 Numbers 33:51-53 ""Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; 53 and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it."

 Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Possessing Through Faith and Patience Possessing the Promised Land

I. Caleb’s Possession  Numbers 13 – Twelve spies sent to Canaan ●From the tribe of Judah – Caleb, son of Jephunneh ●Report – a beautiful land, but the people are powerful and cities are fortified ●Caleb’s report – let’s go at once, we can certainly conquer it ●The others disagreed and spread a bad report  Numbers 13 – Twelve spies sent to Canaan ●From the tribe of Judah – Caleb, son of Jephunneh ●Report – a beautiful land, but the people are powerful and cities are fortified ●Caleb’s report – let’s go at once, we can certainly conquer it ●The others disagreed and spread a bad report

 Numbers 14 ●Vs. 5-9 ▪Don’t rebel against the Lord ▪Don’t be afraid ▪They are helpless prey ▪The Lord is with us  Numbers 14 ●Vs. 5-9 ▪Don’t rebel against the Lord ▪Don’t be afraid ▪They are helpless prey ▪The Lord is with us

●Vs ▪None of these people will enter that land ▪But Caleb has a different attitude ▪He has remained loyal to me ▪I will bring him into the land ▪His descendants will possess their full share of the land ●Vs ▪None of these people will enter that land ▪But Caleb has a different attitude ▪He has remained loyal to me ▪I will bring him into the land ▪His descendants will possess their full share of the land

 Numbers 32:11-12 ●Joshua and Caleb have wholeheartedly followed the Lord  Deuteronomy 1:34-36 ●Caleb will see this land because he followed the Lord completely ●I will give him and his descendants the very land he explored  Numbers 32:11-12 ●Joshua and Caleb have wholeheartedly followed the Lord  Deuteronomy 1:34-36 ●Caleb will see this land because he followed the Lord completely ●I will give him and his descendants the very land he explored

 Joshua 14:6-14 Caleb taking possession

●Remember what the Lord said to Moses? ●I was 40, I gave an honest report, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord ●The land you were just walking will be your grant of land ●Remember what the Lord said to Moses? ●I was 40, I gave an honest report, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord ●The land you were just walking will be your grant of land

●Today I’m 85 – just as strong, can fight like then ●Give me the hill country that the Lord promised me – where the giants and fortified cities are ●I will drive them out as the Lord has said ●Today I’m 85 – just as strong, can fight like then ●Give me the hill country that the Lord promised me – where the giants and fortified cities are ●I will drive them out as the Lord has said

II. Inheriting the Promises  Hebrews 6:9-15 ●Things that come with salvation ●Shown your love to God by caring for other believers ●Make certain that what you hope for will come true  Hebrews 6:9-15 ●Things that come with salvation ●Shown your love to God by caring for other believers ●Make certain that what you hope for will come true

●Not spiritually dull ●Instead you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance ●Like Abraham – waited patiently and received what God had promised ●Not spiritually dull ●Instead you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance ●Like Abraham – waited patiently and received what God had promised

 Like Caleb ●Promised possession of a portion of Canaan at age 40 ●Age 85 – laying claim to it – battling to possess it ●Faith – wholeheartedly followed the Lord ●Patience/Endurance – 40 year wilderness and 5 years helping others possess theirs  Like Caleb ●Promised possession of a portion of Canaan at age 40 ●Age 85 – laying claim to it – battling to possess it ●Faith – wholeheartedly followed the Lord ●Patience/Endurance – 40 year wilderness and 5 years helping others possess theirs

III. Your Possession  John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  Rich and Satisfying Defined ●NASB – abundant ●NIV – to the full ●AMP – have and enjoy life, in abundance, to the full, till if overflows ●MESSAGE – real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of  John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  Rich and Satisfying Defined ●NASB – abundant ●NIV – to the full ●AMP – have and enjoy life, in abundance, to the full, till if overflows ●MESSAGE – real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of

 Definition Summarized – everything that belongs to you in Christ Jesus  Spiritual fullness ●Salvation ●Eternal life  Definition Summarized – everything that belongs to you in Christ Jesus  Spiritual fullness ●Salvation ●Eternal life

 Things that accompany salvation ●Emotional fullness ●Physical fullness ●Relational (social) fullness ●Financial fullness ●Life calling fullness ▪Occupational fullness ▪Body member fullness  Things that accompany salvation ●Emotional fullness ●Physical fullness ●Relational (social) fullness ●Financial fullness ●Life calling fullness ▪Occupational fullness ▪Body member fullness

 Rich and satisfying life – is NOT A life without problems  “I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” ●Press ●Lay hold ●Faith ●Patience/endurance  Rich and satisfying life – is NOT A life without problems  “I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” ●Press ●Lay hold ●Faith ●Patience/endurance

 The reality gap ●Difference between the ideal and the real  The reality gap ●Difference between the ideal and the real Ideal Real Deal ●Because we live in a fallen world ●Because we deal with humanity in its frailty ●Life’s not fair ●Because we live in a fallen world ●Because we deal with humanity in its frailty ●Life’s not fair ●In the gap you “deal”

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Biblical Truth Scripture Biblical Truth Scripture Biblical Truth Scripture Biblical Truth Scripture Extreme Error Extreme Error Extreme Error Extreme Error Balance

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Content (Philippians 4:11) “ … I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." (1 Timothy 6:8) "And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." Content (Philippians 4:11) “ … I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." (1 Timothy 6:8) "And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." Holy Discontent (2 Corinthians 9:8,11) “… always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” "you will be enriched in everything for all liberality,..." Holy Discontent (2 Corinthians 9:8,11) “… always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” "you will be enriched in everything for all liberality,..." Error - settle - poverty equals godliness Error - settle - poverty equals godliness Error - greed - envy Error - greed - envy Balance CONTENTMENT

Biblical Tensions That Keep Us In Tune Biblical Truth - Talents - Gideon Biblical Truth - Talents - Gideon Biblical Truth - Faithful with the few, entrusted with much Biblical Truth - Faithful with the few, entrusted with much Error -Justifica- tion -Why bother? Error -Justifica- tion -Why bother? Error -Numbers equals success Error -Numbers equals success Balance CHURCH GROWTH

 Word of the Lord - July 1996 – Tent Revival Meetings on the Hwy 56 property  7/18 – the Lord said that He wanted a church building built on that piece of property. I wrestled some with that – can a new building be justified for how often a church meets in it? But He said that it would be a testimony for Him. Other thoughts that came to me – I believe that we are to raise it up without debt. The Lord is also saying that He will supply seed for people to sow into this, and for them not to misappropriate funds He has given them. We are to call in the finances. Not to put up names or plaques for donations, it is to be a testimony to the Lord, not to people. Size – 300 expandable to 500.  Word of the Lord - July 1996 – Tent Revival Meetings on the Hwy 56 property  7/18 – the Lord said that He wanted a church building built on that piece of property. I wrestled some with that – can a new building be justified for how often a church meets in it? But He said that it would be a testimony for Him. Other thoughts that came to me – I believe that we are to raise it up without debt. The Lord is also saying that He will supply seed for people to sow into this, and for them not to misappropriate funds He has given them. We are to call in the finances. Not to put up names or plaques for donations, it is to be a testimony to the Lord, not to people. Size – 300 expandable to 500.

Reflection Time  What part or parts of the abundant life have you not yet laid hold of?  Have you settled for less than is yours in Christ?  How are you dealing with the difference between the ideal and the real?  What part or parts of the abundant life have you not yet laid hold of?  Have you settled for less than is yours in Christ?  How are you dealing with the difference between the ideal and the real?

V.