Christ Church

Old Testament

Caleb’s Inheritance (Christ Church)

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INTRODUCTION

In the current climate, a large swath of secularists would be nervous if they knew we were considering the conquest of Canaan in the book of Joshua. The remainder would be fascinated as they attempted to understand the Christian way over against their own unbelieving assumptions. Their fascination would not be misplaced, nor their fear. Granted, many of them would speak of a Christian jihad, and we are up to nothing of that sort. But their true fear is the terror of the Lord—the sword of the Spirit—which is more deadly than any earthly blade.

What this means for us is that we should not let the secularists understand the times better than we do. If they understand Joshua is an apt book at this moment, how much more should we?

TEXT (JOSHUA 14:6-15)

Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, “Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God . . .”

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

At Gilgal, Caleb went before Joshua to remind him of what the LORD said to Moses about him in Kadesh-barnea (v. 6). Caleb was forty years old back then when he went with others to spy out the land of Canaan (v. 7). Caleb followed the LORD fully, but the other spies feared and made the hearts of the people melt (v. 8). As a result, Moses swore that the land where Caleb had walked (which was Hebron) would be his and his children’s inheritance forever (v. 9). Caleb noted that he was still alive at the age of eighty-five, and this according to God’s promises (v. 10). Moreover, he had the same strength for battle that he had when he was forty (v. 11). Caleb asked for Hebron, since the LORD had promised it to him, with confidence that if the LORD would be with him, then he would drive out what remained of the giant Anakims (v. 12). Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron, and Caleb possessed it as an inheritance because he wholly followed the LORD (vv. 13–14). Hebron used to be named Kirjath-arba, after Arba, the greatest of the giants; but the name of that land changed, and it had rest from war (v. 15).

OBEDIENCE TO THE HILT

Three times we are told that Caleb wholly followed the LORD (vv. 8, 9, 14). The testimony from the book of Numbers has the same phrase and adds that Caleb had another spirit with him—one that was not with the other spies (Numbers 14:24). Wholly following the LORD boils down to the old- fashioned spirit of faith and obedience in the face of obstacles. The lack of this spirit caused the spies to see the giants and fear. The presence of this spirit of obedience made Caleb look at the giants at Hebron and say, “They are bread for us” (Numbers 14:9).

HOW INHERITANCES WORK

The tribes of Israel received their various inheritances, but Caleb’s situation is unique because he was ready for his forty-five years earlier. You can imagine him asking the Lord back then, when he was ready to enter Canaan, “Can I skip out on the wilderness wandering?” But the answer was no. Caleb had to wait for his inheritance—and he had to wait while exercising that spirit of obedience the whole time.

An inheritance is the kind of thing that is out in front of you until it is not. But wholly following the Lord is not dependent upon receiving the inheritance. Receiving the inheritance is dependent upon wholly following the Lord. The man who waits around to trust and obey the Lord, insisting that he will do it right after he has received the promise, is like a man who says he will climb the mountain right after he enjoys the view from the summit.

ARBA TO HEBRON

The land that Caleb inherited used to be named after a great one among the giants, Arba. But the land was rightly renamed Hebron—a word meaning “association” or “league.” Abraham built an altar in Hebron some four hundred years earlier as God covenanted with him and his children (Genesis 13:18). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were buried in Hebron. Caleb took that land not as an act of selfishness to exalt his own name like Arba, or like those in the days of Babel who sought to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). But Caleb drove giants from that land, for God had promised it to his fathers, and to him, and to his children. Hebron would be designated a city of refuge (Joshua 21:13) and a place for Levites (1 Chronicles 6:55). Hebron was a land of covenant promise for covenant people. This is a reminder to us—a reminder about why we are here.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed . . . For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37:3, 9).

How do we know we will inherit the earth? Because our Caleb has—and we in Him. Like Caleb of old, He wholly followed the LORD, wandered in the wilderness tempted by the serpent, walked through the River Jordan, conquered Canaan, and has turned this place of high rebellion into a land of priests and refugees.

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They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To (Wise Master Builder) (Living Stone Reformed Church)

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INTRODUCTION

Aging does not bring about automatic wisdom and godliness. Wine ages and becomes finer. Milk ages and becomes a stench. As we grow and mature, both as individuals and as the church, we must keep this reality in mind. In rebuilding the ruins, we must learn to both rejoice and mourn, like mature men of faith.

THE TEXT

And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. […] Ezra 3:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

After settling into their various villages, the exiles gather as one in Jerusalem (v1). The high priest, Jeshua, and David’s heir, Zerubbabel, rebuild the altar of the Lord, according to the requirements of Moses’ Law (v2, Cf. Gen. 8:20, 12:7). This act was undertaken despite the knowledge that their enemies would oppose the rebuilding of the temple; defying that fear, the exiles installed the altar upon its ancient site, and commenced morning and evening offerings (v3).

