Crossing the Threshold of Blessing! Numbers 13-14 A threshold is an entrance from one place to another. Thresholds mark new beginnings. Following a wedding, the groom picks up his bride and carries her across the threshold of their honeymoon suite marking the beginning of a new life together as husband and wife. When a new business begins, the owner has his picture taken as he crosses the threshold marking the beginning of a new business. Today we are standing on the threshold of a new year. As we make our plans for the new diet or new exercise program we are going to begin, what plans are you making for your walk with the Lord this new year? As we stand on the threshold of a new year, as you peer into the beginning of a new year, what do you see? The Lord never promises Blessings without Battles Beauty without Brutality Delight without Discipline Sunshine without Rainy Days ONE THING Spiritual thresholds mark ENTRANCES to greater BLESSINGS from the Lord. 1. OPPORTUNITY for the blessing. Numbers 13:1 2 (ESV) 1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.
Notice that the Lord sends them to OBSERVE the land which HE is GIVING TO THEM. He did not send these spies into the land to DETERMINE if they should enter the land. He sent them in only to observe. The Lord DESIRES to bless us Did you know that God desires to richly bless your life? Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. The Lord DELIVERS us into His blessings The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for many years. They had lived under the tyranny of a hard taskmaster. They were imprisoned in a meaningless life. But the LORD heard their cry for help and sent Moses to deliver His people from slavery. God s desire was to deliver them from slavery and bless them with a meaningful, productive, purposeful life. So, with a mighty hand, God delivered Israel from Egypt. Did you also know that before you can be blessed, you must first be delivered? Matthew 11:28 (ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Have you been delivered from Egypt? Have you given your life to Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, You must first become HIS before His blessings become YOURS. The Lord DIRECTS us to His blessings The Lord had been guiding them all the time and directing them to His blessings of Promise. 2. OBSTACLES to the blessing. Numbers 13:25 28 (ESV) 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. After 40 days of observation, the twelve spies returned to Moses and the people. They showed them to fruit and gave their report. Ten of the twelve gave a bad report. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, said they should take the land. What are the obstacles to receiving God s blessings? What will keep you in 2015 from crossing the threshold into a life of blessing? Three Obstacles to blessing: DISTRACTED Focus Focusing on the PROBLEM rather than the PROVIDER.
Peter walking on water: Matthew 14:28 30 (ESV) 28 And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 29 He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. DISCOURAGING People Numbers 13:31 33 (ESV) 31 Then 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 are. 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them. It can t be done. We ve never done it that way before. Their job in life is to suck the courage out of other people Half-hearted DEVOTION Numbers 14:1 4 (ESV) 1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? 4 And they said to one another, Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.
Fence-straddlers. These are people who are devoted to a point. The children of Israel were standing at the threshold of the Promised Land, but never entered! 3. OBEDIENCE brings the blessing. How do I cross the threshold into the blessed life? DIVINE Focus Numbers 14:6 9 (ESV) 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them. We must fix our eyes on Jesus rather than our obstacles. Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Wholehearted DEVOTION Numbers 13:30 (ESV) 30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Joshua and Caleb kept encouraging the people to believe God. They could believe because of their wholehearted devotion.
Numbers 14:24 (ESV) 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Jesus is not looking for sinless perfection, but for passionate servants. Men and women willing to follow Him no matter the cost. Have you considered the cost? ahead. In the same way, the Bible is very realistic about the Christian life. The blessings of joy, peace, purpose, and power are mixed with trials, trouble, and temptations. The same Jesus that said, John 10:10 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Also said; John 16:33 (ESV) 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Paul tells us the same thing in Ephesians. Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 6:11 12 (ESV) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Have you counted the costs of following Jesus?
Luke 14:27 28 (ESV) 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:33 (ESV) 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Total DEPENDENCE Proverbs 3:5 6 (ESV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Hebrews 3:15 16 (ESV) 15 As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? Hebrews 3:19 (ESV) 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Crossing the Threshold of Blessing Numbers 13-14 Focus: Spiritual thresholds mark into greater from the Lord. 1. for the Blessing The Lord to bless us The Lord us into His blessings The Lord us to His blessings 2. to the Blessing Focus People Half-hearted 3. brings the Blessing Focus Wholehearted Total