A door-to-door salesman became bored with his job of selling Bibles, so he decided to become a boss, hiring 3people to sell Bibles for him. He interviewed 3 people. The first came in and said, "I want to sell Bibles for you." "OK, you're hired. Here's your kit, go sell!" The second came in and said, "I want to sell Bibles for you." "OK, you're hired! Here's your kit; go sell!" The third was a bit older, came in and said, "I- i - I wa - wa- wa-want t-t-t-t-to s-s-s-s-ell to sell, to sell, to sell, Bi - bi-bi- Bibles, sell Bi -Bibles f-f-f-fo-for y-y-y-y you Bibles for you!" "No way," shouted the man, "this will never work! You cannot sell Bibles for me!" The applicant replied, "B-b-b-b-but I r-r-r-eall, but I really, really, n-n-n-n-need th-th-th-this, really need tthis job!" The man saw there weren’t other applicants, so he said, "OK, I'll give you one shot at this, but I expect you to PRODUCE!" At the end of the day, the first applicant comes back and reports, "I sold 8 Bibles today." The second reports, "I sold 11 Bibles today." The third worker reports, "To-to-to-to t-t-today, I-i-I so- so, I so-, I so-, I so- I sold 28 Bi- bi- b- bibles!" "Great," says the man. "However, I want you to sell a lot more Bibles than that, so get out there tomorrow and Make me some money!" At the end of the second day, the first worker comes in and reports, "Today, I sold 21 Bibles. "The second worker reports, "I sold 29 Bibles today." The third worker reports, "To-to-to t-today, I-i-I so- so, I so-, I sold 79 Bi-bi-bi- sold 79, sold 79 Bibles." "Fantastic," said the man, "since you're doing so good, a lot better than these 2 other bums, I want you to tell them what your technique is." The worker said, "I-i-I j-j-j-j-ju-ju-ju-just wa, wa, wa, just wal- wa- wa- walk, just walk up to up to up to just walk up to them and and ask, them and ask, them and ask if th-th-th-th ask if they w-w-w-w-w- wa- ask if they want t-t-t-t-o-o- if they want to b--b-b-b-b if they want to buy a Bi-bi - want to buy a Bi--b--a - a- abi - buy a to buy a Bi-bi-bible, or d-d-d-d-d do th-th-they do they w-w-w-ant me to READ it to 'them?"
Caleb in Joshua 14:10 was 85 years of age. He had spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in the desert and 5 years in warfare in the promised land. He was 85 and still looking for a challenge. At a time when people his age are thinking about resorts, rocking chairs and pension returns. He was looking for a challenge. He was alot like us. Been around for some time. I'd like to mention two things about Caleb:
1.) HE HAD A HISTORY OF STANDING FOR GOD.
He was faithful to God. According to Num 13:26-14:9, He was courageous and had a different spirit. He was a loyal disciple. And oh' how we need many of them in our churches. Whenever the Bible talks about Caleb it says: Faithfully, wholly and fully. Means to fill and overflow; To do anything without holding back. Even God says "But my servant Caleb is different from the others. He has remained loyal to me, and I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will receive their full share of that land" Num 14:24
Caleb was a friend and a loyal one at that. He was loyal for 45 years to Moses and Joshua. Joshua a co-worker, is now his leader. Hey, that's a hard thing. It is not easy. And the funny thing, in the midst and years of his faithfulness. He never forgot the promises.
2. HE KNEW THE PRICE IT WOULD TAKE.
By saying, give me this mountain, he’s saying I’m ready to do what it takes. He said, 'Give me my Mountain! "for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." Caleb didn’t want anything he worked for under Joshua's leadership. He didn't want to take anyone with him. He didn't ask for things God used him to conquer. He wanted to go do something new. A new challenge. He wanted to burn the bridges in following the call of God, so to speak.
So what mountain was he talking about? HEBRON.
Hebron was 20 miles south of Jerusalem and was the city of 4 giants. It was main residence and seat of government. It was the most powerful city of the enemy and was guarded by the strongest of giants. Now why did he want to go there? Why do you want to go to places nobody else wants to go? Why do I, either want to go, or plant churches in the worst places in the world?
