Being An Example Others Can Follow

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Being An Example Others Can Follow</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id172.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pursuing Gods Challenges For Us"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id173.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Battle With Complacency"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Joshua 14, Being an Example Others Can Follow, Berean BC, February 11, 2001pm</B></div> <bR> <div>      In Boston during the 1990's, the city’s Transportation Commissioner was released from his post after only 8 days on the job. It had been discovered that he had several traffic violations on his record, including one for blocking a handicapped ramp during his job interview to become the Transportation Commissioner! He was released because he was not setting a good example, considering the responsibility he had. Our world desperately needs good examples to show people what godly living means. Israel had a good example in Caleb. Caleb was a hero to Israel. What Caleb was as an individual was what Israel was supposed to be as a whole. He was a model of what it means to “follow the Lord wholeheartedly.” He did not have divided affections or loyalties. He was an example because his heart was completely given over to God’s control. If you want to be a good example, follow the Lord wholeheartedly.</div> <bR> <div> <U>3 traits</U> of the wholehearted follower of the Lord:</div> <div> <B>1.  Be a person of conviction (vss. 6-8).</B></div> <div> <B>     </B>Caleb spoke up for what was right, even under pressure. In Numbers 13.27-30, when the other spies said that they could not take the Promised Land, Caleb “silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (vs. 30). In Joshua 14.6, Caleb said what was in his heart and on his conscience.  He spoke up for and acted upon what he believed to be true, regardless of what everyone else did.</div> <div>      Resolve to do what is right – regardless of opposition or difficulty. Don’t follow the crowd. Don’t merely do what comes most easy or naturally – do what is right. It might involve sharing your faith or reaching out to the needy of your community. It involves speaking out against societies sins, like abortion. It demands telling the truth. It requires obeying God in your struggle with a particular sin. The church needs people of conviction — if they are not found in the church, where will they be found?</div> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Be a person of confidence (vss. 9-12).</B></div> <div>      Caleb believed the promise Moses made to him 45 years earlier (quoted in Deut 1.35-36: “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. <I>He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on</I>, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”</div> <div>      In Joshua 14.12, it is the same report as it was in Numbers 13: there were giants in the way. But Caleb had a different attitude than everyone else. They looked at the same evidence, but came to a different conclusion, because God was in the picture for Caleb (Num 14.6-9). And the giants that the previous generation thought they couldn’t handle, Caleb, even in his old age, took care of them, because he trusted God.</div> <div>      This was a more difficult task than was really necessary for him to tackle, at the age of 85. Don’t take the easy way out; don’t be content with accomplishing “just a little” in your life and ministry. Set an example by dreaming big dreams, aiming high, and accepting the challenge. Note that in verse 15, Caleb took the city of the one who used to be called the greatest of them all! Caleb was the real hero.</div> <div>      A wholehearted follower of God follows even when things are difficult, because his confidence is in God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>3.  Be a person of commitment (vss. 13-15).</B></div> <div>      There is a simple statement that Caleb accomplished what he set to do (vs. 14). He was a man of action, and he went after the promise. He wasn’t just going to talk about it – he went and did it. What do you have left undone that you know you should finish? Have you given up midstream? Maybe there is a neighbor you have been meaning to share the gospel with. Is there a younger person you have been thinking about mentoring? Maybe you have put off dealing with a personally harmful, sinful habit. The time has come to carry on.</div> <bR> <div>      Being a wholehearted follower of Christ means that you are a person of conviction, a person of confidence, and a person of commitment. Set the example for others to follow by being a wholehearted follower of Christ.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>