David Jeremiah - Trying Not to Lose

January 11, 2025 | S25:E2

In this message Dr. Jeremiah shares how Caleb's life is an example to all of us of how to keep living for the Lord, no matter our age.

#PersonalStory #Faith #Faithfulness #ServantofGod #Grace #Religion #Music #Musician #WordofGod #Joy #inActive #TurningPointwithDr.DavidJeremiah #DavidJeremiah #Commitment #Worship #Hebrews11:6

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - Trying Not to Lose | January 11, 2025

...
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Male announcer: no matter who you are and where you are,
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David jeremiah wants to help you in your journey
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Through god's word.
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With "the whole story," new from dr. jeremiah,
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You will better grasp how every book of the bible
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Fits together to form a perfect story
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God can use to transform your life.
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Let dr. jeremiah be your experienced guide
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Through scripture, giving you a deeper understanding
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Of the enduring, eternal, and flawless word of god.
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Yours for a gift of any amount from turning point today.
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♪♪♪
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Dr. david jeremiah: with the noise of the holidays
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Behind us, we look ahead to a new year and a new day.
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As you step out into this new year,
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Where will your path take you?
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Whether you realize it or not, you are a part
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Of god's unfolding story.
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Are you prepared for wherever that journey takes you?
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Dr. jeremiah: in the world of sports, it's usually obvious
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When a team is playing with all they've got
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To win a game, or if they're simply
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Trying not to lose.
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You can see it in the level of passion
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And commitment and joy that they show.
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You know, likewise in life we all know people
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Who are all in, who approach each day
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As another exciting chance to serve god
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And their fellow man, another chance
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To get that much closer to their goals.
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What about you?
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Are you living your life just trying to avoid trouble
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Or disappointment?
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Or are you in it to win it?
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I'm david jeremiah, and in this message
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For the new year, i wanna challenge you
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To stop trying not to lose and start trying to win.
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You may just discover that it makes all the difference.
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So, please join me as we start the new year off right together
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Here on "turning point."
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♪ come let us worship our king ♪
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♪ come let us bow at his feet ♪
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♪ he has done great things ♪
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♪ see what our savior has done ♪
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♪ see how his love overcomes ♪
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♪ he has done great things ♪
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♪ he has done great things ♪
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♪ oh, hero of heaven ♪
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♪ you conquered the grave ♪
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♪ you free every captive and break every chain ♪
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♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
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♪ we dance in your freedom, awake and alive ♪
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♪ oh jesus, our savior ♪
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♪ your name lifted high ♪
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♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ you've been faithful through every storm ♪
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♪ you'll be faithful forevermore ♪
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♪ you have done great things ♪
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♪ and i know you will do it again ♪
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♪ for your promise is "yes and amen" ♪
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♪ you will do great things ♪
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♪ god, you do great things ♪
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♪ oh, hero of heaven ♪
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♪ you conquered the grave ♪
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♪ you free every captive and break every chain ♪
00:03:58.354 --> 00:04:02.492
♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
00:04:02.492 --> 00:04:07.497
♪ we dance in your freedom, awake and alive ♪
00:04:07.497 --> 00:04:12.035
♪ oh jesus, our savior ♪
00:04:12.035 --> 00:04:14.237
♪ your name lifted high ♪
00:04:14.237 --> 00:04:16.372
♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ god, above it all ♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ god, unshakable ♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ you have done great things ♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ god, above it all ♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ god, unshakable ♪
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♪ hallelujah ♪
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♪ you have done great things ♪
00:04:55.611 --> 00:04:58.981
♪ you've done great things ♪
00:04:58.981 --> 00:05:02.385
♪ oh, hero of heaven ♪
00:05:02.385 --> 00:05:04.687
♪ you conquered the grave ♪
00:05:04.687 --> 00:05:06.956
♪ you free every captive and break every chain ♪
00:05:06.956 --> 00:05:11.260
♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
00:05:11.260 --> 00:05:16.065
♪ we dance in your freedom, awake and alive ♪
00:05:16.065 --> 00:05:20.603
♪ oh jesus, our savior ♪
00:05:20.603 --> 00:05:22.839
♪ your name lifted high ♪
00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:24.807
♪ oh god, you have done great things ♪
00:05:24.807 --> 00:05:31.047
♪ you have done great things ♪
00:05:31.047 --> 00:05:35.418
♪ oh god, you do great things ♪
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♪♪♪
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Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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Dr. jeremiah: he wholly followed the lord his god.
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Not half-heartedly, not almost, not trying not to lose.
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I'm gonna do this with everything i have,
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Wholly follow the lord.
00:06:08.951 --> 00:06:10.953
Announcer: a brighter day and a better year
00:06:12.655 --> 00:06:14.924
Begins by living in god's light.
00:06:14.924 --> 00:06:17.393
Introducing dr. jeremiah's newest, 365-day devotional
00:06:17.393 --> 00:06:21.197
For 2025, "living in his light."
00:06:21.197 --> 00:06:24.333
With dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights
00:06:24.333 --> 00:06:26.436
And reflections, you'll find yourself immersed
00:06:26.436 --> 00:06:28.504
In god's radiant truth, allowing his light
00:06:28.504 --> 00:06:31.107
To transform your every moment.
00:06:31.107 --> 00:06:33.342
"living in his light" is your daily recharge,
00:06:33.342 --> 00:06:35.711
Keeping you connected to his presence
00:06:35.711 --> 00:06:37.780
And walking in the brilliance of his love
00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:39.749
Day by day and all year long.
00:06:39.749 --> 00:06:42.051
With a beautifully designed cover
00:06:42.051 --> 00:06:43.586
And stunning images throughout, each reading
00:06:43.586 --> 00:06:45.822
Will not only lift your spirit, but brighten your entire day.
00:06:45.822 --> 00:06:49.225
Even when the world looks bleak and your days seem dark,
00:06:49.225 --> 00:06:52.094
Let dr. jeremiah remind you each day that
00:06:52.094 --> 00:06:54.730
The closer you are to christ, the brighter your days will be.
00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:58.100
Request your copy of "living in his light" today
00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:00.903
For a gift of any amount in support of this program.
00:07:00.903 --> 00:07:03.473
Or for a gift of $120 or more, receive four copies,
00:07:03.473 --> 00:07:07.877
One for yourself, and three to share his light
00:07:07.877 --> 00:07:10.046
With those you love.
00:07:10.046 --> 00:07:11.547
This isn't just a devotional, it's an invitation
00:07:11.547 --> 00:07:14.016
To live every day in the glow of his grace.
00:07:14.016 --> 00:07:17.587
Contact "turning point" today to request "living in his light"
00:07:17.587 --> 00:07:20.823
By dr. jeremiah and step into a brighter future.
00:07:20.823 --> 00:07:24.360
♪ let the king of my heart ♪
00:07:26.662 --> 00:07:29.899
♪ be the mountain where i run ♪
00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:33.803
♪ the fountain i drink from ♪
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♪ oh, he is my song ♪
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♪ let the king of my heart ♪
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♪ be the shadow where i hide ♪
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♪ the ransom for my life ♪
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♪ oh, he is my song ♪
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♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
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♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:08:00.796 --> 00:08:08.104
♪ let the king of my heart ♪
00:08:08.104 --> 00:08:11.107
♪ be the wind inside my sails ♪
00:08:11.107 --> 00:08:15.044
♪ the anchor in the waves ♪
00:08:15.044 --> 00:08:17.914
♪ oh, he is my song ♪
00:08:17.914 --> 00:08:21.984
♪ let the king of my heart ♪
00:08:21.984 --> 00:08:24.720
♪ be the fire inside my veins ♪
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♪ the echo of my days ♪
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♪ oh, he is my song ♪
00:08:31.661 --> 00:08:35.131
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:08:35.131 --> 00:08:42.038
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:08:42.104 --> 00:08:49.011
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:08:49.078 --> 00:08:55.851
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:08:55.918 --> 00:09:04.393
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
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♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:06.696 --> 00:09:10.967
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
00:09:10.967 --> 00:09:13.536
♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:13.536 --> 00:09:17.807
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
00:09:17.807 --> 00:09:20.409
♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:20.409 --> 00:09:24.747
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
00:09:24.747 --> 00:09:27.216
♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:27.216 --> 00:09:31.621
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
00:09:31.621 --> 00:09:34.123
♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:34.123 --> 00:09:38.394
♪ you're never gonna let ♪
00:09:38.394 --> 00:09:40.963
♪ you're never gonna let me down ♪
00:09:40.963 --> 00:09:43.633
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:09:43.633 --> 00:09:50.473
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:57.413
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪
00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:04.220
♪ you are good, good, so good ♪♪
00:10:04.286 --> 00:10:16.666
Announcer: dr. david jeremiah is delivering
00:10:20.703 --> 00:10:22.505
The unchanging word of god every month
00:10:22.505 --> 00:10:25.007
To more than half a million homes
00:10:25.007 --> 00:10:26.776
Through "turning points" magazine and devotional.
00:10:26.776 --> 00:10:29.345
Read articles and devotionals from dr. jeremiah each month
00:10:29.345 --> 00:10:32.381
That will encourage, challenge, and strengthen your walk
00:10:32.381 --> 00:10:34.817
With the lord.
00:10:34.817 --> 00:10:36.152
As you explore the pages of "turning points" each month,
00:10:36.152 --> 00:10:38.487
You'll find inspirational articles
00:10:38.487 --> 00:10:40.089
From dr. jeremiah on biblical themes he believes
00:10:40.089 --> 00:10:42.692
Are most relevant for today's times,
00:10:42.692 --> 00:10:44.894
As well as daily devotionals, including an uplifting thought
00:10:44.894 --> 00:10:47.596
From dr. jeremiah, a powerful verse to remember,
00:10:47.596 --> 00:10:50.499
A recommended scripture reading for deeper study,
00:10:50.499 --> 00:10:53.135
And a yearly bible reading plan.
00:10:53.135 --> 00:10:55.404
It's also the perfect way to stay connected
00:10:55.404 --> 00:10:57.173
With the ministry of "turning point,"
00:10:57.173 --> 00:10:58.674
Including a monthly schedule of radio and television,
00:10:58.674 --> 00:11:01.310
The latest study resources from dr. jeremiah,
00:11:01.310 --> 00:11:03.846
And ministry news.
00:11:03.846 --> 00:11:05.314
Join more than half a million people
00:11:05.314 --> 00:11:07.416
Who are inspired and encouraged by "turning points"
00:11:07.416 --> 00:11:09.752
Magazine and devotional each month.
00:11:09.752 --> 00:11:12.088
Request your first three issues of "turning points"
00:11:12.088 --> 00:11:14.623
Completely free from "turning point" today.
