How to Claim God's Promises When Facing God Sized Problems | Jonathan Evans

I've had people who have told me, "Jonathan, there ain't no way." Don't even try it cuz you don't want to look bad trying to follow up your dad. >> It'll look a mess. Start another church. You'll be better off than trying to come after him in this church.

I've had people say to me, "Don't ever even try to even look at his shoes because his shoes are not possible to fill in any shape, form, or fashion." And I need you to know that I spent years believing it. >> I said, "You're right >> cuz I see what you see. >> You're right."

Because it's amazing to me. And I don't think that God can use me in an amazing way like he used Tony F. So I'm going to listen to you because the people who said it had on suits. The people who SAID IT KNEW THE Bible and THE PEOPLE WHO SAID it knew certain thing they could pray and so this is too big and it's too much.

So don't even try it. So, I listened and I internalized grasshopper mentality cuz I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A grasshopper mentality because they had a form of godliness and they were able to show some fruit. But then they hit me with that nevertheless and I started believing what I was hearing.

I don't know if you know it or not, but only he deserves your praise. ((music playing)) Not that person, not that money, not that job, not that thing, not any of those nouns, but only he deserves the praise and the glory. Not any minister, not any pastor, not any speaker, not any singer, only Jesus.

There are no celebrities around here. There's only Jesus Christ that deserves your life, your worship, and your praise. Please stand to your feet as we continue in his word. As we continue to not just read his word and hear it today, but hopefully we have a plan and a heart to do it afterwards >> to apply his word.

Numbers 13. Numbers 13 25-33. This is what the word of the Lord says. When they returned from spying out the land at the end of 40 days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Pan in Kadesh.

And they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they said to him, thus they told him and said, "We went into the land where you sent us, and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit."

Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And moreover, we saw the descendants of Anch there. Amalc was living in the Ngev. And the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the Jordan.

Then Caleb quieted the people >> before Moses and said, "We shall by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely 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 too strong."

So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone in, spying it out, is the land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people who we saw in the land are men of great size." >> There also we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anch or part of the Nephilim, and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight.

And so we were in their sight. Today I want to talk to you from the title grasshoppers in the church. >> Grasshoppers in the church. You may be seated. >> In numbers 10 verse 11 and 12. You don't have to turn there. I'm going to tell you. You can check me though.

In the second year of the second month, the cloud took the people from Cyani and took them to the wilderness of Pan, which is Kadesh Barnea. God came and got the people. We know what happened at the end of Cyani. But he still PROGRESSED THEM IN SPITE of them to Kadesh Barnea.

I want to show you that location. So I want to put up a map so that you can have reference and understand where the people are. They were in Mount Cyani in the second year of the second month. The cloud came and got them from Mount Si and took them to Kadesh Barnea.

Do you see where Kadesh Barnea is? that they were just worshiping this golden calf and the goodness of God still progressed them. They are this close to Beheba in Hebrin which is the southern side of the promised land that he had promised to the people. In other words, they had been in the wilderness for 2 years and two months up to this point and now they are only a few days journey away and that's with a few truck stops along the way.

They are close to the promised land that God has called them to be. >> They would spend in Kadesh and Edom and Moab, this whole area. They would spend the next 38 years there. >> They're close. I don't know if ever any of you have ever BEEN SO CLOSE BUT ALSO so >> two years and now WE GET TO KADESH BARNEA and you can see behind me that it it was a LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER ATMOSPHERE.

Kadesh Barnea was like an oasis in the wilderness. Kind of like a place where you can become complacent. And here they are only A STONES THROW COMPARED TO WHERE THEY came from FROM THE PROMISES OF GOD. AND THEY WOULD SPEND THE NEXT 38 years on the outside of the promise. >> Why?

Because there were grasshoppers in the congregation. >> People came with a report that would mess their whole life up. There were people there WHO WENT AND SPIED OUT THE land and would not give the news that was necessary to encourage the people to take what had already been bought for them.

Let me explain. You know that THERE WAS A PROMISE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ABRAHAM IN GENESIS 12 that his people would take this land. He would take this land and that he would have many descendants in this land. By verse 5 in Genesis 12, Abraham makes it to Canaan.

