Most of us never take advantage of God’s abundant resources. Eph. 3:20 in the Amplified Version says, "God is able to do superabundantly, far over and above, all that we dare ask or think. Infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams."
We never tap into the tremendous resources that God has made available to us.
After healing two blind men and restoring their sight, in Matthew 9:29 Jesus said: "According to you faith, it will be done to you." The key that unlocks all God wants to do in our lives is really simple: It’s Faith.
The Law of Expectations says that, basically, we get what we expect out of life. We tend to see what we expect to see, we tend to feel what we expect to feel, we tend to act the way we expect to act, and eventually, we tend to achieve what we expect to achieve. Our expectations influence our happiness, they influence our health, they influence all aspects of our lives. Our expectations even influence our relationships.
There are two approaches to life and we get to choose. We can choose to live by fear, or we can choose to live by faith. We can be an optimist, or we can be a pessimist. It comes down to simply living by faith or by fear. Especially in these economic times, where are we putting our trust? Do we begin our day with renewed trust, with an optimistic attitude that God will direct and guide us through our day? I know what you’re thinking. Yeah Pastor Rich, but you haven’t been searching for a job for six months; you haven’t lost all of your savings because of Wall Street; you aren’t facing the devastation and turmoil of a troubled relationship. Well the truth is that everyone in this sanctuary has experienced crisis, and we have one thing in common. We have found comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ as we have endured each crisis.
The Bible is full of examples of people who have endured as we have discussed many times. Optimists really. People who approach life with hope and courage rather than with fear. An optimist says, “My cup runneth over, what a blessing!” A pessimist says “My cup runneth over, what a mess!”
Remember the life of Caleb? For you Bible Historians, this will be a good review, and perhaps there are some this morning who are not familiar with this man. He certainly is a great example for us all. Back in the Old Testament days, after Moses received God’s call that he would lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, he gathered some men together for a specific purpose. In the Book of Numbers chapters 13 and 14, we read that the Lord spoke to Moses saying “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan (the Promised Land) which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”
So each of the original twelve tribes are represented and a leader from each tribe is appointed – the best of the best. Each name is listed and among them is a man named Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb from the tribe of Judah.
Along with the other ten superstars, they were sent to spy out the land of Canaan to see what the land was like, so they would be prepared when they entered, whether the people who dwelled in the land were strong or weak, few or many. Whether the land in which they dwelled was good or bad, rich or poor, the cities small camps or strongholds. Moses said “Be of good courage and bring back some fruit of the land.”
For forty days and forty nights they stayed in the land and made their observations. When they returned they met with Moses and reported the following: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey and this is the rich fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong, the cities are fortified and very large, moreover, we saw gigantic people who would look upon us as though we were grasshoppers.” Therefore, we cannot enter the Promised Land. But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said “Let’s go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But Israel refused. Then both Joshua and Caleb pleaded with the people saying; “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. The Lord is with us, do not fear them.”
How did the people respond? They wanted to put them to death by stoning them on the spot! Moses tried to intercede, but the punishment for not trusting in the Lord was forty years wandering in the wilderness until the entire generation had passed away, all with the exception of two men who would eventually lead them into the Promised Land – Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb had to endure 40 years of wandering and waste, murmuring and bickering, disobedience and hardship, even though they had put all their trust in the Lord from the very beginning. But never do we read a word of complaint from either of them. In fact, because of their trust, faith and obedience, they were eventually rewarded.
When the spies were originally sent into Canaan, the first major city they observed was Hebron. Hebron was the sight where Abraham had earlier built an Altar to the Lord, both Abraham and his son Isaac were buried there, along with Abraham’s wife Sarah, Joseph, Rebecca and Leah, and it would eventually become the capital city of Judah when David reigned as King. Hebron would become the second holiest city in Israel, the first being Jerusalem. Why is this important? We find out in the book of Joshua chapter 14. After the wilderness wandering and after the Israelites entered the land after forty years, under Joshua’s appointed leadership Caleb was awarded the city of Hebron as an inheritance. Caleb reminded Joshua of the giants that dwelled within and the fortification surrounding it and said to Joshua that the Lord would be with him, and that he would be able to drive them out as the Lord had said. And Joshua blessed him and gave him the city and eventually the land had rest from war.
