Faith Over Fear: Embracing God's Promises Together

Today, we celebrated the joy of new life in Christ as six candidates were baptized, publicly declaring their faith and entering into the family of God. We rejoiced together, remembering that none but the righteous shall see God, and we welcomed our new brothers and sisters with open arms. Even as we celebrated, we also paused to honor the memory of Deaconess Sandra Thorpe, a faithful servant who has gone home to be with the Lord, and we continue to lift her family in prayer.

We reflected on the story of the Israelites in Numbers 13, standing on the edge of the Promised Land. God had already shown them proof of His promise—fruit from a land flowing with milk and honey. Yet, when faced with obstacles, most of the spies allowed fear and negative thinking to cloud their vision. Only Joshua and Caleb held fast to faith, declaring, “We are well able to possess it.” Their example reminds us that possessing God’s promises requires more than just seeing the blessing; it demands a mindset of faith, a positive projection rooted in God’s faithfulness.

We explored how our perception shapes our reality. The Israelites saw giants and called themselves grasshoppers, underestimating themselves and overestimating their enemies. Too often, we do the same—allowing comparison, insecurity, and pessimism to paralyze us. But God calls us to see ourselves as He sees us: more than conquerors, beloved, and destined for victory. The difference between walking in promise or wandering in defeat often begins in the mind and heart.

We were challenged to bring back “proof” of God’s word in our lives—not just hearing, but living out the teachings of Christ, loving our enemies, and walking in obedience. We were reminded that problems do not negate God’s promises; opposition is often a sign that we are moving in the right direction. The key is to keep our eyes on God, not just on the giants or the grapes.

As we shared in communion, we remembered that Jesus is the bread of life, our sustenance and strength. His sacrifice secures every promise, and His resurrection assures us that nothing can separate us from His love. Today, the invitation remains open: to receive Christ, to join His family, and to see ourselves and our future through the eyes of faith.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Proof of God’s Promises Requires Obedience and Action God often gives us tangible evidence of His promises, just as the Israelites brought back fruit from the Promised Land. But it’s not enough to simply witness God’s blessings; we must act on His word and bring back “proof” in our own lives by living out what we’ve heard and believed. Obedience transforms God’s promises from distant hopes into present realities. [79:40]
• 2. The Power of Perception: Faith Over Fear The difference between victory and defeat often lies in how we perceive ourselves and our circumstances. Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants as the other spies, but their faith in God’s presence and promise gave them courage. When we choose to see through the lens of faith, we unlock the courage to pursue what God has set before us, regardless of the obstacles. [83:52]
• 3. Pessimism Paralyzes Possibility A negative mindset can cripple our ability to move forward, even when God has already made a way. The Israelites’ pessimism led them to believe they were incapable, shrinking their probability of success. Our thoughts shape our actions; renewing our minds with God’s truth is essential to overcoming fear and stepping into our destiny. [87:23]
• 4. Overestimating Others Leads to Underestimating Ourselves When we focus on the strengths or advantages of others, we often diminish our own God-given potential. The Israelites saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the giants, forgetting the power and promise of God on their side. True confidence comes from seeing ourselves as God sees us, not through the distorted lens of comparison or insecurity. [96:14]
• 5. See God in Every Situation, Not Just the Obstacles The Israelites saw grapes, giants, and grasshoppers, but they failed to see God at work. It’s easy to become fixated on challenges or even blessings and miss the presence and power of God in our midst. Spiritual vision means looking beyond what is visible and recognizing God’s hand guiding, providing, and calling us forward.
  
  ** [101:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:09] - Baptism and New Life in Christ
• [17:18] - Honoring Deaconess Sandra Thorpe
• [31:32] - Tithes, Offerings, and Testimony
• [43:42] - Praise and Worship
• [62:51] - Prayer and God’s Presence
• [70:54] - Introduction to Possessing the Promise
• [74:23] - The Power of Perception: Lakers Story
• [76:34] - Proof of Prosperity in the Promised Land
• [79:40] - Bringing Back Proof of God’s Word
• [82:12] - Problems Don’t Cancel Promises
• [83:52] - Positive Projection Precedes Possession
• [87:23] - Pessimism Paralyzes Probability
• [96:14] - Overestimating Others, Underestimating Ourselves
• [101:43] - Seeing God in the Midst of Giants
• [107:49] - Invitation to Salvation and Church Membership
• [113:04] - Right Hand of Fellowship
• [115:20] - Communion: Jesus, the Bread of Life
• [122:05] - Communion: The Cup and Remembrance
• [123:33] - Closing Blessing and Benediction

Bible Reading

Numbers 13:26-33 (ESV) — 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
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.
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”
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.”
31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”
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.
33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

Observation Questions

1. What did the spies bring back from the Promised Land to show the people, and what did it represent? ([01:19:40])
2. How did the majority of the spies describe the people living in the Promised Land, and what effect did their words have on the Israelites? ([01:22:12])
3. What was Caleb’s response to the negative report, and how did it differ from the other spies? ([01:23:52])
4. According to the sermon, what did the Israelites see when they looked at themselves compared to the people in the land? ([01:36:14])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the Israelites’ perception of themselves as “grasshoppers” was so powerful in shaping their actions and decisions? ([01:36:14])
2. The sermon says, “Pessimism paralyzes probability.” In what ways can a negative mindset keep someone from experiencing God’s promises? ([01:27:23])
3. Caleb and Joshua saw the same giants as the other spies but responded differently. What does this teach about the role of faith in facing challenges? ([01:23:52])
4. The sermon points out that the Israelites saw “grapes, giants, and grasshoppers, but they never saw God.” What does it mean to “see God” in the midst of our situations? ([01:41:43])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to “bring back proof” of God’s word in our lives by living out what we believe. What is one specific way you can show “proof” of your faith this week—at home, work, or in your community? ([01:19:40])
2. Think about a situation where you have felt like a “grasshopper” compared to the “giants” you face. How has comparison or insecurity held you back, and what would it look like to see yourself as God sees you? ([01:36:14])
3. When you face obstacles or opposition, do you tend to focus more on the “giants” or on God’s promises? What practical step can you take to shift your focus this week? ([01:41:43])
4. The sermon said, “Problems do not negate God’s promises; opposition is often a sign that we are moving in the right direction.” Can you share a time when you faced problems while following God, and how did you respond? ([01:22:12])
5. Caleb had a “positive projection” and believed God would help them succeed. What is one area of your life where you need to change your mindset from fear to faith? ([01:23:52])
6. The Israelites’ negative words discouraged the whole community. How can you use your words this week to encourage faith in others instead of spreading fear or doubt? ([01:22:12])
7. Communion reminds us that Jesus is our sustenance and strength. How does remembering Christ’s sacrifice help you face the “giants” in your life today? ([01:55:20])