"'And now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years . . . and now Behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me . . . Now then, give me (my mountain)'"
Joshua 14:6-12a
Again, I am going to share with you the notes I took during last night's revival service. Paul Cherry of Cherry Ministries was preaching -- wow, it was good (I urge you to check out his website which is linked above. You can hear him preaching. You can hear him and Vanessa singing -- good stuff).
(The incredible thing for me personally was that I was just talking to God asking Him what this mountain is that I've personally been going around for years -- I still don't have my answer but I know it's coming)
Below will be the notes and comments -- if it is me I'll put it in parentheses:
4 STEPS TO CLAIM THE MOUNTAIN
At some point you have to claim the mountain!
1, HOLD TO WHAT GOD SAYS
Caleb had a promise -- Caleb would have a part of the promised land. Caleb didn't forget God's promise.He had to hold onto that promise for 45 years (no one told him it would take that long for it to come to be by the way).
If we don't hold onto God's promises we are going miss out on lots of good stuff. He has made promises to us He fully intends to fulfill (but we have to keep believing).
None of us deserve it (but God will do it anyway -- that's grace). Don't waver. Don't doubt. Don't water His promises down!
2. FOLLOW WHOLEHEARTEDLY
Wholeheartedly means "sincere with energy."
You see the need and you follow through. You don't just talk about it or have committee meetings. God can do it!
3. STOKE THE FIRE
Now, give me my mountain! God can do anything.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."
2 Corinthians 4:16
God is able. God can energize me to get it done. (I might have limits but God doesnt').
4. CLAIM THE MOUNTAIN
Go get it. The mountain isn't coming to you. We have to go get it. Nothing happens until you do something. Don't lose ground!
(You know, the enemy wants us weak and he wants us to give up. When we let go for a while, just coast, the enemy will swoop in and take any ground he can. There's another verse -- do not grow weary in doing for in due time you shall reap if you don't lose heart...actually as I looked that up to see where it is in the Bible there are several that talk about not losing heart -- this is a human failing of ours. We have to keep on keeping on. We have to encourage each other. Here's a verse for this problem:
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3)