Caleb wanted Hebron for 2 reasons:
1. It was a city of Promise.
It was the place God spoke many promises to Abraham. In other words, Caleb never forgot God's promises. He didn't let go of the God who keeps His promises. God has given me two promises and I'm not letting go. I don't care what comes my way. I know God will come through. What promises has God given you? Don't let go. He will come through.
2. It was a city of Praise.
Praise? Well, Hebron means fellowship, love and communion. It was the biggest prize of all. It was Caleb's secret to victory. It was prime real estate. Caleb wanted to praise and fellowship with God. Hebron and Communion with God is our secret to victory in 2010.
There is a place. There is a place that’s guarded by evil forces and demonic spirits. It is designed to keep us away at all costs. In other words, the enemy will allow you to do okay in the valley. You know, just do decently. Oh, but once you get started. Once you keep your commitments. Not those dumb resoulutions. Once he sees you begin go up to the mountaintop, the mountain of the Lord. Oh boy', he has a cow! He fights us with everything he has. That's why it gets tough when you get close to God. When you say, "Enough is enough! I give my life away!" But you shouldn't be afraid. As a matter of fact. God never told Caleb, to not be afraid. He told that to Joshua three times, but never to Caleb. Caleb took the offensive. He went to the stronghold of the enemy. What about you? Are a frady cat? If God is with you, then what do you dread? What!!? When you kneel before God, you can stand before any man or situation.
Josh 15:13-14 Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Hebron 14 Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there:
What did Caleb accomplish?
He was the only only one who drove out the enemy. Hey, do a study on Debir. It is heavy. It's where the books were kept, and had fortified walls. Its where their priests lived. Also, the land changed names, 14:15. In other words, by his influence it changed society. It changed the environment. Is your life causing people to re-examine how they live? I rejoice, when I've witnessed to people. And they are very hard. Then, because I took a stance, many years, later, I hear that they gave their lives to God. Thats what turns me on. When people are impacted by the gospel we live in ordinary lives. Praise God! But to me, its about the impact we make in a city. Caleb did al of that by the power of God. Scripture says in,Jer 32:27, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
As I close, I leave you with 3 things . . .
1. God goes before us in 2010. Isa 45:2-3
2. Success will come w/patience; time; trust. Jer 17:5-8
"Cursed is the one who depends on mere humans, Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets GOD aside as dead weight. 6 He is like a stunted shrub in the desert, with no hope for the future; he lives on the salt-encrusted plains in the barren wilderness; good times pass him by forever. 7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, putting down roots near the rivers never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season."
Success is going to take time. All good things take time. Its going to take patience. Can you imagine, following faithfully. A friend you grew up with is now your pastor. I'm talking working side by side. I had to go through that. Its not that easy. Till God broke me. Then I didn't care. For as long as He knew. Then I knew I was going to be alright. God sees your faithfulness. He sees your hardship and toil. It'll take us trusting in God. For us at Victory Outreach of Anaheim, it takes trust. We are walking by faith. We are treading a path, we've never been on before. Even for me and my son. Many people think, 'oh, yeah, they'll be alright.' Yes, its true. But only because God is with us. All I know is I want to reach as many people as I can. And this year is going to be one of the most powerful in your life. God is with you.
But do we want it? Some of you have lost your dream. Maybe, you have many issues, that you possibly didn't give to the Lord before 2010. Give it to God now!! What is your mountain? What is your dream. Do you want your mountain? Keep at it. Be faithful. Be loyal. Stay in church, find a ministry and grow. Don't be inconsistent. Don't be a church hopper. Keep your promise, for it surely will come to pass. IT'S TIME TO DREAM AGAIN! Now, I leave you with a quote by MLK Jr. (Keep in mind, that dreams are related to the mountaintop):
“Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. (Amen) But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life-longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, (Yes, sir) and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight (Yes) that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
“Give me what’s mine! Now give me my promise! Give me my mountain!
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