Sermon
#1309[1]
Title: FOLLOW THE LORD FULLY
Text: Numbers
Subject: Consecration to Christ
Date: Sunday Morning –
Tape # X-64
Introduction:
The title of my message today is — Follow
The Lord Fully. I have only one thing that I want to show you,
one thought that I pray the Spirit of God will set in our hearts, one thing I
want us to leave here today knowing, desiring, and determined, by the grace of
God, to set our hearts upon...
Proposition: It
is a blessed thing to follow the Lord fully!
I am
calling for consecration to Christ, his Church, his Kingdom, his cause, and his
gospel in this world.
The Lord
God declared to Moses that he would destroy all of Israel in the wilderness
because of their unbelief, except for Joshua and Caleb. He spent forty years
fulfilling his word. But at the end of forty years of wandering in the
wilderness, the only two people who left
When God told Moses how he
would deal with the nation of evil-doers, one man stood out above all the rest
as an example of faith, commitment, and consecration. Read what God says about
that man in Numbers 14:24. – “But my servant Caleb, because he had
another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the
land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess
it!”
The name
Caleb, I am told, has two meanings, First, it means “a dog.” Though commonly, when a
man is referred to as a dog it is a great offense, that
is not the case here. A dog has one admirable feature, one virtue that no other
animal possesses. A dog always
follows his master. He is the most loyal, faithful animal on the earth.
In that sense Caleb was indeed a dog, a loyal, faithful dog. He followed his
Master from the day that he left
The name
Caleb also means “all heart.” What a name for a man! But
it perfectly suited this man. Caleb was all heart. There was nothing
half-hearted, lukewarm, or insincere about him. Caleb was all heart. I have
known many who had a head to understand, but no heart, a hand to work, but no
heart, and feet to go, but no heart. Not Caleb! His head was clear. But he was
all heart. His hands were strong. And his feet were both steady and ready. But
he was all heart. Whatsoever he did, in word or in deed, he did with all his
heart!
Caleb means “a dog.” And Caleb means “all
heart.”
Put the two together and you have the character of this man. He was faithful to
his Master in all things, following the Lord fully with all his heart.
I. What made Caleb the man he was?
There were millions in
The Lord tells us plainly – “He had another spirit.” That which distinguished Caleb from all
the millions around him was the fact that God had put his Spirit within him. He
had been made a new creature in Christ (Ezek. 36:24-30).
Ezekiel
36:24-30 "For I will take you from
among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into
your own land. (25) Then will I
sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (26) A new heart also will I
give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an
heart of flesh. (27) And I will put
my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep
my judgments, and do them. (28) And ye shall dwell in the land
that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (29) I will also save you from all your
uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no
famine upon you. (30) And I will
multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall
receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen."
This is
where we must begin. If you and I would follow the Lord fully, if we would be truly
consecrated to the Son of God, we must be given a new heart, a new spirit, a
new nature. That new heart can be
found only at the feet of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, where the Spirit
of God works through the bleeding wounds of the crucified Savior (Zech.
12:10).
Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and
of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they
shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his
only son, and shall be in
bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
Come to
Christ.
Fall before the crucified Son of God as a guilty sinner. Confess your sin. Sue
for mercy. Lay hold upon the Son of God like Jacob of old. Do not let him go
until he has given you his Spirit, as he promised he would (John 7:37-39; Eph.
1:13-14).
John
7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
Ephesians
1:13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy
Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the
earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his glory."
NOTE: I
know that you cannot believe unless you have the Spirit of God. Yet I know this
too, you cannot have the Spirit of Christ unless you believe!
The Spirit of life and grace is given to those who
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If we would follow the Lord fully, if we
would consecrate ourselves to Christ we must be filled with, controlled by, led
by, ruled by the Spirit of God (Eph.
Ephesians
Romans 8:1-9 "There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of sin and death. (3) For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: (4) That the righteousness of
the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be. (8) So then they that are in
the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
Caleb was the man he was “because he had another Spirit with him.” The Spirit of God made
him a new Spirit.
·
A Believing Spirit — Caleb took God at his
Word.
·
A Meek Spirit — Caleb recognized who and
what he was before God.
·
A Brave Spirit — Meek
men are always courageous men.
·
A Loving Spirit — Grace makes men and women
loving.
·
A Zealous Spirit — Consecrated and committed
to God.