By verse 7, God continues to talk about this promise and says, "Your descendants are GOING TO BE ALL in this land." In Genesis 23, Abraham buys a property in Hebin to bury himself and Sarah. >> In other words, HE PURCHASED A PLOT of land IN THE PROMISED PLACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN him for his burial place. and Sarah's burial place.

This would also be based on Genesis 49, the burial place of Isaac and Rebecca. It would be the burial place of Jacob and Leah. In other words, all the great patriarchs were buried in the place that Abraham had purchased. He was laid to rest in the atmosphere that all of his descendants were called to claim.

It was almost as if he put a flag there and told his descendants, "Just capture the flag." In other words, claimed the place that I have already paid for where I was buried. I need you to understand that Jesus paid the price and was buried and he put a flag there. >> AND HE PUT A FLAG THERE FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO WOULD COME AFTER HIM, WHO WOULD BELIEVE in him to play capture the flag.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROMISE OF THE PRICE THAT JESUS paid where he was buried and where he rose WAS NOT JUST A PROMISE FOR HEAVEN. >> I need you to understand when Jesus paid the price and was buried, IT WAS NOT JUST A FIRST PETER 1:4 PROMISE WHERE IT SAYS, "THIS IS your inheritance, your imperishable inheritance which is in heaven."

JESUS PAID THE PRICE SO THAT YOU would claim a promise on earth. >> Okay? Amen. >> John 10:10 says, "I have COME TO GIVE YOU life and life more abundantly." The word life there means way of living, existence or property. >> Abundantly means beyond or extraordinary. So what he did was I have come to give you a beyond extraordinary life and the property that I paid for that I died in called earth.

I've come to give you more than just the sweet buy and buy. I've come for you to claim it right here and right now. >> So, you have a savior for heaven and you also have a shepherd on earth. >> Let me walk you through this. Psalm 23, the Lord is my shepherd. >> This Lord who is your shepherd, he gives you clear waters and green pastures.

This Lord who is YOUR SHEPHERD, HE GUIDES YOU. He sustains you. This Lord who is your shepherd, he walks with you THROUGH THE VALLEY AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH. In eternity, there is no valley and shadow of death. He's talking about history and how he walks with you in it.

He comforts you. He actually prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies. There are no enemies in heaven. He's talking about, "I'm going to prepare a table for you right here, right now on earth. I'm going to be with you. Not only that, I'M GOING TO ANOINT YOUR HEAD WITH OIL.

Your cup will overflow. I'm going to MAKE SURE THAT GOODNESS AND LOVING kindness are following you all the days of your life. AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, you will dwell in THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER." AND THAT PSALM, IT GIVES you the two promises that are in the two prongs of one promise that you're GOING TO HAVE THIS SHEPHERD ON EARTH AND YOU'RE GOING TO DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF the Lord forever.

In other words, when Jesus paid and he he died, HE PUT THE FLAG THERE FOR US TO GO CLAIM IT. >> That means that the difference in the promise in eternity, eternity is given, >> right? History is claimed. >> I need you to understand this that the people were close to claiming a promise that was paid for.

Abraham had marked the spot for them to claim it. And they stood on the outside for the next 38 years not claiming the promises of God. And everybody above 20 years old would die on the precipice of claiming something that they would never claim. You need to know that God can make promises you never experience. >> But then he still keeps his promise cuz he just gives it to the next generation. >> So he's faithful even when we're unfaithful.

And who wants to live our life on the outside of promises that God has given us to claim? >> Okay. He says in Numbers 13:2, this is what it says. It says, "Send out for yourself men so they may spy out the land of Canaan." Say it again.

Send out for yourselves men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to >> give to the sons of Israel. >> Oh, y'all just >> go check it out. this land which I am going >> to give >> to the sons of Israel. >> In other words, to me, I don't know about you, this is a done deal.

((cheering)) >> I am going to give it to you. I'M JUST GOING TO LET YOU CHECK IT OUT BEFORE YOU GET THERE SO YOU CAN SEE I AIN'T LYING. >> WHAT ELSE DOES GOD NEED TO SAY to us? for us to MOVE FORWARD AND CLAIM WHAT HE'S already >> going to give to you.