00:11:14.623 --> 00:11:17.626
♪ i'm calling on the god of jacob ♪
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♪ whose love endures through generations ♪
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♪ i know that you will keep your covenant ♪
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♪ i'm calling on the god of moses ♪
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♪ the one who opened up the ocean ♪
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♪ i need you now to do the same thing for me ♪
00:11:53.229 --> 00:12:00.136
♪♪♪
00:12:00.136 --> 00:12:06.475
♪ o god, my god, i need you ♪
00:12:06.475 --> 00:12:09.678
♪ o god, my god, i need you now ♪
00:12:09.678 --> 00:12:14.183
♪ how i need you now ♪
00:12:14.183 --> 00:12:19.488
♪ o rock, o rock of ages ♪
00:12:19.488 --> 00:12:22.825
♪ i'm standing on your faithfulness ♪
00:12:22.825 --> 00:12:28.230
♪ on your faithfulness ♪
00:12:28.230 --> 00:12:32.701
♪ i'm calling on the god of mary ♪
00:12:32.701 --> 00:12:39.241
♪ whose favor rests upon the lowly ♪
00:12:39.241 --> 00:12:45.781
♪ i know with you all things are possible ♪
00:12:45.781 --> 00:12:52.354
♪ i'm calling on the god of david ♪
00:12:52.354 --> 00:12:58.961
♪ who made a shepherd boy courageous ♪
00:12:58.961 --> 00:13:05.467
♪ i may not face goliath, but i've got my own giants! ♪
00:13:05.467 --> 00:13:12.007
♪ o god, my god, i need you ♪
00:13:12.007 --> 00:13:15.344
♪ o god, my god, i need you now ♪
00:13:15.344 --> 00:13:19.815
♪ how i need you now ♪
00:13:19.815 --> 00:13:25.187
♪ o rock, o rock of ages ♪
00:13:25.187 --> 00:13:28.591
♪ i'm standing on your faithfulness ♪
00:13:28.591 --> 00:13:33.662
♪ on your faithfulness ♪
00:13:33.662 --> 00:13:41.437
Michael sanchez: church, would you stand to your feet?
00:13:41.437 --> 00:13:44.106
Let's sing this bridge together.
00:13:44.106 --> 00:13:45.474
You heard your children then, you heard your children now.
00:13:45.474 --> 00:13:51.680
♪ you heard your children then ♪
00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:54.917
♪ you hear your children now ♪
00:13:54.917 --> 00:13:58.087
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:13:58.087 --> 00:14:01.323
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:01.390 --> 00:14:04.593
♪ you answered prayers back then ♪
00:14:04.593 --> 00:14:08.030
♪ and you will answer now ♪
00:14:08.030 --> 00:14:11.300
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:13.903
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:14.536 --> 00:14:17.907
♪ you were providing then ♪
00:14:17.907 --> 00:14:21.076
♪ you are providing now ♪
00:14:21.076 --> 00:14:24.446
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:24.446 --> 00:14:26.949
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:27.683 --> 00:14:30.986
♪ you moved in power then, god, move in power now ♪
00:14:30.986 --> 00:14:37.593
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:37.593 --> 00:14:40.229
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:40.930 --> 00:14:44.166
♪ you were a healer then ♪
00:14:44.166 --> 00:14:47.469
♪ you are a healer now ♪
00:14:47.469 --> 00:14:50.773
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:50.773 --> 00:14:53.442
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:14:54.109 --> 00:14:57.279
♪ you were a savior then ♪
00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.516
♪ you are a savior now ♪
00:15:00.516 --> 00:15:03.852
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:15:03.852 --> 00:15:06.522
♪ you are the same god ♪
00:15:07.189 --> 00:15:10.626
♪ o god, my god, i need you ♪
00:15:10.626 --> 00:15:13.662
♪ o god, my god, i need you now ♪
00:15:13.662 --> 00:15:18.334
♪ how i need you now ♪
00:15:18.334 --> 00:15:23.706
♪ o rock, o rock of ages ♪
00:15:23.706 --> 00:15:26.976
♪ i'm standing on your faithfulness ♪
00:15:26.976 --> 00:15:32.481
♪ on your faithfulness ♪
00:15:32.481 --> 00:15:36.885
♪ o god, my god, i need you ♪
00:15:36.885 --> 00:15:40.089
♪ o god, my god, i need you now ♪
00:15:40.089 --> 00:15:44.760
♪ how i need you now ♪
00:15:44.760 --> 00:15:49.865
♪ o rock, o rock of ages ♪
00:15:49.865 --> 00:15:53.268
♪ i'm standing on your faithfulness ♪
00:15:53.268 --> 00:15:58.640
♪ on your faithfulness ♪
00:15:58.640 --> 00:16:06.115
♪♪♪
00:16:06.115 --> 00:16:21.330
Announcer: a brighter day and a better year
00:16:25.367 --> 00:16:27.202
Begins by living in god's light.
00:16:27.202 --> 00:16:29.438
Introducing dr. david jeremiah's newest, 365-day devotional
00:16:29.438 --> 00:16:33.208
For 2025, "living in his light."
00:16:33.208 --> 00:16:35.911
With dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights
00:16:35.911 --> 00:16:37.946
And reflections, you'll find yourself immersed
00:16:37.946 --> 00:16:40.149
In god's radiant truth, allowing his light
00:16:40.149 --> 00:16:42.451
To transform your every moment.
00:16:42.451 --> 00:16:44.953
"living in his light" is your daily recharge,
00:16:44.953 --> 00:16:46.989
Keeping you connected to his presence
00:16:46.989 --> 00:16:48.690
And walking in the brilliance of his love day by day.
00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:51.994
With a beautifully designed cover
00:16:51.994 --> 00:16:53.462
And stunning images throughout, each reading
00:16:53.462 --> 00:16:55.697
Will not only lift your spirit, but brighten your entire day.
00:16:55.697 --> 00:16:59.234
Even when the world looks bleak and your days seem dark,
00:16:59.234 --> 00:17:02.337
Let dr. jeremiah remind you each day that
00:17:02.337 --> 00:17:04.506
The closer you are to christ, the brighter your days will be.
00:17:04.506 --> 00:17:08.110
Request your copy of "living in his light" today
00:17:08.110 --> 00:17:10.446
For a gift of any amount in support of this program.
00:17:10.446 --> 00:17:12.548
Or for a gift of $120 or more, receive four copies,
00:17:12.548 --> 00:17:16.418
One for yourself and three to share his light
00:17:16.418 --> 00:17:18.554
With those you love.
00:17:18.554 --> 00:17:20.322
Contact "turning point" today to request "living in his light"
00:17:20.322 --> 00:17:23.792
By dr. jeremiah and step into a brighter future.
00:17:23.792 --> 00:17:27.096
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:17:29.098 --> 00:17:31.366
And now, here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
00:17:31.366 --> 00:17:34.136
"trying not to lose."
00:17:34.136 --> 00:17:36.805
Dr. jeremiah: i grew up in ohio in a rural area
00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:41.643
Called cedarville.
00:17:41.643 --> 00:17:43.679
When i moved there, i was in the seventh grade.
00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:47.249
And i was really excited about the game of football.
00:17:47.249 --> 00:17:50.986
I had started to play some of the early stages
00:17:50.986 --> 00:17:53.755
Of football that you can play in grade school,
00:17:53.755 --> 00:17:56.625
And i was looking forward to moving into junior high
00:17:56.625 --> 00:17:58.894
And high school.
00:17:58.894 --> 00:18:00.229
But when we moved to cedarville, that dream ended
00:18:00.229 --> 00:18:03.632
Because cedarville was so small,
00:18:03.632 --> 00:18:05.667
They didn't have a football team.
00:18:05.667 --> 00:18:08.470
And so, i had no other choice
00:18:08.470 --> 00:18:10.806
Than to become a basketball player.
00:18:10.806 --> 00:18:14.376
And become a player i did.
00:18:14.376 --> 00:18:16.812
I don't know how good i was, but i know that
00:18:16.812 --> 00:18:19.715
Nobody practiced more than i did.
00:18:19.715 --> 00:18:21.817
You see, i had the keys to the gym
00:18:21.817 --> 00:18:24.052
Because my father was the president
00:18:24.052 --> 00:18:25.621
Of the college there.
00:18:25.621 --> 00:18:27.489
And i used to play in that gym over and over again
00:18:27.489 --> 00:18:30.325
Just by myself when nobody was around.
00:18:30.325 --> 00:18:33.328
And i ended up being able to play four years
00:18:33.328 --> 00:18:35.230
Of varsity basketball in high school,
00:18:35.230 --> 00:18:37.266
And i got a scholarship to play basketball in college
00:18:37.266 --> 00:18:39.801
And played four years of college basketball.
00:18:39.801 --> 00:18:43.005
But if you are anywhere close to where i am in life,
00:18:43.005 --> 00:18:47.442
You know that basketball back then
00:18:47.442 --> 00:18:49.645
Was different than it is now.
00:18:49.645 --> 00:18:52.381
First of all, there was no three-point line,
00:18:52.381 --> 00:18:56.118
Which really disappoints me as i think about it
00:18:56.118 --> 00:18:58.987
Because that's where i shot from most of the time.
00:18:58.987 --> 00:19:04.159
And the other thing that was missing back then
00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:06.028
Was the shot clock.
00:19:06.028 --> 00:19:08.730
If you know the game today, you know that
00:19:08.730 --> 00:19:10.465
In high school you have to shoot the ball
00:19:10.465 --> 00:19:12.334
Within 35 seconds or it goes over
00:19:12.334 --> 00:19:14.269
To the other team.
00:19:14.269 --> 00:19:15.604
We didn't have that.
00:19:15.604 --> 00:19:17.072
And you remember what basketball was like
00:19:17.072 --> 00:19:20.108
Before we had the 35-second clock.
00:19:20.108 --> 00:19:22.844
If you played the game during that era,
00:19:22.844 --> 00:19:24.713
You know that often when you were ahead of a team
00:19:24.713 --> 00:19:26.582
In the third quarter, you would have a timeout
00:19:26.582 --> 00:19:29.384
And your coach would tell you to slow the game down.
00:19:29.384 --> 00:19:34.289
And if you were ahead eight to ten points
00:19:34.289 --> 00:19:36.124
In the fourth quarter, we would be told
00:19:36.124 --> 00:19:38.827
To pull the ball out.
00:19:38.827 --> 00:19:40.596
That meant go to a four-corner offense
00:19:40.596 --> 00:19:42.698
And just pass the ball around and don't try to score.
00:19:42.698 --> 00:19:46.935
It was like keep-away from the other team.
00:19:46.935 --> 00:19:50.105
We didn't try to score, but since we had the ball,
00:19:50.105 --> 00:19:52.307
The other team couldn't score either.
