Jesus Alone is God

Based on Joshua 15:16 and related verses, this sermon explores the story of Achsah, the daughter of Caleb, and draws spiritual lessons from her experience.

Caleb, Achsah's father, declares that whoever conquers Kirjathsepher will be given Achsah as a wife. This demonstrates the special nature of Achsah, and her eventual husband, Othniel (Caleb's younger brother), rises to the challenge, marrying her after conquering Kirjathsepher. The unconventional marriage aligns with the customs of the time and is not explicitly forbidden by the Mosaic law.

Achsah, symbolizing the church of Jesus Christ, later prompts her husband to ask her father for a field. This reflects the church's role in encouraging believers to seek blessings and guidance from their heavenly Father. Achsah's boldness in asking for a piece of land is likened to believers seeking a new body through baptism in Jesus' name. The metaphor extends to the necessity of constant spiritual nourishment, akin to water for a piece of land, emphasizing the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The sermon then delves into the story of Caleb in Joshua 14, highlighting his enduring passion for the blessings of God. Caleb, at 85 years old, boldly asks Joshua for the mountain promised to him by Moses years earlier. His request is granted, showcasing his unwavering faith and zeal for God's promises.

Achsah's subsequent request to Caleb for a blessing is linked to believers seeking the blessing of God in their lives. The importance of gratitude is emphasized, urging believers to thank God for past blessings. Achsah's specific request for springs of water represents believers asking for a continuous flow of the Holy Spirit from above and below, drawing parallels with the well-watered land of Canaan described in Deuteronomy.

In summary, the sermon encourages believers to boldly approach God, seek His blessings, express gratitude for past favors, and ask for a continuous flow of the Holy Spirit. The narrative of Achsah and Caleb serves as a metaphor for the relationship between believers and their heavenly Father, emphasizing faith, boldness, and the continuous pursuit of spiritual nourishment.

This sermon explores the profound significance of crowns in the Scriptures, beginning with an examination of five Hebrew words for crown in the Old Testament: Qodhqodh, Zer, Nezer, Atarah, and Kether. Each word reveals layers of meaning, symbolizing honor, authority, dedication, victory, and regal majesty. The exploration emphasizes that crowns in the Old Testament represent not only positions of authority but also symbols of consecration, victory, and regal honor.

Transitioning to the New Testament, the sermon delves into the promises of the five crowns awaiting faithful Christians. The Greek term "Stephanos," akin to the wreaths awarded in ancient competitions, is described as representing victory and triumph. The five crowns—Soul Winner's Crown, Crown of Self-Denial, Crown of Righteousness, Crown of Life, and Crown of the Under Shepherd—each hold a unique promise, reflecting aspects of service, discipline, righteousness, endurance, and shepherding.

The sermon concludes with a call to strive for these imperishable crowns with hearts full of love, service, endurance, and faithfulness, understanding that they are the eternal rewards from the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The sermon underscores the paramount importance of faith in the Christian journey. Starting with a biblical definition from Hebrews 11:1, faith is described not just as hope in God's promises but as a deep confidence that those promises will come to fruition. The sermon emphasizes that faith is a living and walking reality among believers, citing examples of biblical figures like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and the apostles as exemplars of faith.

The narrative delves into the story of the woman with the blood issue, highlighting the potential consequences of misdirected faith, as she suffered for twelve years relying on physicians. The sermon cautions against placing hope where it may not yield positive results, emphasizing that faith in the name and power of Jesus Christ brings wholeness.

The story of blind Bartimaeus is presented as an illustration of remarkable faith, which not only recognizes the opportune time for healing but also has the power to bring the feet of Jesus to a complete stop. The credit for healing is given to the faith of individuals like Bartimaeus and the woman with the blood issue, emphasizing the integral role of faith in activating God's power.

The sermon extends to examples of faith exercised on behalf of others, such as the Roman centurion's plea for the healing of his servant and the Syrophoenician woman's faith on behalf of her daughter. These instances underscore the significance of compassion and concern for the less fortunate, demonstrating that great faith exercised on behalf of the poor and lowly brings praise from the Lord.

The conclusion of the sermon encourages believers to not only nurture faith for personal well-being but also to extend it to others, making a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate. The title, "Thy faith has made thee whole," is echoed in the call to practice "Thy faith has made others whole," emphasizing the transformative and communal nature of faith.

The sermon delves into the analogy of the wilderness in the days of Moses, drawing parallels to the Christian journey. The thirst experienced by the children of Israel for water in the wilderness becomes a metaphor for the Christian's thirst for the Holy Spirit. The key point is that just as water was the first and most acute need in the wilderness, seeking the Spirit of the Lord Jesus should be the primary concern for a Christian.

The biblical narrative from Numbers 20 is used to highlight the importance of persistently seeking the Holy Spirit. The children of Israel, faced with a lack of water, demanded it from Moses. The analogy suggests that Christians should pester the Lord with prayers and requests for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, acknowledging God's good intentions in providing this spiritual water.

The sermon also emphasizes the significance of the body as the temple of God, using the Corinthian Christians as an example. The Corinthians are criticized for living carelessly and not discerning the Lord's body, leading to some of them facing consequences. This leads to a discussion about the doctrine of the body as the temple of God, where God desires to dwell in His people.

The idea of the tabernacle in the wilderness is explored, emphasizing that God's original plan was for the tabernacle to be mobile. Christians are encouraged to be flexible and mobile, constantly progressing towards the heavenly destination. The analogy extends to the tabernacle being visible and constantly on the move, symbolizing Spirit-filled Christians being visible for both believers and the lost world.

The sermon concludes with the anticipation of entering the heavenly Canaan, drawing parallels to the journey of the children of Israel. The promise of pouring out the Spirit in the last days, as mentioned in Joel 2:28-29, is highlighted, suggesting that the time of the catching away of the Bride is imminent.

The sermon delves into the significance of the Mount of Olives in biblical context, drawing lessons for spiritual understanding. The Mount of Olives is portrayed as a symbol of anointing, representing the spiritual sustenance of God's people.

The sermon explores various instances in the Bible where the Mount of Olives is associated with crucial events. It begins with Jesus teaching in the temple during the day and residing at Mount of Olives at night, highlighting its special importance. Reference is made to Zechariah's prophecy, connecting the mount with anointing and the Lord's return.

In Matthew 24, the chapter about the signs of Christ's return, Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives, signifying the need for believers to be under His anointing to discern the signs accurately. The anointing from the mount protects against worldly deceptions, as seen in the case of King Herod's grand Temple project.

Furthermore, the Mount of Olives is linked to the fulfillment of prophecies. Jesus instructs his disciples from there, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy about the Messiah's arrival, demonstrating its significance in the revelation of the Messiah's coming.

When Jesus ascends to heaven, the Mount of Olives becomes the departure point, underlining the importance of carrying the anointing (represented by oil) until His return. This anointing, symbolized as oil, signifies the Holy Spirit's presence and is crucial for believers, as highlighted in the parable of the ten virgins. The Mount of Olives becomes the bridge between heaven and earth, emphasizing that believers will leave the world with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and return with Jesus, demonstrating the eternal significance of spiritual anointing.

The sermon concludes by emphasizing the power of the Holy Spirit, depicted as anointing oil, which quickens mortal bodies and ensures spiritual preparedness for Christ's return, emphasizing the intimate connection between the Mount of Olives, anointing, and the return of Jesus.