What Zapped Their ZEALTEXT Numbers 13:26-14:10INTRODUCTION:!! A. A short time after they had received the Law at Mt. Sinai the children of Israel were commanded to go into the land of Canaan and possess it.

B. Twelve spies were sent in to view the land and report.

C. Ten of the men balked at going in and led most of Israel with them.

D. Two believed that Israel was ready and able.

E. These two had a great zeal for God. They were ready to go in and take the land at God's command.

F. We find that the difference in these two classes of men is their zeal.

G. How had the majority lost their zeal?

H. What are the hindrances to having zeal for God?

I. This has a great application to us today?

I. FORGETTING THAT GOD IS WITH US AND NOT THE ENEMY, 13:28-33

A. They looked at the size of their enemy and forgot the size of their God. (The giants, the walled cities.)

B. When our focus is on the size of our obstacles and not on our God our zeal will melt away.

C. What do we do...

1. When we see all the false teaching we must overcome.

2. When we have opposition to righteousness in the government.

3. When our own brethren are going into apostasy.

4. When we contemplate the size of the population we are charged to evangelize.

D. What we must do is...

1. Remember the power of the Word of God.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2. Remember that the King is with us.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

II. A GREATER FEAR OF MEN THAN OF GOD, 14:1-3

A. The children of Israel failed to think that what God did to Egypt He could do to them.

B. It would be astonishing to hear the full range of people that men fear rather than God. Among them would be...

1. Parents.

2. Spouse.

3. Children.

4. Friends.

5. Professional associates.

6. Co-workers.

C. Scriptural warnings are clear.

1. Don't be afraid of those that kill the body.

Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

2. The whole duty of man is to fear God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ;

3. We are going to be judged and for some it will be terror.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

III. FORGETTING GOD'S PAST BLESSINGS, 14:4

A. Israel had failed to remember how God had remembered them while there were in bondage, had delivered them from Egypt, had fed them, had caused them to prevail before their enemies.

B. When zeal fails what is it that we have forgotten?

1. Our comfortable buildings that someone with zeal before us built.

2. Readily available Bibles. The history of the English Bible alone should be enough to make us ashamed of any lack of zeal. The pages of your Bibles are stained with the blood of the zealous.

3. The fact that we have heard the Gospel testifies to the fact that someone with zeal opened his or her Bible, studied it, and taught it. Very often there was great sacrifice in doing this.

4. The zeal of the apostles and of Jesus.

Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

5. The source of all this zeal is God Himself Who sent His Son.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

IV. REMEMBERING PAST COMFORTS, 14:4; 11:5

Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

A. As they overlooked the Jordan the children of Israel suddenly felt like they were safer in Egypt. They didn't have to fight there

B. Earlier they had complained about the bounty they had enjoyed in Egypt and wondered why they left.

C. They forgot about the bondage, about their taskmasters and the cities they built with their hard labor.

D. Do we remember...

1. The fun we used to have? Drinking, dancing.

2. The friends we used to have fun with?

3. Sleeping in on Sundays?

4. How much easier it was not having any convictions?

5. How you could always get along?

E. But do you remember...

1. The guilt?

2. The dread?

3. The fearful thoughts of the judgment?

4. The bondage of sin?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

V. FORGETTING THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE, 14:6-9

A. Joshua reminded them of the Promised Land, vv. 7-8, but to no avail.

B. He told them that the Lord would be with them, v. 9, but they would not hear.

C. They were willing to settle for less.

D. Those who forget the blessings of obedience lose their zeal quickly.

1. Who could possibly "be faithful unto death" (Rev. 2.10) unless they keep their eye on the prize.

2. Remember the crown of life

Revvelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Philippians. 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What Zapped Thier Zeal