Understanding Our TNT Mission

Study Texts: Josh. 14:7-13  Eph. 6:12-17

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; then shall the end come.  Matt. 24:14.

We are again inviting all persons Christians and unbelievers to join us for this second part of this awesome study that has been a tremendous blessing and upbuilding of our own lives as Christians, Preachers, and Teachers of the Word of God the Bible for many years. We can attest to the inestimable value of all 66 books of the Bible. We  describe them as the most precious treasure available to all who will take the time to verify this truth for themselves. They have the capacity to affect our lives for time and eternity. Matt: 4:4 says: Man shall not live by bread alone but by every that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

I believe this can be attested to by those who had gleaned with us many wonderful truths in the first part of our study: Deeper Things in The Life of Caleb: Recognizing Our (DOG) – Divine Obligation to God Part 1. This first part of the study is important to a full understanding of this the second part of our study. However, we will try to do the briefest recap to help us with a sense of continuity as well as focus.

In part one (1), we had shared our overwhelming convictions that Caleb was used by God as what is referred to in Biblical usage as a ‘type’– A type is defined broadly as a person or thing that is used as a mold or model of something that is to come after. In relation to the Bible, a ‘type‘ means a ‘shadow’ of something or someone that is to come in reality in the N.T. However, we had shared that we do not contentiously insist on Caleb as a ‘type‘. But I will share a few of the main points of our study in part 1 that supports my final conviction that Caleb is definitely a Divine Illustration of the N.T believer individually as well as in the collective sense of the Church.

First of all our conclusions are based on the repetitive glowing tributes the Lord himself confers upon Caleb as the one who fully and wholly followed the Lord of the twelve spies who went on a Reconnaissance Mission to ‘Canaan’ the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses. (Num. 14 chapter) Though Joshua was also faithful  – Caleb and his family were overwhelmingly highlighted as the inheritors of the land forty years before physical conquest or possession of the land. The significance was hard to be missed by scholars and even careful readers of the Bible. This was clear evidence of the N.T principle of Justification by faith.

Secondly we see Caleb’s close and inseparable affinity with the Army Captain of Israel – Joshua a clear  type of our Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation Heb. 2:10 Joshua was divinely chosen to lead the Israelite hosts into Canaan which is also another clear type of our Christian rest. Heb. 4:3, 6  For we who believe do enter into rest….     v.6 Seeing therefore, it remaineth that some must enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.  May it be noted these types or shadows whether of persons places or things were for the time in the plan of God regarded as the very thing they represented. So it behooves us to have a good understanding of types as well as the actual N.T fulfillment of the type. Caleb’s affinity with both of these types  Joshua symbolic of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Canaan the Promised Land is highly significant and instructive to us today.

Last but certainly not least is our amazing and enlightening discovery that the name Caleb in  Hebrew – meant ‘Dog’ revealing the Divine purpose of Caleb being emphasized over and over as one who wholly, and fully followed the Lord. This equating the unique qualities of this model Servant of the Lord with the unwavering commitment of a faithful dog in following its master. Hence the use in part 1 of the acrostic DOG to illustrate this man’s obvious sense of a Divine Obligation to God.

In this study we will also be using the letters of  a well-known acronym TNT. We believe the Lord is leading even in the use of these  acrostics and  acronyms which will help us to remember these studies. As many of you are aware the letters TNT is the abbreviated chemical name of a very powerful explosive, most of us may not be very familiar with this word which is: Trinitrotoluene- We can readily see the convenience of this acronym TNT. However, what is interesting about our use of this acronym is that it came by some strange twist as was our discovery of the meaning of Caleb’s name as ‘Dog’ and the consequent use of the letters that all by chance fit perfectly in our study. We were simply studying Caleb’s passion for wanting to take more of the territories of Canaan as God has mandated the Israelites when we first used the term Taking New Territories. So we saw the letters TNT  standing out because it is a fairly popular term. But what later struck us was that though the explosive nature of TNT might not fit Caleb’s personality in essence, as we see in him someone who possess tremendous patience and humility in his life. It certainly fits his valiant character and passion for warfare as was also Joshua’s.  We really began to enjoy this study but realized this TNT application  to which some Christians might object has deeper implications for our study. TNT and Dynamite are not the same to chemists, but to the average person they are used interchangeably; and “dynamite!” is a phrase we often used in positive senses to express something great. The word ‘dynamic’ is also a positive word from this same root. Well it did not end here, because the popular N.T Greek word Dunamis  also came to mind. This is the word used for power in the N.T.  We Christians love to quote verses such as Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me… The word power here is this same word dunamis.  This word is the same word our English translates as Dynamite. So this verse is really saying you will receive dynamite power,  after the Holy Ghost is come upon you…  Maybe this will help us to think a little more seriously about this second part of our  study  –   Deeper Things in the Life of Caleb -Understanding Our TNT Mission.  