00:19:52.307 --> 00:19:55.811
I hated it when we did that, 'cause that meant
00:19:55.811 --> 00:19:58.714
I couldn't shoot.
00:19:58.714 --> 00:20:00.983
And truth be told, it wasn't always very successful.
00:20:00.983 --> 00:20:04.620
When we pulled the ball out and stopped trying to score,
00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:07.756
We often made mistakes and let the other team
00:20:07.756 --> 00:20:10.626
Back into the game.
00:20:10.626 --> 00:20:12.794
As i remember it, we lost a lot of the games
00:20:12.794 --> 00:20:16.031
When we tried not to lose instead of trying to win.
00:20:16.031 --> 00:20:21.703
The basketball fathers saw it that way as well.
00:20:21.703 --> 00:20:24.973
They changed the rules to eliminate that strategy.
00:20:24.973 --> 00:20:27.976
Can't do that anymore.
00:20:27.976 --> 00:20:29.344
You see, nobody wants to pay good money
00:20:29.344 --> 00:20:30.879
To watch a team try not to lose.
00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:34.249
What we do in sports, we sometimes do in life.
00:20:34.249 --> 00:20:40.422
And i wanna go on record this weekend by saying
00:20:40.422 --> 00:20:42.958
That i don't think god created us to live our lives
00:20:42.958 --> 00:20:45.294
Trying not to lose.
00:20:45.294 --> 00:20:47.963
He created us to win and to live our lives each day
00:20:47.963 --> 00:20:51.833
With that as our goal.
00:20:51.833 --> 00:20:53.335
You see, when we're trying not to lose,
00:20:53.335 --> 00:20:56.305
We're living out of fear.
00:20:56.305 --> 00:20:59.574
When we're trying to win, we're living out of faith.
00:20:59.574 --> 00:21:02.411
And you know what the bible says?
00:21:02.411 --> 00:21:03.845
The bible says that "without faith,
00:21:03.845 --> 00:21:06.348
It is impossible to please god."
00:21:06.348 --> 00:21:11.853
This weekend, as we begin the new year together,
00:21:11.853 --> 00:21:14.122
I wanna encourage you to live by trying to win
00:21:14.122 --> 00:21:16.825
And not by trying not to lose.
00:21:16.825 --> 00:21:19.561
There are many individuals in the bible
00:21:19.561 --> 00:21:20.896
Whose lives model this principle,
00:21:20.896 --> 00:21:23.732
But my favorite of all is a man by the name of caleb.
00:21:23.732 --> 00:21:27.536
There's only 30 verses in the bible about caleb,
00:21:27.536 --> 00:21:31.139
But those 30 verses leave us a legacy
00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:33.542
That is so powerful that it literally
00:21:33.542 --> 00:21:36.044
Will change our lives.
00:21:36.044 --> 00:21:39.147
Caleb, as you know, is the less celebrated friend
00:21:39.147 --> 00:21:41.717
Of joshua.
00:21:41.717 --> 00:21:43.819
And if you know the old testament,
00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.153
You remember that caleb and joshua
00:21:45.153 --> 00:21:47.089
Were among 12 spies that were sent
00:21:47.089 --> 00:21:49.691
From kadesh barnea into the land of canaan
00:21:49.691 --> 00:21:52.661
To find out what was going on in there.
00:21:52.661 --> 00:21:54.996
They were to go in and spy out the land
00:21:54.996 --> 00:21:56.698
And bring the report back to the people of israel.
00:21:56.698 --> 00:22:01.937
When caleb and joshua went into the land,
00:22:01.937 --> 00:22:03.705
They saw it through positive eyes,
00:22:03.705 --> 00:22:05.340
And they believed that they were ready
00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.675
To seize their inheritance.
00:22:06.675 --> 00:22:08.543
But unfortunately, the other scouts,
00:22:08.543 --> 00:22:11.079
The majority party, the ten, they came back
00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:13.615
And they counseled the israelites
00:22:13.615 --> 00:22:15.117
To fear the giants in that land, to keep away from that land.
00:22:15.117 --> 00:22:19.388
You see, they were afraid of losing.
00:22:19.388 --> 00:22:21.556
They wanted to try not to lose.
00:22:21.556 --> 00:22:23.825
And the way they thought about it was,
00:22:23.825 --> 00:22:25.160
"if we don't go into that land, we won't lose.
00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:27.929
Of course, we won't win either, but at least we won't lose."
00:22:27.929 --> 00:22:31.233
They came back with a negative report.
00:22:31.233 --> 00:22:34.703
Well, the people of israel heard that report,
00:22:34.703 --> 00:22:36.838
And they decided to believe the trying-not-to-lose majority.
00:22:36.838 --> 00:22:42.611
And the lack of faith cost them an entire generation
00:22:42.611 --> 00:22:46.047
Of restless wandering before they were allowed
00:22:46.047 --> 00:22:49.418
To go back into the land that god had already promised
00:22:49.418 --> 00:22:52.521
To them.
00:22:52.521 --> 00:22:54.523
I know you're familiar with that part of the story
00:22:54.523 --> 00:22:56.892
Concerning caleb, just the mention that
00:22:56.892 --> 00:22:59.027
He and joshua were the two positive spies.
00:22:59.027 --> 00:23:03.865
But i wonder if you know the rest of the story.
00:23:03.865 --> 00:23:06.902
Joshua and caleb have now lived through that 40-year hiatus,
00:23:06.902 --> 00:23:11.640
And they're ready to settle the land.
00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:14.242
Joshua is very old.
00:23:14.242 --> 00:23:16.378
He's finishing up the process of parceling out
00:23:16.378 --> 00:23:19.247
The land of canaan to the various tribes of israel.
00:23:19.247 --> 00:23:22.751
And caleb, we are told, is 85 years old,
00:23:22.751 --> 00:23:26.154
And he's approaching joshua to ask for his own inheritance.
00:23:26.154 --> 00:23:30.292
Now, let me stop for a moment and explain that
00:23:30.292 --> 00:23:32.160
What was going on here was this.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.296
Almighty god was going to divide up
00:23:34.296 --> 00:23:36.398
The land of canaan between the 12 tribes of israel,
00:23:36.398 --> 00:23:39.267
And each of them had a responsibility
00:23:39.267 --> 00:23:41.303
To settle a portion of land that was assigned to them.
00:23:41.303 --> 00:23:45.674
Their instructions were very clear.
00:23:45.674 --> 00:23:47.976
Almighty god wanted them to go in and settle their land
00:23:47.976 --> 00:23:51.546
And drive the inhabitants who were living there out.
00:23:51.546 --> 00:23:55.116
We often read that and wonder, why would god do such a thing?
00:23:55.116 --> 00:23:58.386
It's very clear as you study the history
00:23:58.386 --> 00:24:00.288
Of that particular time that the canaanites were vile,
00:24:00.288 --> 00:24:04.092
Evil, wicked people.
00:24:04.092 --> 00:24:06.194
If you were to class all the inhabitants of the earth
00:24:06.194 --> 00:24:08.430
Who have lived from creation until now,
00:24:08.430 --> 00:24:10.799
They would be in the top ten of the worst people
00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.301
Who ever walked on this earth.
00:24:13.301 --> 00:24:14.870
They were wicked, cruel, ungodly people.
00:24:14.870 --> 00:24:17.806
And almighty god knew that if he left those inhabitants
00:24:17.806 --> 00:24:20.509
In the land, brought his nation of the jews
00:24:20.509 --> 00:24:24.279
Into that land, that they would corrupt the nation,
00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.715
That they would be compromised in their walk with god.
00:24:26.715 --> 00:24:30.685
And so, his instruction was in these early stages
00:24:30.685 --> 00:24:33.255
Of the nation of israel,
00:24:33.255 --> 00:24:34.723
"you have to drive the inhabitants out."
00:24:34.723 --> 00:24:37.325
That was their instruction.
00:24:37.325 --> 00:24:39.327
Caleb is one of the men who is to take a portion
00:24:39.327 --> 00:24:43.932
Of the land of canaan and develop it.
00:24:43.932 --> 00:24:46.601
And he comes before joshua with a specific request.
00:24:46.601 --> 00:24:50.539
And if you have your bibles, open to joshua 14,
00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:53.041
This begins in verse 6, "then the children of judah
00:24:53.041 --> 00:24:56.545
Came to joshua and gilgal.
00:24:56.545 --> 00:24:58.513
And caleb the son of jephunneh the kenizzite said to joshua:
00:24:58.513 --> 00:25:02.551
'you know the word of the lord said to moses,
00:25:02.551 --> 00:25:05.554
The man of god concerning you and me
00:25:05.554 --> 00:25:07.255
In kadesh barnea.
00:25:07.255 --> 00:25:08.757
I was 40 years old then,' he said, 'when moses,
00:25:08.757 --> 00:25:11.459
The servant of the lord sent me from kadesh barnea
00:25:11.459 --> 00:25:14.162
To spy out the land, and i brought back word to him
00:25:14.162 --> 00:25:16.865
As it was in my heart.
00:25:16.865 --> 00:25:18.967
Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me
00:25:18.967 --> 00:25:21.136
Made the heart of the people melt,
00:25:21.136 --> 00:25:22.571
But i wholly followed the lord my god.
00:25:22.571 --> 00:25:24.873
So moses swore on that day, saying, "surely the land
00:25:24.873 --> 00:25:27.676
Where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance
00:25:27.676 --> 00:25:30.278
And your children's forever, because you have wholly followed
00:25:30.278 --> 00:25:33.582
The lord my god."'"
00:25:33.582 --> 00:25:35.550
After 45 years of wandering in the wilderness,
00:25:35.550 --> 00:25:39.854
The promise of god was still the obsession of caleb.
00:25:39.854 --> 00:25:44.793
It was in his heart, and he was not going to forget
00:25:44.793 --> 00:25:47.395
What moses had said all those years before.
00:25:47.395 --> 00:25:49.898
He was ready to go into canaan.
00:25:49.898 --> 00:25:52.033
He was ready to take his possession.
00:25:52.033 --> 00:25:53.969
He was ready to settle his land.
00:25:53.969 --> 00:25:57.305
The bottom line is,
00:25:57.305 --> 00:25:58.640
Caleb was a different sort of person.
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.042
He obviously was uniquely different
00:26:01.042 --> 00:26:02.611
From at least ten of the other spies.
00:26:02.611 --> 00:26:05.280
And the question that you have to ask
00:26:05.280 --> 00:26:07.582
As you read a story like this is what made him different?
00:26:07.582 --> 00:26:10.652
Why was he so uniquely poised to take the challenge
00:26:10.652 --> 00:26:15.857
Of the land and the other ten were afraid?
00:26:15.857 --> 00:26:19.861
Why was he willing to try to win and the other ten
00:26:19.861 --> 00:26:24.099
Only wanted to try not to lose?
