Sermon Tone Analysis

*THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS*

*TEXT: Numbers 14:6-9*

*Introductions:*  When I was a child, I received a lot of different input as to what was good for my body.

Popeye told me that if I ate spinach, I would be strong and healthy.

My parents told me that things like broccoli and brussel sprouts would make me grow up strong.

The television proclaimed Wheaties as The Breakfast of Champions.

While all of these may have their benefits to the physical side of man, his spiritual side requires a vastly different diet.

This passage reveals what is in fact the real Breakfast of Champions.

Now, before I reveal my entire message, some background material is in order.

To reach this point in the story, Israel has been delivered from slavery in Egypt by the mighty hand of God.

They have been traveling for some 2 years through a terrible desert and have finally arrived at the Jordan River, the final barrier between them and the land of promise and blessing, Canaan.

Canaan was a place of great expectation for the people of Israel.

They had heard about Canaan through the word of God as delivered through Moses, Exodus 3:8.

According to this promises Canaan sounded like the perfect place for them to be.

It was a place where they could finally be free, where could rest from their journey, a place where they could enjoy the blessings of God in peace and safety.

Canaan was the land of their victory and of their anticipated blessing.

Now, Canaan has come to represent Heaven for many Christians.

However, Canaan is not a picture of Heaven.

After Israel arrived in Canaan, they still had battles to fight and they still faced times when they were guilty of sin before the Lord.

Canaan is in reality a place of victory and a place of blessing.

For the Christian, it speaks of reaching a place in our walk with the Lord where we can enjoy the Lord's blessings, where we are not always defeated and where we walk in victory in the Lord.

You see, God did not save us for us to be defeated, John 8:36.

In truth, God saved us so that we could enjoy a life of abundance and victory - John 10:10; 1 Cor.

15:57.

Now, I realize that this is a far cry from the doom merchant who tells you that you will just have to wait to Heaven to have your victory.

That this life is something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

I say hogwash!

There is a Canaan land for every child of God.

It is known as the victorious Christian life and it is available to every Christian who will pay the price to enter that land of blessing and victory.

Israel had been brought out of Egypt with the hope of reaching Canaan.

When they finally arrived at the border of that land, they some very large obstacles blocking their way: Giants!

They just couldn't seem to get around them and they wound up defeated, disillusioned and discouraged.

It is the same for us!

We all have giants that we face in life.

This church has giants that it faces.

These giants must be overcome, or they will prevent us from entering our Canaan and they will defeat us spiritually.

I want you to know this morning that it does not have to be that way at all! Satan has defeated the children of God and the church of God for far too long.

Tonight, if you will give me your attention, I would like to try and show you the things which defeat you can be overcome and be turned into blessings in your life.

Allow me to share five insights that will guarantee everyone of us the victory in our walk with the Lord.

Five attitudes that we need to possess in order to enjoy the Breakfast of Champions.

!

I.           WE MUST HAVE FORESIGHT V. 6-7

What waited on Israel when they took possession of the land of Canaan?

It was a land that flowed with milk and honey.

It was a land of blessing, peace and prosperity.

They were longing for a land of which they had only heard.

However, their hope was based on 2 rock solid standards.

!! A.        The Word of God 13:2

!!! 1.

In this verses God told Moses that He had already given the title deed of Canaan to the people of Israel.

!!! 2.      It was their land; all they had to do was march in and take it.

!! B.        The Will of God 13:2

!!! 1.

It had already been determined by the Lord that these people were to dwell in this land.

!!! 2.      It was God's perfect will that they march into Canaan and claim what He had already provided for them.

!! C.        There is a great lesson here for the children of God!

!!! 1.      God did not save us for us to walk around in a desert of misery and spiritual defeat.

!!! 2.      He saved us so that we might enjoy victory and blessing in Him.

God brought us out of the bondage of sin to give us a new and abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ!

!!! 3.      Sadly, many Christians never reach the place where they are victorious.

Instead, they live in fear and often live below God's standard for their lives.

!!! 4.      Notice some areas where many Christians are constantly defeated:

!!!! a)      In Assurance Of Salvation - Many Christians never reach their Canaan because they aren't even sure they are saved.

They are constantly in doubt and fear over the condition of their soul.

This must be nailed down!

*/Romans 10:9-10/*

!!!! b)      In Conquering Some Besetting Sin - There are multitudes that secretly battle some recurring sin in their lives.

This doesn't have to be.

We need to realize that God has made a way for us to be victorious over the sins we face.

*/1 Corinthians 10:13/*/ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

/

!!!! c)      In Facing The Worries Of Life - Many spend their time and spin their wheels worrying about every little thing in life.

This has never been God's plan!

His ideal is that men would trust Him and place their face in what He can do in their lives –

*/Philippians 4:6-7/*/ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

/

*/Matthew 6:33/*/ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

/

!! D.        Whatever it is that keeps you out of Canaan, you need to realize that God, according to His Word, wants you to have a victorious Christian experience,

*/1 Corinthians 15:57/*/ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

/

*/Romans 8:37/*/ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

/

!!! 1.

It is God's will that His children be more than conquerors in this world in which we live and walk.

That is the foresight that we must have as we face the battles of life.

!!! 2.      Giants are worth the trouble, just look at what is ahead!

!

II.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH V. 8

13:30 - 10 of the 12 spies brought back an evil report of the land of Canaan.

However, Caleb and Joshua believed God!

They knew that if God were for them, they had nothing to fear from any enemy!

When we face our giants, whether it is as individuals or as a church, there are 2 areas where we must place our faith and trust the Lord to give the victory.

*We Must Have Faith In: *

!! A.        The Promises of God

!!! 1.      God has already promised us that every situation in life is for our good and for His glory,

*/Romans 8:28/*/ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

/

!!! 2.      These sons of Anak did not take God by surprise.

!!! 3.

He knew they were going to be there from before the foundations of the world and He had already implemented a plan whereby they would be defeated.

!!! 4.      All Israel had to do was place their faith in the Lord and go forward on that faith and the victory was assured.

!!! 5.

However, they refused and as a result, they found themselves defeated and locked outside the land of blessing.

!!! 6.

As you face the giants of life, there are 2 things you can be assured that the Lord will stand by.

!!!! a)      His Word –

*Romans 4:21* And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

!!!! b)      His People –

*/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.

/

*/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.

/

 

!!!!  

!! B.        The Power of God