“Whose Report Will You Believe?”
TEXT: Numbers 13:30-33
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Has anyone ever been embarrassed about a report card?
The majority is not always right. Believing the right report is not always popular. Caleb had to stand up in the mist of a majority and say that he and Joshua the minority could handle the giants.
We get focused on the big reports and forget about all the small reports that have been answered.
Ex 23:1 ¶ Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Nehemiah
Nehm. 6:10 ¶ Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Simon Peter the fisherman
Lu 5:1 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Prov. 15:30 ¶ The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
The eye is the gate to the soul. We can’t let ourselves look upon things that are of a negative sense. A person tends to think about what he looks at. There is a physical eye and a natural eye. David said not to set any evil thing before our eyes.
We can also look with the natural eye as in perception. Do I always see the class half empty? Do I always look for the bad in things and people? Do I always look for a bad report?
If I view things that are wholesome and right I will think about wholesome and right things. If I believe the glass is half full and if I look for the good in people and a good report I will have a whole new outlook on life.
Bad Report says: Good Report says:
It’s Impossible All things are possible Luke 18:27
Your too tired I will give you rest Matt 11:28
Nobody really loves you God really loves you John 3:1
You can’t go on God’s grace is sufficient Psalm 91:15
You can’t figure things out God will direct your steps Pro 3:5
You can’t do it You can do all things Phil 4:13
Your not able God is able 2Cor 9:8
It’s not worth it It will be worth it all Rom. 8:28
You can’t forgive yourself God will forgive you 1 John 1:9
You can’t manage God will supply all your needs Phi 4:19
You should be afraid God has not given u the spirit of fear 2Ti 1:7
You are worried and frustrated God says cast all your cares on me 1Pet 5:7
Your not smart enough God gives us wisdom 1 Cor. 1:30
Your all alone God says I will never leave you Heb. 13:5
Philip 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The worst report was the night Jesus was crucified. Hell was rejoicing and was spreading the terrible report that Jesus was dead. But three days later Jesus Himself began to re write the report. It was a good report. The coroner says I am dead. The death cert. Has been written. The sinners are partying and the saints are mourning. But I say the reports is wrong! I am alive and well!
Satan would like to report to someone here today, that Jesus is dead in your life. There is no hope for you. You have gone to far in your sin. He wants you to believe an evil report.