00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.835
And we don't have to wonder about the answer
00:26:26.835 --> 00:26:29.504
To that question, because it is given to us
00:26:29.504 --> 00:26:31.973
In the story of caleb.
00:26:31.973 --> 00:26:34.009
In fact, let me give you
00:26:34.009 --> 00:26:35.343
An interesting bit of information about this story.
00:26:35.343 --> 00:26:37.646
As i mentioned, caleb is in the bible,
00:26:37.646 --> 00:26:40.148
And his whole life is recorded in 30 verses.
00:26:40.148 --> 00:26:43.385
That's not many verses.
00:26:43.385 --> 00:26:45.153
But in those 30 verses, six times
00:26:45.153 --> 00:26:48.957
Almighty god gives us the secret of his life.
00:26:48.957 --> 00:26:52.160
Now, i don't know if you know much
00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.495
About how the bible is put together,
00:26:53.495 --> 00:26:54.829
But let me tell you something.
00:26:54.829 --> 00:26:56.164
If god says something twice, you sit up and take notice.
00:26:56.164 --> 00:26:59.300
If he repeats it two or three times,
00:26:59.300 --> 00:27:01.069
You know this is really, really important.
00:27:01.069 --> 00:27:03.104
If god says it six times,
00:27:03.104 --> 00:27:05.340
Shut down everything you're doing,
00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:07.275
Get a piece of paper, and write it down.
00:27:07.275 --> 00:27:09.077
You don't wanna forget this.
00:27:09.077 --> 00:27:11.479
And god is gonna tell us why caleb was able
00:27:11.479 --> 00:27:15.150
To be the winner that he was.
00:27:15.150 --> 00:27:19.154
He was, first of all, enthusiastic about life.
00:27:19.154 --> 00:27:22.991
That's the first reason.
00:27:22.991 --> 00:27:24.592
Notice, verses 10 and 11.
00:27:24.592 --> 00:27:26.594
This is how caleb described himself.
00:27:26.594 --> 00:27:29.097
Oh, i love this passage, at 85 years of age.
00:27:29.097 --> 00:27:33.301
"and now, behold, the lord has kept me alive,
00:27:33.301 --> 00:27:36.037
As he said, these 45 years, ever since the lord
00:27:36.037 --> 00:27:39.240
Spoke this word to moses while israel wandered
00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:41.910
In the wilderness; and now, here i am this day,
00:27:41.910 --> 00:27:45.714
Eighty-five years old.
00:27:45.714 --> 00:27:47.682
And yet i am as strong this day as i was on the day
00:27:47.682 --> 00:27:51.619
That moses sent me; just as my strength was then,
00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:55.423
So now is my strength for war,
00:27:55.423 --> 00:27:57.792
Both for going out and for coming in."
00:27:57.792 --> 00:28:00.929
Now, let that settle in for just a moment.
00:28:00.929 --> 00:28:03.164
This guy's 85 years old, and he says he is as strong
00:28:03.164 --> 00:28:07.435
And filled with vigor as he was when he was 40.
00:28:07.435 --> 00:28:12.907
It was clear that he had as much passion as he had.
00:28:12.907 --> 00:28:18.113
And the question is, where did it come from?
00:28:18.113 --> 00:28:20.749
It certainly wasn't the product of an easy life.
00:28:20.749 --> 00:28:24.185
Because as you read through the story,
00:28:24.185 --> 00:28:25.920
You understand that caleb's life at the age of 85
00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:28.957
Could be summarized with three ds,
00:28:28.957 --> 00:28:31.726
The desert, death, and discouragement.
00:28:31.726 --> 00:28:35.563
All of his contemporaries were dying.
00:28:35.563 --> 00:28:37.766
You see, almighty god said that the whole generation
00:28:37.766 --> 00:28:40.068
Had to die off because they didn't believe god.
00:28:40.068 --> 00:28:43.238
God says, "if you don't believe i can give you the land,
00:28:43.238 --> 00:28:45.306
You'll never see it."
00:28:45.306 --> 00:28:46.641
He sent 'em into the wilderness and they had to wander around
00:28:46.641 --> 00:28:48.576
Out there for 40 years while all of 'em died off.
00:28:48.576 --> 00:28:51.312
But caleb and joshua weren't a part of that curse.
00:28:51.312 --> 00:28:53.815
They were gonna be given the land,
00:28:53.815 --> 00:28:55.383
But they had to wait until the whole generation died.
00:28:55.383 --> 00:28:59.654
Caleb grew older, and he waited through the decades,
00:28:59.654 --> 00:29:02.791
Checking the obituaries every day,
00:29:02.791 --> 00:29:05.660
Seeing the last of his old friends die off.
00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:09.631
Our text tells us only two things
00:29:09.631 --> 00:29:12.600
About how he got through that time.
00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:15.336
In verse 10 caleb says god kept him alive.
00:29:15.336 --> 00:29:20.842
God kept him alive.
00:29:20.842 --> 00:29:22.343
That's a pretty good insight.
00:29:22.343 --> 00:29:24.846
But there are also verses that remind us that
00:29:24.846 --> 00:29:28.149
Caleb understood the benefit, if i could put it
00:29:28.149 --> 00:29:31.953
In these words, of staying in shape.
00:29:31.953 --> 00:29:35.523
This is especially important for us at this time of the year
00:29:35.523 --> 00:29:38.459
When all of us are making our resolutions.
00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:42.864
Maybe you wonder why you do this.
00:29:42.864 --> 00:29:44.632
Let me just remind you, there is something in the word of god
00:29:44.632 --> 00:29:47.602
About the sanctity of the human body.
00:29:47.602 --> 00:29:51.206
Caleb was a man of great vigor and strength,
00:29:51.206 --> 00:29:53.374
And you might not think that terribly important,
00:29:53.374 --> 00:29:55.543
But let me remind you that the only things
00:29:55.543 --> 00:29:57.378
You're ever gonna achieve, great things for god,
00:29:57.378 --> 00:30:00.081
You're gonna have to do it in your body.
00:30:00.081 --> 00:30:02.817
The only ministry you'll ever have on this earth
00:30:02.817 --> 00:30:05.286
You will have in your body.
00:30:05.286 --> 00:30:07.021
Oh, i know you can pray, and in a way
00:30:07.021 --> 00:30:08.690
That ministers outside the body,
00:30:08.690 --> 00:30:10.491
But you can't pray without a body.
00:30:10.491 --> 00:30:12.961
You can't preach without a body, you can't teach without a body,
00:30:12.961 --> 00:30:15.797
You can't minister without a body.
00:30:15.797 --> 00:30:17.765
Your ministry will take place through your body,
00:30:17.765 --> 00:30:20.101
So you better take care of it.
00:30:20.101 --> 00:30:21.769
And when you wear out this body, you don't get another one
00:30:21.769 --> 00:30:24.172
On this earth.
00:30:24.172 --> 00:30:25.506
You have to wait all the way to the resurrection
00:30:25.506 --> 00:30:27.542
And get a new one on the way up.
00:30:27.542 --> 00:30:30.545
I know you can't stop the aging process.
00:30:30.545 --> 00:30:32.513
That's one of the frustrating things
00:30:32.513 --> 00:30:33.948
About life.
00:30:33.948 --> 00:30:35.717
You get older, your body begins to deteriorate.
00:30:35.717 --> 00:30:37.952
Somehow caleb was able to maintain a physical vigor
00:30:37.952 --> 00:30:41.456
Even during a long journey in the wilderness.
00:30:41.456 --> 00:30:45.760
A generation of funerals, four decades in the heat
00:30:45.760 --> 00:30:48.162
And sand of the wilderness would make the best of us
00:30:48.162 --> 00:30:50.198
Gloomy and morose, but not caleb.
00:30:50.198 --> 00:30:53.768
The verses tell us that his energies were still revving.
00:30:53.768 --> 00:30:57.538
The fire in the furnace of his soul was still lit,
00:30:57.538 --> 00:31:01.109
He was enthusiastic about life.
00:31:01.109 --> 00:31:04.879
Now, i don't know if it's true everywhere,
00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:07.181
But it seems to me that in our world today,
00:31:07.181 --> 00:31:09.684
Along with age comes a discouragement
00:31:09.684 --> 00:31:12.053
About life.
00:31:12.053 --> 00:31:13.388
And that's certainly understood. there's a lot more challenges.
00:31:13.388 --> 00:31:16.557
As you know, i read someplace
00:31:16.557 --> 00:31:17.892
That after you're 45 years of age,
00:31:17.892 --> 00:31:19.560
It takes twice as much exercise to maintain
00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:21.496
The same amount of fitness.
00:31:21.496 --> 00:31:22.864
That would discourage the average person
00:31:22.864 --> 00:31:24.532
And just say, "forget it," amen.
00:31:24.532 --> 00:31:27.235
Who needs that?
00:31:27.235 --> 00:31:29.203
All of these things come at us, but caleb didn't let them
00:31:29.203 --> 00:31:33.374
Take control of his life.
00:31:33.374 --> 00:31:35.276
He allowed his life to continue and he was enthusiastic
00:31:35.276 --> 00:31:38.313
About life.
00:31:38.313 --> 00:31:39.647
He had a passion for life.
00:31:39.647 --> 00:31:41.649
Secondly, i notice as i read this story
00:31:41.649 --> 00:31:43.985
That caleb was excited about the future.
00:31:43.985 --> 00:31:46.888
No one questioned caleb's pulse.
00:31:46.888 --> 00:31:49.490
Forty years earlier he had done
00:31:49.490 --> 00:31:50.858
Some incredible reconnaissance work.
00:31:50.858 --> 00:31:53.928
Where others saw opposition, he saw opportunity.
00:31:53.928 --> 00:31:58.032
He based his recommendations as he went through
00:31:58.032 --> 00:32:00.435
The land of canaan to bring back his report
00:32:00.435 --> 00:32:03.204
Not on the problems that he saw, but on the provision of god
00:32:03.204 --> 00:32:06.240
That he knew was available.
00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.009
In fact, let me just read you his speech.
00:32:08.009 --> 00:32:09.877
I read you the speech of the negative naysayers
00:32:09.877 --> 00:32:12.080
Trying not to lose much.
00:32:12.080 --> 00:32:13.748
Let me read you caleb's speech, the speech of just one of two
00:32:13.748 --> 00:32:17.051
Who came back with a positive report.
00:32:17.051 --> 00:32:19.821
It's found
00:32:19.821 --> 00:32:21.155
In the book of numbers in the 13th and 14th chapters.
00:32:21.155 --> 00:32:23.491
Here's what it says.
00:32:23.491 --> 00:32:24.826
"then caleb quieted the people before moses,
00:32:24.826 --> 00:32:27.996
And said, 'let us go up at once and take possession,
00:32:27.996 --> 00:32:33.267
For we are well able to overcome it.'
