50GREAT SERMONS GREAT SERMONS - The Big Day

1. She denied her guilt (v. 17)
2. She attempted to ridicule Jesus (v. 19)
3. She wanted to argue (v. 20)
IV. He showed her the way of life by revealing Himself
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh,
which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he” (vv. 25-26, KJV).
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FOLLOWING WITH A WHOLE HEART!
H. Bailey Stone Jr.
Joshua 14:8-15
Someone said, “A pessimist is one who sees difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist is one who sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
It is refreshing to find those who clearly discern hope in
seemingly hopeless circumstances.
An example of this is fleshed out in Joshua 14. The focus of this
passage is on a man named Caleb. In fact, there is a qualifying word
that leaps off the pages three times in verses 8, 9, and 14 (NIV).
The word is “wholeheartedly.” This term is used to describe Caleb.
He is a man who wholeheartedly followed the Lord, his God. He
was an optimist in pessimistic circumstances. He was surrendered,
committed, and completely yielded to the purpose of God. There
are several things that marked his wholehearted devotion.
I. He was confident, though his task was difficult
Caleb was a man on mission. The assignment was difficult—in
fact, dangerous. In Numbers 13, he was chosen as one of the 12
spies responsible to search out the land of promise. If apprehended,
the spies, no doubt, would have been killed.
He was a man with a vision. He saw what other people see. The
land was fertile; it was highly productive. It was described as a land
flowing with milk and honey. It was also a fortified land. It presented
a formidable task for the people of God. The cities were
walled and the inhabitants, well-armed. Giants among the people
caused the spies to see themselves as mere grasshoppers by comparison.
When decision time arrived and the reports were given, the people
said, “No, it is an impossible task. We will not go into the land.”
A majority report from 10 of the spies startled them. These 10,
who merely saw what other men see, warned the people that the
dangers were too great—the difficulty would not allow them to
enter the land.
Caleb, along with Joshua, spoke against the majority report.
“Not only can we take the land, but we must!” they said. “God has
given it to us.” These men saw what other people do not often see.
They saw the land in the light of God’s sovereignty, His great power,
His purpose, and His plan. People listened to the frightened 10 and
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