Choosing Faith Instead of Fear

1. The real enemy is unseen, it’s the fear in your mind.

They [told] Moses “..We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! .. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak, Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites..Canaanites...” Numbers 13:26-29

2. Make a decision to choose faith over fear.

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”  Numbers 13:30

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13 NIV

3. Fear is contagious, but so is faith! 

 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land..  Numbers 13:31-32

4. A small view of you creates a small view of God.  

They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size...We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”  Numbers 13:31-33

5. Fear dreads the future so much it glamorizes the past.

All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, [and said] “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us [die?] Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Numbers 14:2-4

Past Crisis you already lived through

1. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

2. Vietnam War (1955-1975)

3. Assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963)

4. Civil Rights Violence and Assassinations (1960s)

5. Watergate Scandal (1972-1974)

6. Oil Crisis (1973)

7. HIV/AIDS Crisis (1980s-1990s)

8. Oklahoma City Bombing (1995)

9. September 11 Attacks (2001)

10. Hurricane Katrina (2005)

11. Global Financial Crisis (2007-2008)

12. COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-present)

6. What reason do you have for not being afraid? 

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole..assembly...  Joshua..and Caleb..tore their clothes 7 and said..“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” ...  The Lord said to Moses, “...How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? Numbers 14:5-9,11

“I can..through Him..”  Philippians 4:13

Message Notes:  The Holy Bible, New International Version.