Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC

Number 14:1-10
Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 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 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. 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. 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.” 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.

10 of the 12 spies sent in to the Promised Land by Moses have already brought back a bad report and taken the proverbial wind out of the sails of the Hebrew people. They had that losing mentality which lacks faith in Christ and the promises He makes to us. However, we see here that Joshua and Caleb had a winning attitude! They were hungry for victory and saw this as their time to shine; shine the light of God’s glory in a dark land. They were ready and excited to fulfill the purpose for which God had called them and their countrymen. They saw this as their grand opportunity to take hold of all God had for them.

Notice in their lives some characteristics of a spiritual winner. They recovered God’s perspective. Instead of looking around they chose to look up and as a result their uplook determined their outlook. They remembered God’s promises; they reiterated what God said to the people and were prepared to act. They rested in God’s provision; losers only see what’s there, winners see what’s to be provided. They relied on God’s power; they knew the same power that would raise Jesus from the dead was at their disposal. They were winners! They let faith be their guide instead of their insecurities.

Consider some differences between winners and losers in life:

  • When a winner makes a mistake, he says, “I was wrong”; when a loser makes a mistake, he says, “It wasn’t my fault.”
  • A winner works harder than a loser and still seems to find time; a loser is always “too busy” to do what’s most important.
  • A winner goes through a problem; a loser goes around it, and never gets past it.
  • Winners make commitments while losers make promises.
  • A winner says, “I’m good, but not as good as I ought to be;” a loser says, “I’m not as bad as a lot of other people.”
  • A winner respects those who are superior to him and tries to learn from them; a loser resents those who are superior to him, and tries to find chinks in their armor.
  • Winners get things done for God while losers blame God for things done to them.

So, what will it be….winning or losing? In Jesus we win! He won our salvation on the cross and is coming again to set up His Kingdom on earth! Choose to trust God and believe what He says. Believe that God is willing and able to do all things in your life and to work in ways you never thought possible!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, You have already won the war for my soul through Christ. Because of You I will live victorious throughout eternity. Help me live victoriously in time. Give me faith Lord to follow You. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

SONG FOR TODAY: GIVE ME FAITH

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”