Revision as of 02:13, 22 April 2022

Theological Proposition/Focus:

Homiletical Proposition/Application:

Introduction:

Last week we looked at Real Faith and I stated that faith results in faithfulness. That is, if we as a church develop people who have Real Faith, we will be a church filled with faithful people. This week I want to explore promise. What I want you to see is that if we as a church have faith plus the promises of God then we will be a church filled with confidence.

Image: Riding backward on your bike.

About 10 years ago my younger brother and I were asked by a family friend if we would help him clear some dead trees up at his Cabin in the Rockies. Earl was 84 years old and had a beautiful cabin but the Pine Beatles that were ravaging the Rockies at the time had done a number on his property. My brother and I loaded up the chain saws and headed into the mountains. When we arrived at the cabin Earl had marked dozens of trees to come down and so we fired up the saws and started working. To our dismay, 84-year-old Earl also fired up his saw and even though walking up in the mountains was a notable challenge he got himself ready to start dropping some large pines. My brother and I immediately realized that half of our job was to keep Earl busy close to the cabin out of the way of falling trees. Out of the way of danger.

Ten years later I still remember it like it was yesterday, maybe partly because we ended up dropping a tree on some wasps and I was stung, but mostly because Earl is one of my heroes. Earl didn't let his age stop him from getting to work. You see this go get them attitude was not just in cutting down trees, Earl's attitude stemmed from a confidence that whatever he tried to do, God would be with him. Even today, when I travel home and get to see Earl I am greeted by a man who is confidently waiting for what God has next.

I tell the story of Earl because that day in the mountains was a lot of fun but I want you to also look around here today. There are a great many of you here today who have lived a lifetime of God's promises and it shows. To the rest of us I say look around, look for those faithful who you can follow. Look for those who are confidently stepping out in God's promises and emulate them.

Need: We need to confidently declare "I've read the end and know that God wins!"

Subject: Confidence in God.

Preview: In Joshua 14:6-15 we will look at God's promises the foundation of our confidence, the source of our passion, and our hope for tomorrow.

Setting the Stage:

I told you one of my many stories about Earl but there are also numerous stories of faithful people in the Bible. Today we will look at one such individual and in order to do so I need to spend some time setting the stage.

Numbers 13:26-33

Body

God's promises are the foundation of our confidence (v. 6-9).

Caleb knew what the promise had been

Caleb's confidence was an is in God

The LORD my God

Image: My favorite question is "why?"

MTR: We need to know the Bible to know the promises of God.

God's promises are the source of our passion (v. 10-12).

Caleb watched and waited

Caleb's vigour remained

Caleb's faith grew

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MTR: Re/Ignite your passion for God's work

God's promises are our hope for tomorrow (v. 13-15).

God fulfilled his promise

God's servant was honored

The name Hebron mans "place of joining." The point is probably that what had previously been known as the city of a giant among giants was now distinctly in the possession of Israel largly because of one man's faith.

Image:

MTR: Place your hope in God

Conclusion:

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