Dr Norm's Mid-Week Faith Booster

Numbers 13:33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:2 The LORD said to Moses, Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.

Considering the statement God made to Moses, you will realize that God himself was the one giving the land of Canaan to Israel. Consequently, the end of the matter had already being determined in God’s mind, all they had to do was to be able to see things through the eyes of God and possess the land by faith.

Have you ever wondered why God commanded Israel to go and spy or explore the land? God could have just commanded them to go and possess the land straight away, since He was the one giving it to them.

Moses’ words to the twelve leaders of the tribes that were going to spy the land were: Numbers 13:18-20 see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.

God is a God of purpose who creates each of us with a specific purpose.

His words to Jeremiah were: Jeremiah 1.5 before I formed you… I knew you and I set you apart for my holy purpose. However the truth is, the purposes of God for you do not just drop on to you from heaven. God equips you with all that you need to possess that purpose, in terms of talents or gifts. Your duty then is to plan and work with God to possess that destiny with wisdom and faith.

When the spies that went to survey the land came back, the general report about the land was: Numbers 13:27-33 it is indeed a bountiful country, a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces (a branch with one cluster of grapes had to be carried between two of them on a pole). But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too’.

But Joshua and Caleb differed in their perception; their words were, let’s go at once to take the land…we can certainly conquer it! All the twelve spies saw the same thing in the land of Canaan but the difference was in their perception or interpretation of what they saw. Ten of them focused on the giants that they thought could not be conquered, but Joshua and Caleb focused on a bountiful land that God had given to them. They saw things through the eyes of God and therefore had the right perception. The ten saw themselves as grasshoppers in the presence of the giants, forgetting that, the God they served is greater than the giants they saw. They focused on the challenge instead of focusing on the God’s promise to them.

What you see is determined by what you focus on.

What are you focusing on today?

Are you focusing on your problems or God’s promises?

The God you serve is greater than the giants you see. If He has given you the land, then know that you can surely posses it, come what may. He has never promised and failed anyone before? He is a faithful God. God’s faithfulness is not going to change.

With obedience, faith and wisdom you will possess your promised land.

Remember the just shall live by faith not by sight. So what’s your perception today?

Norman

Suddenly he became aware of someone following him. The faster he walked, the faster they walked. Frightened and frustrated, he finally turned to see who was there. But when he did, there was no one there. As he turned to continue home, he heard the noise again. That's when he realised that what he was hearing was just his corduroy pants legs rubbing together.

You may smile, but so often fear is just the result of two things:

(1) Your imagination. [It can play tricks on your mind].

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Amplified For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

This verse gives us a very basic principle of faith. Fear is a spirit and it is not sent from God.

(2) Your failure to understand how God works. 1 john 4.18 AMP There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

Isa 54.14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Message You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble--nothing to fear! Far from terror--it won't even come close!

Fear is what is used by the enemy to paralyze, immobilize and cause our faith not to function. Terror, bad reports, and all negative words are for the purpose of developing fear. Fear will break you down physically, mentally, and spiritually. The enemy wants to destroy as many Christians as possible. Even though he cannot steal you salvation, he can render you ineffective on this earth if he can only get you into fear.

Fear and faith are opposites. I am told that in an airplane, there is ONE gauge that gives the rate of ascent and the rate of descent. The reason there are not two gauges is because you cannot be doing both at the same time. The plane is either climbing to a higher altitude or descending to a lower altitude. It's the same way with our faith. We are either facing faith with our backs turned to fear, or we are facing fear with our backs turned to faith.

Someone has calculated there are 365 'FEAR NOTS' IN THE BIBLE, that’s ONE for each day of the year so God does not want you to have fear any day of your life ever.

Norman

I was reading a short article some time back from a health organisation and they stated: it is possible for a human being to live to 120 given the right conditions with proper food and sufficient exercise.

The word longevity is sometimes used as a synonym for life expectancy in demography or known as long life, especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected.

God spoke to the Children of Israel in Psalm 90.10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away.

He said this to them because they were rebelling against His Word. He had previously planned man to live to a minimum of 120 years according to Genesis 6.3 And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.

Prov 10.27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

When asked about the benefits of living to be 100 years old, one centenarian smiled and said, 'There's very little peer pressure here.'

With advances in medical science people are living to their eighties, nineties and beyond much more often today. But living longer means dealing with the realities of ageing. Our youth-orientated culture often gives older age a bad image, but clearly God doesn't agree. To Him, old age is the reward for a life well lived, a privilege earned, an accomplishment worth celebrating, and wisdom shared to benefit succeeding generations.

This is how God sees ageing. He views long life as evidence of His favour. He says, Proverbs 9.11 Through Me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Longevity, even if it has aches and pains, is a real blessing. But you can believe for no aches or pains in your later years. Don’t get in the habit of saying ‘old people’ sayings as you rise up from your chair or from your bed.

You may be saying, 'But who will take care of me when I get old?'

Don't worry God will be there for you:

Isaiah 46.3-4 NLT I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.

⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

I call that a real good insurance policy!

So does God! The Psalmist says Psalm 37.25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Deuteronomy 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Because god is no respecter or persons what He did for Moses He can do for you if you walk according to The Word.

So live long and live strong, starting today, decide to be strong and pain free.

You can do it.

Norman