00:32:33.267 --> 00:32:38.072
And they spoke to all the congregation
00:32:38.072 --> 00:32:39.974
Of the children of israel, saying:
00:32:39.974 --> 00:32:42.343
'the land we passed through to spy out is
00:32:42.343 --> 00:32:45.113
An exceedingly good land.
00:32:45.113 --> 00:32:49.817
If the lord delights in us, then he will bring us
00:32:49.817 --> 00:32:53.154
Into this land and give it to us,
00:32:53.154 --> 00:32:55.556
A land which flows with milk and honey.'"
00:32:55.556 --> 00:32:57.892
How different that was from the speech
00:32:57.892 --> 00:32:59.927
Of the other guys who came back and said,
00:32:59.927 --> 00:33:01.963
"it's full of giants, we're dead meat,
00:33:01.963 --> 00:33:03.898
We can't do this."
00:33:03.898 --> 00:33:06.134
I've always thought it interesting
00:33:06.134 --> 00:33:07.635
In the story of kadesh barnea that the two reports
00:33:07.635 --> 00:33:11.973
Can be explained on the basis of perspective.
00:33:11.973 --> 00:33:15.743
And the perspective goes like this.
00:33:15.743 --> 00:33:18.079
The ten who went in and felt defeated
00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.948
After they saw the giants
00:33:20.948 --> 00:33:22.717
Were comparing themselves to the enemy.
00:33:22.717 --> 00:33:27.088
Remember what they said?
00:33:27.088 --> 00:33:28.423
"we are like grasshoppers to them."
00:33:28.423 --> 00:33:31.626
Joshua and caleb went in, they saw the same enemies,
00:33:31.626 --> 00:33:34.295
But they compared the enemies to god.
00:33:34.295 --> 00:33:38.399
The ten who came back with the evil report
00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:40.368
Were probably right when they made the statement,
00:33:40.368 --> 00:33:42.703
"we are not able to overcome them."
00:33:42.703 --> 00:33:45.273
But the problem was, they didn't have god
00:33:45.273 --> 00:33:47.442
In their picture.
00:33:47.442 --> 00:33:48.776
Joshua and caleb came back and said, "yeah,
00:33:48.776 --> 00:33:50.745
The enemies are great, but we believe
00:33:50.745 --> 00:33:53.848
God will help us and we can win."
00:33:53.848 --> 00:33:58.219
The ten were trying not to lose.
00:33:58.219 --> 00:34:01.089
Joshua and caleb were trying to win.
00:34:01.089 --> 00:34:05.226
And if only the people had listened
00:34:05.226 --> 00:34:06.861
To the voice of faith instead of to the voice of fear.
00:34:06.861 --> 00:34:10.364
In taking counsel, they doomed themselves
00:34:10.364 --> 00:34:12.967
To a generation of emptiness and wandering.
00:34:12.967 --> 00:34:15.837
And we do the same thing when we listen
00:34:15.837 --> 00:34:17.738
To the wrong internal voices in our lives.
00:34:17.738 --> 00:34:21.309
Caleb waited out the time through the punishment
00:34:21.309 --> 00:34:25.179
That wasn't his to endure, because he had not done anything
00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:28.783
To endure it, but he had to suffer
00:34:28.783 --> 00:34:30.351
Along with the rest of the nation.
00:34:30.351 --> 00:34:32.253
He kept his heart young and his faith active,
00:34:32.253 --> 00:34:35.356
And now at 85 years old, he told god
00:34:35.356 --> 00:34:38.559
What he wanted to do.
00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:40.962
Joshua 14:12, listen to these words.
00:34:40.962 --> 00:34:43.498
"'now therefore,' he said, give me this mountain,
00:34:43.498 --> 00:34:47.535
Hebron, of which the lord spoke in that day;
00:34:47.535 --> 00:34:50.438
For you heard in that day how the anakim were there,
00:34:50.438 --> 00:34:53.708
And that the cities were great and fortified.
00:34:53.708 --> 00:34:56.010
It may be that the lord will be with me,
00:34:56.010 --> 00:34:58.179
And i shall be able to drive them out
00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:59.747
As the lord said."
00:34:59.747 --> 00:35:02.016
Now, remember, the tribes are being assigned
00:35:02.016 --> 00:35:04.552
To the different parts of the land,
00:35:04.552 --> 00:35:07.622
And each of them has to do a certain thing.
00:35:07.622 --> 00:35:09.190
And caleb comes up.
00:35:09.190 --> 00:35:11.425
He doesn't wait for his assignment,
00:35:11.425 --> 00:35:12.894
He volunteers.
00:35:12.894 --> 00:35:14.529
He comes before joshua to request his portion
00:35:14.529 --> 00:35:17.298
Of the land and he asks for an area
00:35:17.298 --> 00:35:18.833
That was known as hebron.
00:35:18.833 --> 00:35:21.235
Now, let me explain to you why i think caleb asked
00:35:21.235 --> 00:35:24.071
For that portion of land.
00:35:24.071 --> 00:35:25.773
You have to use a little bit of imagination
00:35:25.773 --> 00:35:27.708
With this, but hang with me.
00:35:27.708 --> 00:35:29.510
When he was marching through that land earlier
00:35:29.510 --> 00:35:31.979
With the spies, he saw hebron, and he maybe
00:35:31.979 --> 00:35:35.216
Asked some questions, and it was pointed out to him
00:35:35.216 --> 00:35:38.252
That hebron was a sacred place in canaan.
00:35:38.252 --> 00:35:42.790
Do you know who was buried in hebron?
00:35:42.790 --> 00:35:45.259
Sarah was buried there, and abraham was buried there.
00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:50.464
So were isaac and joseph and rebekah.
00:35:50.464 --> 00:35:54.268
Hebron was the only sacred burial place
00:35:54.268 --> 00:35:58.372
In all of canaan.
00:35:58.372 --> 00:36:00.541
And when caleb found that out, it stuck in his heart.
00:36:00.541 --> 00:36:04.845
And when it got time for him to ask for the place
00:36:04.845 --> 00:36:07.081
He wanted to settle, he wanted to go to hebron.
00:36:07.081 --> 00:36:10.384
And you know why that's interesting?
00:36:10.384 --> 00:36:12.820
It's interesting because caleb was not even
00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:15.923
A full-fledged jew.
00:36:15.923 --> 00:36:18.893
Read again the record as we read it already,
00:36:18.893 --> 00:36:21.529
And you'll discover that his father was a man
00:36:21.529 --> 00:36:24.098
By the name of jephunneh, and his father, jephunneh,
00:36:24.098 --> 00:36:28.236
Was a kenizzite.
00:36:28.236 --> 00:36:30.738
If you've read the old testament,
00:36:30.738 --> 00:36:32.139
You remember that the tribes that
00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:33.474
Were driven out of the land of canaan
00:36:33.474 --> 00:36:35.843
Were the hivites, the jebusites, the girgashites,
00:36:35.843 --> 00:36:39.981
And the kenizzites.
00:36:39.981 --> 00:36:41.315
And somebody added the termites, but they don't belong in there.
00:36:41.315 --> 00:36:45.152
Caleb came from jephunneh, his father,
00:36:45.152 --> 00:36:48.256
And his father was a kenizzite, and the kenizzites
00:36:48.256 --> 00:36:50.925
Were inhabitants of the land of canaan
00:36:50.925 --> 00:36:53.661
Where they were going in to drive them out.
00:36:53.661 --> 00:36:55.663
And you say, "well, how in the world
00:36:55.663 --> 00:36:56.998
Did caleb ever get hooked up with israel?"
00:36:56.998 --> 00:36:58.733
I don't know the answer to that question,
00:36:58.733 --> 00:37:00.134
But somehow when the jews were in egypt,
00:37:00.134 --> 00:37:02.570
Or maybe right after they came out of egypt,
00:37:02.570 --> 00:37:05.139
Caleb became a part of their community.
00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:09.043
And caleb, this kenizzite, has now so fallen in love
00:37:09.043 --> 00:37:13.881
With the people of israel that he asks that
00:37:13.881 --> 00:37:16.617
He be allowed to settle the sacred burial place
00:37:16.617 --> 00:37:20.288
In canaan known as hebron.
00:37:20.288 --> 00:37:23.858
The bible also tells us, as we have read,
00:37:23.858 --> 00:37:26.227
That in hebron there were many
00:37:26.227 --> 00:37:28.529
Who were called the anakim.
00:37:28.529 --> 00:37:30.831
And i don't wanna get into a lot of detail about that,
00:37:30.831 --> 00:37:33.301
But the anakim were the sons of anak,
00:37:33.301 --> 00:37:35.403
And i'm sure that helps you a lot.
00:37:35.403 --> 00:37:37.538
But the bible tells us that they were giants.
00:37:37.538 --> 00:37:41.075
They were kind of superhuman individuals.
00:37:41.075 --> 00:37:44.879
Bigger, stronger, more valiant, frightening, to be exact.
00:37:44.879 --> 00:37:50.484
And that's the reason why when the spies
00:37:50.484 --> 00:37:52.286
Went into the land and they saw the anakim,
00:37:52.286 --> 00:37:54.789
They said, "in comparison to them,
00:37:54.789 --> 00:37:56.357
We're just like grasshoppers."
00:37:56.357 --> 00:37:58.492
The anakim were consolidated in hebron.
00:37:58.492 --> 00:38:03.998
So, it's not amusing, but it is interesting
00:38:03.998 --> 00:38:06.867
That up to this point, nobody had volunteered
00:38:06.867 --> 00:38:09.203
For that mountain.
00:38:09.203 --> 00:38:11.238
It was still available when caleb came.
00:38:11.238 --> 00:38:13.341
It was still on the list of to-be-developed.
00:38:13.341 --> 00:38:17.311
And caleb walked up and he said, "i want hebron,
00:38:17.311 --> 00:38:20.614
And if god will help me, i'll go there
00:38:20.614 --> 00:38:23.984
And we'll take those giants out and we'll claim
00:38:23.984 --> 00:38:26.287
The land of god."
00:38:26.287 --> 00:38:29.090
You see, here is this 85-year-old man.
00:38:29.090 --> 00:38:33.160
When he gets a chance to choose the place
00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:34.895
Where he wants to serve, he settles
00:38:34.895 --> 00:38:36.597
For the hardest assignment there is.
00:38:36.597 --> 00:38:39.400
Isn't it interesting that nobody had taken that land,
00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:41.836
Nobody had volunteered, but caleb at the age of 85
00:38:41.836 --> 00:38:45.139
Says, "i want that mountain as my inheritance,
00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:48.509
And i will go there, and i will subdue the giants
00:38:48.509 --> 00:38:51.545
In the land of hebron."
