STANDING ON HIS PROMISES

Good morning. Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to this message. You're listening to this message because today we are. Doing something a little different that is that we're not meeting in a church building for a services today.

World around us is going through some difficult times and we are certainly part of all that and people are reacting in a lot of different ways to this coronavirus, and we wanted to make sure that we are taking cautious. And not put anybody at higher risk, but I want you to hear me. Well right from the beginning that just because we do not meet in a church building is not mean that we cease to be the church. In fact, I would say that how we react to such an event as this with the coronavirus and some of the other things that happened in the world how we react especially in times like this defines who we are as a church. It's right. There are so many people who are doing so many things crazy things and react to this. I think he has extremes are some people just totally ignoring it. Just pretending like it doesn't even existed and it's all fake news. There's nothing to it. That's one side. The other side people are panicking over every little thing somebody sneezes and everybody just kind of freaks out and for some reason there's a shortage of toilet paper and water in your people just panicking and it honestly, I think the biggest difference in how you handle situations like this is where we have our focus at As I thought about that in the message that I have prepared today and it really kind of fits in together. We've been reading through the Bible together from the beginning of the year until now and it honestly leaning up to this before we even decide to not have a service at the church. I was beginning to think maybe I need some time to look for a different section of scripture something else to preach about because of all the events that's taking place. But there is more that I looked at the moment. I realize that God in his Providence care has already provided a word for us and I think that word is is is particularly important in a day and time today. So we're at the The point in the children of Israel and where they have another opportunity to do something, right, but what we see is them taking their focus off of the right thing and making it pretty big mistake and I'm paying big consequences for it. The one first big mistake that we saw we talked about already the past is that the golden calf image you remember where they just kind of threw the gold in and popped out topless Kyle, you know is Aaron would say but huge huge mistake as as Moses on the Mountain of God worshipping God the people down the volume until I forgot in the bottom and now they left the mountain God they are on their Journey to the promised land to of land that God had promised them and they're actually they are there on the precipice ready to go into the promised land and they have the opportunity to make the right choices to stay focused on the right things. But yet they don't Thank you for looking The Book of Numbers in Chapter 13. We receive this event taking place now. He fought along with the slide just see the scripture before it's Numbers chapter 13 verse 1 says the Lord spoke to Moses saying send men to spy out the land of Canaan which I am giving to the people of Israel from each tribe of the fathers. You should have seen the man everyone a chief among them. So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord all of them men who heads the people that is real. And so this is what's happening there their they're at the the promised land in God wants to send some men so they might see that promise and which one is the head you Dim down the rich 21 says so they went up in this fight out. The land of the world has into rehab near La Boheme off and they went into the new Gap and it came to Hebron abrahamse. Shy and tell ma The Descent. Is it in that corner there? He was built 7 years before is Owen is Egypt And it came to the valley vs call and they cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes and They carried in the pole was when the two of them and they also brought some pomegranates and figs and that place is called a valid s call because of the cluster that the people of usually cut down from there at the end of 40 days. They return was flying out the land and they came to me Moses and they are and all the conversations the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh and they brought back word to them and all the congregation and show them the fruit of the land and then tell them we came to the land what you sent us as close as milk and honey in this is its fruit onion. So this is great. Right? I mean, they finally get to The Landing 400 years of slavery 10 plagues part of the Red Sea the worship It on the Mountain of God and the state of the Tabernacle God dwelling in their miss all these things. Now finally they ride that the promise and literally within their reach But something happen, if you follow on the map, you'll see where they begin their journey and they got up to Kadesh barnea and right there at the Top Of The World Is Ours in their work. They were taking place new heading in there on the field looking at the map towards Jerusalem. The promised land was right there in their Reese, but I just seen the map is just giant you turn something took play something happen. If they did not get to go in to that Promise Land as we continue reading and Numbers Chapter 14, look at that place the congregation raise the loud cry in the people wept that night that would happen to me. They were right there on the verge. You're right. They're getting ready to go into the Promised then and now the people something's taking place Virtues Of all the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron the whole congregation said to them would that we had died in the land of Egypt or would that we had died in this world. Why is the Lord bring this to this land to block to Fall by the sword or why is it a little one shall become afraid? We're not be better for us to go back into Egypt. What is choose a leader and go back to even what what world's taken plays how in the world could it be so close to the promise of God? So close to where God is wanting to give them and now things have changed dramatically. Continue reading verse 26 the Lord spoke to Moses to Aaron