HE'S GOING TO WORK IT OUT FOR YOUR GOOD. >> HE'S GOING TO FINISH THE WORK THAT HE STARTED. He's going to never leave you nor forsake you. He has a plan for you, sayeth the Lord. A plan for your well-being and not your calamity, to give you a future and to give you A HOPE.

HE HAS already made you a conqueror. He has already FORGIVEN YOU. HE HAS ALREADY prepared a table FOR YOU. HE'S ALREADY DONE IT. ((applause)) >> But many of us like them will allow fear or personal perspective or a grasshopper MENTALITY TALK US RIGHT OUT OF WHAT GOD IS GOING TO GIVE YOU.

AMEN. >> SO, we're standing right outside OF THE EDUCATION GOD KEEPS TELLING US TO GO BACK TO BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU, BECAUSE OF THE fear that we have. We're standing right outside of the business he's calling us to start because we ain't got no money and we got these excuses.

BUT HE'S GOT TO GIVE US SOMETHING. And he keeps pressing you, but you won't do it. You're standing right outside >> of what he's called you to do. And he's already said, "The reason why I've deposited in YOU AND YOU CAN'T SHAKE IT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE JUSTIFYING YOURSELF OUT OF IT IS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING to give you." >> At what point do we start believing God's word >> instead of standing outside of our promises?

It's in our heart. We long for it, but we're just on the outside of it. >> Um, >> I'm not gonna sing it. I'm just going to say it. >> God is able to do >> just what he said he would do. >> He's going to fulfill >> every promise to you. >> Don't give up on God >> cuz he won't give up on you.

((applause)) >> We're good at singing it. Oh, >> just to sit on the outside, >> to be on the outside of promises that he's going to give you. >> And Moses sends the men to go spy out the land. Go check out what God is going to give us.

And in verse 25, it says, "When they return from spying out the land at the end of 40 days." Now, I can't hang out here for a long time, but I I just recognized that for I made an observation that 40 is a generational number. David served for 40 years.

Solomon served for 40 years. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights with with Moses. Uh Jesus was fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. You got all of these 40s. Moses was on the mountain top of Mount Si after 40 days and 40 all of this 40 in the Bible and after 40 there was some type of transition.

Well, they spent 40 days and they transitioned a report that would mess up the next 40 years because a lack of faith has a multiplier effect. When you have a lack of faith, it multiplies that only 40 days would result in the next 40 years or 38 years of their experience in their life.

And I can tell you um after 40 your body change. I can sneeze and crack a rib now. I can yawn and my jaw gets stuck. Turn around and say hello and break my back. So you need to know if you're under 40, live right. Treat your body right in the first 40 because you going to have that same body in your last 40.

This is not just a physical principle. It's a spiritual principle. Do right. Invest spiritually in your first 40 because the decisions you make dictate the life that you lead in your last 40. Now God can give you the years. I was supposed to do this. God can give you the years that the locust have TAKEN AWAY.

BUT WHY live in recovery when you can do the first 40, right? ((cheering)) ((applause)) They hit this first 40 >> and then in verse 27 they came back with a report and it says, "Thus they told him and said, we went to the land where you sent us and it certainly does flow with milk and honey and this is its fruit."

Well, this is starting well. They went to the land and said, "LOOK AT THAT. THE Bible is true. What God said is actually a thing. We actually saw it work with our own two eyes." And many of US HAVE SEEN GOD work >> with our own two eyes.

And you have evidence that THE BIBLE'S TRUE. IF YOU DON'T WANT IF IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE BIBLE IS TRUE, JUST DON'T DO what it says. You're going to find out real fast that it knows what it's talking about. >> But they found out that it's true.

It's flowing with milk and honey. And they said, "This is its fruit." >> Let me say something about this fruit that they bought brought back from the land. This fruit they brought brought back from the land was a a cluster of grapes. And the location where they were, you would see it in your study in verse 23 and 24.

There was a location that meant cluster or stem. They were bringing back grapes from the land to show the people the fruit of the land. These grapes were carried on a stick by two men. Two men were carrying the grapes back to Moses. And I had to do some study.

I said, "Why two men got a carry cluster of grapes back to Moses?" >> And in our study, I found out that these weren't no normal grapes. THESE WERE DINOSAUR GRAPES. These were Jurassic Park grapes. The This stem of grapes could weigh 10 to 15 lbs per cluster.