Oh by the way, when this took place listen to verse 11; Caleb said, “Here I am this day, eighty-five years old, yet I am as strong this day as I was when Moses first sent me in.”
Long story, but what an example of faith and courage. Not an example of a lack of faith and fear. And God used him in a powerful way, even at eighty-five years old. An example of optimism. Others? Hundreds throughout the Old and New Testaments.
The Apostle Paul as we have discussed before, was also an optimist. And in Philippians 1:20, he says, "I live in eager expectation while I’m going through all these trials." He was an optimist. He could be cheerful even when life couldn’t be perfect.
When you expect the best, you’re honoring God. It also increases your ability when you’re expecting the best. Athletes know that the winning edge is attitude, not ability. It’s how you see it.
Start each day with faith:
Some of you may feel like Eeyore. You remember Eeyore? I’m reading from that great theologian, A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh. Eeyore the old donkey stood by the side of the stream and looked at himself in the water. "Pathetic," he said, "that’s what it is. Pathetic." He turned and walked down the stream twenty yards, splashed across and walked slowly back to the other side and he looked at himself in the water again. "As I thought" he said, “No better from this side. But nobody minds. Nobody cares. Pathetic, that’s what it is.” Then behind him Winnie the Pooh came in. "Good morning Eeyore,” said Pooh. "Good morning Pooh bear,” said Eeyore gloomy, “if it is good morning……which I doubt.”
Any of us ever identify with Eeyore? The 5th Psalm verse 3 says, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning I lay my request before you and I wait in expectation." Start each day in faith. Look for the good in every situation and make it a goal each day to only say words of encouragement.
Ephesians 4:29 in the NIV translation says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Notice the word “Only.”
Last week I challenged you with some daily assignments. Remember, Monday I asked you to pray for someone in the church, Tuesday to call someone in our church family, Wednesday to send a note of encouragement, Thursday to randomly do something kind for someone in our church, Friday to randomly do something kind for someone outside of our church family, and Saturday to invite someone to church.
Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel: Philippians 1:27-30
The church in Philippi was the first one founded by Paul in Europe. Philippi was a Roman colony and the inhabitants took their Roman citizenship very seriously. So when Paul speaks of the necessity of being citizens of Heaven, they understood that commitment very well. Philippi had a very small Jewish population, and because there were not enough men to form a synagogue (the requirement was for 10 Jewish men who were heads of a household) some devout women met outside the city at a place of prayer. Paul preached the Gospel to them and Lydia became a believer. It is likely that the Philippian church initially met in her home.
The phrase “let your manner of life be” translated, is related to our words “polis” (city) and “politics”. It means to conduct oneself as a good citizen of something; or to conduct oneself according to the laws and customs of a state. So Paul’s saying “Behave as citizens worthy of the gospel.” When Paul speaks of being citizens of Heaven, a noun form of the same word is used. We know what it means to be citizens of something. We are all citizens of the United States of America. What does that mean? It means we live here. We have a special status here that others in the world do not. We belong to the United States.
-As U.S. citizens we know that certain things are expected of us. There are things that U.S. citizens do and don’t do. We have certain rights and privileges as citizens of this country. But we know that while we are citizens here now, we are ultimately citizens of heaven. That’s where we really belong. So our conduct is to be consistent with the heaven-sent gospel.
If you woke up this morning – you are blessed with life so live it with thanks to the Giver of Life.
If you woke up this morning with strength to get out of bed – you are blessed twice, so give thanks to the Lord who strengthens you.
If you woke up this morning with strength and health – you are tripled blessed, so give thanks to the Great Physician who gives you that health.
If you woke up this morning with all of these and with a desire to come to the House of God and worship God – you are absolutely blessed for 6 Billion people and more on Planet Earth aren’t as blessed as you are because Jesus dwells in your heart.
If you woke up this morning and the thought came to your mind that Jesus may be coming soon to take you home with him – then you are blessed beyond measure for Jesus has given you eternal life and a promise of eternal glory with him, so thank Him.
And, if you woke up, but you don’t know Jesus, and you aren’t adopted into the family of God yet – you too are so very blessed today – because today can be the greatest day that you have ever lived, and the first day of a truly blessed life.
