SHALOM 🙏
Blessed to be a Blessing to the Blessed People 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

📖 Numbers 13 :1- 14:45
Cause and cost of unbelief.

🌈 God had promised to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel, yet ten of the spies allowed their doubts to overtake what they knew to be true, which led to a lapse in their obedience as stewards of God’s promises.
☑️ Unbelief robs us of the joys and blessings we could have possessed had we acted in HUMILITY and FAITH in God’s loving presence.

📌 The ten spies unbelief :
✅ Began when they forgot God’s Promises 😐 💫
The Israelites had been promised God’s blessing and protection , and were even allowed to see the richness of the land , yet they did not believe that God and His promises were enough ( 13:1-2 )

🎯 We need to stand firm in faith @ His Rich Promises 🛐

🎼 🎶–
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
~~~🎶🎵

✅ Grew as they forgot the fruit 🍇
Even though they carried the grapes , figs and pomegranates on their backs , the ten spies forgot the blessings of the land.Their ingratitude for what God longed to provide them blinded them 😎 to the riches at their feet 👣 ( 13: 26-28 )
🎯 Let us remember that all our blessings comes from the Lord 🙌

🎶🎵 —
Count your blessings : name them one by one,
Count your blessings : see what God hath done
Count your blessings: name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
~~ 🎼🎶

✅ Grew when they focused on the giants 👺 👀
The Israelites allowed themselves to be swept away by their fears. Their focus was on themselves and their enemies , not on their all – sufficient God ( 13: 28-29, 31-33 )
🎯 Let us remember that our battle belongs to the Lord ✝️

🎶🎼 —
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ , the royal Master , leads against the foe ;
Forward into battle see his banners go!
~`~~ 🎵🎼

✅ Grew as they fed factionalism 🤼‍♂️
The ten spies opposed Moses’ leadership and stirred the people’s unbelief. Their sin multiplied because they influenced others to rebel ( 14:1-10 )
🎯 Let us respect our leaders with love 💕

🎵🎼 —
Jesus commanded us something to do
Love one another as I have loved you
My love will guide and enable you to
Love one another.
~~~`🎶🎼

✅ Grew into self – sufficiency and presumption 🤗💪
Once the Israelites decided God wasn’t enough , all they had left was themselves. They headed down a path of their own choosing , trading God’s dream of blessing for a NIGHTMARE OF DEFEAT ( 14:44-45 )
🎯 Let us remember that we can do everything through Christ Jesus who gives us the strength ✝️

🎶🎼 —
I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford..
~~🎶🎼

💕 Beloved Church, Exodus 23:2 reminds us , ” Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong “. Where do we stand – with the Ten Spies or with Caleb and Joshua ❓
🎯 Yes , the present situation caused by COVID 19 may hinder our faith in our pilgrimage. We may experience the flavour of UNBELIEF and DISAPPOINTMENTS .

🎯 Yes , they may looks like GIANTS but even if we consider ourselves as GRASSHOPPERS, there is hope when we focus our eyes upon Jesus.

🎯 May we pray like the father in Mark 9:17-24 “.. help me to overcome my UNBELIEF “. 🛐

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏽 Mark Boje , ArP 🇮🇳