I Want That Mountain

A lot of Christians today are not enjoying the life that God intended. Even though, they are saved, it seems their lives are lost, no joy, no victory, no peace. They are not on the mountain top.

There is a mountain for you and when you leave this service tonight, I want you to say and claim “I want that Mountain” that God has for me.

Too many people are busy making a living, but wasting their lives, just going through the motions of living.

They have unsatisfied lives, because they haven't surrendered their will to Him. They do not know God’s plan for their lives.

Now as Israel prepared to go into the land of promise, Caleb picked out the hardest mountain to claim, Mt. Hebron.

a. Mt. Hebron was occupied by great giants.

b. Caleb said, “I want that mountain.” “I want the hardest place of all.” “I claim it.” “God said it was mine.”

c. Some say, I am too old, too feeble, but God made us a promise.

d. I don’t care how many giants are in the land, I want that mountain, it belongs to me!

Now what does this tell us for today? What relationship does this have to us?

Learn a Bible Principle.

a. These stories in the O.T. are literal stories, and are true History, but more than history.

b. God says they are pictures, examples, types, for us.

c. Israel coming out of the land of Egypt is unsaved man, delivered.

d. In the wilderness is a type of the carnal man.

e. Into Canaan is the spiritual man.

f. 1 Corinthians 10:11, happened for examples. This story tonight is given for us to learn something.

g. So, the essence of Caleb claiming the mountain, is a picture of you and I claiming our spiritual victory

I. Caleb’s Challenge

1. What a challenge this 85-year-old man had. He wanted the Mountain.

2. Number 13:22-24; a land of milk and honey, a garden of spiritual blessings we could have in Jesus.

3. Not many Christians living in the land God wants them to have.

a. Just the opposite, most Christians are in the desert enduring their Christian lives.

b. Still in the wilderness.

4. Now what did it mean to come from the wilderness to Canaan?

a. Liberty from oppression. They had been slaves.

b. Rest from wandering. They wandered for 40 years. A lot of Christians still wandering in their life.

c. Victory from hunger. Mana in the morning, noon and night. Boring Christians, preachers and teachers.

5. Caleb’s challenge. He wanted that fruitful mountain. Land of plenty, but the other side was opposition.

a. Not only sweet delight.

b. Strong defenses.

6. Number 13:26-28; Nevertheless, it is what gives Christians their problems. When they get ready to take their mountain, then comes the strong defenses.

a. Strong in numbers. A lot of them.

1) These giants represent spiritual wickedness that keeps us from possessing our mountain. Ephesians 6:10

b. Not only a lot of them, but they were big in size, they were giants.

This represents the size and power of Satan. To keep us from spiritual victory.

c. They were on the mountain top, possessing our land.

Satan will not give up without a battle. Yes, Satan is alive and well on the earth.

7. And a lot of Christians when they see the opposition want to retreat to the desert. No battles there.

a. It is impossible to take the mountain, walled cities and giants.

b. Yes, from the human standpoint, it is impossible for Caleb to take the mountain.

8. The Christian life is not a hard life to live, it is an impossible life to live.

a. What Caleb started out to do, if he had any sense, he never would have tried it, but he had faith, not sense.

9. So, there we have Caleb’s challenge on the one side and sweet delight on the other strong defenses.

a. And that is what is before each one of us tonight.

b. Oh, the victory that could be ours, but how strong and real Satan is.

II. Caleb’s Companions

1. Numbers 13:33; Caleb was sent along with 11 other men to spy out the land. Only he and Joshua came back with a good report.

2. They had a grasshopper complex.

a. In essence, “We can never take the mountain”

b. Some of you are saying the same thing. God never intended for me to have the mountain.

c. The devil has beat you up so long you are used to it, defeated you so long, you don’t know there can be victory.

d. Story of a Tom Cat, his tail had been stepped on for so long, he just stuck it out to get it over it.