Sermon Central
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Grasshopper Mentality
Contributed by Dean Morgan on Sep 10, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: When they saw the Nepthalim they said they became like “grasshoppers.” We want to look at this “grasshopper” complex later in the message.
TEXT: Joshua 14:6-15; Numbers 13:26-33
TITLE: GRASSHOPPER MENTALITY
Throughout this message I will be referring back to Numbers 13.
In Numbers 13 we have the report of the spies as they returned back to Moses and the Children of Israel.
None of the 12 that went could deny that the land of Canaan was a very fruitful land; the bunch of grapes they brought back with them was a demonstration of that. God had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and the evil spies themselves admitted that it was such a land.
The 10 evil spies then began to share how strong and fearful they enemy looked, indicating that they were no match for what was in Canaan.
When they saw the Nepthalim they said they became like “grasshoppers.”
We want to look at this “grasshopper” complex later in the message.
Caleb & Joshua stood for God; they knew then that if God promised it then it would come to pass. They knew that their God was greater than anything in Canaan.
God’s promise to them is in Exodus 33:2 - "And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.”
Listen: It doesn’t matter what the situation appears to be, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are; if you have God’s promise, you will be able to do whatever He has said.
You see it is God’s word not circumstances or situations that should control our actions.
Part of the problem with the church is that we aren’t trusting God’s Word. You and I can’t defeat the enemy in our own strength, in our own power. But we can defeat him if we stand on the Word. Nothing can stop you; nothing can prevent you from maintaining victory as long as you are standing on the Word.
Now back to the story. You remember God’s people believed the 10 spies and were turned from going in and possessing the land. Instead of relying on the supernatural Word of God, they relied on the natural word of man.
They believed more in what man said instead of what God said.
Forty-five years have now passed, they have entered the land, and now the land is being divided up. Caleb comes to Joshua and says, “Give Me Hebron.”
Joshua says, “Well Caleb, why should I give you Hebron?”
Caleb: “Because long ago, God promised me this mountain.”
Joshua: “But you’re old Caleb.”
Caleb: “I’m just 85.”
Joshua: “But that’s old to be a warrior. Don’t you want another piece of land where we have already driven out the enemy? Just enjoy what we have, don’t worry about the un-conquered land. Let the younger men take care of that.”
Notice Joshua 14 11 when Caleb says, "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.”
Caleb was saying: “My physical eyes may have grown dim but I still have a vision of possessing that mountain.”
Listen to me this day Maranatha, don’t ever loose the vision God has give to you as a church. Don’t loose the vision of taking your mountain. I really believe that God is giving you a brighter vision than ever before. I believe that God is going to use this church to take Turbeville and the surrounding area for His glory. You can’t afford to throw that vision away.
Caleb said: “I may be 85, but I’m vigorous, strong & ready to go.”
Every year this church gets a little older just like everything else. A lot of things have happened over the years but that’s no reason to go to the nursing home or the retirement community. God is not finished with this church yet. He is giving you a new, fresh, and brighter vision than ever before.
It’s not time to retire; it’s time for this church to refire. Caleb didn’t let his age stop him from taking the mountain. You can’t let anything stop you from taking your mountain.
He is ready to give you new vitality, new victory, new joy, new fellowship and you need to be ready to respond.
You cannot deny that the harvest is there any more than the 12 could deny the land was fruitful. Don’t believe the false voices: the false voice of doubt, the false voice that says’ you can’t reach this people, that you can’t reap your harvest and take your mountain for God.
“Well what are you going to do Caleb; there are giants in that mountain. Are you going out there and talk about your problems? Are you going to talk about your arthritis or the other aches that you have?”