Each individual grape was massive and they were carried by two men to show all of the fullness and how large the fruitfulness is in the land. Two men carrying these grapes. Okay, let me show you how powerful this story is. In Israel, put my picture up. In Israel, when you land there, it's still the logo of tourism for Israel.

And they're telling you today, they're going back to this story. This is the current logo where they're saying TWO MEN, THEY'RE LETTING YOU KNOW WHEN YOU FLY IN, you just came to the land flowing with milk and honey. This is a land that is fruitful. This is God's place, >> which means they got fruit in the promised place. >> So, it makes me very lery when a person comes to me and says they have Jesus, but they ain't got no fruit. because you will know them by their >> There's no way you can tell me YOU'RE LIVING A PROMISED LAND LIFE and you ain't got no fruit. >> PEOPLE SIT IN CHURCH AND MAKE CLAIMS ALL ALL DAY LONG. >> But I want to know where is the fruit? >> Because in that place there is fruit.

If you're LIVING IN THE PROMISE IN YOUR MARRIAGE, THERE'LL BE FRUIT THERE. If you're LIVING IN THE PROMISE IN CONTENTMENT, there is fruit there. If you're living in THE PROMISE OF GENEROSITY, THERE IS FRUIT THERE. IF YOU'RE LIVING WITH INTEGRITY, PROVERBS says there is fruit there. If you're living by the spirit, there should be a cluster of fruits there.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. THAT IS THE FRUITS OF the spirit. >> Because in this place, there are fruits. The problem is some of us are carrying GMO fruits. You know them fruits you get FROM WALMART THAT THEY BIG BUT THEY SHOT THEM UP WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF AND you like, "Oh, those are the good ones."

And you eat them and you sick for 3 months. I I'm trying [laughter] cuz you always know when somebody's carrying organic fruit versus GMO fruit >> because organic fruit >> is found in the place where there is also problems. >> You don't get it cuz they're about to talk about problems in the same place they grab the fruit.

GMO fruit people only have fruit when there's no problems. >> Problems show up. All the fruit go away. >> Now you need to understand in this world you will have trouble. >> Jesus says, "I have already overcome it." So even though there's trouble, you should still be pumping out fruit.

((applause)) Not everybody understands that the ((music playing)) promise still has problems on this side of heaven and that fruit exists where there's problems. Not everybody understand that. Which is why you cannot allow just anybody >> to do reconnaissance on your promises ((applause)) >> because >> these spies They start >> with fruit. >> They start spiritually. >> They start with the fruit. >> And then in verse 28, it says, what's the first word? >> Stop.

Nevertheless. But conversely, on the other hand, however, in contrast, The Bible is true. These are its fruit. Nevertheless, >> nevertheless, would become now the incarceration, the capital of their incarceration. >> Nevertheless, this contrast to what God was doing would stamp the people for the next 38 years. this one word would mess their whole life up in their view of what God was trying to give them in this promise.

They just started great. The people's ears were puckered up. They were listening. Oh, it is fruitful. Oh, look at these dinosaur grapes they got from the land. And then the spies said nevertheless. Okay, and let me show you how they talk. Once they say nevertheless, they say the people who lived in the land are strong.

The cities are fortified. They're very large. Moreover, they saw the descendants of Anch there. Verse 29. Verse 29 says, "Amalc is living in the land. The Ngev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites and the they're living in the hill country and the Canaanites are living by the sea and uh and and they by the Jordan."

Be careful when people start spiritually, >> but they end physically. >> They start with God's promises, but then they end with man's pain points. Yeah, >> these men started with the fruit and it would be evident that it that fruit didn't match their faith. >> Whenever you have a person in your life or in the congregation that starts with God >> and ends with man and allows man to be the determining factor of whether you do what God says, that means their true identity has now been revealed.

((cheering)) Let >> me say that again. When they start with God, >> but then they end with themselves, their experiences and what they think from a humanistic perspective, and they allow the human to outrule the spiritual, and tell you to go based on man's size, based on the fortifications, based on Amalcch, the Hittites, the Jebusites, all the item them and their cousins, based on the problems you going to have, all of that kind of stuff. and the human outrules the spiritual, their true identity has just shown up. >> And if you get confused by this level of manipulation, I call it spiritual manipulation.

