Give Me This Mountain

Sermon Title Give me this mountain Joshua 14:14 

• Joshua 14:14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to  this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel/// 
• Not because he was famous. Not because he was impressive. Not bc of worldly accomplishment • Because he wholly followed the Lord. Not a moment. A lifetime. This is a picture of an old man standing  at the end of his story and God saying “This one stayed faithful”/// 
• On the 1st Sun of the year. pastors ‘cast vision’ and people set goals you can have some • but I struggle with the vision, because who I think we SHOULD be biblically doesn’t line up with who the  WORLD says we should be as a Church. Should we juice it up? Or just be who we are? Does size = value • The world celebrates what grows fast. God honors what stays true. We’re going to be us.  • here’s what I don’t want to do- I don’t want to lie in God’s name by baptizing my ambition as “vision”. • I also don’t want to stall out spiritually by confusing contentment with complacency.  • I want to ask a different question- What if we’re chasing the wrong scoreboard?/// 

1. we must not forget the promises of God 

• Joshua 14:6–9 READ v6 “you now the word which the Lord Said” 
• Caleb didn’t live on feelings or new revelation. He lived on a word from the Lord.  • He didn’t try to shine it up and make it more than it was. Not “theres a shift” or “a new season” or “I  sense the Lord saying” Nope. Simply- “you know the word which the Lord Said” previously • There’s nothing wrong with hearing from God. The danger is forgetting what He already said./// • Faithfulness always anchors backward before it moves forward. It remembers what God said • Ps 77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. • Caleb didn’t invent a new word from the Lord, he simply refused to forget the old one.  • He’s holding onto a promise from decades early- ‘you didn’t falter you will inherit this mountain’ • So we must remember who God has already called us to be as a church. what He has told us- • Matthew 16:18 I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. • It is not biblically required for a church to grow bigger and bigger forever. It is to be faithful  • Heb 10:23–25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering… not forsaking the  assembling of ourselves together. 
• There’s a huge difference between: Growth as fruit v Growth as mandate/// 
• When growth becomes the mandate, faithfulness becomes optional. It becomes ‘at all costs’ • Here’s a solid biblical vision for Church-The Bible already gave us a vision. We don’t need to invent  one. Rev 2:10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life Rev 3:8 You have kept My  word, and have not denied My name .Col 1:23 continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are  not moved away from the hope of the gospel. 
• And this isn’t just true for churches. It’s true for you. Everything doesn’t need a ‘glow up’ • You can’t forget this promise in your own life! You don’t always need a new vision or goal! • You need to honor the Lord with what he’s already asked you to do- Be faithful! • He doesn’t always need your business bigger, your waistline smaller, your workouts longer • Do you want that mountain? You need to stay faithful to what he’s already spoken/// • Most people don’t fail because they didn’t hear God. They fail because they stopped honoring what  

they already heard. They are disobedient to what they know they are supposed to do • What has he spoken to you that you know to be true that you have forgot?/// 

• He Told Caleb- You’re getting Hebron. You’re getting the mountain. 
• Did Caleb forget? No. You know who never forgets? Kids. Make them a promise! Ice cream, toy etc.  • When people ask you- whats the vision for your life? I’m not forgetting the promises or what he said • full forgiveness, new life in Christ, presence of the Holy Spirit, strength and provision for every season,  

victory over sin and death, an eternal inheritance that begins now and is fulfilled forever. Walk w God • When you don’t forget the promise of God. You stay grounded. Focused. Whats going on around you  doesn’t distract you or detour you. Nothing can shake you. You live on remembrance.  

