The Persuaders

I’m preaching this message entitled: The Persuaders, I’m beginning with this text in numbers because I want you to see what persuaded looks like (Joshua and Caleb were persuaded)

Then you may say: But they didn’t persuade anyone else,

But You’d be wrong: The fact is they persuaded the next generation to come back and take possession of that which their forefathers forfeited.

Think of that: Two men who believed Gods report were able to persuade an entire nation to believe the promises of God.

Look at these verses:

Num 14: 6 -9 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not

Joshua and Caleb Were Persuaded:

Now let’s look at a New Testament Persuader:

2Tim 1:8-12

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, (and am persuaded) that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

.PAUL WAS PERSUADED:

Persuaded = To convince by argument, to rely by inward certainty, believe, have confidence, trust, yield.

One of the greatest needs in the body of Christ today is for men and women who are persuaded.

To be persuaded means: Won over, convinced, settled

This is essentially what faith is (Faith is arriving at the place where you are convinced and won over by the Word of God).

Until one is persuaded there is a struggle:, feelings, emotions, circumstances all war against the mind.

Examples: I hear the word ( By his stripes ye were healed) but I feel the pain in my body

I hear the word ( My God shall supply all your needs) but my pockets are empty

I hear the word ( But then there’s the doctors report).

I hear the word (But there’s the lawyers report).

And there is a war being waged:

Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

This war is waged in the mind:

It is a war that is between the word of God and the natural circumstances and conditions that contradict the Word of God.

Satan wars with sickness, pain, financial problems, negative reports, etc

If you become persuaded by the circumstances and conditions that contradict Gods Word, you will actually begin to stand in direct opposition to the Word of God.

Example: The 10 spies who allowed the giants and other things that they saw to persuade them, and convince them that they were unable to take possession of their promised inheritance.

Literally what they were saying is: We are persuaded by what we have seen and heard that God lied,

I know that is strong medicine but that is exactly what happened: They let their natural senses over rule Gods promises to them.

On the other hand Joshua and Caleb saw the exact same things, and heard the exact same things but they were persuaded by the Word of God that they were well able to take the land.

Nu 13:30 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).

Nu 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for (they are bread for us): their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Joshua and Caleb were persuaded by the Word of promise:

The Word of God had prevailed in their thinking over every possible enemy.