Grabbing The Grapes

Genesis 15:13-14 God tells Abraham his seed shall be a stranger in a land and will be afflicted for 400 years, then God will judge that nation and they shall come out with great substance.

God gave Moses, a word of promise to bring to the children of Israel (this promise comes to them. After 400 years of slavery to the Egyptians).

The promise is: Exodus 3:17. I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, unto the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites. The Amorites, the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Then in Deuteronomy 6:10- 11. He tells them (wait a minute. I know I told you that it was a land flowing with milk and honey. But I left something out). There are great and goodly cities there that you didn't build there are houses full of all good things which thou fillest not and wells already dug. You won't have to dig any, and there are vineyards and olive trees, which you did not plant.

There's just one small detail that I have to mention to you (there are giants over there).

Numbers 13:1-3 17-25 vs30-33.

Now go to our text: Moses sends 12 spies in to spy out the land and bring back some fruit of the land. They go into the land they spy out the land, and they bring back figs, pomegranates and grapes, (the grapes were so big that it took two men to carry one cluster on a staff between them).

The Bible doesn't say who these two men were, but I think they were Joshua and Caleb, because they were the only two who agreed upon the promises of God and who believed that they could possess their inheritance.

All 12 spies, announced: it truly is a land flowing with milk and honey (and here is some of the fruit).

The 10 spies went on to say (nevertheless) or in our modern language. What they said was, (but).

Oh man. As soon as I see that (but) I know trouble is brewing that one little word has robbed people of their faith. Stolen their health robbed them of their dreams, kept them from their miracle and slammed the door shut to the promises of God.

I know God can heal, but.

I know God can deliver, but.

I know God can save, but.

I know God can open the door, but.

I know God can bring water out of the rock, but can he give us a table and put meat on it here in the wilderness.

I know God can, but.

how many times have we stood on the border of our promised land, and failed to take possession. Just because we coudn’t believe God was able?

Every time you add a (but) to the promises of God. You limit God, and disqualify yourself from his promise and from his provision.

These 10 spies, all had the same problem: (They had giants in their eyes).

At some point in your life as a believer. You have to make up your mind what you want in life (giants or grapes).

Grapes = the promises, blessings, provisions of God.

Giants = the enemies and the adversaries to the promises and the provisions of God.

Giants are employed by the devil to resist you, frustrate you, and steal the promises of God for your life.

There are all kinds of giants: fear, insecurity, inferiority, sickness, debt, depression, worry, anxiety, stress, family problems (and the list goes on and on). But whatever name you put on them. Their mission is to keep you out of your blessing, and to keep you from enjoying the promises of God for your life.

In life, you are either going to have giants or grapes, but you can't have both

that means: either the Giants are going to occupy your thoughts and capture your attention and decide your actions and control your life or the grapes will.

If you are motivated and energized and driven by the grapes, the giants won’t be any problem.

But if you are controlled and manipulated and dominated by the giants, then you will never taste the grapes.

When you are motivated and energized and driven by the grapes, You will scare some people.

(you will talk big, you will think big, you will plan big, you will worship big, you will give big).

You will make bold statements, like Joshua and Caleb (you will boldly declare. We are well able to take the land, we are well able to do what God said, we can do.

Now I want you to know when you become aggressive in your faith. And when you become bold in your confession. You are going to attract attention (you are going to stir people up). And your greatest enemies, are not going to be in the world or of the world.