Rev.Vicky Taff

April 17, 2005

What Are You Thinking?

Text Numbers 13:1-14: 1-13

Introduction-Moses meets Dr. Phil and he tells the congregation- Read Page 11 paragraph 2 of the book entitled "The Ultimate Weight Solution

7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom"

Proposition: Your thoughts can limit you from receiving God’s plan for your Life.

Interrogative Sentence: Are my thoughts limiting God’s plan for my life?

Transitional Sentence: You should know three things concerning God’s Plan for your life.

I. Facts Stir You

A. Explanation of Text- Moses sent them to scout the land and report back the facts concerning (vs18-20) (Vs 23,25-28)

B. Illustration-You want the good news 1st or the bad news.

C. Application-Facts stirred Caleb to get excited vs 30 and the same facts caused his fellow scouts to be stirred in negative, self-defeating thinking.

D. Application-Are the facts in my situation stirring me to get excited about God’s plan for my life and my role in this congregation or am I thinking negative thoughts of defeat and why it won’t work?

Transitional Sentence: You should know Facts Stir You and…

II. Fear Stops you

A.Explanation of Text-vs 31 His fellow scouts said, We are not able, they are stronger, (this is not a fact it is a fear)32-there are giants there vs 33 we are like grasshoppers in our own site and so they were in their sight. Ch 14:1 They cried all night with a loud voice, the next morning they grumbled, accused and whined. Fear gripped them so much they were ready to go back to Eygpt and live in . They truly never left Eygpt in their hearts. If the world is in your heart, you cannot posses the land God promised.

B. Illustration-There were 100 men who were going to climb a pole which was really high and everyone was telling them why it couldn’t be done and how others had tried and they failed and how silly it was to even pursue such a task. After much debating the 1st man climbed 100 ft and said they are right this is not possible and came down. The second man started climbing and he went 300 ft and decided they were right this is too much, and came down. 97 men didn’t even try and Finally the 3rd man started climbing and climbing and climbing and he never stopped and until he reached the top. The people were amazed. How did he do it? Why didn’t he stop like the others? When he finally reached the ground the people gathered around him and asked how did you do it? The man took out his ear plugs and said WHAT?

C. Application-Be careful of the words you chose to listen to and believe. If you listen to self defeating, wrong words and believe them to be true even if they are not, they will become true to you and a part of who you will become. You will believe a lie and you will respond to the crowd accordingly.

Transitional Sentence: You should know Facts Stir You, Fear Stops you and…

III. Faith Sends You

A.Explanation of Text- 13:1 And the Lord said to Moses vs 2 which I give to the israelites. vs3 So Moses by the command of the Lord Sent.. vs 30 Caleb says let’s go posses the land now, we are well able to conquer it. vs 8 (read)If the Lord delights in us, etc…

B. Illustration- two leaders Caleb & Joshua had faith in God Jehovah to give them the land as He promised. In the face of the congregation grumbling and getting ready to stone them) for their positive attitude which made them furious. If you don’t agree with us, we will kill you attitude. But the Glory of the Lord appeared

C. Application-Are you ready to see Victory in your Life? Are you ready to take what God has already promised You and posses it? The giants didn’t just say oh yeah you can have our land we will give it to you, enjoy it. Satan is not going to let you have what God has promised, you will have to take it, but God has already prepared the way for you to walk in! Walk in it! Know what God says and do it!

Conclusion

Chapter 14:24 (read) The tribe of Judah shall posses the land

Chapter 14:30 (read) Caleb & Joshua were the only ones allowed to come into the promised land.

Chapter 14: 37 (read) The other 10 scouts or spies died by a plague and vs 38 Caleb & Joshua lived.

What will your story say? What are you Thinking? Are you motivated by FACTS, FEAR, OR FAITH?

Atar Call

  1. Facts Stir you, But you don’t know what to do with those facts-Direction
  2. Fear Stop You, you want to do what God has called you to but Fear of the unkown, fear of the What if’s, fear of the future haunts you.- Love the Father –Perfect Love cast out all fear.

3. Faith Sends You- You know God’s Plan, You Love and Trust God’s Direction for your life and You accept that plan and call for your life and you are ready to GO! – Strength & Courage to continue walking in God’s Plan.