Finishing Well: Embracing Faith and Challenges
Summary
In our journey of faith, it's not just about how we start but how we finish. Reflecting on my first 5K race, I realized the importance of pacing and endurance, not just in running but in our spiritual lives. Many start their walk with Christ with zeal but struggle to maintain that fervor as life progresses. Caleb, at 85, exemplifies finishing well. Despite the challenges and the passage of time, he remained steadfast in his faith and mission. Caleb's story in Joshua 14 reminds us that God calls us to finish the mission, regardless of our age or stage in life.
Caleb's life teaches us three key principles for finishing well. First, we must believe that our best days are ahead. Caleb, despite his age, believed that God still had plans for him. He saw his life not as winding down but as an opportunity for new victories. Second, we must renew ourselves in the Lord. Caleb's strength came not from his physical prowess but from his unwavering faith and inner renewal. He allowed God to breathe life into him, keeping his spirit vibrant and fruitful. Lastly, we must be willing to take on the hard challenges, the mountains in our lives. Caleb didn't shy away from the difficult task of conquering the hill country filled with giants. He embraced it with faith, knowing that God was with him.
As we reflect on our own lives, we must ask ourselves what mountains God is calling us to conquer. Whether it's a new ministry, a challenging relationship, or a personal struggle, God equips us to face these challenges with courage and faith. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can finish our race well, leaving a legacy of faith and impact for future generations.
Key Takeaways:
1. Believe in Future Victories: Caleb's story teaches us that with God, our best days are always ahead. No matter our age, God has plans and purposes for us that are yet to be fulfilled. We must hold onto the promise that God keeps those He wants to use, and our lives are preserved for His purposes. [52:56]
2. Renewal in the Lord: Caleb's strength was not in his physical abilities but in his spiritual vitality. He allowed God to renew him from the inside out, keeping his spirit fresh and vibrant. We too must seek God's presence to revive us, especially when life becomes challenging and we feel weary. [56:07]
3. Embrace the Challenge: Caleb's desire to take the hill country filled with giants shows us the importance of embracing the difficult tasks God sets before us. These challenges are opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and for us to grow in faith. [58:39]
4. Spiritual Legacy: Our lives can leave a lasting impact when we choose to finish well. Like Caleb, we can inspire others by our faithfulness and courage, paving the way for future generations to experience God's blessings and victories. [01:01:23]
5. Communion and Reflection: As we partake in communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and God's faithfulness. This act of remembrance strengthens our faith, reminding us that God, who was faithful in the past, will continue to be faithful in our present and future challenges. [01:06:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Race
- [03:45] - Starting Strong, Finishing Well
- [07:20] - Caleb's Story in Joshua 14
- [12:00] - Believing in Future Victories
- [16:30] - Renewal in the Lord
- [21:00] - Embracing the Challenge
- [25:45] - Spiritual Legacy
- [30:15] - Communion and Reflection
- [35:00] - Call to Action: Take the Mountain
- [40:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
- [45:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 14:6-12
- Ephesians 2:10
- Psalm 92:12-15
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Caleb's request to Joshua in Joshua 14:12, and why was it significant given his age and the challenges he faced? [56:07]
2. How does Caleb describe his physical and spiritual condition at the age of 85 in Joshua 14:10-11? What does this reveal about his faith? [49:33]
3. In Ephesians 2:10, what does it mean to be God's workmanship, and how does this relate to the idea of having a purpose at any stage of life?
4. According to Psalm 92:12-15, what is promised to those who are planted in the house of the Lord, and how does this relate to Caleb's story?
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Caleb believed that his best days were still ahead of him despite his age. How does this perspective challenge common views about aging and purpose? [49:33]
2. Caleb's strength was attributed to his faithfulness to God rather than his physical abilities. How does this redefine what it means to be strong in one's faith? [56:07]
3. The sermon mentioned that God keeps those He wants to use. How does this idea influence one's understanding of purpose and calling, especially in later stages of life? [01:01:23]
4. Caleb's desire to take on the hill country filled with giants demonstrates a willingness to embrace challenges. What does this teach about facing difficult tasks with faith? [58:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Caleb believed that God still had plans for him at 85. Reflect on your current stage in life. Do you believe that God has future victories planned for you? How can you align your actions with this belief? [49:33]
2. Caleb's strength came from his spiritual vitality. What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to renew yourself in the Lord and maintain spiritual strength? [56:07]
3. Identify a "mountain" or challenge in your life that God might be calling you to conquer. What steps can you take this week to begin addressing this challenge with faith? [58:39]
4. The sermon emphasized leaving a spiritual legacy. What legacy of faith do you want to leave for future generations, and what actions can you take now to ensure that legacy is realized? [01:01:23]
5. During communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and God's faithfulness. How can this act of remembrance strengthen your faith in facing current and future challenges? [01:06:53]
6. Caleb's story encourages us to embrace difficult tasks as opportunities for growth. Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to embrace it as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power? [58:39]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt like your best days were behind you. How can Caleb's story inspire you to see this as just an intermission and to look forward to new opportunities with faith? [49:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Future Victories
Believing that our best days are ahead is a powerful mindset that Caleb exemplified. At 85, Caleb did not see his life as winding down but as an opportunity for new victories. He trusted that God still had plans for him, and he held onto the promise that God preserves those He wants to use. This belief in future victories is not just about optimism but about faith in God's ongoing work in our lives. No matter our age or stage in life, God has purposes for us that are yet to be fulfilled. [52:56]
Joshua 14:10-12 (ESV): "And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to trust Him for future victories? How can you actively prepare for these victories today?