Why? Because they started with spiritual and fruit. So now my ears are bent to listen because they've started in a biblical place making me feel like even Moses thought these are leaders. I'll send them to go spy because they were able to have a form of godliness. >> Okay. >> 2 Timothy.

Thank you, Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:5. >> There are those who have a form of godliness, yet they deny God's power. And then it says, "Avoid such men." >> ((cheering)) >> There are those who are able to start with scripture and I'll pray for you, >> but then they end with their experiences, their thought and human thinking.

And so they have a form of godliness that'll confuse you, but then they deny the power of God. It tells you to totally avoid these men >> because they will MESS YOUR WHOLE LIFE UP. >> OKAY. >> UM, you know, we've been shacking for a while and um I'm thinking about, you know, God has really been impressing upon both of us that we need to get married and covenant and do this, right? >> Really feel like God is calling us to this life.

We've been listening to the message. We feel convicted. We want to do it the right way. We know we already love each other and all those kind of things. And so we really need to do this right. >> That's good. Sounds fruitful since the Bible says the two shall become one flesh and it should be a covenant with God.

That's definitely true biblically. But most marriages end in divorce. Y'all are probably good like you are because you've been successful for a while. Typically when you change, things change. When you put the ring on, there's different expectations that show up and most marriages don't end well. So, if it were me, that is what you call a grass hopper.

Okay, y'all. Let me give you another one. Thinking about starting a business, you know, uh it's a kingdom business. I want to make an impact. I want to do what God has called me to do. I've been feeling it for a while and I don't want to run from it anymore.

And I really feel like he's going to make an impact in this business. Uh-huh. Most businesses, well, first, it's fruitful. God tells you to be the lender, not the borrower. God tells you to know to to make an impact. All of those different things. But most businesses, you know, they fail.

You going to end up with no money, no wife. You going to end up with your kids all messed up because businesses typically take more from you than what you have to put in. So, if I were you, grass hopper, I want to do another one. Um, me and my husband have been struggling for a while, you know, cuz we've been talking for 10 years.

It was one time he stepped out on me, you know, I'm still here, but we've been struggling. But over the last few months, he has met God for the first time. He's in his word. He's different. He's going to church. He really seems changed. It's been consistent. And I'm like, man, what if this is it?

Like, what if God is saying, "Hey, hold up." Because now he's received the spirit. He's a different man. And I've seen it for myself. I think I'm going to wait on the Lord on this one. I'm doing the best I can. >> Mhm. You know what's good? God, you know, God hates divorce.

I understand all that. You know, all of those different things. But I've been here with you for 10 years. And in my experience, you ain't going to be able to trust him again. It's not going to work. I mean, he may have found God, but I don't know if you can find yourself back to him.

I mean, I don't I see what you want, but in my experience, you going to waste another 10 years. grass hopper. >> We will have you sitting right outside of your promised land, [snorts] >> a form of godliness, but they just deny God's power. avoid such men. As they would come back with this report and they would continue in verse 31 and 32 and say, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.

The land through which we have gone in and spied it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people who we saw are men of great size." Verse 33. There also we saw the Nephilim. The sons of Anch are part of the Nephilim. And watch, we became like grasshoppers in our own sight.

And we and so we were in their sight. This part they lying. They were spying the land. If they saw you, THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU. THE ONLY REASON WHY you think they see you this way is because you see you this way. ((applause)) ((cheering)) And you took your insecurities and you put it on them so that you weren't ABLE TO DO WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO BECAUSE YOU'RE INSECURE.

And you think everybody sees you the way you see you. You just made that up through the lens of your own insecurity. >> [cheering and applause] >> So, we'll stand on the outside because of our insecurity, denying the power of God of how he's going to use us in this next phase.

SO, I'M DIVORCED, BUT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO TEACH MARRIAGE, BUT I I HAVE FAILED. SO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN DO IT. BUT HE'S PUT ON MY HEART THAT I SHOULD BE DOING IT. AND I FEEL LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT CLASS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT me like I'm a grasshopper.