2. Mountains are for the faithful 

• Faithfulness will always outlast the crowd, because the crowd only stays as long as they’re applauded. • Jo14:10 behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke  this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, 85 years old • Caleb Outlasted the Crowd “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five  years…” Everyone else from that generation is gone. 
• Faithfulness didn’t make Caleb popular. It made him permanent. He just stayed faithful. /// • No applause. No promotion. No platform. Just quiet faithfulness. (FVC Just hasn’t given up) • faithfulness looks in different seasons. In Numbers 14, everyone dies but Caleb and Joshua. But the  record of their trajectory is quite different.  
• Joshua serves under Moses, watches him become leader of Israel- at this point in the text, prob. 5-7  years after Joshua got promoted. Caleb? Just wandering with everyone else. 
• Crossing the Jordan,Jericho,Ai,Southern campaigns,Northern campaigns, just watching • Caleb’s greatness is not that he waited 45 years. Its that the 45 years didn’t change him • He’s still the same guy. Trusting God. Standing in the background remembering the promise • Time doesn’t test who we are. It reveals who we really are./// 
• Faithful regardless of the changes or circumstances gets the mountain. Long term faithfulness • Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 
• Not saved by endurance- but real salvation always endures/// 
• We just walk. Strong sermons. Deep worship. Real commitments. Visceral relationships • We’re not trying to impress people who won’t stay. We’re trying to shepherd people who will • Boredom doesn’t mean God left. Sometimes it means He’s building endurance in us.  • We will not apologize for taking God and his church seriously. We want the Mountain.  • And for you? You have to realize that faithfulness doesn’t always get rewarded quickly.  • Caleb outlived the generation that quit. Faithfulness is often quiet, unseen, and unrewarded for a long  time. But it endures. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures  
• Can you please set the expectation for yourself and this church that the bar will be faithfulness? • Because if you don’t decide that now, you’ll quit later./// 
• Talking to guy this week- his church was 400 15 y ago, learned from them, now >25. Wavered.  • It wasn’t enough to be faithful. They kept adjusting to grow and it eventually killed them.  • It’s not a new vision. Not a new direction. Not a fresh word. Its long term faithfulness • Am I worshipping in spirit/truth? Am I growing? Serving? Giving? Fellowshipping? Consistent! • Faithfulness isn’t complicated. It’s just consistent. Not impressive to anyone but the Lord.  • People will come and go. Churches will come and go. Those who grind out faithfulness make it • My wife- People remark on her skinniness. Few weeks ago- stuck in airport. She did 2 miles.  • That’s the consistency of faithfulness. I’m eating snacks playing on my phone. Shes walking. 

3. Mountains are for the strong 

• 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so  now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. This isn’t bravado. This is testimony Can we pause for a second here? Here’s this 85 year old dude still puffing his chest like he just back after  spying out the promised land. He’s like, I’m still ready to roll. Bring it.  
• Caleb Did Not Let Time Dilute His Faith it actually emboldened it. He wanted the mountain.  • Time weakens faith built on hype. It strengthens faith built on promise. Lets not be on hype./// • Caleb waited through Moses’ leadership, through Joshua’s rise, through the conquest • he never demanded recognition. He never competed for authority. He just stayed strong • Strong people don’t need to be seen. They need to be faithful. They aren’t looking for accolades • what I think? Pr 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. • You don’t stay strong by managing your image. You stay strong by guarding your heart. • If Caleb hadn’t kept his heart strong there’s no way he could have lasted 45 years • Notice– the bible is silent about Calebs jealousy, bitterness, demands, he just got stronger.  • Scripture doesn’t record his complaints because they never defined him. (it records others) • “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me.” 
• Obviously not the same physically, His body aged. His convictions didn’t.I’m strong. Lets roll.  • Didn’t mellow, soften, or become careful. He saw that over years this ethos carried him.  • And that’s what I want for our church. We’re strong and we want to stay strong.  • Not loud strong. Not trendy strong. Rooted strong. Jesus is proud of us strong.  • 1 Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 
• Its brave to continue to preach against a world that hates you. That challenges sin.  • 2 Thess 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught. • Holding traditions matter. Everything doesn’t have to be new. Why we do doxology 500 y old • Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. • But its not OUR Strength. Its HIS strength we stay strong in. Caleb definitely wasn’t on his own • To take this mountain you cant live cautiously, you have to live confidently.  
• Jude 3 says– to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. • People that take mountains are people who contend earnestly. They don’t give up easily.  • the churches and the people that will be most impressive in heaven might surprise us • There’s a faithful single mother who’s raising her kids right, living out the Bible.  • A man who works at an seemingly unimpressive Job that holds the faith strong at work. • There’s a little church that’s been faithful to the Lord, his word and worshipped him in spirit and truth.  • Matthew 25:21 Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you  ruler over many things. 
• That’s the “take the mountain” Caleb spirit. Its not retweetable, but its strength over time. Most people • God has spoken promises to you and you need to stay strong in him while waiting.  • 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. • As a church we’re not lowering the bar to grow faster and trade conviction for comfort and coin • You shouldn’t either. Your mountain is coming. Gods promises are true. Strengthen your resolve • Luke 16:15 For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. • I can still remember early in my walk with God someone saying “come see me in ten years” I wish I could  remember who said it. See me now bro. Stronger than ever. Resolve deeper. Conviction HARDER
• There wasn’t a ton I admired about my dad, but he was setting powerlifting records in his 80s • Do you know why? No one else showed up. Its an easy win if you just outlive the competition.  

