Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Wonderful example of Nell & Audrey
• Tonight looking at Caleb who was 85
• He had not lost any of his strength
• The Lord had kept him
• He was not giving up or giving in
• He was sure of the promises given to Moses
• This man is a great challenge to us
• Are we looking forward to or enjoying retirement?
• We should still serve the Lord
• Caleb continued with the Lord through his middle years
• We learn three times that he "wholly followed the Lord"
• This is mentioned 6 times throughout the whole Scripture
• Also mentioned of Joshua (twice) and David (once)
• Are we dedicated for the Lord
• He was one of the leaders of God's people
• He was one of the 12 spies (who returned with a good report)
• The mountain was to be given to Caleb and his descendants as an inheritance
• What are the qualities of those called to lead
• Men of faith - Example of Stephen in Acts 6
• These men claim mountains or remove them into the sea [through faith]
• Overview:
• The object of his faith
• The nature of his faith
• The reward of his faith

The object of his faith

• Faith must be in God or it has no effect whatsoever
• We do not have faith in faith
• Caleb is asking for his inheritance - with right motives
• Caleb believed the promise of God and wholly followed the Lord
• He is not being proud in saying "I have wholly followed the Lord"
• It was not false humility
• There must have been acknowledgment in the hearts of others
• Caleb claimed the promise
• Num 14:24 - not a specific location
• His heart was not just fixed upon the mountain but he was tenacious for the glory of God
• He wanted to prove how great God was
• Example of George Muller
• His faith was fixed on the glory of God
• 13:1 - pockets of resistance and land still to possess
• Caleb's faith was routed in the word of God
• He never doubted, even though he waited 45 years
• Lessons for us:
• When we were first saved - Jesus was the object of our faith
• Have we taken our eyes of Christ as time has gone by?
• Are we looking for the return of the Lord?
• Are we holding onto God's promises? - Examples
• Are we seeking to advance?
• Consider the Apostle Paul - Phil 3:10-14

The nature of his faith

• He wholly followed the Lord
• v8, 9, 14
• This faith seemed to give him vigour of body - v11
• Lessons for us:
• How committed are we to God?
• How committed are we to Jesus Christ?
• It was not easy to keep his faith going
• Everybody was murmuring against him
• The people of God wandered through the wilderness for 40 years
• He waited for 45 years - but his faith still shone brightly
• Lessons for us:
• Is our faith growing?
• How we are in our middle years will affect how we are in our latter years
• Solomon began well but ended badly
• Example of AW Pink
• Josh 17:13 - do not go so far but then not complete
• Examples - Michelangelo, Churchill, Bishop Ryle, Fred Orr
• We should never give up
• Psalm 92:12-14

1. A whole hearted faith
2. A patient faith (faith that did not give up)
3. A tenacious faith

The reward of his faith

• He was given the victory and inheritance:
• 15:14
• 21:11-12
• Above all Caleb's inheritance was in heaven
• Example of Bill Barclay
• What will we be written as our epitaph?
• You are blessed if you receive an inheritance on this earth
• But our real inheritance is in heaven
• Oh that we would look to Jesus
• Quote from TS Elliot