NO, YOU ONLY THINK THAT BECAUSE you think you're A GRASSHOPPER. BUT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO IT BECAUSE YOU have an experience THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP THOSE WHO ARE married stay married based on the experience that you have BEING DIVORCED BECAUSE GOD CAN TAKE PEOPLE who have failed and people who have been in misery and GIVE THEM THE GREATEST MIN MINISTRY THAT IS THE BIBLE.

((applause)) This grasshopper mentality >> are people who the glass is always half empty. >> The grasshopper mentality is victimization and I am the prey. The grasshopper mentality is one who only sees the opportunity as a challenge instead of the challenge as an opportunity. >> The grasshopper mentality says that men are always bigger than God.

The situation is always bigger than the savior. >> The grasshopper mentality is a pessimist with no solutions. >> People who are natural pessimists are great because they can see the problems. But if you're a natural pessimist and you ain't got no solutions, >> then you're just negative. >> They said we can't go take it.

We cannot do it. And I need all everyone in here and online to understand that you have to be careful when the fruit and the words don't match. >> Their fruit was much bigger than their faith. >> You hear it when they talk. Jesus said, "In this world, you'll have trouble."

Jesus starts with the problem and he ends with the solution. The way that they spoke, they started with the good stuff and ended with the bad stuff. >> Tell you how they really feel about where God is calling you. And now the people are listening. >> They're listening intently because the spies are the one who saw it.

They're the ones who have been there before. And certainly if they can't do it, we can't do it. >> 38 years 38 years. How long has that person's word to you >> kept you walking around >> outside of your promises? >> How long has that person's negativity and their experiences kept you avoiding what God has already put in the ground for you to claim. >> How long have those words reverberated in your mind that they have become your reality and your identity that there's no way that I can do what God is calling me to do because so and so looks spiritual and they told me not.

I've had people who have told me, >> "Jonathan, there ain't no way. >> Don't even try it cuz you don't want to look bad trying to follow up your dad. >> It'll look a mess. Start another church. You'll be better off than trying to come after him in this church." >> I've had people say to me, "Don't ever even try to even look at his shoes. because his shoes are not possible to fill in any shape, form, or fashion.

And I need you to know that I spent years believing it. >> I said, "You're right. >> Cuz I see what you see. >> You're right." Because it's amazing to me. And I don't think that God can use me in an amazing way like he used Tony F.

So I'm going to listen to you because the people who said it had on suits and the people who SAID IT KNEW THE Bible and THE PEOPLE WHO SAID IT KNEW certain thing they could pray and so this is too big and it's too much so don't even try it.

So, I listened and I internalized grasshopper mentality cuz I didn't know it was a grasshopper mentality because they had a form of godliness and they WERE ABLE TO SHOW SOME FRUIT. But then they HIT ME WITH THAT NEVERTHELESS and I started believing what I was hearing. But I need you to know that inserted in this text, inserted in this story, in the middle of the grasshoppers talking is verse 30.

And verse 30 says this, "CALEB QUIETED the people." ((applause)) The reason why CALEB HAD TO QUIET THE PEOPLE IS BECAUSE THEY were emotionally DISTURBED BY THESE GRASSHOPPERS WHO KEPT TALKING. CALEB SAID, "MAN, IF Y'ALL DON'T BE QUIET," >> he said, "we shall by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it."

((cheering)) There were grasshoppers in my life that made me feel like what they WERE SAYING WAS REAL. BUT THEN I HAD A CALEB INSERT HERSELF NAMED LOIS EVANS. AND LOIS EVANS SAID, "FORGET ALL THAT. You're going to go TAKE THE LAND. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WEAR THOSE SHOES. YOU GOING TO PUT YOUR OWN ON.

GOD'S GOING TO USE YOU IN THE SAME WAY HE USED HIM. YOU GOING TO GO TAKE IT AND YOU ARE GOING TO OVERCOME IT. LOIS 7 SAID, "BY ALL MEANS, BOY, DON'T YOU DARE DIE IN THE MIDDLE." BY ALL MEANS, BOY, DON'T YOU STOP BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT PROMISE BECAUSE YOU ARE SURELY GOING TO OVERCOME IT.