Point 4. Mountains are for the submitted 

• 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day  how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be  with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” 
• Now lets talk about this mountain that Caleb asks for. Its in Hebron. 
• Note- The Anakim is a land of Giants. The cities are great and fortified. Its not an easy place • But Caleb? He’s held on to the promises, stayed faithfuland now? The Lord will be with me, and I will be  able to drive them out as the Lord said.  
• This is the place where most people start negotiating. I’ve been waiting 45 years, Moses got promoted,  etc. Can I get somewhere easy? Can I get the plains instead of the Giants? 
• Faithfulness doesn’t look for the safe assignment. It looks for the one God promised and assigned • Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. • Caleb knew Deut 1:36 Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance… because  you wholly followed the Lord. 
• He had walked through hard times, seen God move, why would this mountain be different?/// • Faithfulness chooses obedience, not convenience. It knows God will bring it to pass.  • And for us as a Church.. We’re not asking God for the easiest church in the easiest city to pastor. We’re  

asking Him to let us stay faithful in a hard generation. We are going to stay faithful no matter how long. • Its an honor to be a Church in one of the least churched areas in the Nation. Its an Honor to see people  come off drugs and crime. It’s a blessing to be a light in a dark area of the world.  • Had a phone call this week with someone in the south “no one’s committed down here” • Yeah. There’s no Giants down on that mountain. If there’s no battle there can be no victory.  • I think Caleb had been so balled up for 45 years that he was WAITING For a fight. He wanted it • Joshua 15:14 Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there 

• Our Church is taking the mountain. We’re fighting the Giants and not giving up the fight • We’ve been given an assignment and we’ve heard the promises and we’re ready to fight • Your spiritual resolve should be such that you’re proud to be here for a time such as this • Give me the land with the Giants. /// 
• For you? Praise God if your mountain didn’t come easy. You’re stronger for it.  
• Fighting the giants might look like boring faithfulness. You just keep showing up.  • just keep giving, serving, and showing up. Not bc its easy, but because it’s what faithful people do • Your focus for this year is the promise of the mountain….eventually. Just be faithful. Don’t worry about  

the outcomes. Focus on the inputs. Quit living year to year on a calendar. The goal is the mountain.  • And Faith and victory is getting there. Slow, methodical faithfulness over years.  • No hype. No glitz. No Fog. Just faithful people worshipping God, growing in his grace. Consistently. • Mat 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to  

destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and [b]difficult is the way  which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

• We will take the mountain. Our vision is not to be the biggest church in the city, but the most faithful  one God can trust over time. Give us this mountain!