Numbers 14 records the rebellion of the Hebrews against the promise of God.
The Lord gave out his punishment. Everyone 20 and older would die in the wilderness with exception of Joshua and Caleb.
A statement the Lord said jumped out at me. “and ye shall know my breach of promise”
What makes God break his contract?
A mistake…. nope
Sin…. nope
Lack of talent… nope
People not believing Him…. yep.
The children of Israel partially believed. They saw the evidence of “a land flowing with milk and honey”. Partial obedience is not enough.
We need to …

Prayer is the key that unlocks the stores of abundance and blessing. The secret of effectual prayer is belief. When we pray, we get not necessarily what we ask for but what we expect.
If we pray for some good thing, expecting its realization to be deferred, it will be.
If we pray for a thousand dollars, expecting only a hundred, we shall get only a hundred.
If we pray expecting a more satisfying answer than we can foresee, that too will be realized.
If we pray expecting immediate response, we shall get immediate …

Far too often we pray as if we must overcome God’s reluctance rather than seize upon His willingness. (John J. Davis, Paradise to Prison pg. 199)

I recently heard the story of a man who visited an asylum for the criminally insane. He was a bit surprised to find that there were three guards to take care of a hundred inmates. He said to one of the guards, “Aren’t you afraid that the inmates will unite, overcome you, and escape?” The guard smiled and said, “Lunatics never unite.” This made me think to myself, “Hmm… so that’s the problem in our churches! Obviously, I was kidding.
While relaying this story to my church recently, my tongue twisted …

Only happy people can learn. Only happy people can teach. Our religion should put a sparkle in our eyes and a tone in our voice, and a spring in our step that bears witness of our faith and confidence in the goodness of God.

Whenever success is made the motive of service, infidelity to our Lord is the inevitable result…The only way to keep true to God is by a steady persistent refusal to be interested in Christian work and to be interested alone in Jesus Christ.

I say—and say it deliberately—trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.

Joshua 1:1-9
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
T.S. Eliot quotes (American born English Editor, Playwright, Poet and Critic, 1888-1965)
In the flesh, Joshua had much to risk. Loss of respect. Ridicule. Defeat. Failure.
But in the spirit he truly had nothing to lose. God had declared his future, if he’d only be strong… be courageous… and go.
God is looking for the risk takers.

“Some people say, God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.”
“No…… God said it. That settles it! and I believe it.”

By Richard S Willoughby
Sunday 14th December 2008
Today I had my first gut-wrenching cry since this odyssey of sickness began. It was deep and guttural. Once started, it washed over me in spasms. I ask God if I was doing anything wrong. I repented. I loathed my weaknesses and inconsistencies. I ask him why he had forsaken me. I knew full well he had not but I was confessing feelings not faith. I ask Him if what I was exhibiting was faith and if not he must show me, help me, …