saying how long should I was wicked congregation Grumble against me. I have heard the Gremlins of the people abused her which they Grumble against me say to them as I live declares the Lord would you have said my hearing I will do to you you're dead bodies shall fall in this world is and all of your number listed in the sentence for 20 years old and upward who have grumbled against me. Not one show coming to the land where I swore that I would make it. Well except Caleb the subject is Joshua the son of nun your little one who you say will become afraid. I will bring you in and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you your dead body shall fall in this world and your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for 40 years just suffer for your faithlessness and to the last of your dead body lies in the wilderness according to the number of Dazed what you spy out the land 40 days a year for each day. You shall bear your iniquity 40 years and you should know my displeasure. I mean

What happened that how could they be? So close recipients of the promise of God bearers of the blessings of God children shows in from all the nations to be the dwelling place of God, so close and then never to thing that so close to getting the richness of God. So close to getting the blessings of God and yet now we talking about when was taking place. I feel like so many times we find ourselves in such a situation to where we seem to be. So close to obtaining that Victory. So close to getting that which we work so long for so close to just kind of doing it the way they should be done and yet something just comes along and wipes them away. On today, I want to discuss how to go from Wow to what happened in and hopefully by looking at the mistakes of the people of usual looking at some of the mistakes that we make Pokemon looking at how they lost the promise of God that we can see how we can stand on his promises that the title of my message today is standing on his promises and I believe that God's promises are still good still true today. In fact in light of this pandemic that we see going around this. I think if there's ever any time for us to stop and to recognize Our God's promises are true that's promises are there. It's now it's times like this and don't want to talk to you today about standing on his promises and I want to look specifically at four areas that that the people of Israel lost their focus and four areas that is so often we to fall into the same type of losing our focus and if we're not care Will lose the promises will not will lose the opportunity to stand on his promises the first promise of God that its first reason to the promise of God is losses because they focus more on complaining then complimenting they focus more on complaining think compromising not to fully understand what happened in chapters 12 and 13. You going to understand attitude that really showed up earlier on chapter 11. In fact, this is an attitude that we continue on for some time, especially through the children of Israel. So you turn back the Numbers Chapter 11 and you be getting rid of converse one you see this attitude, tries to be and he says the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their Misfortune when the Lord heard his anger was kindled the fire the Lord burned among them and consume some outlying parts of the camp the people cried out to the Lord and Moses and Moses prayed to the Lord in the fire. Died down into the name of the place is called sorbara because of the fire the Lord had burned among them. It says the people had complained in the hearing other will get a win the most destructive forms of a dangerous phone to destruction is sometimes often under looking often overlooked often missed it. We fail to realize oftentimes how much a negative attitude can really be destructive when things are people visual certainly did was they they they had mastered the art of grumbling and complaining that they lost focus on the reality of the situation because he was so busy and complaining. I mean things are getting rough and now they're looking back to the good old days. Look back in the number 14. We just read this is it was that we had died in the land of Egypt Egypt When they were in slavery before the years when they were crying out to God for the house now, they're looking back saying all that we would have died in Egypt is in her through that would it be better for us to go back to Egypt? But are you kidding me? I mean all that God has done to set you free. If you would turn around and go back to the slavery that got it already freed you from Andrea Schwartz of lettuce was choosing the leader and go back to the display is not giving us what we want this find someone who'll give us we want this to go back to think about the foolishness of their complaining. I mean the complaints didn't just make sense. How could have been better for the people who have died in Egypt in the wilderness rather than the face of death of the giant says they called a certain death soon better than a possible that at some point later in the future because it makes sense that they would pour out of the earth shattering plagues and part the Red Sea that God would feed them eraxis. It was man and give them water from a rock. He would guide them make sense of God would do all that just to let them fall the hands of the tablets of the promised land has gone through all this dramatic series only to fall short of delivering them to the promised. I just doesn't make sense. What is the our unbelief just as irrational? I didn't we We believe We Proclaim that the God created the universe. I've nothing yet. And we're having a difficult time. We weed out what a night. I can take care of it and we believe that he's a creator of everything that he's a great physician, but the man were panicking when we're hearing the rumors and then in all these things are taking place around is about this virus that's going on. We believe we're saying the job directs the courses of kings and Nations that when we feel out of control, we think God's out of control we say that God has transformed our own dead Hearts the living room sponsor flash when we look at our friends and our family to seem to be so far away. We think that God could never do that in their lives. We say that we believe God entered into history is a baby in the manger yet. We struggle to believe that he can enter