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Re: IT AIN'T OVER 'TILL IT'S OVER
#1 · September 5, 2016, 10:23 am
Posted by: pastormail <pastormail@...>
Great teaching Bro Jimmy
It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over
Joshua 13:1
As a young man, Joshua was sent to spy out the promised land. Only he and Caleb believed the Israelites could conquer the enemies living there. So the people wandered 40 years until the exodus generation perished—save the two spies. Then, succeeding Moses, Joshua led Israel into the promised land. Though he was about 80, Joshua captained Israel to victory over six nations and 31 kings.
Joshua 13:1 states, “Joshua was old and stricken in years.” It is estimated he was around 100 years old now. Not only was he old and stricken in years, but God even told him he was old. Now, Joshua might have expected God to follow it up by sending him on vacation: go float atop the Dead Sea or fish in the Lake of Galilee. Instead he said, “There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
Joshua was no longer a young man. But though old, he was not wobbly and infirm as some may conclude in reading our text. The phrase "stricken in years" in our text does not mean he was enfeebled or sick. The word "stricken" is a translation of a Hebrew word which means to be "advanced" in age. "Old and stricken" is simply a repetitious phrase to emphasize Joshua's growing age.
The emphasis on Joshua's advancing age was to inspire Joshua to get busy with the completion of the conquest of Canaan. Time was running out in his own life; therefore, he must not tarry in his work. The words of the hymn which say, "Work for the night is coming" speak the same message.
I. Let us consider the DISTANCE HE HAD COME
The assessment by God of the situation in Canaan is summed up in the statement to Joshua which says, "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed" (Joshua 13:1).
This assessment of the situation in Canaan was not a rebuke for Joshua for not doing much, but a call to do more. Joshua had accomplished much in conquering Canaan. He had led in the overthrow of many powerful kingdoms.
A. There were the enemies he had ENCOUNTERED
Joshua's accomplishments are equaled or exceeded by very few people. His achievements are some of the greatest to be done by any man.
Chapter 12 records those that he had already defeated by Joshua.
Joshua had been a very faithful servant; few men have ever done their work as well as he. From that day when he stood against Amalek from morning to night, while the rod of Moses was stretched out over him on the hill; thereafter, during all his companionship with Moses on the mount; next in that search-expedition when Caleb and he stood so firm, and did not flinch in the face of the congregation, though everyone was for stoning them; and now, from the siege of Jericho, and all through the trying and perilous sieges of city after city, year after year, Joshua has proved himself the faithful servant of God and the devoted friend of Israel.
B. There were the eneRgIes he had EXPENDED
There is no doubt that he was tired and exhausted. One can only imagine the energy he has used in doing what he has done.
I. Let us consider the DISTANCE HE HAD COME
II. Let us consider the Danger He was COMBATING
In spite of his great conquering work in Canaan, there was still much more that needed to be done.
A. There was the danger of hIS relaxation in HIS involvement
Joshua could have easily said that he had served his time, now let someone else do it. However, he did not do that. He stayed in the fight.
B. There was the danger of hIS satisfaction with his achievements
He must not be satisfied with his accomplishments but press on to more achievements.
This is a great lesson for all of us. To be satisfied with our achievements is to be blind to what more we can and should do. You may think you have accomplished much—and you may have—but do not think you have done enough.
FAILURE IS NOT SO BAD IF IT DOES NOT ATTACK THE HEART, AND SUCCESS IS ALL RIGHT IF IT DOES NOT GO TO THE HEAD.
No matter how much we have done, there is always a lot more to do. If we become satisfied with our achievements, our initiative will be crippled or even slain; and that will limit or stop any significant future achievements.
The great athletes do not stop training and trying to do better even though they have beaten world records. The great athletes want to do even better and break the world records they themselves have set. So it should be with all of us especially in our service for God. There is still more that we can and should do. There is still more to be learned from the Word. There is still room for growth in our Christian life. There is still more we can do for the cause of Christ.
You may have been a Christian for many years. But "there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed" in our Christian experience. Keep on keeping on.
I. Let us consider the DISTANCE HE HAD COME
II. Let us consider the Danger HE was COMBATING
III. Let us consider the DEMANDS HE WAS CONFRONTING
There was much land yet to be still be possessed.
Like wise much of our Christian experience is unattained, unoccupied, un-enjoyed; you are far from its boundaries.
It is not the season for slothfulness, selfishness, or prayerlessness; the call is urgent and great. "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
The children of Israel crossed the Jordan with the best title-deeds a man ever possessed; they came from heaven they were given to them by Him to whom all the earth belongs. The title-deed of the people said, "The land is yours. After God had given it to them they had to buckle on the sword, sharpen the spear, and go and win every acre of it.
This is God's way—He gives you salvation, and yet He says, "Work it out with fear and trembling."
Our inheritance in Christ is what He is to us potentially. Our possession in Christ is what He is to us actually, according to the measure of our appropriation by faith.
Columbus was not content to pick up a few shells on the beach of the new world—he explored the continent he had discovered.
We are too soon satisfied with coasting with our Christian experience when we need to discover all that we have in Christ.
A. There was the will to be fulfilled.
B. There was the wars to be fought.
1. Lands to be Appropriated
2. Lands to be Allotted
No matter where you be in your growth in grace or the extent of your progress in spiritual things, you are not as completely conformed to the image of Christ as you should be, nor have you as fully possessed your possessions, as it is your privilege to do. Take a leaf out of the apostle's book. Near the close of his life he declared, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13, 14). Do thou the same.
Conclusion
It is always too soon to quit.
It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over
After Joshua received this charge from God, some of his greatest days opened up before him. In fact, at this point, we are just half-way through the book of Joshua. Many more chapters for us to read; and many more chapters in Joshua’s life for him to live. I know none of us knows tomorrow, but one thing I have seen time and again, is young people who think and act as they’ll never die, and older people, who think and act, like they are going to die any second.
Let today be a turning point for you in your thinking. Let today be the day you realize, that there remaineth yet very much land to possess in your
IN HIS ETERNAL GRIP,
Pastor Jimmy Chapman
Victory Baptist Church
706-678-1855
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