So we see that this high explosive TNT   is perfect in describing Caleb’s passion as well as his Mission – Taking New Territories . Let us now turn to our study passage and listen to the declarations of this  dynamic O.T example to us today: Josh. 14:7-14  Forty years old was  I when  Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-bar’nea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. v.8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt;  but I wholly followed the Lord my God.  v.9  And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely  the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thy inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord thy God. v.10  And now behold the Lord hath kept me alive as he said, these forty and five years,…   While the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now I am fourscore and five years old. v.11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as  my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in.  v.12 Now therefore, give me this mountain, of which the Lord spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fortified; if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said. v.13 And Joshua blessed him and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephun’neh, Hebron for an inheritance. 

Our N.T passage is from the Book of Ephesians which is the companion book to the book of Joshua. Eph. 6:12-17 this is well known passage identifying the Christian’s enemies and listing all of the Christians armor and resources. v.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places  v.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.  v.14  Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. v.15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. v.16. above all taking the shield of faith with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  v.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.   v.18 praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints.

Now we will seek to put together what these two passages bring out to us. We begin with our O.T passage in Josh. 14:7-14. Here we see Caleb declaring at the age of 85 that he was physically ready for war at all levels, just as he was 40 years old when Moses sent him to view the Promised Land. Caleb revealed he was more than just talk by making a personal request of his Commander Joshua to take a mountain stronghold occupied by the Anakims a tribe considered giants in physical stature. He expressed his confidence that he would be able to drive out these enemies as the Lord said. v.12.  . It is important to note that Caleb’s confidence did not reside in himself or weapons – but in his faith that the Lord would be with him v. 12.  it is also important to note that his TNT, or Dynamite passion to Take New Territories was not motivated by personal ambition, greed, or a domineering nature. We know that Caleb was not motivated by any of these negative traits – firstly because of his nature, God himself sets forth and commends as a humble dog-like vigilance and obedience in following the Lord, wholly or completely. Caleb’s dynamite passion to take new territories was fueled by his commitment to fulfill his mandated mission from God v. 12  Now therefore, give me this mountain, of which the Lord spoke in that day…...   Others had rebelled and challenged the leadership of even the mighty leader Moses- But there has never been even a hint at such in Caleb. For almost half a century he was able to keep his TNT or Taking of New Territories passion under control until the time was right, a testimony that Caleb possessed the rare virtue of patience or long–suffering – a gift of the Holy Spirit. Another powerful commentary on the selfless humility of this mighty warrior is that even after his conquest of this mountain stronghold – He did not claim anything for himself v.13 says:  And Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron for an inheritance. 

What a lesson dear friends today we hear so much in Evangelical circles about our authority to claim all sort of things as believers. But we should learn from Caleb here that if we become more concerned about our TNT Mission which is really Taking New Territories not for ourselves but for the Kingdom of God. We would experience true victories and blessings in our endeavors and warfare for the Lord . Matt. 6:33 says     Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.

But at this point you might want to ask. Exactly what is our TNT Mission today? Our Commander in Chief our Lord Jesus Christ declares His Mission Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.  So most of us would instinctively answer “our mission is soul winning”.  But may we say to you that this use of this popular term today is far too simple. “Soul Winning”  for most of us is the evangelical activity of our local church in occasional Crusades or when persons respond to our invitation to altar calls or our personal invitations to visit our churches. Friends our TNT Mission is firstly entering into a conflict or war with the Arch-Enemy of God and men Satan. 1 Pet. 5:8  tells us your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  Maybe the greatest error of the modern church is their belief that soul-winning is simply telling persons Jesus loves them and they need to do nothing but repeat the sinner’s prayer at some altar and their problems are solved for time and eternity. This false message is perpetrated largely by the deceptive lies of Satan himself who presents a Counterfeit brand of Christianity.  (See our following page): The Danger of Counterfeit Christianity). The true Gospel cannot be truly presented in the vaunted affluent settings and ambiance of the empires of these false messengers. Ephesians reveals that it is a message of pilgrimage that it is must be spread into the thoroughfares by personal contact with men everywhere that we go. Eph. 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  Jesus also declared this mandate Luke 14:21-23 …Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, ….Go out into the highways and hedges,…. Using social media has its place but every child of God must be a foot-soldier as well.