Day 2: Inner Renewal through Faith
Caleb's strength was not in his physical abilities but in his spiritual vitality. He allowed God to renew him from the inside out, keeping his spirit fresh and vibrant. This inner renewal is crucial, especially when life becomes challenging and we feel weary. Seeking God's presence and allowing Him to breathe life into us can rejuvenate our faith and keep us steadfast in our journey. Caleb's story reminds us that true strength comes from a deep, unwavering faith in God. [56:07]
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek God's presence this week to renew your spirit? Consider setting aside specific times for prayer or meditation to invite His renewal.
Day 3: Courage to Face Challenges
Caleb's desire to take the hill country filled with giants shows us the importance of embracing the difficult tasks God sets before us. These challenges are not just obstacles but opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and for us to grow in faith. Caleb's courage and faith in God's presence enabled him to face these challenges head-on. We too are called to embrace the mountains in our lives, trusting that God equips us to conquer them. [58:39]
2 Samuel 22:30-31 (ESV): "For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."
Reflection: Identify a specific challenge you are currently facing. How can you rely on God's strength and presence to help you overcome it?
Day 4: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
Our lives can leave a lasting impact when we choose to finish well. Like Caleb, we can inspire others by our faithfulness and courage, paving the way for future generations to experience God's blessings and victories. A spiritual legacy is not just about what we achieve but about the faith and values we pass on to others. By living a life of faith and integrity, we can influence those around us and leave a legacy that honors God. [01:01:23]
Psalm 78:4-7 (ESV): "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments."
Reflection: What kind of spiritual legacy do you want to leave for those around you? What steps can you take today to begin building that legacy?
Day 5: Communion and Reflection
As we partake in communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and God's faithfulness. This act of remembrance strengthens our faith, reminding us that God, who was faithful in the past, will continue to be faithful in our present and future challenges. Communion is a time to reflect on God's goodness and to renew our commitment to Him. It is a reminder that we are part of a larger story of redemption and grace. [01:06:53]
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV): "For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
Reflection: As you prepare for communion, take a moment to reflect on God's faithfulness in your life. How can this remembrance inspire you to trust Him more deeply in your current circumstances?
Quotes
Caleb says I know I'm getting older I know I have a lot of good things In my past But I believe that God Still has something for me yet It's a word of faith That he speaks That God has given him A promise for And I think this is Our first guidepost this morning If you want to finish well You must believe That with God Your best days Are actually ahead of you [00:38:49] (21 seconds)
I believe that God Has preserved you With a purpose That God has planned out Your days And you are still Sitting here today At 1102 AM On a Sunday morning In March of 2025 Because God has a plan And a design For the works That he wants to accomplish Through you He has preserved you To today With a purpose [00:42:40] (28 seconds)
Caleb had to wait Four decades To get to this moment And you would think When he gets there He would feel anxious He would feel behind He would feel like Man what's going to happen He might feel the urgency Of the missed opportunities In the passing time But instead he says No no no God has kept me God is sovereign God has a plan Over my life He has a count Over my days [00:43:51] (19 seconds)
If you want to finish well You have to renew yourself In the Lord Last year I turned 40 years old And it was strange I'll be honest It was a little surreal To think that I'd been On the earth For four decades And so even though It was surreal It wasn't surprising There had been signs If you know what I mean There had been signs Of wear and tear [00:46:26] (26 seconds)
My strength isn't What it used to be I'm not as young As I once was It's harder to get around I don't have the energy That I did And we start to believe That that's what makes me Useful to God And in verse 10 We start to see A little bit of this In Caleb He says this And now behold I am this day 85 years old [00:51:21] (18 seconds)
And I've said this before, but Norma had a way of touching the heart of God and of pulling on his ear in a way that he heard her. And when she prayed, God listened, and he gave her her requests. And if you knew Norma, you wanted her to pray for you. [00:53:41] (17 seconds)
Caleb looks at the land in front of him, and it's filled with the Anakim. It's filled with fortified cities. It's filled with giants. It's filled with hard things. And I want you to hear this this morning as a man of faith in God's power. Here's what he says. He says, Joshua, give me this hill country. Give me the mountain. [00:55:19] (25 seconds)
Caleb was 85 years old, but he didn't say, give me the easy spot. He didn't say, give me the beachfront retirement condo in Florida. He didn't say, give me the quiet plot in the country. He said, give me the Anakim. He looked out at what he saw and he said, I want, God, I want, if you'll allow me, I want one last battle for the ages. [00:58:59] (22 seconds)
What is the hard thing that God is calling you to in your life? What is the difficult thing that God wants you to do? And he says, if you do that, that's finishing the mission. That's accomplishing what I've given you right now. [01:00:02] (13 seconds)
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