00:38:51.545 --> 00:38:53.948
He did not use his gray hair to beg off
00:38:53.948 --> 00:38:56.851
From the heavy lifting.
00:38:56.851 --> 00:38:59.353
He asked for a worthy challenge because he had the wisdom
00:38:59.353 --> 00:39:02.123
To know that with powerful quest
00:39:02.123 --> 00:39:04.925
Comes powerful reward.
00:39:04.925 --> 00:39:07.695
If you knock down a giant, you become one yourself.
00:39:07.695 --> 00:39:12.900
And at age 85, caleb still had a vision for the future.
00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:19.440
When you begin to lose that vision,
00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:21.308
You're already starting the process of dying.
00:39:21.308 --> 00:39:24.178
And there's so many people that allow that to happen.
00:39:24.178 --> 00:39:26.213
And all of us have to fight off the urge to let that happen
00:39:26.213 --> 00:39:29.183
As we get older.
00:39:29.183 --> 00:39:32.219
If you've already started that process,
00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:34.088
It's a little bit like a bit of poetry i read
00:39:34.088 --> 00:39:35.956
Not long ago.
00:39:35.956 --> 00:39:37.291
It goes like this.
00:39:37.291 --> 00:39:39.126
"since i have retired from life's competition,
00:39:39.126 --> 00:39:42.663
Each day is filled with complete repetition.
00:39:42.663 --> 00:39:45.833
I get up every morning and dust off my wits,
00:39:45.833 --> 00:39:48.803
Go pick up the paper, and read the old bits.
00:39:48.803 --> 00:39:51.739
If my name isn't there, i know i'm not dead,
00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:54.041
So i get a good breakfast and go back to bed."
00:39:54.041 --> 00:39:55.810
That's the way some people end up their lives.
00:39:55.810 --> 00:40:01.482
Not so caleb. i'm grateful for caleb.
00:40:01.482 --> 00:40:05.219
He spent his life trying to win and not trying not to lose.
00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:08.956
Because of that, he accomplished the greatest thing
00:40:08.956 --> 00:40:11.859
In his whole life when he was 85 years of age.
00:40:11.859 --> 00:40:18.132
And then thirdly, caleb was a man
00:40:18.132 --> 00:40:20.668
Who was energized by his assignment.
00:40:20.668 --> 00:40:23.838
When you go through the record of what happened
00:40:23.838 --> 00:40:25.573
In the settling of the land, it's interesting to note
00:40:25.573 --> 00:40:28.209
That none of the tribes who were assigned the land did
00:40:28.209 --> 00:40:31.479
What they were supposed to do.
00:40:31.479 --> 00:40:33.481
Remember what they were told to do?
00:40:33.481 --> 00:40:35.115
To go in and drive out the inhabitants.
00:40:35.115 --> 00:40:37.551
I've just chosen some selective report cards
00:40:37.551 --> 00:40:40.321
On these people and what they did.
00:40:40.321 --> 00:40:43.457
Here's what the scripture says in verse 13 of joshua 13.
00:40:43.457 --> 00:40:47.127
"nevertheless the children of israel
00:40:47.127 --> 00:40:48.863
Did not drive out the geshurites or the maachathites
00:40:48.863 --> 00:40:53.467
But the geshurites and the maachathites
00:40:53.467 --> 00:40:55.336
Dwell among the israelites until this day."
00:40:55.336 --> 00:40:58.973
Joshua 15, "as for the jebusites,
00:40:58.973 --> 00:41:01.575
The inhabitants of jerusalem, the children of judah
00:41:01.575 --> 00:41:04.445
Could not drive them out."
00:41:04.445 --> 00:41:06.914
Joshua 16:10, "and they did not drive out the canaanites
00:41:06.914 --> 00:41:11.685
Who dwelt in gezer; but the canaanites
00:41:11.685 --> 00:41:14.255
Dwell among the ephraimites to this day
00:41:14.255 --> 00:41:16.524
And have become forced laborers."
00:41:16.524 --> 00:41:19.426
After the glorious crossing of the jordan river,
00:41:19.426 --> 00:41:22.429
The israelites left unfinished business
00:41:22.429 --> 00:41:25.666
In their wake.
00:41:25.666 --> 00:41:27.401
They were obviously trying not to lose.
00:41:27.401 --> 00:41:30.237
If they had done what they were told to do
00:41:30.237 --> 00:41:32.039
And tried to win, they would have driven out
00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:34.008
The various tribes who were the enemies of god,
00:41:34.008 --> 00:41:36.343
And their future would have been peaceful
00:41:36.343 --> 00:41:37.878
And secure in the land.
00:41:37.878 --> 00:41:39.213
Instead, the canaanites remained a thorn
00:41:39.213 --> 00:41:41.549
In israel's collective side for all the years to come.
00:41:41.549 --> 00:41:46.086
Then there was caleb.
00:41:46.086 --> 00:41:47.855
Oh, he refused to let the losing mentality
00:41:47.855 --> 00:41:51.225
Of his younger and stronger brothers
00:41:51.225 --> 00:41:52.993
Affect him.
00:41:52.993 --> 00:41:54.528
He was a winner clear through the heart,
00:41:54.528 --> 00:41:56.664
Even though he was the oldest of the tribe.
00:41:56.664 --> 00:42:00.100
Here's what joshua tells us about caleb in chapter 15
00:42:00.100 --> 00:42:03.604
And verse 14.
00:42:03.604 --> 00:42:05.105
"caleb drove out the three sons of anak from there;
00:42:05.105 --> 00:42:09.843
Sheshai, ahiman, and talmai, the children of anak."
00:42:09.843 --> 00:42:15.049
No unfinished business with caleb.
00:42:15.049 --> 00:42:17.952
He took the hardest assignment, the scariest place to settle,
00:42:17.952 --> 00:42:22.423
And he went in and he didn't settle
00:42:22.423 --> 00:42:24.491
For anything but absolute victory.
00:42:24.491 --> 00:42:27.962
He was a different sort of guy.
00:42:27.962 --> 00:42:30.965
And you can't help but ask yourself
00:42:30.965 --> 00:42:33.334
As you read this story, at least i do,
00:42:33.334 --> 00:42:35.636
What made him that way?
00:42:35.636 --> 00:42:37.605
Why was caleb so different?
00:42:37.605 --> 00:42:40.107
Do you ever do that when you see people
00:42:40.107 --> 00:42:41.442
That succeed?
00:42:41.442 --> 00:42:42.776
You know, everybody does this.
00:42:42.776 --> 00:42:44.111
You read a book about somebody who succeeds,
00:42:44.111 --> 00:42:45.946
Not necessarily to read about their success,
00:42:45.946 --> 00:42:48.082
But to see if you can figure out why they succeeded.
00:42:48.082 --> 00:42:50.284
Maybe they will show you something that you can do
00:42:50.284 --> 00:42:52.820
That they're doing and you can learn.
00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:55.556
We learn from successful people, from people
00:42:55.556 --> 00:42:57.591
Who do what they do well.
00:42:57.591 --> 00:42:58.926
I'll be frank, i read everything i can
00:42:58.926 --> 00:43:00.894
About preachers who are good preachers
00:43:00.894 --> 00:43:02.429
So i can learn how to be a better one.
00:43:02.429 --> 00:43:04.732
And we wanna learn about caleb.
00:43:04.732 --> 00:43:06.734
Why was he so successful?
00:43:06.734 --> 00:43:08.235
And i wanna tell you, we don't have to be in doubt.
00:43:08.235 --> 00:43:10.437
Here's an amazing statistic.
00:43:10.437 --> 00:43:13.340
Thirty verses about caleb's life,
00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:16.276
And in those thirty verses are six expressions
00:43:16.276 --> 00:43:21.048
As to why he was successful.
00:43:21.048 --> 00:43:24.551
Now, again, we're back to this repetition thing.
00:43:24.551 --> 00:43:27.888
If god wants us to know something,
00:43:27.888 --> 00:43:30.557
He'll say it once.
00:43:30.557 --> 00:43:31.892
If he really wants us to say it and understand it,
00:43:31.892 --> 00:43:33.794
He'll say it twice.
00:43:33.794 --> 00:43:35.129
If he says it six times, you better take note.
00:43:35.129 --> 00:43:39.333
So, i'm gonna give you his secret.
00:43:39.333 --> 00:43:41.635
And it starts in chapter 14 of numbers in 24 verse.
00:43:41.635 --> 00:43:47.941
"but my servant caleb, because he has
00:43:47.941 --> 00:43:50.377
A different spirit in him," we all know that,
00:43:50.377 --> 00:43:52.746
His spirit was different.
00:43:52.746 --> 00:43:54.081
He was different from all these other dudes.
00:43:54.081 --> 00:43:56.383
He wasn't gonna take settling for not losing.
00:43:56.383 --> 00:43:59.386
He wanted to win. he was gonna do everything.
00:43:59.386 --> 00:44:01.555
He had a different spirit in him.
00:44:01.555 --> 00:44:03.123
Now, we're told what that spirit was.
00:44:03.123 --> 00:44:05.125
"and he followed me fully."
00:44:05.125 --> 00:44:08.595
That's what the lord said.
00:44:08.595 --> 00:44:10.497
In the 32nd chapter of numbers, we read it again,
00:44:10.497 --> 00:44:14.802
"and joshua the son of nun and caleb the son of jephunneh
00:44:14.802 --> 00:44:18.806
Wholly followed the lord."
00:44:18.806 --> 00:44:23.177
We read it again in deuteronomy chapter 1,
00:44:23.177 --> 00:44:25.579
"the lord ... was angry, and took an oath, saying,
00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:28.082
'surely not one of these men of this evil generation
00:44:28.082 --> 00:44:30.718
Shall see the good land of which i swore
00:44:30.718 --> 00:44:33.520
To give your fathers, except for caleb
00:44:33.520 --> 00:44:36.323
The son of jephunneh; he shall see it,
00:44:36.323 --> 00:44:38.759
And to him and his children i am giving the land
00:44:38.759 --> 00:44:41.161
On which he walked because he wholly followed
00:44:41.161 --> 00:44:45.632
The lord.'"
00:44:45.632 --> 00:44:47.634
Joshua 14, verses 8 and 9, here is caleb saying,
00:44:47.634 --> 00:44:51.071
"nevertheless my brethren who went up with me
00:44:51.071 --> 00:44:53.006
Made the heart of the people melt,
00:44:53.006 --> 00:44:54.875
But i wholly followed the lord my god.
00:44:54.875 --> 00:44:58.979
So moses swore on that day, saying, 'surely the land
00:44:58.979 --> 00:45:01.849
Where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance
00:45:01.849 --> 00:45:04.351
And your children's forever, because you have wholly followed
00:45:04.351 --> 00:45:08.422
The lord my god.'"