into our lives just situations that we're going through today. We believe that he's suffering the cross for our sins and three days later Rose Triumph from the Brave free that's for my sins yet. We struggle to believe that when we we have that one particular send that just keeps the keys going there. We just we just failed her it to believe that God can forgive us for that particular sin. CRM believe is always fundamentally irrational and honestly, we're more like the people that we really want to realize that that that sometimes when we don't understand something. It's just easier to complain rather than just a trust when we're going through these things and situations like we're going through right now, sometimes it's easier to complain and in the fuss rather than just trust what if what if the darkest moments of our lives would have rather than complain we complemented what if what if we didn't just complain but we really began to start focusing on compliments not necessarily each other but complimenting Dawn What I want you to see how Moses interceded on behalf of these people. Once again, we find Moses coming to the rescue and he goes before God. I want you to see The Numbers Chapter 14. Look at how Moses intercedes look at how Moses compliments. Moses's Numbers Chapter 14 verse 18 the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love for giving the iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers and the children to the third and the fourth generation, please pardon the iniquity of his people according to the greatness of your steadfast love knows. He doesn't say them according to what they deserve no part in them according to energy as a part of them according to your the brightness of your steadfast love just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt until now and then the Lord said I have pardoned according to your word. You see how Moses focus more on God than anything else Moses focus on compliment and God are recognizing the character of God. Imagine if we would do the same things that when things don't make sense that we just focus on some character of God. I think the problem is with finances that we we believe we focus. Our God is the provider of everything that you promised relationships. I remember God died for a relationship with you. He can help you with the relationship in your own life. He complaining does nothing but spread like a deadly virus like this coronavirus but complimenting God changes things what if in the midst of all the stuff that we're going through all the worry all the the fear that some people are facing all the things that we uncertainty. We stop and realize that God is still God and God is still in control. Are they complaining?

I'll listen. The promise of God is lost because we focus more complaining and Company, but secondly, the promise of God Is Lost I also because we focus more on the bird then the blessings we focus more than Burns in the blessings. Let's look back in Numbers chapter 11 verse horse is there rabble that was among them had a strong craving and the people of Israel also wept against a told that we had meat to eat while we remember the fish that we ate need you that cost of nothing that you comers the melons of leeks onions or garlic, but now our strength is dried up and there's nothing at all, but this man it's a look at how you kidding me. What years has man of this life sustaining food the god miraculously provided right? Remember when they were for it when he was hungry and starving. Provided for them. But each day that we go together not just for that day right except for the Sabbath to Sabbath. They would not get it in today before it was twice as much. And this is kind of remember I continue reminder that. I was providing for them everyday. Jesus would say this later on they give us this day our daily bread and got was doing this every single day literally blessings from God and now these blessed things have become burdens. God sends men to look into the land. He they're firm Yep. This is a land that's flowing with milk and honey Yep. This is a great place. But somewhere along the line way. They let the blessings seem to just kind of fade away somewhere along the way. They just seem to Lost focus of those blessing Moses go check out the land of the blessings and they see everything that Moses said it would be their everything that God has promised them, but it came to see this not as blessings button.

Honestly, I'll be at Wheatley it's hard for us especially here in America to point the finger at these people because we are indeed a blessed Nation. But so often we failed to realize this blessings that we take those blessings for granted. They look at us today here. We are today not being able to have the freedoms that we want to have why because of this virus that's going on and we seem to be so struggling over so many people are having such a difficult time over this, but listen, we are a blessed Nation. I mean none of us here. None of us who listen to this message with what in Georgia have man for 4 days my first 40 Years of the same food in the refrigerator and we will look at it with enough food. It's in there to feed a third-world country. And what do we say? There's nothing to eat. We live in a time where there's instant gratification the least another struggles. We are indeed a spoiled Nation with make sure that we don't miss out the blessings of God is so often when we look at those blessings that God has given us and we were thankful for a moment. But then that turns into the burden want to do we do we thank God that has blessed us with a job. And wait wait, we're so faithful to God provide a way for us to be able to drive for our families. But how often do we begin to complain about the very same job We complain about the hours that we have to work. We can play with the title, or we can play with the people that we work with spread snow. We forget that this is a blessing from God. God blesses us with water from Heaven that's needed for a very survival. But but it's not so much of a blessing when you carry in the groceries in the middle of the rain storm. God blessed us with the home, but we're so quick to complain when it comes to cleaning and taking care of that home. My back is full of blank and I could go on and on and just fill in the blank right there on has blessed me with blank. Here's the question how I made that blessing into