This all coincided with the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), which they observed with great joy; this also coincided with the Day of Atonement, but that was not able to be observed until the temple was fully rebuilt. Nevertheless, you can see that these saints were very much minded to be scrupulous in how they observed God’s Law, and they were particularly minded to observe this feast (vv4-6). Although the altar was reestablished, the saints were eager to see the whole project completed. So, they began hiring the various artisans required, echoing Solomon’s temple preparations (v7, Cf. 2 Chr. 2).

As with many construction projects, it took awhile for the project to even be ready to begin. After two years, in the second month (the same month Solomon began work on his temple, 1 Ki. 6:1), the work commenced. Zerubbabel and Jeshua tasked the Levites to call in the bulldozers and get the project going, under the close supervision of the Levites (v8). The workmen being assembled, Jeshua put them to work (v9). At the completion of the foundation, the choirs were assembled to offer praise according to David’s instructions (v10). The various choirs offered thanks and praise to God, and the people shouted with a great shout at this wonderful progression (v11).

But this joy was also mixed with sorrow. Many of the older priests and saints, who had seen the former glory, wept loudly at seeing the completion of the foundation of a less glorious temple (v12). Shouts of joy, cries of grief mingled together to be a noise heard from afar (v13).

FEAST OF TABERNACLE

The altar was built during the most celebratory of the Israel’s feasts, the Feast of Tabernacle. This holiday, in the seventh month of Tishri (our late September/early October), was the climax of the entire Jewish calendar. It was a festival of thanksgiving for the gathered harvest. The feast not only commemorated Israel’s wilderness wanderings, but it also looked forward to the promise of Messiah’s coming. Part of this festival was that in the evening, no lamps would be lit, and everyone would come to the altar and light their torches from that fire on the altar and proceed back to their tents. This clearly anticipates the work of the Holy Spirit, the purifying and empowering fire of God filling each believer.

John frames his entire Gospel in terms of Christ coming to “tent” with us (Jn. 1:14). Much of John’s Gospel revolves around this particular feast. Jesus’ declaration that He was the light of the World had reference to this Feast. His declaration that He is the living water carried imagery tied to the traditions of this celebration. These regathered saints begin their rebuilding with an eye to their glorious past, and a hope for their glorious future. Israel was born as a nation while dwelling in tents at Sinai, and is born again here. When God gathers his people it always for the express purpose of a new birth. But this rebirth foreshadows the true new birth that could only come through the God who Himself would be born into the tent of human flesh. New birth is only made possible by the birth of the Word made flesh.

CONTINUITY

This chapter echoes with the stories of the altar building patriarchs Noah and Abraham. It resounds with the trumpet blast of Moses’ law, and the harp strings of David. Solomon’s blueprints are borrowed. But although there is continuity, there is also a note of discontinuity. Unlike the commemoration of Moses’ tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, something is noticeably absent. One commentator offers this insight, “this time there is no ark, no visible glory, indeed no temple: only some beginnings, and small beginnings at that.”

This note of incompleteness rings through this whole season of rebuilding. God is maturing Israel. While they ought to be faithful to the example and law, the fulness of time is ripening fast. God is about to build a temple made of people, founded upon the cornerstone of the Messiah, who’s Spirit would light the whole building.

JOY & GRIEF

This chapter ends with thunderous sound of joyful praise. But mingled with the cries of celebration at God’s kindness, there are sighs of sorrow. The sorrow of these saints is a bit ambiguous. Is this good sorrow, or bad sorrow? Are they grieving their sin, or just bemoaning the consequences of sin? Are these tears of repentance, or tears of resentment?

It is entirely possible to see God at work before your very eyes, and instead of whole-hearted rejoicing, you give way to a wailing, nostalgic grief. Your life isn’t what you thought it would be. Your career hasn’t taken off as you anticipated. You want to relive the glory days. You miss your childhood. You wish things could go back to normal. This kind of grief leads you to discontented grumbling. God’s past kindnesses aren’t like trinkets for a display case. They are more like, in fact they are, bread and wine which nourishes you in your pursuit of the glory ahead of you.

Godly sorrow, on the other hand, is sorrow that leads to repentance. It turns from false ways. It turns away from the idols. It hates the sin which brought about the ruination. Israel had stubbornly rebelled against God. She had been haughty. She had grown comfy in her compromise. Then, ruin and exile had befallen her. These mourning saints, insofar as they grieved in this way, were on the right path. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Those who sow in tears of repentance, will return with armfuls of joy. Their sin had brought them low, but the eyes of faith sees joy in the midst of such a grievous moment.

This is what we do when we believe the Gospel. Your sin is why Christ endured a crown of thorns, flogging, mockery, His beard ripped out, His body broken, full of a holy despair, crying out, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me.” But it was for your sin, your crimes that He suffered. This is the wonderful paradox of our faith. Grieve your sin that brought hot and holy wrath down upon Christ’s head. Then rejoice with great joy that by Christ’s death, your sins are entirely forgiven.

