Give Me This Hill Country Joshua 14:9-12, NIV So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' 'Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.' Who is the happiest person? The happiest person in the world is the one who believes in Jesus. There is no more happiness than believing in Jesus. Jesus is everything to us. The only happiness in our life is Jesus only. We become happy people by believing in Jesus; however, thereafter, the next step is important. What should we do to be recognized and used by God? We need to be precious children of God who are recognized and used by God. Looking in the Bible, we come to know that God always works with a person of faith and a dream. I pray that you all become blessed children of God. “Father God, I pray that I dream a holy dream everyday and march forward with faith.” It is my desire that you do not blame other people, complain or say negative things on any issue. In the Bible, God never worked with a person who blamed other people and complained. God always walks with a person of faith and works miracles in an environment of faith. Even today God is looking for a person of faith. “Father God, I pray that as a person of faith, I want to be used by the Lord.” I would like to think with you about Caleb who was a person of faith and a holy dream. First, he was faithful to God. Being faithful means full of faith. It means trustworthy. Because the faithful person is capable of managing whatever is given to him/her and is trustworthy, God gives more work and equips the faithful person to manage His work. When we become faithful to God, God will look at our faith and devotion and He will bless us abundantly. After laboring as slaves for 430 years, the Israelites were freed from Egypt and went toward Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. The bible says that it took the Israelites 2 years to initially reach the borders of Canaan land. When they reached the borders, Moses chose one man from each tribe to spy on Canaan. After 40 days the spies brought back a report to Moses. However, ten of the spies brought a negative report. “We cannot go in there. The people of the land will devour us. There are giants in the land. The Israelites seemed like grasshoppers in their own eyes. Although God had already prepared blessings for them, the Israelites held to their self-image of grasshoppers; thought and spoke of negative things. The Israelites were agitated by their report and got upset. They picked up stones and were going to stone their leader. However, Joshua and Caleb were not like the other ten spies. Numbers 14:8 says: “If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.” The Israelites did not listen to the words of Joshua and Caleb. They listened to the negative report of the other ten men and they blamed and complained before God. God does not work with a person of unbelief. God could not let the Israelites into Canaan, the land of blessing; so God sent them back into the desert. The people went back into the wilderness and went around the desert again and again for 38 years. 40 years later, all the people who were over 20 years old when God delivered them out of Egypt, died and only their descendents went into Canaan land, God’s land of promise to his people. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who were alive of the first generation of people who came out of Egypt; and they went into Canaan land with the younger generation. Joshua and Caleb were truly faithful before God. Joshua 14:8 says: “But my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.” Be faithful to God in your whole life. I pray that you become people pleasing to God. The faithful servant Caleb asked God for the Promised Land. He especially asked for the hill country of Hebron. The hill country Hebron was a city 4,000 feet up on the mountaintop. The descendants of Anak who guarded the city were of great size. The city tower was big and fortified so that it would be hard to capture. Although Caleb was 85 years old, he was positive of his victory. He said: “Since God gave me that land, I will accomplish my mission. I want to obey God while managing my mission and following His command.” This is faith. God pours blessings on the person who handles a given mission and accomplishes the work. Caleb heard this word to him 45 years ago; and even at the age of 85, he was still faithful to God. We must be faithful servants of God. Above all things, we need to be faithful to the work which is given to us. Whatever we do, everything is important. Nothing is unimportant. Some may thing that, “Why should I do my best since what is given to me is not important and no one recognizes it?” Matthew 25 revealed this negative thought pattern in another person. In the story of the talents, a master gave five talents of money to one, to another two talents, and to a third one talent. The men who received five talents and two talents respectively worked hard and gained double of what they had received. However, the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid the money he received, thinking that, “I only received one talent. What if I lose this money?” When the master returned, he called the man who received one talent a wicked and lazy servant; and cast him out. The master then praised the men who had doubled the initial investment of two and five talents. Matthew 25:21 says: “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' ” Hallelujah! Whatever is given to you, do your best. When you do your best as a student, as a housewife, as an office worker, as a business man, and as a professional worker, God will give you more blessings. Elder Cho Man-Sik was born in Gangseo, Pyeongannam-do and worked at Jungjoo, South Pyeongyang. His family was so poor that he had to work as a farmhand. However through his faithful service, Cho touched his master’s heart. It is hard to find such faithful service these days. In