Text:
Numbers 14: 1-4
1That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Intro:
Tonight I want to talk with you about your heart, your mind, and your soul.
Remember the times when you faced things that you had to do or new situations that you were uncomfortable with and you long for the good old days in H.S. or College or where ever.
That’s what the Children of Israel we feeling.
God I’m not sure I can trust you,
I feel better trusting myself and the past.
But you know you can never return.
That was just for a season.
As God leads this church,
As God leads us,
Let us move forward with boldness and not retreat back into the comforts of the past.
In scripture it talks about Satan prowling around like a roaring lion seek whom he may destroy.
But for a Christian we don’t need to fear him or his tactics.
In 2Tim 1:7 it says,
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The scriptures go on to remind us in
Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.
As we are reminded of these things, I feel God is calling us tonight into a deeper understanding of some of the things He wants to accomplish in us and through our lives.
Tonight, I want to visit:
· our calling
· our courage and
· our commitment
As we talk about these things tonight, ask yourself these questions:
· “God, what are you specifically saying to me tonight?”
· Show me where you want me to go?”
· Tell me what you want me to do.?
Let us avail ourselves to the unction of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak to us tonight in a way that we clearly hear.
PRAYER
I. The Calling
a. God has a plan for every person
· The plan of Salvation
* People who don’t know God are lost
Say that with me.
“They are Lost”
They are clueless, to the plan of salvation or have no idea about what their lives can be if they turn it over to God and the plan he has for their life.
You can’t know the plan until you are born again
We need to look at The Northwest Suburbs, Lake and Cook County and surrounding areas as lost, they are adrift.
It’s vital to understand this important key
b. God has a purpose for every life that is born
Moses had a purpose
To lead the children of Israel to the Promise land.
To occupy the land!
God had given them the land
It was theirs to possess
Deut. 1: 21
21See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God
of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
That was Moses’ Vision, his destiny
What is God telling you to do, where to go, what to say.
· That is the vision, the destiny of your life
· No matter what you go through God has a purpose
· No matter how bad or good things are
What does 2 Cor. 5:7 say
“Walk by faith and not by sight.”
· He even govern those who are over you
· That purpose is even greater than we can even imagine, grasp or understand
· And if you can understand this point it will keep you
· no matter what truck hits you
· no matter what car broad sides you
· or what is said to you, God Has a calling for you and that calling brings purpose to your life.
II. The Commitment
What is Commitment?
Webster’s Dictionary says, “a decisive moral choice that involves a person in a definite course of action.”
ILL. – The Zode pg. 73 “Fresh Ideas Series” Vol. 1
The Children of Israel had received “ A Calling” (Occupy the Land)
But they lack faith and commitment
They didn’t remember the God of the impossible.
They relied on their own strength.
Read Numbers 13 :25 - 29
They were operating in the natural instead of relying on the supernatural
The Children of Israel lacked the commitment to walk by faith and not by sight.
ILL. – Pg 67 Speaker’s Sourcebook II
Use the quote from Dr Anthony Campolo
The children of Israel had a calling, they were committed, but they need the courage.
III. The Courage
Read Numbers 13 starting with verse 31 – 14: 4
God had led them out of Egypt and through the desert.
They were on the verge of realizing their dream, their calling. But they lacked the courage
They were scared!
· Illustrate the point concerning this church
ILL. – pg 77 Speaker’s Sourcebook II “The Heart of Courage”
But as you face the battle you begin to sense his power and presence giving you what you didn’t have before.
Power Wisdom Peace
2 Tim 1:7
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
You get a sense that:
“I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”
As the Musicians return
Closing: (Draw Me Close To You)
Tonight, we have talked about our heat, our mind, and our soul.
Remember, Satan prowls around like a lion looking for someone to destroy.
But we know his tactic and don’t need to fear him.
Don’t forget,
7 . . .God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Also:
Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.
As we are reminded of these things, of God calling us tonight into a deeper understanding of want He wants to accomplish in us and through our lives.
Tonight, I we talked about:
· our calling
· our courage and
· our commitment
As we talk about these things tonight, ask yourself these questions:
· “God, what are you specifically saying to me tonight?”
· Show me where you want me to go?”
· Tell me what you want me to do.?
Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and in a way that we clearly hear.
Some may be lacking in realizing the calling that God has for every one of us.
Some may be afraid and lack courage to do what God is calling you to do.
And some may not be willing to commit to what God has already spoken to you.
As we close tonight no matter where you stand, would you come and allow God to do His work in your life.
Would you allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in you tonight so that he is free to accomplish what He desires in you and through you?
Prayer
