We Are Well Able

WE ARE WELL ABLE!

Intro.

1. Num. 13:27-31 - Ten spies surveyed Canaan & said: "Impossible!" But, Caleb (& Joshua) surveyed the same land & said: "More than able!"

a. What was the difference? (They saw same land, same people, etc.)

b. The difference was faith in God! We must understand & know that faith in God gives us access to the power of God in our lives!

2. When you look out over Whatcom Co. & the gospel work before us, how do you view the landscape?

a. As ‘too difficult...too much faithlessness...we’re too small...we’re going to stay small...it’s (almost) impossible!’ -cf. Num. 14:1-5

b. Or, as ‘nothing is too difficult for God...people are lost...we don’t rely our size...nothing is impossible with God!’ -cf. Num. 14:6-9

3. Like Israel, we are "well able" to take the land!

Faith in God.....

I. OVERCOME SIN IN OUR OWN LIVES.

-Faith in God means we know He gives us:

The power to put the old man to death1 - Rom. 6:1-6

The power to resist temptation to sin - 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Tim. 2:22; Jas. 4:7-8

The power to live holy lives in an unholy world - cf. Jno. 17:15-17; Tit. 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 1:15-16

--Will we rebel against God (Israel), or will we be faithful (J & C)?

II. TEACH THE LOST IN THIS COMMUNITY.

-Faith in God means we trust God:

For opportunities - Acts 4:29-31; 5:12-14

For the message we should teach (His word of the gospel) - 1 Cor. 1:21-25; 2:1-5; 2 Tim. 4:2

For the salvation of souls (growth) to occur - 1 Cor. 3:6; 2 Cor. 3:5

--Will we rebel against God (Israel), or will we be faithful (J & C)?

III. GROW TO MATURITY AS GOD’S PEOPLE.

-Faith in God will cause us to use:

His diet (nutrition) - Jno. 6:48-51, 55-57, 63, 67; 1 Pet. 2:1-2

His exercise - 1 Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 9:24-27

His maintenance program - 2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:13-14; 1 Cor. 15:58

--Will we rebel against God (Israel), or will we be faithful (J & C)?

Conclusion

1. Num. 14:19-24 - The faithless died without the reward - Caleb (& Joshua) had a different spirit....followed God fully....entered the reward!

2. God is able to give us this land.....but unless & until we have the faith of Joshua & Caleb, we will not take this land for the gospel of Christ!

3. Have faith in God!