00:45:08.422 --> 00:45:10.524
In joshua 14:14, "hebron therefore
00:45:10.524 --> 00:45:13.160
Became the inheritance of caleb the son of jephunneh,
00:45:13.160 --> 00:45:16.630
The kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed
00:45:16.630 --> 00:45:22.770
The lord god of israel."
00:45:22.770 --> 00:45:25.572
Now, what do you think about all that?
00:45:25.572 --> 00:45:27.207
What was his secret?
00:45:27.207 --> 00:45:29.109
Man, if you don't get that, i'm quitting.
00:45:29.109 --> 00:45:33.347
"he wholly followed the lord his god."
00:45:33.347 --> 00:45:36.884
Not half-heartedly, not almost, not trying not to lose.
00:45:36.884 --> 00:45:41.488
He left nothing on the table, but he said, "lord god,
00:45:41.488 --> 00:45:44.892
Whatever you want me to do, i'll do it.
00:45:44.892 --> 00:45:46.460
I'm in, all in, 100% in.
00:45:46.460 --> 00:45:49.797
I'm gonna do this with everything i have."
00:45:49.797 --> 00:45:52.099
Wholly follow the lord my god.
00:45:52.099 --> 00:45:54.468
Have you ever thought what might happen in your life
00:45:54.468 --> 00:45:58.071
If you were able to say, "to the best of my ability,
00:45:58.071 --> 00:46:01.842
I wholly followed the lord my god?"
00:46:01.842 --> 00:46:06.446
Caleb's passion breaks through so we can't miss it.
00:46:06.446 --> 00:46:09.983
He had a different spirit.
00:46:09.983 --> 00:46:11.785
He followed god with all of his heart.
00:46:11.785 --> 00:46:14.354
By the time he was 85, all most of his generation
00:46:14.354 --> 00:46:16.990
Had given up hope and died.
00:46:16.990 --> 00:46:18.992
Caleb still had a bright fire burning in his heart.
00:46:18.992 --> 00:46:21.862
He still wanted to leap on the greatest possible task
00:46:21.862 --> 00:46:24.364
That god could give him.
00:46:24.364 --> 00:46:26.099
And as we reflect on the principles
00:46:26.099 --> 00:46:27.968
Of winning and losing, i wanna tell you
00:46:27.968 --> 00:46:31.071
A shadow mountain story, and hopefully
00:46:31.071 --> 00:46:34.107
It will make the point that this message
00:46:34.107 --> 00:46:36.310
Was intended to make.
00:46:36.310 --> 00:46:38.445
It was the early '90s.
00:46:38.445 --> 00:46:40.147
I had been the pastor of this church
00:46:40.147 --> 00:46:41.582
For about ten years.
00:46:41.582 --> 00:46:43.517
Almost eight years of that had been struggling
00:46:43.517 --> 00:46:46.320
To try to build this building.
00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:48.121
For eight years we struggled.
00:46:48.121 --> 00:46:50.190
We finally had the building up, and it was just a few months,
00:46:50.190 --> 00:46:53.660
And we were gonna be moving in to our new worship center.
00:46:53.660 --> 00:46:58.298
We knew we were about to experience
00:46:58.298 --> 00:47:00.167
Dramatic growth.
00:47:00.167 --> 00:47:01.501
And the fact is, in the first two years
00:47:01.501 --> 00:47:03.136
That we were in this worship center,
00:47:03.136 --> 00:47:05.005
We tripled in growth.
00:47:05.005 --> 00:47:06.373
One of the issues that we were discussing at that time
00:47:06.373 --> 00:47:08.508
Had to do with how we gave our offerings
00:47:08.508 --> 00:47:11.612
To the lord through our church.
00:47:11.612 --> 00:47:13.614
For many years prior to my coming
00:47:13.614 --> 00:47:14.948
To shadow mountain
00:47:14.948 --> 00:47:16.283
And for all of the years up to this point
00:47:16.283 --> 00:47:18.051
In our history, the people of the church
00:47:18.051 --> 00:47:20.254
Had used what we called a two-line envelope.
00:47:20.254 --> 00:47:24.825
One line gave them the opportunity
00:47:24.825 --> 00:47:26.627
To direct their gifts toward the general budget,
00:47:26.627 --> 00:47:29.529
And the other line was for missions giving.
00:47:29.529 --> 00:47:33.000
The pattern was usually like this,
00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:34.735
When someone came to the church,
00:47:34.735 --> 00:47:36.069
They would give all their money to the general budget
00:47:36.069 --> 00:47:37.938
For a while until they were educated
00:47:37.938 --> 00:47:39.473
About missions.
00:47:39.473 --> 00:47:40.807
Maybe we would have a missions's conference
00:47:40.807 --> 00:47:42.276
Or a mission speaker.
00:47:42.276 --> 00:47:43.677
And then little by little they would get energized
00:47:43.677 --> 00:47:45.712
About missions and they would begin
00:47:45.712 --> 00:47:47.047
To split up their offerings, some for the general
00:47:47.047 --> 00:47:49.316
And some for missions.
00:47:49.316 --> 00:47:50.651
When we started to think about having three times,
00:47:50.651 --> 00:47:53.820
At that time we thought maybe twice,
00:47:53.820 --> 00:47:55.389
Two times as many people, what we knew was
00:47:55.389 --> 00:47:58.525
If we didn't do something different,
00:47:58.525 --> 00:47:59.993
Missions was gonna be left in the dust.
00:47:59.993 --> 00:48:02.562
We wouldn't be able to maintain what we were doing.
00:48:02.562 --> 00:48:04.965
Now, we didn't have the mentality at that time
00:48:04.965 --> 00:48:07.401
That just leaving it the same was okay.
00:48:07.401 --> 00:48:10.370
Our concern as we anticipated the growth of the church was,
00:48:10.370 --> 00:48:13.807
What would happen to the missions program?
00:48:13.807 --> 00:48:16.910
And so, we began to have long discussions
00:48:16.910 --> 00:48:19.646
About that.
00:48:19.646 --> 00:48:21.281
And in a meeting that i will never forget,
00:48:21.281 --> 00:48:25.285
We began talking about giving a percentage
00:48:25.285 --> 00:48:27.454
Of our giving to missions.
00:48:27.454 --> 00:48:31.091
Someone suggested that if we gave 5% of our giving,
00:48:31.091 --> 00:48:34.494
We would not lose much in missions going forward,
00:48:34.494 --> 00:48:37.331
Trying not to lose.
00:48:37.331 --> 00:48:39.166
Another suggested that if we ask our people
00:48:39.166 --> 00:48:41.201
To tithe to the church, maybe the church
00:48:41.201 --> 00:48:42.970
Should tithe to missions.
00:48:42.970 --> 00:48:45.005
The room got very quiet.
00:48:45.005 --> 00:48:47.674
You mean, take 10% of our offerings
00:48:47.674 --> 00:48:51.645
And give all of that to ministries
00:48:51.645 --> 00:48:53.180
Outside our four walls?
00:48:53.180 --> 00:48:55.315
Up to this point in our discussion,
00:48:55.315 --> 00:48:56.750
We were all trying to figure out a way to keep from losing.
00:48:56.750 --> 00:49:00.687
Our missions's giving was what it was.
00:49:00.687 --> 00:49:03.090
We wanted to make sure that it stayed what it was
00:49:03.090 --> 00:49:05.459
And we didn't wanna lose what it was.
00:49:05.459 --> 00:49:08.762
And then i heard myself say something
00:49:08.762 --> 00:49:11.465
That i don't remember being motivated to say,
00:49:11.465 --> 00:49:13.533
It just popped out.
00:49:13.533 --> 00:49:15.402
"what do you think god would do for us
00:49:15.402 --> 00:49:17.437
If we gave 20% of our giving to missions going forward?"
00:49:17.437 --> 00:49:22.109
Now, this was a long time ago and i don't remember
00:49:22.109 --> 00:49:24.444
Everything that happened at that time,
00:49:24.444 --> 00:49:25.946
But i do remember how quiet it got
00:49:25.946 --> 00:49:28.949
And how long it stayed quiet.
00:49:28.949 --> 00:49:33.086
And then a man by the name of ralph radford spoke up.
00:49:33.086 --> 00:49:39.393
Ralph radford's one of the great patriarchs
00:49:39.393 --> 00:49:43.130
Of scott memorial baptist church
00:49:43.130 --> 00:49:45.532
And shadow mountain community church.
00:49:45.532 --> 00:49:47.167
And i'm sorry that those of you who are new in this church
00:49:47.167 --> 00:49:49.436
Never got to know him.
00:49:49.436 --> 00:49:51.071
He was the chairman of the pulpit committee
00:49:51.071 --> 00:49:53.273
That brought me here.
00:49:53.273 --> 00:49:54.608
He was my friend.
00:49:54.608 --> 00:49:56.243
He was the man who came to me one day,
00:49:56.243 --> 00:49:57.611
And we were building this building,
00:49:57.611 --> 00:49:58.945
And we were only gonna build the center part of it,
00:49:58.945 --> 00:50:00.547
Like up to this.
00:50:00.547 --> 00:50:02.082
He said, "dr. jeremiah, you're making a huge mistake."
00:50:02.082 --> 00:50:05.052
You know, a lot of people have told me that,
00:50:05.052 --> 00:50:07.087
But not anyone like that, who i respected so much.
00:50:07.087 --> 00:50:11.024
He said, "we need to build the sides
00:50:11.024 --> 00:50:12.993
Or we're gonna be in trouble."
00:50:12.993 --> 00:50:14.327
I said, "ralph, we don't have enough money."
00:50:14.327 --> 00:50:15.729
He says, "well, let's pray. let's ask god for it.
00:50:15.729 --> 00:50:17.397
Let's tell the people about it, and we have two weeks."
00:50:17.397 --> 00:50:22.936
And we took-- in two weeks we took
00:50:22.936 --> 00:50:24.271
Another million dollars worth of pledges
00:50:24.271 --> 00:50:25.772
And we built this building.
00:50:25.772 --> 00:50:27.107
What would we have been if we hadn't--
00:50:27.107 --> 00:50:28.442
Ralph radford was the voice in all of that.
00:50:28.442 --> 00:50:31.478
Now, i'll never forget when he said in that meeting.
00:50:31.478 --> 00:50:36.283
He said, "this is something that's god-sized.
00:50:36.283 --> 00:50:41.088
Let's do this."
00:50:41.088 --> 00:50:42.789
And he encouraged us to take the challenge.
00:50:42.789 --> 00:50:44.825
He predicted that god would bless us
00:50:44.825 --> 00:50:46.593
If we did it.
