
October 2019 Sermon Series
Perspective
Part II: “Overcoming Grasshopper Mentality”
Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.
Numbers 13:30-33, “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But 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.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
I. Introduction
II. Proclamation of the Future Plan
A. You must control the crowd to share the vision
B. There must be no hesitation in your pursuit to take possession
Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:60, “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”
III. Problems with a Fearful Perspective
*A. People with limited perspective can’t see the promise*
“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.”
- Helen Keller
B. A bad report is a result of a lack of faith
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 53:1, “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
IV. Posture of Faithful People (Numbers 14:1-10)
A. While the people are complaining, the faithful become more committed
Scripture Reference: Numbers 14:2, “And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!”
Numbers 14:6-9, “But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
B. Testifying of His goodness ushers in His glory
Scripture Reference: Numbers 14:10, “And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.”
Additional Notes: