Fearless Faith - Joshua

Fear is an ever-present part of the human experience. Whether it's fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of the unknown, each of us has faced moments where our anxieties feel overwhelming. Today, I want to acknowledge that reality without dwelling too much on the specifics of our fears. Instead, let's focus on how we can navigate and overcome these fears through faith.

Some of you may be dealing with tangible fears right now. Maybe there are issues at home, at school, or within your circle of friends that are causing you constant anxiety. Others of you might be battling internal fears—worries about not being good enough, smart enough, strong enough, or pretty enough. These voices of doubt can play like a relentless soundtrack in your mind, attacking your sense of self-worth and making you question if those negative thoughts might be true

But here's a crucial truth I want you to grasp today: the more you FOCUS on what other people THINK about you, the harder it is to SEE what God SAYS about you.

One of the biggest challenges for many of us when we talk about fear is: what do you do when you really want to live out fearless faith and you trust that God is faithful but it seems like you’re the only one? How do you take a stand and follow after God when you’re the only one standing?

Now that can be real fear

If you have a Bible, open up to Numbers 13. We’re going to look at the story of a guy named Joshua who lived out a fearless faith.

Lets look at the nation of Isreal.

The nation of Israel had been suffering as slaves in Egypt for about 400 years then God used a man named Moses to lead them out.

They were headed for a place called the “Promised Land” which is described as a land flowing with “milk and honey.”

The only problem is that to get into the Promised Land, they had to drive out the people already living there which would be no easy task. So, God told Moses to pick twelve men to spy out the land and bring back a report.

Numbers 13:27-28 (NLT)

This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!

Did you catch the tone here?

Yes, it was a beautiful piece of real estate! They even had a fountain of milk and honey! Who wouldn’t want to live in a place like that? BUT the people living there were big and strong and powerful. And they may have even seen giants!

What they were saying was, “There’s no way we’re going to take this land!

Even though this is the land God promised us and even though we’ve seen the miraculous way God rescued us out of the land of Egypt, we’re just not big enough, we’re not strong enough and we just don’t trust that God will come through for us again.

In fact, we’re probably all going to die!” This was the report that the spies brought back to Moses. While two of the twelve challenged this report saying “We’ve got this! If God is in it, we will be successful,” the other ten were defiant and gave into their fears.

Numbers 13:31-33 (NLT)

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” 32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!

Has there ever been a time when you’ve felt like that? Like a grasshopper in a land of giants?

My guess is that some of you know exactly what that feels like. When it comes to fear and anxiety you’ve felt like a grasshopper in a land of giants.

Maybe it was a time when you felt completely overwhelmed and it seemed like the odds were not in your favor. In times like that, it’s easy to start believing things about yourself and about God that have no basis in reality.

You might be thinking maybe God isn’t really there or maybe He doesn’t really care about me and my situation. Or, maybe it’s not really worth it to follow God and trust His promises.

This was exactly what was going on with the nation of Israel once they heard this report.

Numbers 14:1-4 (NLT)

Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!

People were weeping and crying throughout the night. They were talking about the good old days of slavery in Egypt and how those times were better! They were saying things like, “Maybe it would have been better if we had died as slaves back in Egypt!” That’s part of what fear does to us when it gets a grip on us. Fear DISTORTS our REALITY.

God’s people were looking for GPS directions for how to get back to Egypt. They were done with Moses at this point and ready to choose a new leader.

But in the midst of all the whining, fear, craziness and attempted mutiny, two men stood up and put everything on the line to go against the crowd.

Numbers 14:6-9 (NLT)

Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!

Don’t focus on the SOURCE of your fear but on the SIZE of your Savior.

Joshua and Caleb remembered something that everyone else had forgotten. They knew that the God they served was big and strong and powerful and that He was the same God who rescued them out of slavery in Egypt.

So, despite how big and scary the other nations and armies seemed, God was bigger! He was more than able to protect His people and bring them into this Promised Land.

For some of us, we may feel a lot like a grasshopper in the land of giants. Like that nation of Israel, we may have a pretty good picture of the giants in front of us and we’re overwhelmed and afraid.

But instead of facing your fears head-on and trusting in God’s faithfulness, it’s easier just to stay right where you are and live in fear, so you don’t rock the boat – especially when no one else seems to be standing with you.

Remember that most of the spies (ten of the twelve) wanted to retreat and live in fear. Only Joshua and Caleb wanted to live with a fearless faith and follow God into the Promised Land. They didn’t focus on the source of their fears but on the size of their Savior. Some of you know what that’s like.

Maybe among your group of friends you’re the only Christian who is trying to live for God. While you want them to respect your beliefs and values and follow Jesus, your fear is that if you say something or share your faith then you’ll be judged or labeled as “no fun.”

I know that the fear of losing friends is huge but AGAIN, don’t focus on the source of your fear but on the size of your Savior.

Others of you may be in a relationship with that guy or that girl and things have been going well. But now you’re starting to feel the pressure of moving things to the next level physically. While you know God is clear on His boundaries in this area, you don’t want to miss out on the fun, and you don’t want to disappoint your boyfriend or girlfriend. So, your fear is that the relationship will end if you don’t give in and that no one will want to date you. Don’t focus on the source of your fear but on the size of your Savior.

For some of you, this may hit a bit closer to home. Maybe in your family, you’re only one who is a Christian and no one else is supportive of you going to church. In fact, it’s a big deal that you’re even here because you know when you go back home, you’ll probably be made fun of with some not-so-subtle comments. Don’t focus on the source of your fear but on the size of your Savior. Listen to what God’s Word says about Who He is and what He’s done:

Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)

O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me.

II Peter 1:3 (NIV)

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Luke 1:37 (ESV)

For nothing will be impossible with God.

What would happen if we began to focus more on the size of our God than the source of our fear? I wonder what kind of impact that could have on our lives and the people around us. So even when your fear is great and even when the crowd is against you, don’t focus on the source of your fear but the size of your Savior.

Now as you all may now and if you dont know let me tell you. The reality is that when you fearlessly take a stand for God, there’s no guarantee that life is going to be easy or that everything is going to work out.

Most likely, life will even be harder at times and there will be some pretty big obstacles that you’re going to have to face. But if you focus more on the size of your Savior instead of the source of your fear, you’re going to be able to overcome those fears and move forward.

For the nation of Israel, most chose to go with the crowd and live in fear. As a result, they experienced some pretty severe consequences. God said that they would wander around in the wilderness for the next 40 years.

The current generation of Israelites would never get to the Promised Land with the milk and honey fountains. But God did make two exceptions: Joshua and Caleb.

Since they focused more on the size of their Savior than the source of their fear, God rewarded them by allowing them to enter the Promised Land and He gave them more responsibility and influence. Eventually Joshua became the new leader for God’s people. Listen to God’s instructions for Joshua:

Joshua 1:6-7 (NLT)

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

That sounds a lot like what we’ve been talking about. Be strong and courageous. Not because you’re so smart and strong. Rather, because the Lord your God is with you and for you.

Don’t focus on the source of your fear but the size of your Savior.

What would it look like for you to give your fears over to God? For some of you, taking a stand for God means taking that first step of putting your trust in Christ.

If that is you and you want to take that first step repeat after me

Dear Lord Jesus,

I come to You today with an open heart. I recognize that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that You are Lord. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Thank You for loving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. Help me to grow in my faith and live according to Your will.

In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.

For others who have already made that commitment, it might mean taking things to the next level by taking a stand for Him at school, at work or with your friends. It will mean digging deaper into the word and growing in relationship with God so that you can stand firm.

It might sound scary but don’t focus on the source of your fear. Focus on the size of your Savior. God loves you more than you know, and He wants you to live fearlessly for Him.

Let’s pray.