1. Where can we look for hope? Psa. 33:16 Superior Military doesn’t save 1 Tim. 6:10 Money leads to all kinds of evil Isaiah 40:7 People wither away like grass Isaiah 40:15 Governments are nothing; dust on the scale 1 Cor.1:25 All man’s wisdom is less than God’s foolishness Psa. 42:11 Discouraged? Put your HOPE in God

2. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, 6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

3. When we fear, faith-in-God hope diminishes the fear. But fear clashes with faith. Fear diminishes faith. We fear that the future will bring harm. Our minds cannot know the future, so we become more and more fearful. God knows the future and He has only the best plans for our future

4. Faith that omits God, says that we ourselves and “fate” are in control. That pretty much destroys hope.

5. 1 Cor.10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition. (So let us recall some examples and grow our hope).

6. (Examples) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, famine, 430 years in Egypt, Moses, Red Sea, 10 C’s, 12 spies

7. When you believe Old Testament miracles, your faith and hope in God will “grow”. Jesus referred to Old Testament miracles as historical: the creation of the world (Matt. 24:21), the creation of Adam and Eve (Matt. 19:4), the flood (Matt. 24:39), the miracles of Elijah (Luke 4:26), Jonah in the great fish (Matt. 12:40), and Daniel (Matt. 24:15). Jesus believed Old Testament miracles, so to disbelieve them is to challenge the knowledge or truthfulness of Jesus

8. Let us now consider God’s knowledge and sovereign power in the 12 spy incident

9. God’s promised victory Exodus 34:10 And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the L ORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. 11 Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

10. They had previously counted their own army! 603,550 “six pack” slave/soldiers! Num. 1:46 NUMBERS 13:1 And the L ORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man” (12 spies). If you had seen the plagues and walked through the Red Sea, would you tend to believe God?

11. Twelve leading men Num. 13:17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go 18 and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; 19 whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; 20 whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage.

12. The 12 spies obeyed the command of Moses Num. 13:25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 they brought back word to them 27 “We went to the land. It truly flows with milk and honey. 28 Nevertheless the people are strong; the cities are fortified; we saw the descendants of Anak. 29 The Amalekites, in the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites in the mountains; and the Canaanites by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

13. Ten spies saw BIG people and BIG obstacles. Two spies saw their “BIG” God. Num. 13:30 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.” 31 But 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.”

14. God has promised us victory (Remember the miracles of the plague and the Red Sea) (A 603,550 man army)

15. One God outvoted by 15 “yeahbuts” 1.The people are strong 2. Cities are fortresses 3. The cities are huge. 4. Anak giants there 5. Amalekites 6. Hittites 7.Jebusites 8. Amorites 9.Canaanites 10. Live in the mountains 11. Live by the sea 12. Live by the Jordan 13. Stronger than us 14. Devours its inhabitants 15. All the men are BIGGER than us (We were like grasshoppers)

16. Faith is not what you SAY you believe. Faith is the CHOICE you make FEAR looks at the size of the giants compared to you FAITH looks at the size of the giants compared to God We should, but we can’t It’s risky, but we’ll trust God

17. My dad is bigger than “Boomer”

18. 1. Faith refuses what looks good for right now 2. Faith chooses the hard road with the big payoff later over the easy road that runs out soon. (16 out of 45 AWANA clubbers) 3. Faith values things based on their long term benefit rather than on the short term price tag 4. Faith leaves the darkness, no matter what the cost

19. 5. Faith perseveres because it keeps its eyes on God 6. Faith honors everything in the Word of God 7. Faith expects the supernatural Heb. 11: 1, 6

20. “You are My special treasure” (precious, preserved) Ex. 19:5; Deut 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9 1.Is your income being threatened? 2.Is your health being threatened? 3.Is your marriage being threatened? 4.Are your children being threatened

21. Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Today’s New International Version

22. Jesus is our hope for eternal life AND for a joy filled life each day

23. Let's talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He, The Lord of lords supreme, through all eternity. The great I AM, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door, Let's talk about Jesus more and more.