Wholehearted Faith: Lessons from Caleb's Journey
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Liberty family! Today, we delved into the book of Joshua, focusing on the life and faith of Caleb. Caleb's story is a powerful testament to what it means to wholly follow the Lord. We explored the significance of the territories and battles listed in Joshua, emphasizing that every tribe received an inheritance, symbolizing that in Christ, everyone has a part. Caleb's unwavering faith and complete devotion to God set him apart from his generation. Despite being surrounded by faithless people, Caleb remained steadfast, living with confidence, consistency, and a readiness for challenges.
We discussed the importance of dealing with past issues to avoid future troubles, as illustrated by the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Caleb's life teaches us that partial obedience or being a "borderline believer" is not enough; God calls us to follow Him wholeheartedly. Caleb's name, meaning "dog," reflects his qualities of loyalty, persistence, and intelligence, which are essential for a life of faith.
Caleb's story also highlights the importance of vision and purpose. He lived with a clear sense of direction, knowing who he was and where he was going. This vision helped him remain consistent in his daily tasks, understanding that small, faithful actions compound over time to produce significant results. Caleb's consistency and faithfulness were evident even in his old age, demonstrating that it's not how you start but how you finish that matters.
Finally, Caleb's request for the hill country of Hebron, a land still inhabited by giants, shows his readiness to face challenges head-on. His faith and determination remind us that we must continually strive to live out our faith, regardless of the obstacles. Caleb's life is a call to be all in for God, to live with confidence, consistency, and a readiness to face any challenge, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is in Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. Complete Devotion to God: Caleb's life exemplifies what it means to wholly follow the Lord. He did not settle for partial obedience or being a "borderline believer." God calls us to follow Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, leaving no room for half-heartedness. This complete devotion is what sets us apart and aligns us with God's purposes. [41:35]
2. Dealing with Past Issues: The cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod remind us that unresolved issues from our past can cause future troubles. Caleb's story teaches us the importance of addressing and overcoming past challenges to prevent them from hindering our future. Spiritual growth requires us to confront and resolve these issues with God's help. [40:00]
3. Living with Vision and Purpose: Caleb lived with a clear vision and purpose, knowing who he was and where he was going. Vision helps us focus on what truly matters and guides our daily actions. It rallies those who are with us and weeds out those who are not. Living with purpose means understanding that our actions today have a significant impact on our future. [50:03]
4. Consistency in Daily Tasks: Caleb's strength and faithfulness were evident in his daily tasks. Consistency in our spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible reading, and worship, is crucial for long-term spiritual growth. Small, faithful actions compound over time, leading to significant spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. [55:14]
5. Facing Challenges with Faith: Caleb's request for the hill country of Hebron, despite the presence of giants, shows his readiness to face challenges head-on. Our faith is often tested through challenges, and it is in these moments that we must rely on God's strength and promises. Facing challenges with faith and determination allows us to experience God's power and provision in new and profound ways. [01:08:12]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[37:01] - Introduction to Joshua and Caleb
[38:28] - The Significance of Territories and Inheritance
[40:00] - Dealing with Past Issues
[41:35] - Borderline Believers and Complete Devotion
[43:16] - Caleb's Confidence and Vision
[50:03] - Living with Vision and Purpose
[55:14] - Consistency in Daily Tasks
[01:08:12] - Facing Challenges with Faith
[01:14:11] - Prayer and Invitation to Follow Christ
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 14:6-15
2. 1 Samuel 17:4
3. Galatians 6:9
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Joshua 14:6-15 reveal about Caleb's character and his faith in God's promises?
2. How does the story of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:4 relate to the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod mentioned in the sermon? [40:00]
3. According to Galatians 6:9, what is the promise given to those who do not grow weary in doing good?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Caleb's unwavering faith set him apart from his generation. What does it mean to "wholly follow the Lord" as Caleb did? [41:35]
2. The sermon mentioned that unresolved past issues can cause future troubles. How does this principle apply to the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod? [40:00]
3. Caleb's request for the hill country of Hebron, despite the presence of giants, demonstrates his readiness to face challenges. What does this teach us about facing our own challenges with faith? [01:08:12]
#### Application Questions
1. Caleb's life exemplifies complete devotion to God. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are only partially obedient to God? How can you move towards wholehearted devotion? [41:35]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of dealing with past issues to avoid future troubles. Is there a past issue in your life that you need to address? What steps can you take to resolve it with God's help? [40:00]
3. Caleb lived with a clear vision and purpose. Do you have a clear sense of direction in your life? How can you develop or refine your vision to align with God's purposes? [50:03]
4. Consistency in daily tasks was a hallmark of Caleb's faith. What small, faithful actions can you commit to daily that will contribute to your long-term spiritual growth? [55:14]
5. Caleb faced challenges with faith and determination. Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you rely on God's strength and promises to overcome it? [01:08:12]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of finishing well. What steps can you take today to ensure that you are living a life that will finish well in God's eyes? [01:05:51]
7. Caleb's qualities of loyalty, persistence, and intelligence were likened to those of a dog. Which of these qualities do you need to cultivate more in your life, and how can you start doing that this week? [58:07]
Devotional
### Day 1: Complete Devotion to God
Caleb's life exemplifies what it means to wholly follow the Lord. He did not settle for partial obedience or being a "borderline believer." God calls us to follow Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, leaving no room for half-heartedness. This complete devotion is what sets us apart and aligns us with God's purposes. Caleb's unwavering faith and complete devotion to God set him apart from his generation. Despite being surrounded by faithless people, Caleb remained steadfast, living with confidence, consistency, and a readiness for challenges. His name, meaning "dog," reflects his qualities of loyalty, persistence, and intelligence, which are essential for a life of faith. Caleb's story is a powerful testament to what it means to wholly follow the Lord.
