3. The reading For This morning!
Numbers 14:6-9
Numbers 14:6-9 (NKJV) 6  But 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 they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8  If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9  Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."

4. In Remembrance of Me

5. Moving to PERFECTION in
Northside
Moving to PERFECTION in

6. Going onto Perfection

7. What It Means to Be A Christian?

9. Spiritual Growth 3
Optimism (1)
Lesson 14

10. Optimism,
“a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.” Optimism, Dictionary.com
What is Optimism?

11. We cannot ignore sin and weaknesses in our lives
What is Optimism?
2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NKJV)
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
NOT blind optimism
We cannot ignore sin and weaknesses in our lives
Beware of the slick spiritual salesmen
2 Tim. 4:2-4
God will punish the unrepentant Rom. 11:22

12. What is Optimism? NOT blind optimism
But at the same time, we need to believe we can change for the better…
- We can overcome obstacles, weaknesses and sin
- We can resist Satan
- We can do what we are called to do
This mindset is crucial!

13. What is Optimism? Pessimism is a tool of Satan
He convinces us we are failures and weak!
He instills fear and doubt
He exploits your weaknesses
He creates cynics and skeptics.
Such will cause apathy and can kill a church!

14. The Bible and Optimism Jesus and optimism
Matthew 7:7-8, Ask, seek, knock James 1:6-7
John 16:33, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”
Matthew 17:20, faith of a mustard seed
Luke 9:1-5, apostles sent out Luke 10:1-24, 70 sent out

15. The Bible and Optimism
Philippians 4:8, lovely, things of good report – meditate on these
1 Corinthians 13:5-7, love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things…”

16. The Bible and Optimism
Romans 12:3, not to think MORE highly of yourself (arrogance condemned, not confidence)
2 Corinthians 12:10, “therefore I take pleasure in infirmities…For when I am weak, I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 (NKJV)
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

17. The Bible and Optimism
1 Corinthians 10:13, no temptation…make a way of escape
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

18. Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to those who love God…
The Bible and Optimism
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to those who love God…

19. Joshua and Caleb, Examples of Optimism Num 13:30, 14:6-9
Numbers 14:6-9 (NKJV) 6  But 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 they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8  If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9  Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."
Joshua and Caleb,
Num 13:30, 14:6-9
Joshua, Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of good courage…for the Lord your God is with you…”
Numbers 13:30 (NKJV) 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."

20. David and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:37, 45-47
Examples of Optimism
David and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:37,
Elijah facing prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:27
Hebrews 11: “These all died in faith…”
1 Kings 18:27 (NKJV) 27  And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened."
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV) 13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
1 Samuel 17:  Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47  Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."
1 Samuel 17:37 (NKJV) 37  Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

21. Examples of Optimism
Barnabas, stands up for Saul Acts 9:27
Paul and Silas singing and praying Acts 16:25
Jesus warns Peter Luke 22:31-32, “when you have returned to me”
Matt. 16:21, 17:23, 20:19 – the resurrection
Acts 9:27 (NKJV) 27  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 16:25 (NKJV)
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

22. What type of disposition do you have?