00:50:46.593 --> 00:50:48.061
Someone reminded us in that meeting
00:50:48.061 --> 00:50:49.496
That missions was the closest thing
00:50:49.496 --> 00:50:51.164
To the heart of god in the bible
00:50:51.164 --> 00:50:53.233
And that god had sent his own son into this world
00:50:53.233 --> 00:50:56.203
To be the very first missionary of all missionaries.
00:50:56.203 --> 00:51:00.107
Long story short, we made that decision
00:51:00.107 --> 00:51:03.143
And we've carried it out without interruption
00:51:03.143 --> 00:51:05.612
From that day until now.
00:51:05.612 --> 00:51:07.814
And now, we have a chance to look back over our shoulders
00:51:07.814 --> 00:51:11.952
And see what's happened because of that
00:51:11.952 --> 00:51:14.955
Trying-to-win decision.
00:51:14.955 --> 00:51:17.257
Up until that time, every year we were struggling
00:51:17.257 --> 00:51:20.193
With our general budget.
00:51:20.193 --> 00:51:22.062
We couldn't make budget. we would try.
00:51:22.062 --> 00:51:24.197
We'd have to have meetings and make cuts.
00:51:24.197 --> 00:51:29.002
I need to tell you something that's truly amazing.
00:51:29.002 --> 00:51:31.705
After we made this decision and we gave 20% of our income
00:51:31.705 --> 00:51:34.774
To missions, every year since then
00:51:34.774 --> 00:51:37.744
We have never had a year when the church gave less
00:51:37.744 --> 00:51:40.046
Than it gave the year before.
00:51:40.046 --> 00:51:42.382
Even during the depression of 2008,
00:51:42.382 --> 00:51:46.019
Many years from that time until this,
00:51:46.019 --> 00:51:48.855
The increase in giving from one year to the next
00:51:48.855 --> 00:51:50.824
Has been double digit.
00:51:50.824 --> 00:51:52.926
But we have always given more in the current year
00:51:52.926 --> 00:51:57.597
Than we gave the year before.
00:51:57.597 --> 00:52:00.033
It is a reminder to me that when we do things god's way,
00:52:00.033 --> 00:52:03.703
He always takes care of the other things
00:52:03.703 --> 00:52:06.173
That we might be prone to worry about.
00:52:06.173 --> 00:52:08.542
This church has literally experienced
00:52:08.542 --> 00:52:10.777
The tithing experience twice over.
00:52:10.777 --> 00:52:13.980
We have learned as a congregation
00:52:13.980 --> 00:52:15.682
That when we put god first and we put missions first,
00:52:15.682 --> 00:52:18.652
God will always bless what we do in the other parts of ministry.
00:52:18.652 --> 00:52:23.990
I tell you the truth, men and women,
00:52:23.990 --> 00:52:27.494
You cannot out-give god.
00:52:27.494 --> 00:52:29.362
When you put your faith in god, god will bless you.
00:52:29.362 --> 00:52:32.432
"and without faith, it's impossible to please god."
00:52:32.432 --> 00:52:36.002
What are you doing that's easy for you to do?
00:52:36.002 --> 00:52:39.139
What are you doing that's in the comfort zone?
00:52:39.139 --> 00:52:41.374
I wrote down on my notes this week,
00:52:41.374 --> 00:52:43.076
And please forgive me for mixing the metaphors again,
00:52:43.076 --> 00:52:46.213
But god doesn't want us to live in the comfort zone,
00:52:46.213 --> 00:52:48.815
He wants us to be in the end zone.
00:52:48.815 --> 00:52:52.352
You know, that's a very important principle.
00:52:52.352 --> 00:52:56.289
Here's the final point in all of this.
00:52:56.289 --> 00:52:58.992
If god would do what he has done for us as a body of believers,
00:52:58.992 --> 00:53:03.129
It's only because he's already doing it
00:53:03.129 --> 00:53:04.931
For individuals who are a part of that body.
00:53:04.931 --> 00:53:07.901
The church isn't a ubiquitous thing.
00:53:07.901 --> 00:53:10.770
The church is made up of individual believers.
00:53:10.770 --> 00:53:13.440
There is no such thing as a church without the people.
00:53:13.440 --> 00:53:16.376
So, if the church is doing what we've said it has done,
00:53:16.376 --> 00:53:19.379
Then it's because the people are doing
00:53:19.379 --> 00:53:21.281
What they are supposed to do.
00:53:21.281 --> 00:53:24.784
And it's a reminder to me that god is willing to do for anyone
00:53:24.784 --> 00:53:28.521
Who will follow him and refuse to live by fear
00:53:28.521 --> 00:53:31.658
And not try not to lose, but to try to win.
00:53:31.658 --> 00:53:35.929
The way we are living our lives now
00:53:35.929 --> 00:53:38.131
Is also a reminder to us that that's how
00:53:38.131 --> 00:53:40.667
The future will be written about us.
00:53:40.667 --> 00:53:42.736
How many of you know, decisions determine destiny?
00:53:42.736 --> 00:53:46.606
That decision made among a few people in the church
00:53:46.606 --> 00:53:49.809
That many years ago, look what it accomplished.
00:53:49.809 --> 00:53:53.146
It seemed like a scary moment.
00:53:53.146 --> 00:53:55.815
It was a moment of faith, but god took it
00:53:55.815 --> 00:53:57.917
And showed us in this looking back,
00:53:57.917 --> 00:54:00.820
Over your shoulder picture how marvelous god is.
00:54:00.820 --> 00:54:06.793
As long as our church continues to believe
00:54:06.793 --> 00:54:08.828
That god honors faith, he will continue
00:54:08.828 --> 00:54:12.532
To see his mighty hand working in our lives.
00:54:12.532 --> 00:54:17.937
So, as we begin this new year together,
00:54:17.937 --> 00:54:21.308
Let's hold each other accountable to live by faith
00:54:21.308 --> 00:54:26.212
And not to lose by fear.
00:54:26.212 --> 00:54:28.848
God has a wonderful thing he wants to do in your life
00:54:28.848 --> 00:54:31.217
And in mine and in the life of this church.
00:54:31.217 --> 00:54:33.687
And the only thing that will keep him from doing it
00:54:33.687 --> 00:54:36.056
Is our unbelief.
00:54:36.056 --> 00:54:38.191
God had a great plan for the people of israel.
00:54:38.191 --> 00:54:40.460
It was already there.
00:54:40.460 --> 00:54:41.795
He had already promised it to them.
00:54:41.795 --> 00:54:43.396
That would have, of course,
00:54:43.396 --> 00:54:44.731
Included victory over their enemies.
00:54:44.731 --> 00:54:46.566
It was there for them to take, but because of their unbelief,
00:54:46.566 --> 00:54:50.470
They never got it for four decades.
00:54:50.470 --> 00:54:53.807
I don't know about the rest of you,
00:54:53.807 --> 00:54:55.141
I want everything god has for me.
00:54:55.141 --> 00:54:58.078
I don't want it after it's too late to enjoy it
00:54:58.078 --> 00:55:01.414
Or too late to know it, i wanna accept his word
00:55:01.414 --> 00:55:05.585
At face value and most of all, like caleb,
00:55:05.585 --> 00:55:09.022
Wholly follow the lord my god.
00:55:09.022 --> 00:55:11.958
Announcer: dr. jeremiah will return
00:55:14.094 --> 00:55:15.428
To close today's program right after this.
00:55:15.428 --> 00:55:17.964
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:55:20.567 --> 00:55:22.268
Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you
00:55:22.268 --> 00:55:23.837
His new daily devotional for 2025, "living in his light."
00:55:23.837 --> 00:55:27.841
A brighter day and a better year begins by living in god's light
00:55:27.841 --> 00:55:32.178
And dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights
00:55:32.178 --> 00:55:34.214
And reflections will keep you connected
00:55:34.214 --> 00:55:36.015
To god's presence and walking in the brilliance
00:55:36.015 --> 00:55:38.251
Of his love day by day, all year long.
00:55:38.251 --> 00:55:41.388
Yours for a gift of any amount, or for a gift of $120 or more
00:55:41.388 --> 00:55:45.425
Receive four copies, perfect for gift giving.
00:55:45.425 --> 00:55:48.094
Thank you for your support of turning point.
00:55:48.094 --> 00:55:50.430
Request "living in his light" today.
00:55:50.430 --> 00:55:52.799
Announcer: and now, with one last word
00:55:55.168 --> 00:55:56.736
For today's program, here is dr. jeremiah.
00:55:56.736 --> 00:55:59.606
Dr. jeremiah: the israelites had the land of god
00:56:00.640 --> 00:56:02.976
Promised to them.
00:56:02.976 --> 00:56:04.577
It was theirs for the taking if they would only trust him.
00:56:04.577 --> 00:56:08.348
In the same way, the coming year is stretched out before you.
00:56:08.348 --> 00:56:13.319
At the end of this year, you will either look back
00:56:13.319 --> 00:56:15.822
With regret or you will that back with joy
00:56:15.822 --> 00:56:18.324
And satisfaction that you did all you could to win.
00:56:18.324 --> 00:56:22.896
I want you to be able to look back with joy.
00:56:22.896 --> 00:56:25.598
That's why i have two free gifts i'd like to give you.
00:56:25.598 --> 00:56:29.269
"your greatest turning point" is a booklet that
00:56:29.269 --> 00:56:31.037
Shows you how you can be part of god's team
00:56:31.037 --> 00:56:34.607
By experiencing salvation through jesus christ.
00:56:34.607 --> 00:56:37.710
"turning points," our monthly devotional magazine,
00:56:37.710 --> 00:56:40.914
Helps you practice your faith each day,
00:56:40.914 --> 00:56:43.716
Just like an athlete practices his sport.
00:56:43.716 --> 00:56:46.986
Both are yours, completely free, when you contact us
00:56:46.986 --> 00:56:51.224
Here at turning point today.
00:56:51.224 --> 00:56:53.726
Announcer: next time on "turning point."
00:56:55.595 --> 00:56:58.364
Dr. jeremiah: moses has outlived voltaire,
00:56:58.431 --> 00:57:01.301
Isaiah has outlasted ingersoll, the apostles have outsmarted
00:57:01.301 --> 00:57:05.738
The agnostics, and the prophets
00:57:05.738 --> 00:57:07.841
Have overpowered the professors.
00:57:07.841 --> 00:57:10.276
And the bible still stands as god's wonderful message
00:57:10.276 --> 00:57:14.247
To man.
00:57:14.247 --> 00:57:16.349
Announcer: join dr. jeremiah next time for a special message
00:57:19.752 --> 00:57:22.388
From madison square garden in new york city,
00:57:22.388 --> 00:57:25.658
Here on "turning point."
00:57:25.658 --> 00:57:27.927

David Jeremiah - Trying Not to Lose

January 11, 2025 | S25:E2

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