[Joshua 14:8-9 ESV] "But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’"
Reflection: What areas of your life are you holding back from fully surrendering to God? How can you take a step today to follow Him wholeheartedly? [41:35]
### Day 2: Dealing with Past Issues
The cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod remind us that unresolved issues from our past can cause future troubles. Caleb's story teaches us the importance of addressing and overcoming past challenges to prevent them from hindering our future. Spiritual growth requires us to confront and resolve these issues with God's help. Caleb's life teaches us that partial obedience or being a "borderline believer" is not enough; God calls us to follow Him wholeheartedly. By dealing with past issues, we can avoid future troubles and live a life of complete devotion to God.
[Hebrews 12:1 ESV] "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: Are there unresolved issues or past sins that you need to address? How can you seek God's help in overcoming them today? [40:00]
### Day 3: Living with Vision and Purpose
Caleb lived with a clear vision and purpose, knowing who he was and where he was going. Vision helps us focus on what truly matters and guides our daily actions. It rallies those who are with us and weeds out those who are not. Living with purpose means understanding that our actions today have a significant impact on our future. Caleb's consistency and faithfulness were evident even in his old age, demonstrating that it's not how you start but how you finish that matters. His life is a call to be all in for God, to live with confidence, consistency, and a readiness to face any challenge, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is in Him.
[Proverbs 29:18 ESV] "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."
Reflection: What is your vision and purpose in life? How can you align your daily actions with this vision to make a lasting impact? [50:03]
### Day 4: Consistency in Daily Tasks
Caleb's strength and faithfulness were evident in his daily tasks. Consistency in our spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible reading, and worship, is crucial for long-term spiritual growth. Small, faithful actions compound over time, leading to significant spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. Caleb's life teaches us that it's not how you start but how you finish that matters. His consistency and faithfulness were evident even in his old age, demonstrating the importance of being consistent in our daily tasks and spiritual disciplines.
[Galatians 6:9 ESV] "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: How consistent are you in your spiritual disciplines? What small, faithful actions can you commit to today to grow in your faith? [55:14]
### Day 5: Facing Challenges with Faith
Caleb's request for the hill country of Hebron, despite the presence of giants, shows his readiness to face challenges head-on. Our faith is often tested through challenges, and it is in these moments that we must rely on God's strength and promises. Facing challenges with faith and determination allows us to experience God's power and provision in new and profound ways. Caleb's life is a call to be all in for God, to live with confidence, consistency, and a readiness to face any challenge, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is in Him.
[James 1:2-4 ESV] "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing? How can you rely on God's strength and promises to overcome them with faith and determination? [01:08:12]
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The issues you fail to deal with in your past will cause you trouble in your future. It happened in David's generation, it's still happening today and I pray the Spirit of God would give you spiritual eyes and vision to see that the issues you fail to deal with in your past will cause you trouble in your future." [40:00] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What is a borderline believer? Someone who wants to keep one foot in the church, oh I sure do want to go to heaven, but keep one foot in the world and live like the opposite of you living is where you live one way on Sunday and you live another way Monday through Saturday." [41:35] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Confidence. You can have confidence when you know who you are and where you're going. That's what vision is. Vision answers the what and the why and the how and the when and the where." [50:03] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you see what others cannot see, you can do what others cannot do. Give Jesus all the praise. Amen?" [54:04] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Vision is about taking people from where they are to where they need to be. Vision is all about a preferred future. Caleb was a man of vision. And I'm saying to you, you're going to end up somewhere. Why not reach your destination on purpose?" [51:33] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Caleb lived out his faith surrounded by faithless people. He had 10 people didn't believe God but he still lived out his faith and I know it's hard to live out your faith where you work, where you go to school, where you go to college. Sometimes it's hard to live out your faith surrounded with your own family members because they're not believers. Oh but Caleb reminds us you can live out your faith even when you're surrounded by faithless people." [47:48] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You know, it's a serious thing for you not to follow the Lord, but it is a very serious thing for you to cause others to stumble and not follow the Lord. They all died prematurely. Caleb and Joshua lived into their old age. Their lives were spared." [49:13] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Consistency. Keep reading your Bible. Keep spending time. Spend time with God every day. Daily tasks. Consistency. Consistency. You've got to every day stay at it. Here's why. Because you haven't crossed the finish line. The verdict is still out on me and you. We're not home yet." [01:04:58] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Caleb was a new believer. Your God will be my God. Like Rahab, all right? I want to join the family of God. And there is nothing like the zeal, and the passion, and the fire of a new believer. And that's what you see in Caleb. He's on fire for God. And listen, old age did not diminish yet. It's not how old you are in your body. It's how old you are in your mind. How old you are in your heart." [59:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Caleb reminds us, it's not how you start. It's how you finish. And that's a challenge to every one of us." [01:05:51] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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