Expanding Our Territory in 2024
Redeeming God’s Promises
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Welcome:
Call to Worship:
“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” Nehemiah 9:5-6
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7
Has God given you a promise for something to come about in your life; a dream in your heart; a vision of something that has yet to take place but you can see parts of it fulfilled; a word or phrase that means something specific to you; a message about your future or your children’s future?
If so, do you receive it and take it as truth, for you? Or do you blow it off as wishful thinking but it probably won’t happen?
You see God speaks to us all the time, specifically to us, about our lives, and He shows us the great plans He has for us- not in all the details but in glimpses of what is in store. He puts something in our hearts, as a promise for us to cling to and to stand in hope. But it’s up to us to choose by faith to believe in what He’s showing us and to hold on to those promises. Because if you have been walking with God for any amount of time, you know full well, those promises can be years in the making.
The Bible is filled with lofty promises given to God’s people, most of which were fulfilled many years later; for some a lifetime later but they were all brought to fruition. We are given His Word so we see these promises spoken to God’s faithful servants, and then learn from them how they received those promises, lived in those promises, and eventually redeemed those promises. Because in watching their examples and seeing their steadfast faith, we learn to believe in the promises God speaks over us too.
Every believer has numerous promises spoken in the Bible that are rightfully ours as a child of God, as we have discussed. And every child of God will be given specific promises from their Father as they learn to listen for His voice and look with the eyes of their heart to see what He is showing them. God has given me many promises for my life, my family, and our church. Some have come about and many I am clinging to, waiting with confident hope for the manifestation of those promises and faithfully serving as He calls me in the meantime. I have them written down so I can read them again and again- so I remember them for one, and renew my strength and faith when the waiting becomes long, or the season might be hard. These promises guide me forward for I know my God is faithful to accomplish that which He has spoken. It’s holding on to these
promises that brings me back to peace when I feel fear or anxiety rise; I remember what He has told me and I choose to believe that and know He is at work in this current difficulty. It’s holding on to these promises that allow me to live with great joy for today because I don’t have to fear tomorrow. I know God has me, my family, and all of us! I know His plans are great and everything we do now is leading us to the fulfillment of those promises!
Do you believe this?
Well, Caleb believed in this. Do you remember Caleb in the Bible? He was one who with Joshua, was called to go scope out the land and see what Israel would be up against as they fought for the land God had promised them.
Moses sent several men to go and bring back a report. Most of the men came back terrified of what they saw and said we can’t do it; they are giants; we are but grasshoppers next to them. We’ll be crushed. And they instilled fear in all the Israelites with their message of doom. BUT Caleb and Joshua came back confident, full of faith, and said, “We can take them!” Why? Because God had promised Israel long ago-beginning with Abraham, to give them this particular land as an inheritance and that He would surely be with them. Caleb didn’t trust Israel’s army in
their power; he was looking to the Commander of Heaven’s army to lead them to victory and believed that God told them this land was theirs, then He would make good on that promise.
Those two stood out that day as men of faith. Joshua was chosen to lead after Moses and Caleb was promised a special portion of land for his family and descendants. But unlike the prodigal son who demanded his inheritance right away out of greed and selfishness, Caleb held on to the promise and continued to serve God, Moses, and later Joshua, waiting for God to give the green light. Let’s take a look at the fulfillment of his specific promise given to him by God.
Joshua 14: 6-15 NIV
6 Now the people 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. 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, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people
melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 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.’ 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 wilderness. So here I am today,
eighty-five years old! 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. 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.” 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. 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.
1. Receive the Promise.
As I shared in the intro, this promise began with Abraham, who was at the time called Abram. What did God
promise to Abram?
Genesis 17: 3-6 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will
be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name
will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations
of you, and kings will come from you.
Genesis 17:8 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting
possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
There it is. God called Abram out of his homeland and into a foreign land. He would travel about as God
commanded him and learn to fully trust in God Almighty for everything. From him would come a people raised up
who trusted in God and lived for Him, listening to His commands and counsel through His anointed leaders.
Abraham was inhabiting the ground that would one day become Israel’s inheritance. Abraham received the promise
God spoke over him and followed God all the days of his life; as did his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob. God spoke
this same promise to each of them and through Jacob-who would later be named Israel, came the 12 tribes of Israel.
All of Israel knew this promise and they were now living it out in the time of Joshua as their leader. Battle by battle
they were taking hold of this land that Abraham had once walked upon as a foreigner. They would soon be settling
in this land and building homes and cities for generations to come.
