leave our children and grandchildren much as far as material things are concerned. But there are some tings we can leave them that are more valuable.
1. We could leave a path to follow: Prov 4:18
2. We can leave them a mark to shoot for: Phil 3:17
3. We can let them see that we were decided: Josh 24:15
4. When they follow it is a great reward:
C. Caleb was rewarded for pressing on:
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IV. We stand today at the end of an age: Most discerning Christians agree on that, that we stand near the rapture of the church and most are listening for that trumpet to sound. We also live in a corrupt nation. This is not the United States I grew up in. Evil is praised and the more vile the more it is praised. All that is good is condemned and one wonders just how soon America will fall. I pray that fall after the rapture but we cannot be sure of that. How much longer can America mock God.
A. We should ask what kind of memorial do we want to leave in these last days? We are being watched, you are being watched, I am being watched. What kind of memorial do we want to leave, do I want to leave?
1. We could, I could just sit now and await the rapture: If the rapture is close why not just sit and wait? We are not going to change the world, so why not just sit and wait?
2. We can, I can look back over the years and think we have, I have done enough and just take our ease: Forty years is a long time so why not just take ease? Enough building, enough study, enough helps, just take ease.
3. Those of us who are older and can’t do what we used to, why not just step aside and away: After all we are old.
4. Is that the memorial we want to leave?
B. Or do we want to press on, do we want another mountain: Josh 14:10-12 Will we press on?
1. As long as Caleb was alive he was going to press on: Josh 14:10
2. There was still strength in Caleb: Josh 14:11
3. There was still a job to do: Josh 14:12
4. Others were watching Caleb: Josh 14:8
5. Caleb was rewarded for pressing on: Josh 14:13-14
C. We have good reason to press on:
1. As long as we have life we need to press on:
2. When the Lord is our strength we still have strength to press on:
3. There is a job to do and someone needs to press on:
4. People are watching to see if we will press on or quit:
5. There is also a reward set before us: Crowns set before those who press on.
D. We are standing at the end of an age and we need decide what kind of memorial we want to leave:
Conclusion
The challenge this morning is to press on. In these last days, in older age, press on for our wonderful Lord.
I. Caleb had good reason to take his ease: Better reason than any of us do today.
II. But Caleb decided to press on and was rewarded for it:
III. What will we determine to do today? We need to decide to press on for it wont be long.