days past when I was young, there were chamber pots. Young people might not know this. The chamber pot would be set in a room on a night stool. Young Cho, Man-Sik would clean the chamber pot every morning. Even though his master did not tell him to clean it, Cho Man-Sik would wash it very clean. His devotion touched his master’s heart. He was not only faithful but also wise. His master thought Cho Man-Sik would do great work in the future so he sent him to Pyeongyang to study. After he graduated, with honors, from Soongsil University, he went back to his home Jungjoo, established a school and became the principal. In his adult prime, he was greatly used as a leader of our people as a Christian activist in our independence movement. His disciples asked him, “What is the secret of your success?” Their teacher Cho Man-Sik always said, “When you go out into the world, be the one who cleans the chamber pot.” He meant that they should serve with humility. He told them to do unpleasant tasks that others did not like to do, to serve with devotion and to be faithful. Generally people like to take the lead in work that will give them praise of others and let their name be known. However they are neglectful of tasks that are hard and difficult. Whether others recognize you or not, I pray that you become faithful before God. For Lunar New Year, with pastors of The Hope Corps of Korean Church, I participated in serving food in the basement of Seoul station last Friday. This was not easy. Someone told me to not be the one to scoop the rice into the dishes because this task was very difficult; but rather to serve the side dishes. However one pastor came late and the rice had to be scooped, so I applied myself to that task. While I was scooping the rice, one man said, “Give me more rice, more rice.” Another told me to not scoop the rice on the right side of the plate, but rather on the left side. I was given much instruction with regards to how and where to scoop rice. On Friday, in the basement of Seoul Station, I learned that serving food needs patience. As an impetuous man I could have replied to some of the comments: “Why are you, as a beggar, being so picky?” This reply might have not been technically wrong, but smiling and simply saying “yes” to the many comments was more appropriate and graceful. I went to Seoul Station and scooped rice in good faith, to be part of an event of charity for that one day; however there were many people who voluntarily serve food to beggars and poor people all year. How precious they are! Without pay, these people serve food with joy for 365 days a year. Others may not recognize them, but to them just serving neglected people was beautiful. We are to serve with joy. We are to serve with thanksgiving. Do your best to do the work that others do not recognize. The Lord will keep you precious and pour blessings upon you. Doing your best in what you are given, whether others recognize you or not is being faithful. We must be faithful to God even to the point of death. Revelation 2:10 says: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” The church in Smyrna suffered greatly. They had many difficulties and suffered; but remained faithful even to the point of death. I pray that you be faithful to God even when you have much sufferings, many problems, and hardships. You need to attend worship service to help you be faithful to God. Worship God with a whole heart when you are in service. Then God will take care of you over your whole life. I prayed, “Father God, people who went to their home town for Lunar New Year, let them attend a worship service there. Let there be no one who skips a service.” If we are faithful to continually and consistently worship God, He will bless our whole life. When all things are going smoothly people work hard; however when difficult problems arise, these same people have a tendency to pull back from their labor. I pray that after you come to believe in Jesus, you will be faithful to God until we all go to heaven. Moses was called at the age of 80 and he was faithful until he became 120 years old. The age of 80 is when people stop working. It is the time when they let go of labor and think: “I cannot do anything anymore.” However, Moses was faithful until he the age of 120 years. God called him because he knew Moses would be faithful. From a very young age, David proved to be another faithful servant of God. When David’s father instructed both his brothers and him to watch the family flock of sheep; David was the one who tended the sheep. We do not know where his brothers were. David remained very faithful even as the second king of Israel. Although God would not allow David to build His temple because he was a man of war and was responsible for the shedding of much blood: he still gathered together all the building materials needed to build the temple. Then he passed those building materials along with God’s blueprint for the temple to his son Solomon; whom God promised to David would build the temple. How faithful was he? If David could not build the temple, he could have just told his son to prepare everything and build the temple. David said to God, “Even though I cannot build the temple, I will prepare everything.” David after preparing all things for building the temple left the great blessing of building the temple to his son. We must be faithful. Whether others recognize us or not, when we do our best to do the work that is given to us, the Lord will bless us and pour His grace upon us. Therefore we need to be faithful people. Second, Caleb obeyed the Word of God. He was a man of the Word. In order to be faithful to God, we should always listen carefully to the Word of God. “Lord, I pray that God speaks to me. I would like to obey His word.” When we hold on to the Word of promise and move forward with faith, God will pour blessing upon blessing upon us. The Word of God is unchangeable. It is the word of blessing, miracles, and grace to us. To people who march forward with faith; God will show them wonderful things in their lives. Joshua 14:9-10 says: “'Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' ” This is true. When did Caleb receive his Word of promise? Caleb received his word of promise 45 years before he went out of the wilderness. 