Where Do We Go From Here

Introduction:

I was flying to Baltimore and while flying the flight attendant gave me a pair of earphones so that I could listen to the music on the plane.  I began to listen to the tower communications channel.  Well,  I realized a few things about the communication betwixt them.

1. It was constant (communication!)
2. The Pilot followed all directions!
3. He gave thanks at the end of each transmission.

I look at the very lives of man and discovered if we were to follow the same principles with our relationship with God, we would avoid some unwanted turbulence, Storms, dark clouds, and crashes in our lives.

As I look at our text we find the children of Israel on the brink of entering the Promised Land.  When God spoke to Moses, God gave Moses instructions on procuring the land of milk and honey.  Now with in His directions there was know mention of spies.  God told Moses move into the land and I’ll defeat your enemies.  Moses did something that gets a lot of folks in trouble he stopped hearing the voice of God and began hearing the voices of the crowd.  Imagine how my trip to and from Baltimore would have ended if the pilot stop taking orders from the tower and began hearing the voices of the passengers.  You see God knows where he wants us in life; He knows the direction we must take and has our best interest at hand.  I submit to you today that if we are going where God wants us our mind has got to be focused on hearing the Lord and following His instructions. However; it is imperative we remain in constant communication with God and Thankful for where he has brought us this far.  Israel ignored these principles as a matter of fact the text introduces us to the

I.                   Peoples Pessimism

A.       It is said the pessimistic person always sees the glass half empty.  Never have anything positive.  ILLUS: Man went to monastery - only 2 words a year - 1st yr “Beds Hard,” 2nd yr - Food Cold, 3ry yr - I Quit - to which the Father replied, well it’s no wonder--all you’ve done since you came here was to complain.  There are some people who do nothing but complain.

B.        The text says they were quieted by Caleb, which shows us they were literally groaning and complaining

C.       10 spies gave a report that unfavorable.  As a matter of fact they started out alright.  They said everything God said about Canaan is true BUT,  let me tell you something right here.  Don’t allow your But to get in the way of your future, because you’ll always find yourself walking backwards.   

D.      They saw themselves as grasshoppers; they saw the Canaanites as Giants.  As long as you don’t think much of what God has given you, you’ll never be what God wants you to be, you’ll never go where he wants you to go.

II.                Caleb’s Confidence

A.       A Visionary seeks Gods Possibilities amidst improbabilities. He doesn’t know how, but he knows who.  Caleb looked beyond the obstacle and saw an opportunity.  Often in life many of us mistake God given opportunities for obstacles we can not handle.

B.        Positive Attitude- Caleb said, “Moses we can take them” Look if God is with us we can do it.  You know He’s with us because He brought us here.  I don’t know about some of you here today but I have found that that is the determining factor in faith.  God is with me.  And if God is with me that means He ain’t left me alone, and if He ain’t left me alone I’m alright.

C.       You ought be able to trust God in spite of the circumstance.  In other words don’t let the circumstance handle you.  You take charge of the circumstance.

D.       Productive Spirit (14:24)   But my servant  Caleb,  because   he had another  spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring  into  the land  whereinto he went;  and his seed shall possess it.