We Are Able, Part 1of2, Evans Olang

Numbers 13:1-33, “30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it”

To the Only Wise God Our Savior who has led us to see another New Year. How do we view this New Year and walk in it? Allow me to share some encouraging principles as we move forward. I hope you find some truth to assist you in this journey that only God can bring us through.

I am occasionally asked what kind of resolutions I make for the New Year. I hate making resolutions, they tend to backfire; instead I prefer making statements. Resolutions often times goes by one’s effort, statements in my world is putting it in someone’s hands I have proven faithful to carry it through me. God’s Resume looks good and outshines every ones. Tell me who has a good Resume and I will show you who has THE BEST Resume, He has done so much we cannot tell it all. Resolutions are good, they embark on determination but statements are better because they are the acts of declaring. I cannot make a statement on my own but I now can because of who God is.

The number 1 principle: Spy this New Year, SPY THE LAND, see opportunities to grow and progress. Numbers 13:1-2, “1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel…”. Spy the possibilities of growing deeper and stronger in the Lord in comparison to last year. From day one to this very moment, God had promised the Israelites the land of Canaan. It was described as a land flowing with milk and honey, it had abundance of figs, dates, and nuts. It was a well-established land, but why did they have to spy it when they were already told what was there? Perhaps to prove to the Israelites that God meant what He said. Moses sent 12 spies , he said vs. 17-18, “17 Go up this way into the south, and go up the mountains 18, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell it are strong or weak, few or many…”. Another possible reason for sending the spies into the land was to see if there were obstacles or not. Yes Moses tells them to check if the land is rich or poor, however Moses was already aware of the richness of the land. One thing was missing, God did not share with them of obstacles. This is where the 12 spies will bring the message of Canaan’s richness and obstacles. Spying the land is not to discourage you from going forward but to prepare you how to get there.

Number 2 principle: GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAND YOU ARE SPYING. Numbers 13:26, “Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the wilderness…they brought back a word … and showed them the fruit.”. The 12 men brought back words and a taste of the fruitfulness of the land. Vs. 27, “They told him, …” we went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is it’s fruit“. Here comes the obstacle, vs. 28. “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong and the cities are fortified and very large“. Can you imagine people’s first reaction when they heard about the abundance of the land? I believe they were very excited. What melted their hearts was hearing of the obstacles in the land, fortified cities and giants. The entire team of 12 people spoke of the richness of the land, 10 added the reality of the obstacles. Would you rather go by 2 people’s reports or 10? Gathering info about the land is to assist us in deciding if we still embark on the mission or terminate it.

I have shared on 2 principles, I will continue in the next message with additional principles. I want us to know that we can make it with God in this New Year. We can be the channel by which He will glorify Himself when He brings us through facing giants in our lands as He provides for us according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:20). Its greatness will depend on your confession on who you rely on. Whose report will you believe? Blessings Ev

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