45 years before Caleb’s promise brought him fulfillment! However Caleb held on to the word given to him. He neither doubted nor remained disturbed. He believed God’s word as it was given to him, and he marched forward with faith. Many who pray for a couple of days and do not receive an answer give up thinking: “I guess God does not answer.” Caleb was not like this type of person. He kept his faith for 45 years after he first received his Word of promise. Deuteronomy 1:36 says: “Except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” The person who holds on to his Word and dreams transcends all time. This person transcends all ages. Caleb reached the age of 85 years. It could have been time for him to stop working but he marched forward with faith and with a dream in his heart. He remembered the Word that was promised in the name of God. Joshua 14:6 says: “Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, 'You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me.” Caleb remembered the word of God given to him 45 years ago and said: “I want to fulfill the Word of promise today.” When Caleb marched forward holding on to the Word, God gave him a great blessing. I pray that you do not shrink back until you achieve the will of God. Isaiah 55:11 says: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Abraham became the father of faith because he held onto the word and obeyed God. Genesis 12:1-3 says: “The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.’I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.' ” Although the years pass us by and we have difficulties and problems in our lives, God’s Word of promise does not change. The Word will be realized as it is. When you march forward with faith holding on to the Word, God will bring miracles, blessings, healings, and grace to your life. March forward holding only on to the Word! Although people say negative things, when we live according to the Word, God’s great blessing will be upon us. We need to change our thoughts and dream a holy dream while holding on to the Word. Third, I would like to speak about Caleb who was a man of a dream. When we hold on to the Word, our thoughts will be changed. And when our thoughts are changed, we can dream a holy dream. Joshua 14:11-12 says: “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.' ” Caleb boldly said, “Give me this hill country. Now give me this hill country! Their cities are large and fortified, and the Anakites are there. But now give me this hill country that the LORD has promised me.” Like Caleb, if you have any problems that are like a big mountain, conquer them by faith. When we dream a holy dream, we are able to conquer such a mountain. Humans live by dream. There is no man more pitiful than one who lives without a dream. How vain is it to live a life without purpose and direction and finally to leave this world with only a record of a person’s date of birth and death. People of dreams change the history of our world. I pray all people dream a holy dream and leave their wonderful signature in world history. No matter how old you are, when you dream a holy dream, you will open your wings of hope and fly up high. We can overcome all difficulties. Age is only a number. We do not pay to dream. We do not need to put effort to dream. We should only change our mind. When our mind gets changed; a holy dream will conquer and change us. We therefore need to dream a holy dream every day. We should dream a holy dream of being used by God. Dream a holy dream for your family. Dream a holy dream for your children. Dream a holy dream for your work place. Dream a holy dream for your business. Students dream a holy dream for your study. When you dream a holy dream and march forward with faith, God will make your holy dream to actualize in His time. Although we cannot see nor hold with our physical hands nor listen with our ears; when we dream a holy dream, and move forward with faith, many miracles will come to us. What is unseen will come to us as what is seen. March forward dreaming a holy dream! Dr. “Bill” Bright was born in Oklahoma in 1921. In 1945 at the age of 24 years, he came to believe in Jesus. That year was a turning point in his life. He went to Los Angeles to run a business. However there he heard God’s voice and went to Fuller Theological Seminary. While studying the Bible, the scripture verse “Make disciples of all the nations” as found in Matthew 28:19 touched his heart. Bill Bright dreamed a dream for all nations, and decided to train young people to change the world. After graduated from theological seminary, he went to UCLA and formed a student ministry. This ministry was the start of Campus Crusade for Christ which has established itself in 197 countries to date. During the hippie subculture in America, as young people were living a wild and aimlessly rebellious life; Dr. Bright kept busy establishing a student ministry on campuses across the nation. Campus Crusade for Christ has been instrumental in changing the fate of America. CCC now has 27,000 full-time staff and 225,000 trained volunteer workers in 197 countries. Dr. Bright led the 6.25 Rally with Pastor Yonggi Cho in June 25, 1994. Pastor “Bill” Bright was a person of dream. He always dreamed a holy dream. He dreamed of young people in the whole world dreaming a holy dream and becoming God’s warriors and changing campuses and affecting the world. His dream has come true. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” This scripture warns people that if they do not have a dream and vision, they become rude and live as they want. After dreaming a holy dream, we need to put our efforts to have our dreams come true. We should live a life of pleasing God by moderating and controlling everything. “Father God, I pray that I become the person dreaming a holy dream. Help me to be a person of a dream.” When we march forward with faith as a person of a dream, God will pour blessings upon us. Fourth, I would like to tell you about Caleb who was blessed by God. When Caleb marched forward dreaming, God blessed him. Joshua 14:13-14 says, “Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.” There is nothing impossible when we march forward believing and relying on God. God helps us to overcome all our difficulties. God helps us to have victory with faith. Be a person of dream and faith, and march forward with faith. Joshua 1:3 says, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:5 says, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God gives blessings of health to people who dream and march forward with faith. Joshua 14:11 says, “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” Caleb was 85 years old. However, he said, “I am a man of ageless youth. I am strong today as 45 years ago. God, use me.” The person who believes in Jesus is an ageless youth in their mind. Since your mind is strong, you will have a healthy body and can do God’s work. When your mind becomes weak, your body will become weak. Be strong by the grace of God. 3 John 1:2 says, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” I hope that this scripture touches your heart. God loves you. God wants us to be in good health as He uses us. However our soul needs to be strong. Our soul needs to be strong! There is a word “precocious child.” This word implies a young person whose soul is old. Even though we are old, if our mind is strong, we can live as an ageless youth. When our soul is strong, God changes our environment and gives us good heath for a strong soul. “Father God, help me to live like a man of ageless youth just life Caleb. Use me! At the age of 85, Caleb had a holy dream and accomplished such a wonderful work. Lord, please use me!” Joshua 14:15 says: “(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.” I was greatly touched by this scripture. “The land had rest from war.” We will conquer all the things that trouble us, give us headaches, and upset us as a person of dream and faith. Our mind will then have rest from war. Our life will have rest from war. We will have rest from all conditions of war in our life and all conflicts of our mind, and all relational problems; and enjoy God’s blessing upon us. “Father God, help me to have rest from all wars in my life and enjoy a life full of blessing, miracles, and grace.” Wars between husbands and wives, between parents and children have got to stop. Today people are so wild-tempered that they fight easily. There are fights between husband and wife, parents and children, labor and management. The battle around Sejong City is a good example of this. There seems to be no end to the wars of many kinds. We need to pray, “Father God, let all fighting stop. Let the wars be ended.” We cannot do this with our power and ability. When the Holy Spirit helps us, by His power only; these wars will cease. The happiest times of our lives are when we are being used by God. Harlan Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken learned 2 things from his mother when he was young. Even though he was male, he learned how to cook, and he learned that he should go to church. However even though he went to church, Sanders did not have any firm belief of salvation. Even though he gave tithes and served enthusiastically, he did not have a firm belief of salvation. Then one time, as a delegate of his church, Sanders attended a conference in Australia. On the way to the meeting, he said to his companion who sat next to him in the plane, “If this plane goes down, you fellows will go to heaven and I will go to hell. I hope to find at this conference, the peace of soul I need. He went to Australia but he did not find that peace he so longed for. He felt empty in his heart. He was lonely. When Sanders turned 75 years old, he went to a church in Louisville, Kentucky and met Jesus. The Holy Spirit touched him. Our living Jesus came into his mind as the master. Since that wonderful day, Sanders life completely changed. Thereafter he lived 15 more years. For 15 years he lived like a missionary. Before that eventful day, he lived as the president of a big company who had displayed great business ability. However after the day Jesus came into his heart, Sanders lived for the glory of God. Sanders died at the age of 90. His funeral service took place in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before he died, a reporter interviewed him, “What was the highlight of your life?” He answered, “It was when I met the living God. After meeting God, every day was the highlight of my life.” At the age of 75, Sanders met Jesus and his life was completely changed. He confessed, “Every day was the highlight of my life.” He enjoyed true blessing and joy. Where does true happiness for humans come from? It comes when we believe in Jesus and receive joy from the Lord. This is great blessing. I earnestly pray that like Caleb you become the person of dream and faith and change and conquer the world, accomplishing great work as precious children of God. This is my earnest prayer. This is indeed my earnest prayer. Let us pray. Father God of infinite love, grace, and mercy, we give You thanks. We thank You for loving us and choosing us among many people as your children and helping us to dream a holy dream and march forward with faith. Like Caleb, help us to always dream a holy dream and live a life of faith. Help us to share the grace they we have received from You. We give You thanks and pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen. 10