WEBVTT 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:14.000 Ministering to the heart of Western Arkansas's River Valley for over 165 years, welcome to Chapter and First, the Bible Teaching Ministry of Fort Smith's First Baptist Church. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:19.440 You'll find sermons and teachings from Pastor Greg, our ministry staff, and guest speakers. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:21.280 Thank you for listening. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:26.879 I'm grateful for Miss Anna coming and helping us translate today. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:50.880 While you're turning, I'd like to welcome our associational missionary Jeff Thompson and his wife Susie, who are worshiping with us today. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:57.679 Such an encouragement. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:59.359 He's a great friend to pastors. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:00.880 Appreciate you being here, bro. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.480 Well, we uh as that song said, we are all looking forward to the return of Jesus. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:23.200 But if Jesus doesn't come back this afternoon, we have to make it through the rest of the week. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:34.480 So how do we stay faithful while we wait on Jesus to return? 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:48.560 The Bible gives us the answer to that, uh to that strength. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:58.079 We find ourselves here in the study of Joshua and the children of Israel. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:33.599 As we've been studying the book of Joshua, you know, we've seen it as an Old Testament picture of the life of a Christian in the New Testament. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.360 As they fight battles in the land of Canaan. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:04:25.600 If you remember from the Old Testament, in the Antigua Testament, when the children of Israel left Egypt and approached the land of Canaan for the first time, um when the children of Israel left Egypt, and God had them approach the land of Canaan. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.560 Moses was in charge. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:14.240 They all twelve talked about how incredible that land was. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.519 Regresé y di un informe objetivo de lo que vi. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:37.519 My brothers, who went with me, caused the people's hearts to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:52.639 On that day, Mamas Moses promised me the land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you, Caleb, and your descendants forever because you have remained loyal to the Lord my God. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:10:00.159 Pero los hermanos que me acompañaron asustaron tanto al pueblo que nadie quería entrar en la tierra prometida. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:04.960 Por mi parte, seguí al Señor my Dios con todo mi corazón. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:22.080 Así que ese día Moisés me prometió solemnemente la tierra de Canaán, por donde recién caminas, será tu porción de tierra y la de tus descendientes para siempre, porque seguiste al Señor my Dios con todo tu corazon. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.600 As you see, now listen to this statement. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:38.799 The Lord has kept me alive these forty-five years, as he promised, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:43.840 Here I am today, eighty-five years old. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:48.799 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:56.000 My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:14.559 Ahora, como puedes ver, in todos estos quarenta y cinco años después hizo esa promesa, el Señor me ha mantenido con vida anda salud, tal como lo prometió, incluso mientras Israel andaba vagando por el desierto. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:27.200 Ahora tengo ochenta y cinco años, estoy tan fuerte hoy como cuando Moisés me envió a esa travesía, y aún puedo andar y pelear tan bien como lo hacía entonces. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:36.240 Now give me this hill country, the Lord promised me on that day. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.799 Because you heard then that the Anakem are there, as well as large fortified cities. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:46.080 Perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out, as the Lord promised. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:52.320 Then Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as an inheritance. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:56.799 Así que dame la zona montañosa que el Señor me prometió. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:05.759 Tú recordarás que mientras explorábamos, encontramos allí a los descendientes de Anác, que vivían en grandes ciudades amuralladas. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:13.120 Pero si el Señor está conmigo, yo los expulsaré de la tierra, tal como el Señor dijo. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:21.200 Entonces Josuebendijo a Caleb, hijo de Jefone, y le dio Ebron como su asignación de tierra. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:37.519 After forty-five years of battle, now listen to this scripture Hebron belongs to Caleb as an inheritance to this day, because you remain loyal to the Lord the God of Israel. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:13:03.120 After 85 years old, 45 years of war, Caleb says, I am still ready, give me my mountain. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:18.559 Caleb is one of my personal heroes in Scripture. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:33.200 Here on earth, one of my heroes and one of the men most important to me was my father. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:43.039 He went to heaven a few years ago. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:20.799 It is incredible to see the faith of someone be faithful to the end. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:55.279 Let me share with you just three principles from this passage. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:12.000 Also, lack of perspective can be a hindrance. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:57.039 But the perspective of knowing this is going to take a long time is important. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.920 People can let you down. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:05.839 Caleb looks at Joshua and says, Can you believe that knucklehead? 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:21.920 How many people let them down and how discouraging could that have been? 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:57.119 But Caleb gives us an example from the Bible. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.920 How to be strong to the end. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:15.920 When Caleb focused on the promises of God, he could meet every challenge in the way. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:30.559 When they faced an enemy, Caleb knew he would be successful because God had promised him an inheritance. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.359 I imagine in one of those walks with Joshua. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:23:06.640 After 25 years of wandering in the wilderness, after 25 years of wandering in the wilderness, Caleb is thinking, we'll never get there, these people can't do it. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:20.880 And Joshua and Caleb would remind each other that God had promised them an inheritance. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:30.799 Our lives should be driven. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:42.480 By seeing the promises of God and believing them. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.680 Foundation number two. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:17.039 Three times in this passage of Scripture. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:27.200 It uses the description that Caleb followed the Lord completely. 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:34.000 But there is a reason that that happens. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.960 To daily pursue the Lord. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:05.599 The idle mind is the devil's playground. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:09.920 In other words, if you're not focused on something, you're at risk. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:37.039 Foundation number three. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:43.519 Living for something bigger than yourself. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:53.599 There is something in us that wants to be a part of something greater. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.799 God's plan to create a nation. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:13.519 Do you see your role in God's plan? 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:33.599 Is there something in you that just comes to church, or do you want to see us reach the river valley? 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:39.839 Are you just coming to church? 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:45.920 Or is there something in you that sees God's greater plan in reaching people in the river valley? 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:11.440 We should have a vision for what God's doing around us. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:18.240 Caleb never gave up. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:25.359 Because he knew there was another battle to be fought. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:31.119 To advance the plans of God. 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:58.079 All of that begins with the decision to follow Jesus as your Savior. 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:10.239 The first promise that we all trust in following Jesus. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:31.440 And Lord, I pray if there's someone who's never made that decision to trust in Jesus, that today they'll give their life to Him. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:41.760 Lord, as we come, we sing our praises to you to say thank you for that salvation, to proclaim our trust in you, and we pray that you'll give folks the freedom to come to you today. 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:44.800 It is in Jesus' name we pray, and all God's people said. 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:50.559 We pray this message has been a blessing to you and helped to strengthen your walk with Jesus. 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:53.519 Please know we want to minister to you and pray for you. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:36:01.199 Send an email to contact us at fsfbc.org and let us pray for you and help you in any way we can. 00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:07.599 Thank you for listening to Chapter and First, the Bible Teaching Ministry of Fort Smith's First Baptist Church.