Caleb was ready in all respects for war and so must the N.T believer, we do not have a world-friendly message as the false ministers, our Gospel of peace is confrontational both to Satan and human nature. Jesus declares; Matt:10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth but a sword  v.35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his Father- the daughter against her  mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. v.36  A man’s enemies shall be of his own household.   If there is ever a declaration of war this is it. So soul-winning then is better understood as soul-rescuing. The true child of God experiences no greater desire and agonies than in wrestling for the souls of men, some of which are their own loved ones. This mission is like nothing the natural man can either understand or participate in, for those we are called to rescue are largely ignorant of their condition, and many are even hostile to our message and efforts. Our Commander Jesus Christ declares this clearly right next to Jn. 3:16, the verse we so conveniently quote as the boundless love of God for sinners. But we also conveniently avoid the following verses, especially the 19th verse:  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. The Apostle Paul also well understood the problem of human nature in being receptive to the things of God 1 Cor. 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.       He even shares that is love for those to whom he ministers were largely spurned. 2 Cor. 12:15 And I will gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.   This brings us to some understanding of  both the nature and purpose of the true Gospel. It is certainly not world-friendly. It is confrontational not only to demonic powers in the upper atmosphere, as most of us Christians imagine Eph. 6:12. It is also confrontational to human nature. This is the most difficult aspect of our warfare, because the enemy Satan as always, has the natural advantage in appealing to the natural and carnal appetites of man, as seen in the deception of the first human pair Adam and Eve. This is why exposing the enemy is so necessary in our mission.

The true Gospel does not pamper human nature for gains as do the false ministers. It uses the Sword of the Spirit the incisive Word of God that must forcefully impact human nature for their own welfare For the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Man cannot appreciate or accept the message of Salvation until he recognizes the foulness of our fallen nature and surrenders all to GOD.  The Ice Cream Sunday or Saturday servings by self-styled ministers with their own agendas can neither rescue souls nor prepare Christians for their TNT Mission. Many ministers with large followings are career persons they were not called of God. Only a God-called minister can seriously impact lives for time and eternity Rom. 10:14-15  And how shall they hear without a preacher?   v. 15 And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  Note again the figurative use of feet in connection with the Gospel message note also Caleb’s reference to the feet of those who would possess the land. Josh. 14: 9  Surely the land on which thy feet had trodden shall be thy inheritance…    We must resolve to take every space our feet is privileged to stand on for the Lord, not by literally claiming the physical territory as our own but by declaring the authority of God in all the earth, and to all creatures created by God Mk. 16:15 Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  This is our mandate  our Mission of TNT. Our success is not measured as false ministers do by how many persons respond or follow us. This is left to  individuals, as well as the final judgment of God Mk.16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Many of us ministers are terrified to preach or proclaim the Word publicly. This cannot be truly accomplished mainly from behind Television and Radio broadcasting, cameras and microphones. It is in …the by ways and hedges… where we confront all type of persons face to face and are  exposed to the dreaded stares and attitudes of ridicule, violence, and even death as the old-time preachers and Christians suffered. The Bible describes it as the offence of the cross, which is the natural reaction of unregenerate humanity to the Person and Mission of Christ. Rom. 9:33  As it is written behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Gal. 5:11  if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased.  Modern preachers rarely suffer any serious persecution for the preaching of the Gospel, because we exegete the offence out of the gospel we preach today.  However Jesus has declared this concerning the true Gospel. Matt. 24: 14   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;  then shall the end come.  This is what our TNT Mission is all about. It is to accomplish this mandate of preaching the pure Gospel of the Kingdom not simple by uttering a few learnt-phrases we refer to as the Gospel. It is by being a witness. This is another very significant word if not the most significant. Lip service cannot fulfill the Divine mandate to preach the Gospel in all the world’s free space. The Gospel we preach must be a witness to all nations. But every true Christian who receives the Holy Spirit, the Dunamis, the dynamite power of God are also  witnesses Acts 1:8  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me…. Our witness to this world is not simply about what persons can teach us even from the Bible. The Bible itself speaks of pure repetitive academic knowledge without the infusion of the Holy Spirit… 2 Tim. 3:7 Ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Cor. 8:1 says of selfish knowledge which only leads to egotistical pride: but knowledge puffeth up.. It is only the indwelling, and infilling of  the Holy Spirit the dunamis or Dynamite power of God that makes us, true representatives of the very Person of Christ. and ye shall be witnesses of me…

The last point about the Spirit-filled Christian Witness truly prepared for his Mission of TNT – Taking New Territories for Christ our Commander, is that he has presented his life as a living sacrifice to God, that is he is in a sense already dead to his cause. Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Here however is the clincher as I had hinted concerning the word witness. This word in the Greek is martus: meaning also martyr: that is someone who dies for what they believe.

As we conclude on the life of this valiant and Veteran Soldier Caleb and his TNT Mission- Taking New Territorities, as a pattern for us today may we also realize that we are also “Soldiers of the Cross” of Christ who should be committed to our TNT mission even at the cost of our lives as Paul admonishes us in Col. 3:3  For ye are dead and your life is hid in God in Christ.

End.

I pray that this study has been a blessing to your life, a challenge to those not yet surrendered to the Rescue Call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as to those who need to make a full commitment to our C.A.L.E.B God’s Kingdom Work Mission for the Lord today. God bless you as help us to share this vital Message.