Caleb…Wholehearted Joshua 14:6-15v 10/07/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

Caleb…Wholehearted Introduction Israel had found temporary rest in the Promised Land even though there was much land that was yet to be possessed. Caleb was a part of Israel when they left Egypt. Caleb was one of the 12 spies who had gone in to survey the land.

Caleb…Wholehearted Here’s a great picture of the Christian life. Caleb pictures the Christian who is willing to pay the price, fight the battles and win the victory that God has waiting for him. One word describes Caleb…wholehearted!

Caleb…Wholehearted 6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. (Joshua 14:6, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, (Joshua 14:7, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. (Joshua 14:8, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘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.’ (Joshua 14:9, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! (Joshua 14:10, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. (Joshua 14:11, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” (Joshua 14:12, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Joshua 14:13, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war. (Joshua 14:15, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted  Wholehearted Commitment Now the first key to Caleb success was that God had all of Caleb that there was!

Caleb…Wholehearted 19 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; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted Caleb’s commitment to God was based upon his confidence in the Word of God. Our commitment. 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, (Titus 1:2, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted  Wholehearted Confidence. What was it that gave 85-year-old Caleb the idea he could be a giant killer? His faith…

Caleb…Wholehearted  Faith is not positive thinking.  Faith is not optimism.  Faith is not looking on the bright side. 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb 11:1, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted  Faith is taking God at His Word and acting upon what God says. 35 “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, (Deut 1:35, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” (Deut 1:36, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted Caleb’s faith had not wavered!  He was able to see beyond his circumstances into the promises of the Lord.  We need some people who have been cut from that same cloth!

Caleb…Wholehearted  Wholehearted Courage. He Had to Overcome Grasshoppers. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Num 13:33, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted He Had to Overcome Giants. He Had to Overcome Gray Hairs. 10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! (Joshua 14:10, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. (Josh 14:11, NIV) Never count God, or yourself out. True faith looks beyond the present circumstance and sees the provision of God!

Caleb…Wholehearted  Wholehearted Conquest. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Josh 14:14, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war. (Josh 14:15, NIV)

Caleb…Wholehearted Caleb experienced what God had promised! He climbed the mountains and he defeated the giants - he claimed his possession.

Caleb…Wholehearted Conclusion Where are we in our personal walk with the Lord right now? Have we entered into our victory, or are we still wandering around in the wilderness struggling day to day?

Caleb…Wholehearted Joshua 14: /07/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles