Setting:
·
The Promised Land is
occupied by Israel.
·
Joshua is dividing
the land by tribal inheritance.
·
In 14:7-12
Caleb ask Joshua for the inheritance promised him by Moses.
·
Caleb is now 85 years old.
TEXT: Joshua 15:13-19
In Joshua 15 Hebron is inhabited by the giants of
Anak (v 13). Names in the Bible are important.
· Anak = neck
chain, bondage
·
Caleb = loyal, whole hearted.
In this passage we find God’s provision for “The
three greatest battles of the Christian life!” The battle for…
·
Fellowship with God (v
13-14): There are 3 giants that seek to destroy your fellowship with God
(The world, The flesh, The devil). Anak = bondage; Hebron = fellowship. 1An historic Burial site. Tradition
says Adam, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob were all buried here. 2Also the site of reunion of
Jacob & Esau after 20 years of a broken family relationship.
·
The Word of God (v
15-16): Debir = inspired Word;
Kirjathsepher
= city of the book. The city of the inspired book had fallen
into enemy hands.
·
Our Identity in Christ (v
16): Achsah =
ankle bracelet. She becomes the bride of Othniel (the lion of God from the tribe of Judah). Achsah is characterized
by her beautiful walk. She represents
the bride of Christ!
Achsah “asked her father for a field” (v 18).
·
We need to take notice of how this request took
place…
·
We need to do as Achsah; we need to ask our Father
for a field!
·
If we are to find our place in the Lord’s
harvest it will mean learning how to “Pray For A Field!”
This will require 1Spiritual Preparation, 2Specific Petition & 3Sufficiency
of Power.
1. SPIRITUAL
PREPARATION (v 18). “It
came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a
field: and she lighted off her donkey; and Caleb said unto her, What
wouldest thou?”
·
Right Relationship: “She came unto him” (Othniel). What is your relationship
with Christ? Are you in submission to His Lordship?
·
Appropriate Appeal: “She moved him to ask of her father a field.”
- We
need to learn to go to God on the basis of who Christ is.
- We,
in and of ourselves, have no standing before God. It is only through Christ
that we may approach the Father.
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
· Agreeable
Attitude: “She lighted off her donkey.”
- Notice
the submissive attitude and praying posture!
-
The bride gets off her high position and
submitting to her husband.
-
It’s time to get off our high position and
submit ourselves to Christ!
-
Our service to God is inseparably connected to
our submissive relationship to Him.
- Your
relationship to God is evidenced by your willingness to do God’s will through
the local church where He has placed you!
2. SPECIFIC
PETITION (v 18b). Caleb said to her, “What wouldest thou?”
· Caleb’s offer was open ended; limited
only by Achsah’s faith and desire. It
is God’s nature and desire to bless us.
· Biblical
principal of prayer. James 4:2 “Ye have not, because ye
ask not.”
· What should
we Pray
for? How about…
-
Spiritual growth. Philippians 1:9 “This I pray, that your love may abound yet
more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.”
- An
open door. Colossians 4:3-4 “Pray for us, that God would open unto us a
door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ.”
- God’s
protection. 2 Thess 3:2 “Pray
that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not
faith.”
- Mission
Personnel. Luke 10:2 “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye
therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his
harvest.”
·
Achsah’s Petition (v 19a). “Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a
south land; give me also springs of water.”
She is saying,
“Father, you gave me a south land (a dry
place) please make it fruitful by supplying springs of water.”
John
7:37-38 “Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth
on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water.”
3.
SUFFICIENCY OF POWER (v 19b). “He gave her the upper springs, and the
nether springs.”
· God loves
you! I married my daughter off to a man I
hardly know, but I’d cross Mountains and miles to do what I can to help her
still!
· God can
and does change lives.
· God wants
you to experience more than a normal life.
· God’s
nature is to bless.
· It’s
OK to ask God to bless you! Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us.”
CONCLUSION: Are you willing to ask God for a
field?