·
A Heavenly Spirit — Caleb lived on earth with
his heart in heaven (Col. 3:1-3).
Colossians
3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God. (2) Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
“Because he
had another Spirit with him,” God says, “he
hath followed me fully.”
II. What does that mean? What is it to follow the Lord fully?
Caleb was neither a prophet nor a preacher! He was a
man who believed God, nor more and no less, a man who believed God and who
followed the Lord fully!
I am afraid very few of us follow the Lord fully. At
best, most of us are like Peter in the judgment hall, following the
Lord afar off. At worst, I
fear, some may be like King Saul, following the Lord conveniently. But I pray
that God will give us grace to follow our Savior fully, like Caleb did.
A. When God says that Caleb followed the Lord fully, he
means for us to understand that Caleb followed Christ universally, that he
followed the Lord in all things.
His obedience to Christ was universal. Whatever his
Master told him to do, he did. He did not pick and choose what he would do. He
followed the Lord fully. He was not willing to violate the will of God at any
point.
·
In Doctrine.
·
In Worship.
·
In Duty.
Caleb was
consecrated to God...
·
His Mind.
·
His Heart.
·
His Money.
·
His Family.
·
His Life!
Spurgeon said, “A spirit of partial
obedience is a spirit of radical disobedience.”
Illustration: The Prophet killed by the lion
at
B. Caleb followed the Lord sincerely, without hypocrisy.
This man was not a dress soldier. He was no lip
service disciple (Matt. 15:8-9).
Matthew
15:8-9 "This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
His obedience was sincere. And he proved it. One of
the surest tests of sincerity is a person’s willingness to suffer for the cause
of Christ. When the spies came back from the land, Caleb dared to speak alone
for God against the rest (Num.
There are many who follow Christ in the sunshine who will not follow him in the storm. And many will follow
him in the storm of need who will not follow him in
the sunshine of prosperity.
C. Caleb followed the Lord cheerfully.
Those who serve God with a grumbling heart do not
serve God at all. “Our God requires no slaves to grace his throne. He is the
Lord of the empire of love” (Spurgeon). That
obedience which is not cheerful obedience is disobedience, “for the Lord looketh on the heart.”
God will
not accept legal obedience. He will not receive anything that is not performed
from a willing, cheerful heart (2 Cor.
2
Corinthians
2
Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
D. And Caleb followed the Lord perseveringly to the end
of his days.
Now, I want to camp here a little while. Caleb was
forty years old when he went in to spy out the land. Apparently, he was about thirty-five years old when God first
crossed his path and revealed himself to him by the Word of Moses.
·
Moses told him of God’s deliverance.
·
Caleb saw redemption — The Passover, and experienced it.
·
Caleb passed through the
·
Caleb believed God!
Then, when he was forty years old, he spied out the
land and brought back a true report and a word of faith — “We are well able to overcome it!” For forty-five years after that he lived among an unbelieving people
who called themselves the people of God. But all that time Caleb followed the
Lord. He stayed with Moses to the end of his days. Then, he followed
Joshua, just as he had Moses.
Never once did he consort with the murmuring crowd.
Never once did he join with the rebels. Faithfulness
to God means faithfulness to his servant and to his people.
Illustration: Charlie Payne and the
customer who started to speak ill of Pennco.
When his time came to claim his heritage, at
the age of eighty-five, this grand old man, Caleb, was still following the Lord
fully!
He still had the strength of his youth, the faith of his youth, and the zeal of
his youth!
How many
there are who fail in this respect! Most people follow the Lord
in spurts. Their religion comes in spasms. They leap into the church like fish
leap into the air. And they fall back again into the world like the fish fall
again into the water. The one thing
that is required of stewards is that they be found faithful. But the one thing
lacking in these shooting stars is faithfulness! The only thing you can
depend upon with them is the fact that you cannot depend upon them! And I know
the reason. — They go out from us because they are not of us; for if they had
been of us, doubtless they would have continued with us (1 John
NOTE: I
do not mean they cease to profess to follow the Lord. I mean they cease to
follow him!
1. There are many like
2.
Many are like those in John
6. —
They follow the Lord for a time. They are called his disciples. They hear the
word enthusiastically. But in time they are offended…
·
By The Doctrine Of Christ.
·
By Some Duty Of Faith.
·
Some Petty Something!
3.
