As we have discussed how we experience God in our lives, we have said:
A. God is always at work in our lives.
B. God pursues a love relationship with us that is real and personal.
C. God invites us to join with Him and cooperate in the work He is doing.
D. God speaks by His Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, His purpose and His ways through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church.
Today, let’s consider what happens when we know God’s call. When God calls, we face a "crisis of belief."
The "crisis of belief” is a turning point where I must make a decision concerning what I really believe about God.
If I believe that God really does know what He is doing, that He really can do what He says he can do, that He really does know what’s best for my life, and that His cause is one worth giving my life to, then I will respond with obedience to His call. If I really don’t believe these things, then I will not obey His call. It’s that simple.
It is at this point that I discover whether or not my belief about God is a belief of conviction or convenience. A belief of convenience is one I hold to only when it is convenient, but a belief of conviction is one I hold to even when it is not.
How I respond at this turning point will determine whether or not I cooperate with God in what He’s planned for me or miss out on what God has "prepared in advance for me to walk in " (Ephesians 2:10).
It is very important that when I sense God is speaking to me that I respond appropriately. In our text, we read about how Israel faced a “crisis of belief” and how their response to God’s call revealed their true belief about Him. From this story, we learn two things:
1. A proper response to the call of God requires faith -
Because of their lack of faith, the people of Israel failed to enter into God’s desire for them. They did not respond properly to God’s call.
“We see that those people did not enter the place of rest because they did not have faith.” - Hebrews 3:19 (CEV)
Let’s think together for a moment about faith.
A. The source of faith -
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
Faith comes from . . .
1) Our lives being filled full with God’s Word -
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” - Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
2) God’s Word being fulfilled in our lives -
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
“They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” - Numbers 13:27 (NIV)
Through filling our lives full with God Word, faith rises up within us. But that faith must be applied if it is to grow. Through obedience, our faith is allowed to grow, as what God has said is confirmed in our experience.
D. L. Moody once said, “If all the time that I have spent praying for faith was put together it would be months. I thought that some day faith was going to come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ’So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to read God’s Word and faith has been growing ever since.”
B. The object of faith - 14:8-9
Our faith does not rest in a concept or an idea. It must rest in a PERSON -God Himself. Faith is only valid in God and what He is purposing to do. In fact, when God calls us to take a new step of obedience in our walk with Him, it will always be new territory for us. It will always be something we have never experienced before. It will always be something only God can do. That’s why our faith must be centered in God and God alone.
“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” - George Muller.
Moses could not deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s army, cross the Red Sea on dry land, provide water from a rock, or provide bread and meat for food. Moses had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do. Joshua could not take the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry land, bring down walled cities, defeat enemies, or make the sun stand still. Only God could have done these things. Joshua had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do.
“The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (The Message)
Our faith in God grows greater as through obedience to His call, we come to recognize more of the greatness of God.
C. The nature of faith - Faith grows with use.
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’ The Lord answered, ‘If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,” and it would obey you!’” - Luke 17:5-6 (NLT)
Jesus responded to His disciple’s request for more faith by saying that their problem wasn’t that they needed more faith. Faith had already arisen in their hearts through the Word the Lord had shared with them. What they needed to do was apply the faith they had!
The only faith that God can respond to is faith that is used! As we study the ministry of Jesus, we see varying degrees of faith in those who came to Him. He cast out a mute spirit from a son whose father wavered between faith and doubt (Mark. 9:17-24). He healed a leper who was not sure He would (Mark l:40-45). And He healed the servant of a centurion who was so sure of the outcome that he asked Jesus merely to speak the word from afar (Luke 7:1-10).
These examples teach that God doesn’t answer according to the strength of our faith. Rather, in His wisdom He responds to any degree of faith. His ultimate goal is to develop our faith, so that we might experience the fullness of all He has in mind for us.
Faith is like a muscle, and obedience is what makes it grow!
My obedience in what God calls me to today will prepare me for what He will call me to tomorrow! This is a basic Biblical principle:
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” - Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
This is why the Bible tells us not to "despise the day of small things," (Zechariah 4:10). Read Numbers 14:20-24. Because the majority of the people had failed to respond by faith through obedience to the call of God in the past, they were not ready to respond to the invitation to enter into the promised land. Joshua and Caleb, however, had prepared themselves for this call from God because of their faithful obedience to God in the past.
Faith to move mountains is the reward of those who have moved little hills.
D. The evidence of faith - “faith without deeds is dead.” - James 2:26 (NIV)
Faith is action, based on the certainty of what God will do! Note the example of Caleb: Read Numbers 13:30-31
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”- Luke 6:46 (NIV)
2. A proper response to the call of God reveals belief about God - 14:6-9
What did the response of the people reveal about their belief about God?
A. The believed God had deceived them - 13:27-29
B. They believed God would not defend them - 13:31
C. They believed God would desert them - 13:32-33
D. They believed God would destroy them - 14:2-3
What did the response of Joshua & Caleb reveal about their belief?
A. They believed in the promise of God - 14:8
B. They believed in the power of God - 14:8
C. They believed in the protection of God - 14:9
D. They believed in the presence of God - 14:9
A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom." He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty." The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." Answered the jury foreman: "Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t."
Conclusion: What you do says more about you than what you say. What you do really reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say. When God reveals what He has prepared for you to do, you face a crisis - a decision time. God and the world can tell from your response what you really believe about God!
The “crisis of belief” is only a sustained crisis if we choose not to believe and obey! Don’t live your life in a state of crisis! Instead, choose to believe and obey God!
What is your response to the call of God saying about your beliefs?