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Big Church Blessings (King’s Cross)

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INTRODUCTION

Many Christians say they prefer smaller churches, and in God’s providence, there are many smaller, thriving churches. But it’s worth checking your preferences against God’s word. Are your preferences aligned with biblical priorities? Or are you making your preferences into biblical priorities?

Our church and community have grown significantly over the last few years, and while it is understandable to miss seeing certain friends, we want to make sure that we are processing this growth like believing Christians. So this is a message on big church blessings.

The Texts: “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:5-6)

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:39-41).

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9-10).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXTS

When God called Abraham, He promised to give him descendants as numerous and glorious as the stars of the heavens, and Abraham believed the promise of God. Justifying faith is, in part, believing the promise to Abraham that his descendants will be numerous (Gen. 15:5-6). At Pentecost, when the Spirit was first poured out and Peter preached the gospel to the Jews gathered for the feast, he referred to the promises to Abraham (Gen. 17:7), and three thousand souls believed and were baptized in fulfillment of that promise (Acts 2:39-41). And having seen the fullness of the tribes of the Jews in Heaven, John turns and sees a great multitude that no man could number of all the nations standing before the Lamb singing praise (Rev. 7:9-10). Part of the glory of Heaven is that it is crowded.

THE BLESSING OF BEAUTY

One of the blessings of bigger churches is the opportunity to cultivate more beauty. Unfortunately, the largest modern churches have often opted for shopping mall efficiency, but in times past they built beautiful cathedrals and supported the arts, particularly with singing, instruments, and music for worship (e.g. 1 Chron. 15-16). Bigger churches often provide the means and personnel to cultivate beautiful worship.

We never want to get the cart before the horse, but it isn’t better to reject carts altogether. Better to worship in a gym or a theater in Spirit and in truth than a cathedral where the Spirit has been driven away by abominations. But better still to worship in the beauty of holiness in every direction. A woman is lovely first of all because she trusts the Lord and has a gentle and quiet spirit, but because she has that inner beauty, it is fitting that she adorn herself to match it (1 Pet. 3:3-5). And so likewise the bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2).

THE BLESSING OF CONCENTRATION

One of the principles of warfare is concentration of force: an army spread out along a vast battle line is not nearly as potent as when it focuses on a particular point. Concentration of resources is also a force multiplier, meaning that the overall momentum is exponentially increased, the sum result is more than all the parts working alone. And therefore, a numerically smaller number can have a disproportionate impact at a decisive point, overwhelming the enemy. “And five of you shall chase an hundred [5%], and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight [1%]: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword” (Lev. 26:8).

This principle applies to evangelism, worship, education, business, and media. Where God’s people band together in humble obedience, there is often a force multiplier.

Of course, this still completely depends upon the blessing of God, and God is always free to save with many or few – like Gideon’s army. But Gideon’s army is actually an example of the principle of concentration – a vastly smaller force amassed at a key vulnerable point.

THE BLESSING OF GIFTS IN THE BODY

When God added thousands to the early church, needs became apparent, and the first deacons were appointed, and the word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied greatly (Acts 6:7). Likewise, the one body of Christ is made up of many members, with many gifts: the body is not one

member but many (1 Cor. 12). And the body is better and stronger for that diversity of gifts. Some resistance to size can be like the eye saying that it has no need of a hand, but God sets the members in the body as it pleases Him (1 Cor. 12:18-21).

We are in a great war, and when God adds to our numbers and it’s hard to find a parking spot or we have to start another service, our instinct ought to be to think: “so thankful for all the reinforcements.”

THE BLESSING OF A UNITED WITNESS

The early chapters of Acts are sometimes sentimentally romanticized, but it is true that as the thousands of believers “were together” and continued steadfastly in the word and prayers, and cared for one another’s needs, they had “favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily…” (Acts 2:41-47).

We have many opportunities to demonstrate the tangible love of Christ by meeting the needs of the body: new babies, showers, sickness, and unexpected tragedies. Larger churches can rally around in remarkable ways and demonstrate the gospel in action which is an invitation to the world to join us.

CONCLUSIONS

Blessings are heavy, and that means the blessing of growth and numbers brings with it the need for wise administration, organization, and freedom – something that requires regular maintenance. We are striving for an organic unity in Christ, not bureaucratic paper-pushing and bar codes. This is one of the reasons why we have continued to start new services and church plants, while continuing to share office space and staff with the other Kirker churches. All of this requires creativity, grace, wisdom, lots of flexibility, new and more suitable buildings, and more grace, while keeping our eyes on the goal: All of Christ for All of Life for All of Moscow, America, and the World.

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