January 3, 2021
We also saw the Nephilim, the descendants of Anak. Compared to the Nephilim, as we see things, we’re like grasshoppers, and that’s their opinion of us!” Numbers 13:33 (ISV)
Until one defeats fear, doubt and unbelief, it doesn’t really matter the size of the giants we face. Your enemy to defeat is fear, and your obstacle to overcome is doubt. Even small issues will be a big deal. The biggest challenge will be dominating the enemy of the mind. How we see ourselves, and more importantly, how we see God will always play a huge factor in our success. The first generation of Israelites who did not enter into the promised land, except Joshua and Caleb, saw themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants that possessed the land. And because they saw themselves small and insignificant, they were confident the enemy, their resistance, saw them that way too. They were right. They could not possess the land God had sworn to give them because they had no faith. They had already defeated themselves before the battle began. Sadly, most people will die with their dreams inside of them because they see themselves just as these first-generation Israelites.
Most of the time, people will not give you credit or the support you need to accomplish great things. Some will, but most won’t. And that’s ok. We have to decide whether or not we believe in ourselves and if we believe God at His word. We have to be determined to go after our dreams even if we go alone. If you allow fear, doubt, and unbelief, you will make excuses and find reasons why you can’t have anything. Faith will charge ahead and trust God. Look at how Caleb, who was with these same men, viewed the same situation.
Caleb silenced the people on Moses’ behalf and responded, “Let’s go up and take control, because we can definitely conquer it.”
Numbers 13:30 ISV
Caleb had no doubt they could conquer what was in front of them. Notice the majority was fearful. That’s why you have to determine you are going to trust God and not the multitude. Jesus said it like this.
“Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it.
(Matthew 7:13 SV)
Just because everyone feels the same way about something doesn’t always make it right. Faith can cause you to stand alone or in small numbers of an agreement, so our resolve has to be in Christ alone and His words.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
(2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9 NLT)
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13 NLT)
We have to be careful about our disbelief. Faith is pleasing to God, but lack of faith and doubt are not acceptable to Him. Our dedication and belief in God’s promises are what continually reveals Christ in the earth.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
(Hebrews 11:6-7 NLT)
But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.
(John 12:37 NLT)
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?
(Numbers 14:11 NLT)
So if we struggle with faith, what do we do to increase our faith? First and foremost, we do not harden our heart to His word and supernatural ability. After all, He is God! The Bible actually warns us of this.
That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’” Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
(Hebrews 3:7-12 NLT)
Think about how much He has already done for us!
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
(Romans 8:32 NLT)
He gives us His Son, His miracles, and the earth declares His glory to help us have faith in Him.
Next, we need to devote ourselves to scripture. The word of God is the intent of God. It’s how we grow in our understanding of Him and His plan for us.
It helps us to know His nature and understand His character.
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
(Numbers 23:19 NLT)
And knowing His word helps us to build our faith.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:17 ESV)
So, if faith in Jesus comes to us by hearing the good news of Him preached, how much more will we gain if we continue to listen, learn, and believe? Because ALL THINGS are possible to those, who believe!
Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.”
(Mark 9:23 ERV)