Champions of unbelief

Past weeks we have been sharing from Numbers 13 and 14 about how we are well able to posses the promises of God despite what we see in front of us. This week I want to briefly speak about those things that can prevent us from as Caleb put it, “Arising and going up at once”

Numbers 14:4 – they agreed to appoint CAPTAINS to lead them back to Egypt.

Num 14:11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

What they were infact saying is “Let’s appoint captains to lead us back to slavery, back to death”

They worried about a better/dignified death than a victorious life. They opted for slavery – slavery has less hectic life style. You don’t faith for anything, you don’t plan, you don’t even have to pray, you got nothing, the only thing you get is just enough to keep you breathing. 

It is like being in prison. Some people actually prefer that life to freedom because in freedom, people plan, pray, and work. They take risks, and they win and or lose and for some that is unbearable.

Something all people who have succeeded will tell you is that sometimes losing is part of the script of victory. Never let one bad day spoil your life

Unbelief will produce results as much as faith does

-          In unbelief these guys refused to go fight, but quickly decided to go fight against the advice and presence of God

-          Unbelief showed them, death, defeat and indignity. They forgot these were all guaranteed in slavery

-          Through unbelief they appointed captains… heroes of unbelief, champions and leaders thereof.

-          There was movement, but in the wrong direction

-          There was unbelief, disobedience and consequent death

To me the modern day  captains of unbelief are as follows: 

Negative Self Perception

The way I see myself determines the way I see: 

-          My Potential

-          My Future 

-          My Enemies 

In Num 13:33 The spies never saw a future after they despised themselves 

They saw themselves as small and as such became small in the eyes of their opponents. The way you see yourself will determine how your enemy will see you, if you see yourself as a defeated insignificant person, you will behave that way and why should others see you differently?

They became totally hopeless and started formulating strategies to go back into land of captivity, they immediately forgot the blessings of The Lord that up to that point, they forgot the victories of God and forfeited their heritage in the kingdom of God.  All because they did not see themselves the right way.

Understand you may be young, but you are not insignificant, do not be fearful remember that the word says “Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world”. Take your possessions with boldness and confidence knowing that God sees you as a victor in life (an amazing fact is that while you see yourself as a loser the devil sees you as a victor as well otherwise why attack you?)

Fear

The people of Israel had to abandon the God given captains of faith, the godly leaders and the principles of faith through fear. They had to boldly choose rather to die than listen to the commandments of faith. Infact the fear was so intense that they actually wanted to stone and kill Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:10.) Had the glory of the Lord not appeared, Caleb and Joshua were going to be stoned to death. Fear is such a strong captain that it will make you act irrationally.

 Through their own fear, they saw a beautiful land as a land that eats up its inhabitance. Through fear they felt it better to return to slavery than proceed in a God centered, managed and directed war (the results were already in, they were going to win when they went in to take over). God had clearly said He will go before them as a consuming fire. He had done it several times already but fear spread into their hearts so strongly that they wouldn’t remember even the basic miracles God had done to get them out of Egypt.

Fear operates in the same manner as faith just in the negative. Your faith in God focuses on God and His promises as well as His ability to bring those promises to pass, your fear focuses on the problem and reasons why it is big and insurmountable.

Notice the close link between perception and fear, the way you choose to see will determine whether you operate in faith or fear. Caleb chose to see how well able God was to do as He had promised while the other spies chose to see the giants and all the reasons they couldn’t posses the land and as such acted out in fear.  We always say that fear stands for false evidence appearing real. Yes the giants were there but when compared to the power of God then what Joshua said in Numbers 14:6 is the absolute truth “The giants are bread for us”.

A mindset of entitlement

Chapter 14 reveals the host of the problem in the land.

Victory is a mindset, defeat is a mindset (They all start inside before we see them manifest on the outside).

All parties win and lose at some point, but the poor mindset meditates on loss and speaks about it more than it does victory.

“I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. Num 14:12”

The children of Israel felt that they were too special, they deserved much more special treatment. They could not fathom facing up to giants. Why didn’t God eliminate the giants, why did they have to face up with them.

In life never forget – there is never a victory without opposition. God does not want to raise big babies, who do not have a steel backbone and are always saying “Give me give me, give me”. In life there are things that you will be given but there will come a time when you will have to fight for what you want and that childish mentality won’t cut it.

Opposition is a way God proves His love and the magnitude of His power working through you. It is not victory without a fight.

Impossible opposition is what births champions and heroes.

Lets end here for today, it is always wonderful to receive your comments, questions and testimonies so as always do feel free to get in touch with us through our various channels by clicking on the method that best suits you or by leaving a comment below

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Till Thursday remember to go out and build faith inspire hope and share the love of God with others for you are well able.

Pastor Mk