Many are like the Galatians. — When Paul first preached
to them, they received him, “As an angel
of God, even as Christ Jesus.” They spoke of the blessedness of being in
Christ. They rejoiced in God’s great salvation. They so loved Paul that they
would gladly have plucked out their eyes and given them to him (Gal.
4.
Many in time of affliction
begin to follow Christ, but do not follow the Lord fully (Psa. 78:34-37).
Psalms
78:34-37 "When he slew them, then they
sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. (35) And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. (36) Nevertheless they did flatter him
with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. (37) For their
heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant."
Hear the parable of the sower and be warned (Matt.
·
Jephthah, who said, “I cannot go
back.”
·
Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.
·
Simeon, who even in his old age was found in the house of God, waiting
for the consolation of
·
Paul, pressing toward the mark, constantly (Phil. 3; 1 Cor.
·
The palm tree and the cedar tree, faithful to the end, bringing forth
fruit in their old age (Psa. 92:12-14).
·
Like fine wine, the older the better.
This is
what God says — “The righteous shall hold on
his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger” (Job
17:9).—“The path of the just is as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4:18).—“He that endureth to the end shall be saved”
(Matt. 10:22).
NOTE: My
friends, the most dangerous thing on this earth that you and I have to face is
that carnal ease and security that is the forerunner of apostasy — “Woe
unto them that are at ease in
Hebrews
I am calling upon you, more specifically,
I am calling upon myself to follow the Lord fully, like Caleb. God, make me be a man whose name is
synonymous with “faithful dog” and “all heart.” I want to follow the
Lord fully!—“Ye are not your own!”
·
Follow Christ in his unswerving faithfulness.
·
Follow Christ in his self-denying obedience.
·
Follow Christ in his self-sacrificing love.
·
Follow Christ in his total consecration.
Do not be like those five foolish virgins (Matt.
25:1-13). Do not be content with the lamp of profession. Make sure you have the
oil of grace!
Where there is life there is growth. — “Grow in grace.” In faith — in love — in
consecration to God — Not less and less,
not more and less, not less and more, but more and more.
III. What encouragement do we have to follow the Lord fully?
Perhaps you are thinking, “Don, what you have said
is good. What you have said is true. I know I ought to consecrate myself to the
Lord fully. But it is not practical to live like that.” Look at Caleb and learn what God meant when he said, “Them that honor me I will honor” (1 Sam.
I am telling you, if you are a believer, the most
costly thing on this earth you can do is fail to follow the Lord fully. —
Look how God honored Caleb, because he followed the
Lord fully!
A. When God destroyed his family and friends, Caleb was
preserved. He perished not in the
wilderness. He entered the land of rest.
B. He was blessed with a long life of vigor and
usefulness.
C. He was exalted to a place of honor among his
brethren.
Illustration: “Son, that’s Caleb. Were it
not for Caleb we would never have entered this land. How God has used Caleb!”
D. Caleb had the distinguishing honor of being given
the hardest service. — (
Get your heart right and you are independent of difficulties and dangers!
Illustration: A
train traveling through the fog.
E. Caleb had the privilege of enjoying what he desired.
He possessed the land God promised.
You will never win
F. Caleb left a great blessing to his children.
·
His sons reaped the benefits of his faithfulness.
·
His daughters had a double portion — The upper
and nether springs (Josh.
Application: Follow the Lord fully!
1. This is the secret of a
happy life.
Whatever you lose by following Christ, he will reward you
in this world a hundredfold in peace of conscience (Matt.
2.
This is the way to be useful.—“I will
bless thee and make thee a blessing.”
3. This is the way to die happily (2
Tim. 4:6-8).
2 Timothy
4:6-8 "For I am now ready to be
offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing."
AMEN.
Hymn #384.
I can hear my Savior
calling,
I can hear my Savior
calling,
I can hear my Savior
calling,
“Take thy cross and follow,
follow me.”
Refrain: Where He leads me, I will
follow,
Where he leads me, I will
follow —
Where He leads me, I will
follow —
I’ll go with Him, with Him
all the way.
I’ll go with Him through the
garden —
I’ll go with Him, with Him
all the way.
I’ll go with Him through the
judgment —
I’ll go with Him, with Him,
all the way.
He will give me grace and
glory —
I’ll go with Him, with Him,
all the way!
[1] See also
“Follow The Lord Fully” #998
preached at
Tape # U-40