1. The Danger of Defeatism Defined:
“the fact of being defeated; a person who too readily accepts or expects defeat.”

2. As a Man Thinks Within Himself,
So He Will Become
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

3. As a Man Thinks Within Himself,
So He Will Become
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

4. Are we afraid to submit to the power of the gospel?
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
Are we afraid to submit to the power of the gospel?
“….We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”
Numbers 13:31

5. Bible Examples of Defeatism
The ten spies
Felt defeated as soon as they saw the giants
Numbers 13:26-31
Notice God’s attitude toward those who give up
Numbers 14:11-12
The one talent man
Hid his talent – didn’t try to gain more
Matthew 25:18, 24-25
Notice the Lord’s attitude toward him
Matthew 25:26-27

6. Examples of the Opposite Spirit
But Peter and the other apostles answered and
said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
Caleb and Joshua
Numbers 13:30; 14:6-10
Abraham
Romans 4:19-22
The Apostles
Acts 1:8; 4:19-20
What Determination!

7. Examples of the Opposite Spirit
The Apostle Paul
His sense of responsibility
1 Corinthians 9:16; Romans 1:14-16
His persuasion
2 Timothy 1:12
His absolute confidence
Philippians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
The Brethren at Antioch
Gave according to their ability (Acts 11:29-30)

8. Some Evil Effects of Defeatism Israel
40 years of wandering in the wilderness
Numbers 14:33
The defeatists did not enter the promised land
Numbers 14:32-37
Hebrews 3:8-11, 17-19

9. Some Evil Effects of Defeatism The one talent man
He ended up losing what he had
Matthew 25:28
He was cast into outer darkness
Matthew 25:30

10. Results of TODAY Defeatism One fails to develop fully and move forward
The spread of the church is held back
Souls that may have been saved are lost
We will not be able to enter eternity with God
Hebrews 3:12-14; 4:1-2, 11
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)