Message topic: Nevertheless
Scripture text: Joshua 14:6-10
Our message topic for today is a one- word statement. How much message do you think you can get from a one-word topic? I believe that you are eager to hear why I believe that the word Nevertheless is a important word.
Now that you know that our message topic for today is just one word, and the one word is nevertheless, are you asking yourself, do I understand the full meaning of the word nevertheless?
There are 237 instances in the scripture that the word Nevertheless, is mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments: the question then for you and I is, how much do we understand the meaning of the word nevertheless?
I do not intend for this message to be an English class, in that to fully explain the word nevertheless we will have to mentioned what part of speech it really is and being an adverb, how do you used it in a sentence?
You can refer to the word nevertheless many times and never using the word nevertheless. Listen to this example, even so, nonetheless, still and all, howbeit, still, notwithstanding, though, however, and withal, all of these independent wards I am saying nevertheless.
We learn from Numbers thirteen that following the word of God, Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land which He had promised to give to them, and we find their report when they return from spying out the land in Numbers 13: starting at verse twenty-six.
And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
They told him and said, we came unto the land whither thou sent us, and surely it is a good land, it flowed with milk and homey; and this is the fruit of it, as they displayed a bunch of grapes carried by two men.
Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great. And moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.
From our scripture passage for today which is taken from Joshua 14: in verse seven we hear Joshua saying to us; forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-bar-ne-a to spy out the land which we the Israelites should inherit; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Nevertheless, my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God, and Moses swore on that day, saying, surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
Here we find the word nevertheless is been used in both a negative and a positive way as it is all around us in the world today. The prophet Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him, nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
We find these words in Nehemiah 9: 31: nevertheless, for thy great mercies sake, thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
In Luke five, we find that Jesus was talking to a group of people and the group grew so large that He had to seek some space in the ship of a fisherman called Peter. At the end of his teaching to the people, He said to the boat owner Peter, go out into the deep and let down his net for a draught.
Peter answered him in these words: we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: but nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net: and when they had don’t this, it became the largest caught of fish he has ever had, so that he had to call for help to bring it in.
When Peter saw all that had taken place, he fell down at Jesus knees, and said depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord, but Jesus said to him, fear not, from hence- forth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ship to land, they forsook all and followed him.
In Galatians 2: 20 we find these recorded for us by Paul: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Many have asked the question, why did Jesus came into the world? The answer can be found in Luke 19: 10 in these words: for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Now listen to 2nd. Corinthians 5: 17-19; therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
One of Jesus’s most foremost scripture in inviting men to God the father is found in Matthew 12:28-30 where we find these words: come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus did all that He was sent to do by His Father for the redemption of mankind, and as the time drew near in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed this prayer to his father: Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.
There is no more important word in the effort of man’s salvation than nevertheless: when did you say to yourself nevertheless for the cause of Christ?