a burden. In fact Austin time seeing His blessings as burdens. It's what leads us to complaining think about it. It's hard to complain about something if we really recognize it as a blessing right? It's hard when we second when we say, you know, God you blessed me with his it's hard to complain about that if I'm recognized as it wasn't but when I begin to see that blessing of the burden, that's where the complaint comes in. God is in control of everything right remember looking back of the book of Joe Buck even even the power is Satan himself has is limited to what God allows and took God is really in control. Whatever happens in my life. Right? Whether it's good bad or indifferent whatever happens in my life. Was it something I've done a results of what I've done whatever happens in my life with somebody else doesn't you are this virus called corner of virus is going on right now. Let's coronavirus whatever happens if God is in control and God is in the midst and that in itself can be a blessing. I'll never take your focus off of that. A problem comes is when we focus more on complaining that you can compliment and got a problem comes when we focus more in the burdens brighter than the blessings and thirdly I promise is often lost because we focus more on obstacles that opportunities. I want you to notice again where God has sent these people to spy the land back in numbers 13 verse 21 says they went and spy out the land and the water was into Rehab Toledo that goes honest as they went to a Niger Avenue came to Hebron. Now. I want you to think about Hebron as you've been reading through the scriptures. Does that name sound familiar? If you looking at a map and as I have here in the screen right north of the woods as in heading there, but Sheba and you see he born in Jerusalem Hebron should sound familiar. If not, look back in Genesis chapter 13 when God brought Abraham until and that he would show him Abraham settled where In remember a lot and Abraham a split and they went different ways Abraham was settled in Hebrew. So it doesn't even and that's where God promises to Chapters later than just the 15. You got something to use my people my people be slaves in a foreign land. They will be sore during his there for 400 years and then going to bring him back where to Hebron. This is where Abraham is. This is where Sarah and Abraham buried right and Hebron Isaac and Rebekah remember, you know where they were buried Jacob Leah, you know where they are at hebra see that's what God has said. This is where my land This Is My Land from my people until the spies come up the Hebron you think they'll be overwhelmed with a faithfulness in the greatness of God? They will be just humble. The reality that God has done exactly what he said that he is now back in Hyrum. He's got an army of 600,000 men waiting to just take the land that God has promised them. He's exactly what he said. He was going to do you think there was it would be on their knees worshipping God. instead of looking at these guys this in the completely are It's amazing to me how 12 men can go and experience a very same thing and yet bring back such a different word for.

There's two separate reports that that play here, right the facts in the report should not the issue right that the facts and what they saw was not at issue. There's the majority report. Can there's The Minority Report, right? We looked at the Numbers Chapter 13 this however, the people who dwell in the land of strong. This is the this is the the majority of forks. The cities are fortified. Very large massage. You saw them send it to the amalekites dwell in the land of the Nick Niger in the Hill Country in the last 12 Jordan area where they could just go in there and just kind of take it easy for an entire day cleaning what they're going to do everything every every every way to go is is just a lonely with people. Kayla comes along required to people who says let's go up and watch an occupy 4 wheel well able to overcome it. The study wonder the men who had to go on with him set with not able to go up against these people for their stronger than we are. Well, yeah, they are stronger than we are right and so they brought to the bad report of the land kidding me. The land that's that was everything that God had promised them to bring them a battery for the land of the Aspire signal and through which we have going just wide is a lane that is devours its inhabitants and the people that sort of Grace height and there is something there from the Sun and I could come for the Nephilim and we seem to ourselves to be like grasshoppers has to be seen to be to them. You see that they're seeing the same thing, but there's some people are focused on the wrong stuff. The numbers 14 Joshua gives his thoughts on this whole situation Joshua and Caleb both of them who among those responsible and they tore their clothes and it said to the congregation that people use the land which we pass through to spy out. It's exceedingly good man stunt Batman. It's a good man. And if the Lord Delights in as he will bring us into this land and give it to us a land that flows with milk and honey, Do not Prevail against the Lord do not fear the people of the land for them bread for us. Their protection look reset. Their protection is removed from them. And the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. And look at happens to breast pain in the congregation said to Stone them with stones the glory of the Lord appeared attending meetings all the people of Israel. But everybody agree that on the facts for the same thing that the land had some good stuff about it, but it had some pretty big grape cluster. The brakes right is a land flowing with milk and honey, but they also said where there was a giant people right used to say the difference between The Minority Report in the majority report was where they put the three little words for the letter word called but Sleep for the 10-man majority the defining but was the people who would have been land. Where is great, but look at Every part of the Lamb is occupied. There's no place where they might constantly go and occupy the land without opposition. They throw the fortification to the citizen. Let me change them. They were pretty big archaeologists say that, these are in your fanny walls are 50 ft high and 15 ft V. The men looked like giants to them who could Prevail against such opposition. That's