I don't need know who needs to hear this, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU WILL SURELY >> ((cheering)) >> YOU WILL surely you will surely ((cheering)) we are going to POSSESS THE LAND. YOU'RE GOING TO POSSESS YOUR CALLING. YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLESSED. YOUR MARRIAGE IS GOING TO WORK. YOUR BUSINESS IS GOING TO TAKE OFF.

YOUR CAREER IS GOING TO SKYROCKET. GOD IS SURELY GOING TO GIVE you what HE HAS SAID HE IS GOING TO DO BECAUSE GOD IS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE SAID HE'S GOING TO DO. HE'S GOING TO FULFILL EVERY PROMISE TO YOU. SO DON'T GIVE UP ON GOD CUZ HE WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU.

He's able. And you've got to believe it. ((applause)) You've got to believe it ((cheering)) because what we're NOT GOING TO DO AT THIS CHURCH IS DIE IN THE MIDDLE. >> What we're not going to DO AT THIS CHURCH, WE HAVE A BIG VISION GOD HAS GIVEN US. AND IF YOU A GRASSHOPPER, YOU NEED TO HOP ON GRASSHOPPER BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER GO WITH 2,000 LAND CONQUERORS THAN 10,000 GRASSHOPPERS ANY DAY.

HE HAS CALLED US TO IT. And this is what HE'S CALLED US TO DO. Caleb in his later days in Joshua 14:14, it says, "I'm now 85 years old, >> and I'm just as STRONG AS I WAS WHEN I WAS 40. ((applause)) AND CALEB'S INHERITANCE WAS HEBRIN. >> Wasn't that the place that Abraham purchased? >> Caleb caught the flag. >> And I'm wondering how many Calebs we have in the church.

I'm wondering how many people are going to go get it. ((applause)) We must refuse to die in the middle. God has not called us to that. And so for those of you who have been hesitant while being on the precipice, come down to the altar so you can get this Caleb prayer.

For those of you who have been hesitant, come down to the altar ((music playing)) because we want to pray for you. You've heard people say such negative things. You've heard people say, "You can't do it. You won't be nothing. You're not good enough. You don't look good enough. Your idea is not good enough.

What God has placed in your heart is not good enough. And now you have began to internalize a grasshoppers mentality ((music playing)) instead of a land conqueror's mentality. >> While people come, come on. [snorts] ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> to you. >> Just worship him. >> Don't give up on God cuz he won't give up on you.

He's ((music playing)) singing. He's [singing] a He's a seated abil. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) God is able [singing] to do just ((music playing)) what he said he do. Going to fulfill. He's going to fulfill every [singing] ((music playing)) promise to you. Don't give up. Don't [singing] give up on God cuz ((music playing)) he won't give up. Sing he's able. >> I want everybody to stretch your right hand to those who are up front.

Kingdom community, pray as I pray. Heavenly Father, we lift up all the beautiful souls that have come up to the front where they're in Kadesh Barnea, but they don't want to be complacent. We want to rip the grasshopper mentality out of them. What people have spoken over them because life and death is in the power of the tongue.

But Lord, we bind IT AND WE LOOSE A ((music playing)) BLESSING. We pray Lord THAT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IN THEIR HEART that they would go capture it and they ((music playing)) would go claim it. That they would do it individually and we would do it corporately. We pray Lord that you would bless them indeed.

Enlarge their territory and walk with them. ((music playing)) We pray Lord that whether it's their children or their marriage or their blessing or their career or their business, whatever it is, Lord, THAT YOU HAVE DEPOSITED the very thing that they're afraid of, the very thing that's fortified, the very thing that has Amorites and Hittites ((music playing)) and Jebusites and Canaanites and all the things that make them want to say it's impossible.

We pray Lord that they will go claim the land because you have made a promise that you are going to give it to us, >> that you are going to do it. So we pray Lord we walk in your promises and not our pain points. We pray Lord that we walk in our faith and not our fear.

We pray Lord Lord we don't want to die in the middle. Who wants to die in the middle between our salvation and claiming the promises that God has for us? So right now for all of those who will come here and all of those who are online. We pray Lord that we will claim the victory that has already been bought.

That we will claim the land that has already been purchased. that we ((music playing)) will claim the flag that has already been drilled into the ground. We give you the glory, Lord, for what you're going to do. And thank you for teaching us this morning in Jesus name. All God's people said, "Amen." and give him glory.