Growing in God: God is Able

Series: Growing in God
Message: God is Able
2-7-10
Intro
 Last week we discussed doing things God’s way.
 His way is still the right way today and we are seeking Him for It.
 God calls us to serve those whom we are in relationship with
 Sometimes we get this idea that serving is only 1 time per month at the homeless shelter
 That is part of it, but real serving is less about serving people that you don’t know, but more genuinely serving those that you have a direct relationship with.
 Either way, God honors those with a servants heart.
 Mat 20:28, Mark 10:45 Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many
 I want to encourage you to continue to choose faith over the familiar, and remain steadfast in your loyalty to the Lord
 Do not turn back to the familiar things of this world
 In choosing God and His ways we can rest in knowing that He will provide for us, cover us, He will redeem us
 The way of faith and blessing is seldom comfortable, but God’s presence is its worthy reward
Body
 The Hebrew children had been in bondage for over 400 years after Joseph brought only 70 people to Egypt in Gen 50.
 Now they had grown to 2-3 million, and they were helping build the pyramids for Ramses in Egypt.
 They cried out for a deliverer and God sent Moses who delivered them after 400 years in slavery, they finally leave Egypt with everything…
Ex: being single moving with the back of a little ford ranger pickup to 2 26ft trucks, cars, vans, and pickups.
This is just after they have moved once after camping on the other side of the Red Sea, they are complaining because they haven’t eaten any meat for a few weeks, and God sent a plague, a few thousand died, however they are still complaining…against Moses their leader, and God, and where they are…
Numbers 13:1-2, 16-33, KJV
The Obstacle to Believe
1. The people are strong- Giants in the Land, 8-9ft tall
2. The cities are fortified, and very large, by the way did we tell you there are giants there, descend. Of Anak\
3. Amalakites in the South, Hittites, Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in Mtns,
4. Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of Jordan
Quiet!!! Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!!!!!
 We have the capacity to prevail and succeed because Romans 8:31 God is for us, who can be against us?
The victory is ours and the battle is the Lord’s 1 Sam 17:47
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
Caleb saw the same things that the other 10 spies saw but he had a different perspective
 Even though others brought back an evil report of unbelief his words declared a conviction, a confession- we are well able…
 He surveyed the land, so faith is not blind
 Faith does not deny the reality of difficulty
 But faith declares the power of God in the face of the problem
 The other 10 used their confession to cultivate division, while Caleb stood his ground in faith, and moved in partnership and support of Moses leadership for 40 years.
 Because of others unbelief it even delayed his own experience of the promise land 40 years, so he also gained a sense of patience.
 Even though your patience gets frustrated with time, delays come, a strong confession of faith will bring victory to you.
 Psalm 116:10
I believed, therefore have I spoken
 Romans 4:17
even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were
 2 Corinthians 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith
Numbers 14: 1-10 KJV
Vs 9 the heathen are our bread-
Psalm 2:8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
 The reason why the heathen are your inheritance is because everything they have is going to you.
 The can be conquered as easily as bread is eaten, and their protection is gone
 The heathen can’t receive anything from God, and they can’t they won’t,
Joshua was Moses assistant until Moses died, and then Joshua took over later, but he learned some valuable lessons under Moses
 Moses was a great prophet of God, Num 12:3 the man Moses was very humble more than all men who were on the face of the earth
 Joshua had a great leader to model after, or great Godly example
 Many of Joshua’s decisions went against popular opinion
 Joshua in each instance, encouraged the people to increase their faith in God’s promises rather than look at the impossible circumstances
You cannot condition your appeal to the sentiment or mood of the times, you must consult God.
Prov 3:5-6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
 Spiritual advance requires faith, and unbelief will never see beyond the difficulties
 Unbelief sees walled cities, giants, debts, lack, rather than the power of God
 Unbelief looks at obstacles, while faith looks at God
 God will call you to do the unpopular thing to position you to use your faith
 Eph 6:16 take the shield of faith where by you shall quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
You grow in God by recognizing through Christ all things are possible
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
You can do it!!! You can make it, you will make it!!!
John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
 You were made for the battle,
 You don’t know how much faith you have until you are in a good fight
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Proverbs 24:10
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Joshua and Caleb led the way into the future by confronting a negative report and helping a new generation rise to serve God by faith.
The key to growing in God is, “FAITH’.
Hebrews 11:6 (King James Version)
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Num 14:11, 29-38
Num 13:30
Let us go up at once and take possession for we are well able to overcome it.