Hebrews 12:1-2
Looking unto Jesus. In that first verse it talks about the witnesses from times past who have exercised faith in God. It’s interesting in verse four that it says that He is the author and finisher of our faith. This means no one here can boast of the faith they have. This also means that God in His love and mercy will fulfil His purposes in us. He is building His church in His way and His time. I want to briefly look at the life of one of those witnesses and we will come back to that verse in Hebrews 12: 2 before we partake of the bread and wine.
In a macro sense we are living at a time which is crucial for you and for me.
Exodus 14:10-13
That last verse God has impressed on my heart particularly of late. It was categorical what God said to them: ‘he Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever.’
Exodus 14:29-31
They had reached an impossibility where God, out of nothing, found the way forward for them. In any situation we find ourselves in life, we can choose the way we approach it in our spirit and mind.
Numbers 13:1-2
And so we then have a list of twelve of the tribes, preceded by the nominated persons from each of the tribes:
Numbers 13:4-16
I’m sure those people, when they were called together by Moses, got on well each other. Interestingly, in verse 16, Moses called Oshea, the son of Nun, to Jehoshua. That means that meaning of his name went from ‘he saves’ to ‘the Lord saves’. There came a part in mine and your life where we tried to save ourselves. And then there came a point where God drew close to us and he saved us.
The way God is opening up things for us in our lives is going to be tremendous when we put God first and realise that the faith we have is for Him. There is no pecking order of faith, it is all of Him. Jesus, who exemplified faith, coming to do what Father wanted, was the ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling everything that Father wanted. What we’re going to see through these verses is that the faith God has given us has been given for a reason: to glorify Him in our lives. When you look back on the impossible situation you are in now, you will see how God has got you through it.
Matthew 9:36-38
Do you do that? Do you look upon people and ask God that that person would become someone who goes into the fields so that glory might be brought to God’s name as they harvest in God’s land Or do you look at people and despise them and ensure that you remain above them? When Jesus looked at anybody in these multitudes He had compassion on them. We have to be 100% sold out for God. We are living at a poignant time for everyone here; it is God who is bringing things about.
Numbers 13:17-25
The twelve of them witnessed the same thing. Some went to different areas obviously to ensure that they covered the extent of the Lord. It’s apparent later that Caleb witnessed the people of Anak; the giants.
Numbers 13:26-27
Who sent them into the land? God did. Moses was under instructions from God.
Numbers 13:28-29
So this is the report from all twelve of them.
I just want you to see what was told to the children of Israel, by God, before they got to this stage.
Exodus 3:17-18
If they had really listened to what God had said they would have known that God would deliver the land unto them.
Numbers 13:28-29
It was known that that would be the case. So you can see, from a known number of facts, from a known viewpoint of those facts, it is possible for you to respond to what God is saying to you either the right way or the wrong way. What is it going to be? These twelve witnessed similar things. They all had the same God and knew that what God had promised they were now moving into. They also knew that they simply had to go and occupy the land and God would deliver it unto them.
Numbers 13:30-14:10
I am triple confident that the God whom we serve, that the One who has shined the glorious light of the Gospel into our hearts, is more than able to bring us through the difficulties in our lives. I think that what is now going happen, as we rest on God’s word, He will show us that He is the God of miracles and of faith. We will start going outward to help those in need. Jesus Christ is the answer for you and me. I am excited to know that what God is doing in our midst is something that will be fulfilling His purposes so that His glory will be exemplified and so that there will be others that He will drawn into His Kingdom.
I know that God has been making Himself known to you more than ever before. I think that, as you and I are open to God moving through His word, others will be drawn. Jesus is set down at the right hand of the throne of God because He has perfected God’s purpose. That purpose was that you and I should be people who know that God brought us out of the tyranny of sin. He set our feet upon a rock and has got us to a point in our lives when He is saying ‘let’s go forward together’. At the end of the difficulty you are facing now you will be grateful towards God, because you will be able to see that it was He that provided the way. Caleb knew that they could possess the land. What Jesus Christ did on the cross means that He has opened the way completely for you and for me to fulfil His purposes in our lives. He is a wonderful God.
What is it that the Lord is prompting you to do in His kingdom? Now is the time for it to happen. It is important that you and I approach circumstances with the right spirit.
There were ten people writhing in an attitude of doubt and disbelief. And then there was Caleb and Joshua with a completely different spirit. You have the spirit of Caleb and Joshua. It’s God’s spirit. It’s a miracle that that has happened in your life. What are you doing with it? It is a crucial time and it is a wonderful time as God is moving in our midst. We look, and will always look, unto Jesus and lift up His name.
Friday, 31 July 2009
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