that's what they saw that they saw that in The Minority Report. What will they say exactly the same things as the other men did but their butt was different. Taylor says we should definitely go up and take possession of land for which certain able to do it. Write the Define in the contrast was with showing these great. These people are green. But God was so much greater. These people might have been great and have big stuff. But the Lord was not with them. The presence of God was not with them. They the minorities saw the presence or the absence of God as a deciding factor. You see what the majority saw as obstacles Joshua and Caleb saw his opportunities to experience the power of God. Listen to the problems that you face today the problems that we face today or merely opportunities to stand on the promises that will be here tomorrow these things that we see that seem to be so out of control there just simply opportunities regard to show up for the beam and major airlines today. How did these two groups come up with such a different assessments for the same facts? Well that the truth. The answer is not hard to find they were focused more on themselves than they were on their savior the big difference between they focus on what they could do and what they could not do more than what God would do to the majority before it completely left God out of the equation see the biggest difference between Victory and defeat the biggest difference between standing on his promises and every falling when I face is where do we put God in the equation is a majority May rule, but it's not always right. Numbers Chapter 13 look at with look at the different. She don't want you to see something numbers 13:27. They told him this is the majority four-week angel in which you sent is that they're looking at this merely human thing Rodeo on the beginning of this chapter. We see the Lord spoke to Moses saying send men to find the length who's sending the VIN who is doing this. This is not Moses doing this isn't that the majority of the situation from. Human perspective. They saw the size of the people that are the size of the Ford is so their own limited resources to them. The odds were not in their favor. They forgot my God and fear their enemies Joshua and Caleb look at the exact same situation, but they looked as busy as a face and not fear. Do they sell the giant word is in that has a majority but they saw the same fortunes of the majority They concluded could these be defeated but they must be defeated. She did look through the eyes of faith and not fear in the ask you in the face of the things that we're going through today. Are you looking at this for the eyes of state and not fear now? Somewhat said, well, you didn't go to church Community this because you're acting as if you know, I'm telling you that God's greater than that, but that's bigger than a building that we can still be the church outside the four walls of the truth. I'm not getting back in the fear. But I am coming close to God in faith. Trust in the god of sea is now it's through this difficult time for any difficult time wherever face If you fear the lord, you will be free from the fear of your enemies if you forget god, well, you will inevitably fear men. So here's the question that I want you to consider this morning, right? What are you looking at? What's your focus cuz let me tell you something in this life. There will be things that will absolutely overwhelming us. He was speaking. There are things that we will go through that. We cannot make it through their own. Thank God he has not left us alone. Thank God that we don't have to worry about doing everything on her own and I only build it. Thank God that he gives us a way out.

Numbers Chapter 14 verse 11 lord said to Moses how long with his people despise me? How long will they not believe in me in spite of all the signs that I've done among them me ask you this morning. What are you focused on? Honestly, I don't have to be honest with ourselves this morning. Are you focus more on complaining. Do you see the negative in everything or you want to stop and just compliment. I recognized her powerful God is are you focusing the burdens? Are you focusing the blessings or she had do you look at the blessings that God gives us and turn them into a burden. Is it something that we have to be burdened over what you focus on the obstacles. Are you focused on the opportunity? I look at this house, Do you know the pastor for tomorrow and yesterday and I look at this opportunity for us to church. What if God is doing this or allowing this to happen in our Mist so that we might get outside of the four walls Witcher. What is God is doing this so that we might not just come to a building so that we might be the church. What is God is using this this opportunity for us to get out to go to our neighbors to go truck famous the goat reference to be the church to share the love of Christ. What if right why not look at this obstacle as an opportunity to stop focusing on yourself and start focusing on you. Say to God has a plan. God has promised. God has reason for us to be able to stand where the heads held high and say I will not fear opportunity this obstacle as an opportunity. I will look to my savior more than myself. My prayer is that as you go through this difficult time as you go through any difficult time that you are always standing on his promises. He will not feel would you pray with me now to go? Let's pray for the guy. We thank you so much for your word. I thank you so much God of your promises are not affected by our problems is that your promises Lord will see us through each and every problem that will ever face but thank you for never ever giving up on us part of my prayer is that if there's someone who listens to this message Lord and maybe they've never come to know the promises that you had maybe it never come to understand Lord you is as Lord and Savior for the my prayer is that that they might just be burdened Lord to to see cancer floor, but they might see someone to find the direction of the name in Fallout pray that I'm at right now through your Providence RI, so I won't you got that you would have your way look upon this opportunity to that had before his Lord and we would take chances Lord to step out of our comfort zones and got that we might go forth and be your church. To you be the glory. What's in Jesus name? We pray. Amen.