Caleb was not just part of Israel receiving the promised land; he was given a special message from God of specific
land that would be his and he never let go of that promise.
Joshua 14:9 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.
What is in your heart that you deeply desire to see come about in your life or your loved ones? What has God
spoken over your heart that you are yet praying for the fulfillment of? Believe for it. Believe in what He has spoken
to you and shown you. Live with thanksgiving that He is working it out.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be
yours.
2. Faithfully Serve in the Waiting.
Caleb heard the promise spoken over him and could have become impatient after years had passed and they were
still in the wilderness; or when Israel finally was crossing the Jordan but had these other battles to fight first. He
could have been demanding about getting what God told him was his. But based on what Caleb shares with Joshua,
I believe he chose to wait patiently for God’s timing and to be a faithful servant with where God had him. He heard
God and believed it would come about as God ordained it. He never lost sight of that promise and he did what he
was able to do to help care for, defend, and set up the nation of Israel in the promised land. Caleb was focused on
building God’s Kingdom, not just his own.
Joshua 14: 10-11 ’ 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 wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 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.
45 years! He was a much older man when he came to Joshua asking for this promise to be fulfilled. BUT notice
how Caleb acknowledges in his waiting and faithful service to God; he remained strong and vibrant. His years grew
older, but his body held up. He continued to contribute as a soldier in God’s army. He didn’t try to force his timing
or his plans. He trusted God’s plan and believed God would make good on His promise.
King David gives us this same instruction and model to follow. He certainly had to wait many years for the
fulfillment of his promise to be Israel’s king and for rest from war with enemy nations. He knew the promise
spoken to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He knew of Joshua who led Israel into the land he was now reigning as king
over and that God was faithful to each generation and He believed God would surely be faithful to him as well.
Psalm 37: 7-9 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Those who hope in the Lord, will inherit the land. Those who hope in the Lord, will inherit the promises He
has spoken-every one fulfilled. Those who hope in the Lord will see the manifestation of His goodness and
blessings specific for their lives. Hope in the Lord, be still and wait patiently for Him to fulfill every promise, for
He knows when the timing is right. And He will sustain you in the waiting while you faithfully serve.
3. Redeem Your Promise.
The time came for Caleb to receive the promise from God. They had been through many battles at this point and
had secured Canaan as their possession. As promised, Joshua was to give out allotments of the land to the different
tribes of Israel. Each tribe would settle in different areas. Caleb had the green light to request his specific allotment
so he confidently went to Joshua and asked for what was rightfully his.
Joshua 14:12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day.
Joshua 14: 13-14 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.
You see we can come before God with confidence to redeem the promises He has spoken over us. We need not be
timid, doubting, or wondering if God has changed His mind or taken something back. God does not change or shift
like we do as humans. If He has spoken it, it is so. He calls us to be faithful and trust He will bring it about, but
when the green light is given, boldly ask for that which is rightfully yours as a child of God.
Look at what God did beyond just giving the land to Caleb who was faithful.
Joshua 14:15 Then the land had rest from war.
Once Caleb received it, He granted favor for Caleb to live the rest of his days in peace. He will do this for us as
well as we remain faithful and steadfast.
2 Corinthians 1:20 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through
him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
This is how we are to receive the promises of God in His written Word and the ones He speaks directly to our heart
as we seek Him, Yes in Christ, and Amen! To You be the glory God!
For those promises you are waiting on- pray for God to let your eyes see the fulfillment of them then trust He will.
Remain steadfast and as every promise comes about, give thanks to God for His faithfulness and kindness shown to
you.
Conclusion: God’s Word is true; every promise fulfilled. Let us hold fast to His promises, for in Christ, they are
YES and AMEN! If God has spoken it, believe your eyes will see it. Live in this confident faith as Caleb did and
serve your God faithfully.
Let’s pray:
Offering:
Announcements: Board mtg today-setting 2024 budget. Men’s conference next Sat-get registered. Ladies- last Sat
in Feb. Any lady like to host a breakfast in March? Anyone wanting to go to Constanza on the service team-we
need to know who is interested-talk with Bob B. I would like a committee to form to plan a celebration for our 160
years-let me know if you want to help. Hearing God’s Voice- morning or Monday night session?
Turn on notifications for church app. Download church directory app-look for email.
Prayers: Healing for Jill, Shane
Final Blessing: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
