Keeping Looking at the Grapes

Keep Looking at the Grapes

Deut 9:1-6

Theme: God gives Israel reminders of conquering the land for Him.

Introduction: In the months leading up to this point, I have been seeking God on what we should do to break ground and get this project going with something to actually see. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes which has not been clear to us as we review the documents. Since we submitted the plans to the city, there has been unforeseen changes to the process. One unforeseen change is the rising costs of building costs. It has been my desire to protect the church and not put us into a financial bind and pressure to build.

Also the permitting process has not been very clear to us, so what we thought last year was the final steps was not that at all. The design was accepted and permitted but to move forward, there is the civil engineer designs which we must hire and submit. For six months, I have tried to get hard numbers to see where we are, but none of the engineers are giving us hard numbers. It seems the numbers are moving targets and it was my decision to slow things down until we get hard numbers to know what we are up against.

It was decided by our deacons and leadership to hire a project manager who works in the field and knows clearly the inner workings of the city. There have been meetings trying to get this nailed down and he was able to get the city planners to accept a proposal for us to move forward and break ground.

The parking lot is a condition added to the project that must be completed before we can occupy the building. It will be the easiest and less expensive way to break ground and build it in phases. Of course, there has to be a re-check with planning which will take a couple of months to build the parking lot in phases.

I believe when we can get the hard numbers on this portion soon, we can break ground once we get numbers that are doable for us.

We are in need of parking at this point for Sundays so this will serve as meeting the immediate need and also meet the future need of the building project. We are looking at constructing a portion of the parking lot near the current auditorium as a Phase I of the project. The curbs, gutters, and sidewalks for just that portion of the project we might be able to accomplish it.

Currently we have $343,979.91 (Thursday) in the building fund. Obviously the more we raise at the banquet the further we can move the project forward. Just to help put all of this in perspective on time, the projects such as the DQ around the corner and the construction you are seeing along Bear Valley Road were plans submitted before Covid hit.

So far on our project: we hired a designer and architect. The drawings took about six to eight months and were submitted to the city. The city took around six months to approve everything. We have the permit of approval for that portion and now to move forward we will need to do the following:

Hire a civil engineer to draw up plans for the city

Submit to the city for approval and pay a civil fee

Hire contractor to construct the parking lot

There are some “by the way” things which may come up. Lighting on the parking lot which will include electrical. Opening the entrance of Locust gate but uncertain on the impact. This could possibly bring in public works department who will add in their fees and studies.

While all of that is weighty and heavy which can be discouraging, I have good news. If God has led us to this place, He has the pathway to accomplish His will. It may not be our pathway or comfort zone, but it is God’s way.

Tonight, I want to challenge you to Keep Looking at the Grapes.

Here in this passage, Israel is close to where we are in this building project. God wanted to give Israel the best and we find it is God’s plan to give them the land which flows with milk and honey. However, the nation was to understand that in the middle of God’s will there must first be some giants. God’s people have accustomed to this.

Noah had to build an ark, Abraham had a barren wife, Joseph was placed in jail, Moses had his Pharoahs, David had his own weak flesh, Samuel faced the apostasy of an unbelieving nation, John the Baptist had Herod, Stephen dealt with the religious crowd, Paul faced the enemies of Christ, Peter had his flesh also, and yet it continues on and on.

To dwell in the place of God’s rich blessing and provision, there must be some trials. It is important to understand: 1) Know God’s will 2) walk in God’s will and 3) we must keep our eyes on the grapes.

Every believer must realize every mountain top has a valley, every crown has a cross, every victory has a defeat, every glory has a battle, and every blessing has a trial.

It has been said: A victory is nothing more than a series of failures.

Israel was gathered on the Plains of Moab on this side of Jordan. It had taken them forty years to get here which should have taken them 11 days. This is the tragedy of unbelief, it wastes time and energy, and manpower.

God gives us three reminders here.

I. The command v.1

A. Pass over Jordan v. 1a

1. They were to get to the other side.

2. This involves movement and growth—something must be done—there is no sitting back stagnating.

3. There is urgency about the growth—either move forward or move backward.

Guinness' Records say that history's longest engagement lasted 67 years between Octavio Guillena and Adriana Martinez. They were finally married in June, 1969, in Mexico City. Both were 82 years old.

—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations

B. Possess the land v.1b

1. The next place is better and mightier—God want us to move to better land.

2. The grapes are always much better in the next land, but be assured there are also giants lurking—doubt, fear, unbelief, criticism, persecution,

3. These cities are fenced up to heaven---all the physical protection seems to be there—through human eyes the walls seem insurmountable.

4. Here they were to move forward to the land of God’s greatest blessing.

Each of us need to get a vision of the road ahead. We have waited on Him but it is God’s will to move forward now. Soon God will allow us to move forward. We have waited way too long.

II. The obstacle v.2

A. Their size

1. Great and tall-the devil always magnifies the size of our giants—the devI wants us to think they are bigger than anything we can ever face.

2. In fact, the devil will do everything he can to get us to focus on that one thing.

3. Key to Christian living—A carnal man will make a small thing big and a spiritual man will make a big thing small.

4. Nothing is ever too big for God

Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

B. Their strength

1. Mightier-greater in strength.

2. Obstacles will by their virtue be stronger than we are or we can overcome them.

3. They seemed as invincible walls reaching to heaven.

4. Notice here their problem is wrong perception—it is like looking in water—sizes are distorted

a. Their perception of the situation was weakness of faith.

b. Their perception of the situation was to give up

c. Their perception of the situation was to look at the problem.

d. Their perception of the situation was to not move ahead—let’s stay here—I am content to be here and avoid being uncomfortable—this is why some will never get baptized, some will never join, some will never get right.

III. The promise vv. 3-6

A. Preparation v.3a

1. He is a personal God-thy

2. He is Lord—covenant keeping name—He will do what He says.

3. He will go before us to prepare the way Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4. Going before means He will go ahead making the preparations for us—this will include all provision to accomplish His will.

5. He will not ask you to do anything, He cannot supply or go before us.

B. Humiliation vv. 3b-5

1. God is the landlord and takes the responsibility of putting them out of the land.

2. God is the Creator and determines who or what belongs in the land—the place of spiritual blessing.

3. Our church is on the verge of great blessings but we must not get discouraged when the problems come—this building will be a tremendous blessing.

4. God will bring judgment on the Giants—we them as great but God will destroy them in His time.

C. Glorification v.6

1. God saves man in spite of his sinfulness.

2. Here God says that we did not earn God’s goodness or grace—it is all of God.

3. All that God does for us and to us is found in the love and grace of God.

4. Our sinfulness renders us disqualified, yet in His goodness He will bless us anyway.

Con: Today, what are you looking at? The grapes or the Giants? Our vision needs to be upward as we consider the strength of our Savior. He can take care of the giants in our life.