Faith or Fear?

We all must face things that seen impossible for us to do. If God is with us and we trust in him, then he will make the way.

The land of Canaan was a gift to Israel from the LORD.  They would need to claim it and the LORD would go before them.

Num 13:1  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

Num 13:2  “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” 

Num 13:27  And they told him (Moses), “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 

Num 13:28  However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 

Num 13:30  But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Num 13:32  So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 

Only Joshua and Caleb had faith to go into the promised land of God. The others were fearful and did not believe that God would give them the land.  Because of their unbelief an entire generation would spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness until that generation had all died. Only Joshua and Caleb remained of their generation, They would enter the promised land with the people of the next generation.

We can learn from this to trust God, to have faith in his promises. We see if their is something we are to do and obey his will. Trust and obey, there is no other way. God has offered the free gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in God's family. This we receive through our faith in Jesus. Receive the gift of God for you. Do not be afraid.

Acquired Wisdom

 Being reborn in the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ does not automatically make you wise. We have to replace the old thoughts and behavior with the new mind of  Christ.

1Co 3:19  I say this because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He catches those who think they are wise in their own clever traps." 

 The Bible is our book of truth. As soldiers in the Lord's army we need to go through basic training. Our enemies are the old flesh nature, the world system and the devil. Jesus has won the victory and we must learn his way to overcome. Romans 12 is a good starting place.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

The word of God cleanses our minds with good thoughts and the way that we should go. He opens our eyes to what is good and acceptable to him.

Psa 26:2  Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. 

Jas 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

Follow the way of peace. God will guide you in his word.

The Will of God, the Father

The will of God is that we come by faith to Jesus and that everyone who believes in him should have eternal life. 

John 6:37  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 

John 6:38  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 

John 6:39  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 

John 6:40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” 

1Co 15:45  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 

1Co 15:46  But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 

1Co 15:47  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 

1Co 15:48  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 

1Co 15:49  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 

The spirit and soul lives forever with God when we come to Jesus. This is the will of God.

Truth

The truth is that God loves us and created us for fellowship. He gave us free will and he gave us the Bible, his written word and will. When we failed to walk in his ways he sent his son as the way of forgiveness.  Jesus  gives us the spirit of truth. Truth is important to me. By  seeking truth we find God.

Jesus speaks to the scribes and Pharisees who accuse him.

John 8:43  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 

John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

John 8:45  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 

John 8:47  Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

John 8:51  Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

To know the truth, we are free. To know to do right and not to do it, this is sin.

James 4:17  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. 

Father God, give us your strength to walk in truth. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Merciful God

God wants us to turn towards him and to  trust in him and to accept forgiveness of sins through Jesus. God loves us. He loved us so much that he sent his son to bring us to him. He is a merciful God.

 2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Psalm 136 has twenty six verses that announce the mercies of God. Another translation for "mercy" is the steadfast love of God.  

Psa 136:26  Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

John 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

If we seek him he will find you. There are still wonderful people who care about you and who love God. May the love of God fill you with his grace and peace, amen.