"The things God promises will always be bigger tan your natural abilities..."

Living in a world overflowing with information, one of the most alarming aspects is the pervasive presence of what we now call “fake news.” It is highly unlikely that anyone is ignorant of the term, as almost everyone has encountered fake news in some form or shape. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, fake news refers to false stories or reports that appear as news, typically spread through the internet or other media platforms, with the intention to influence political views or be taken as a joke. What is both amusing and concerning is that most people often fall

for fake news, and you may wonder why.

But here’s something you may find surprising: fake news has existed long before the advent of the internet.

Even 4000 years ago, it was present. Allow me to take a few minutes of your time to share with you a significant Bible story that cost an entire generation 40 years of aimlessly wandering in circles, preventing them from inheriting their promised land, simply because the majority believed and spread fake news.

In Exodus 3:8, God manifest Himself to Moses through a burning bush in response to the prayers of the Israelites. Quick background: the Israelites were God’s chosen people who had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years.

God answered their prayers by promising to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and bring them to a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey.

“The things God promises will always be bigger than your natural abilities.”

Moses obeyed God’s call and went to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, demanding that he release the Israelites.

As the story unfolds, the Israelites are liberated, and the time comes for them to enter their promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. God instructs Moses to select twelve spies, one from each tribe, to explore the land and bring back a report. Among the twelve spies were Joshua and Caleb. Unfortunately, the reports they brought back were not the same. Ten of the spies, forming the majority, verified that the land was indeed good, abundant with blessings. However, they also reported the presence of giants, which made taking the land seem impossible.

In contrast, Joshua and Caleb confidently declared that, with God on their side, they were

well able to conquer the land.

“There comes a time when you need to realize that not everyone around you will agree

with what you believe. Out of 12 spies, only 2 entered into the promise.”

The disparity between the reports of the ten spies and Joshua and Caleb had much to do with the perspective through which they viewed the situation. Looking through natural eyes, it was undeniable that there were giants in the land, and fear arose, causing doubt in the fulfillment of Moses’ instructions. However, Joshua and Caleb possessed a “different spirit.” This different spirit allowed them to see things from God’s perspective, rather than being swayed by the natural circumstances. Their different spirit also influenced the report they delivered to Moses.

Have you found yourself saying, “I don’t see us winning this game”? By uttering such words, you imply that victory is unseen within the realm of your natural circumstances. However, when we turn to God’s Word, it encourages us to actually see and speak the unseen reality, which often differs from what is seen in the natural realm. To be able to see and speak the unseen, we must possess a different spirit.

“The Spirit you carry determines the report you will deliver.”

So, what is this different spirit? In the epistle to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul refers to it as the spirit of faith. Romans 10 teaches us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God comprises the promises. Thus, the Promised Land is not merely a physical geographical location, but rather an eternal truth that alters everything when perceived. As we begin to see it, our response will undoubtedly be a good report, just as Joshua and Caleb did. Building on this truth, Paul further explains in Romans 10 that righteousness, which comes through faith, speaks. Now that we understand that the different spirit Joshua and Caleb possessed was faith, we can better comprehend what the writer of Hebrews meant when he said, “They could not enter the Promise (Rest) because the word they received was not mixed with faith.” Faith sets us apart by giving us a different spirit, enabling us to perceive things differently. With this different perspective, our speech and reports also differ. As a result, we inherit the promised land.

“A son of God looks at the natural and sees the possibility that is and is about to happen

(Spirit of Prophecy).”

One striking aspect of this teaching is how the evil report of ten men, contrary to God’s word and promise, affected the entire nation of approximately three million people. Their evil report resulted in the Israelites staying in the wilderness for 40 years, until the entire generation of those who doubted God’s word on the day Moses sent the tribes to spy the land had passed away. Although they had the option to believe the report of Joshua and Caleb and take possession of the land, the Israelites chose to believe the report of the ten spies. Consequently, they missed out on the promise and wandered in the desert for four decades.

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

(Isaiah 53:1)

To make it more applicable in our modern world, whose report will you believe? While we may not face Amalekites, Hittites, or any other ancient “tites,” we encounter our own modern-day “tites,” such as financial challenges, health issues, relationship struggles, and many more. When faced with these giants, whose report are you believing?

Will you choose to have a different spirit, proclaiming what God says about your finances, health, and relationships?

Or will you repeat the evil report to yourself, your family, and your friends, keeping them trapped in a desert cycle for who knows how long?

This sermon covered a vast range of topics, and not everything could be included in this post.

However, if you genuinely desire to be blessed and set free from the cycle of delayed promises in your life, I encourage you to head over to our YouTube channel and watch thefull sermon, “Whose Report Will You Believe.”