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Seek With Faith

March 3, 2024 

Pastor Terry Fulks

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

Numbers 13:1-2 ESV 

25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” 

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” 

Numbers 13:25-33 ESV 

 

  1. The promise The land
  2. The test 
  3. A mixed report

 

 

  • The majority report

 

27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” 

Numbers 13:27-29 ESV

 

  • The minority report 

 

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. 

Numbers 14:5-10 ESV

WHAT WENT WRONG?

The problem we all encounter: 

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Hebrews 4:1-2 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1 ESV 

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV  

We tend to forget that we need to have faith in God in order for life in Christ to be effective.   

Points to ponder: 

  • What you see is not always what you get. 
  • What you see by faith is more real. 
  • Sightseeing can lead to blindness. 
  • A whole nation was put into jeopardy by the majority. 
  • A person can be known by the company they keep. 
  • The 10 spies were seeking safety not God’s promises. 
  • Seeking God’s plan without faith will always end in disaster. 
  • When God tells Moses to send out the spies God says, “to the land I am giving you.” They forgot God’s promise. God’s promises are for His people to build their life upon. Not to disregard, to manipulate, to be forgotten, or to be underestimated.
  • People who live by sight inevitably will give a bad report.
  • God’s eyesight will minimize the obstacles and will play up God’s role.

Connection Prayer:  Thank you God that faith in you gives better sight for living. I now, with what faith I have, confess that you Jesus died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. I take you as my Savior, Lord, and Leader. Please forgive me of my sins and thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to follow you all the days of my life. Amen.  

Next steps: 

  1. If you prayed the connection prayer with me:
    1. Read John 3, three times before you go to bed tonight. 
    2. Read the gospel of John all the way through by reading about ten verses a day. 
    3. Pick up a new believer pack as you leave.
  2. Read Hebrews 11 twice this week.
  3. Pray everyday for God to help you have more faith in God and His plan for you. 
  4. Look back on your life and note the times God did come through for you and write them down. 
  5. Review the sermon notes twice this week. 

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