1. Selected Scriptures: Numbers 13, 14, Joshua 24
It’s Time!!!
Selected Scriptures: Numbers 13, 14, Joshua 24

2. Introduction
Time is one of the greatest gifts God has given to man. God dwells in eternity, but He deals with us in time. Each of us has an unknown, divinely allotted amount of time to accomplish the eternal purposes for which we were created.
The concept of time was so important in the ancient world that in they used two different words to define what they meant when referring to time:
Kronos – This is the simple passing of time as measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.
Karios – This is the recognition of the significance of a given time.

3. Introduction
The main focus of the Lord is to have His people aware, awake, and fully engaged in the realization of, Karios, the significance of time. It should therefore not come as any great surprise that the bible has much to say regarding the significance of time.
The book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, for example, speaks of appropriate actions, during appropriate times. As such it points to a “Time and season for everything under the sun.”

4. Introduction
The book of Galatians, 4:4 -5 depicts the timing of the coming of Jesus into the world as the “Fullness of time.”
In Matthew 16:1 – 3, our Lord Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for their failure to discern “The signs of the times”
Romans 13:11 – 14 admonishes the believer to “Know the time”, and to order his or her life accordingly with a sense of urgency

5. Numbers 13:1 – 24 – Time to Move Forward
In this passage of scripture we find the Children of Israel in the wilderness. God had brought them out from under ten generations of slavery under the Egyptians.
The Lord brought them out of Egypt on “Eagles Wings” (Ex. 19:3 -5). The Israelites did not need to fight at all in their deliverance from the Egyptians (Ex. 14:13 – 14).
They were now on the verge of entering the land promised to them by God by the unconditional covenant He made with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

6. Numbers 13:1 – 24 – Time to Move Forward
However, the land would not simply be handed over to them. There were hostile nations in the land, and they would not willingly surrender their land to the Israelites.
The enemy knows that God is on your side, but the greater issue is whether we know that God is on our side. The devil is the master of lying intimidation. He will do all that he can to discourage us from moving forward and laying claim to the promises of God. Make no mistake about it, you have to fight in order to take possession.
We must recognize that whenever God gets ready to take us to a new level we must expect a fight. The old sayings rings true “New Level, New Devil.”

7. Numbers 13:1 – 24 – Time to Move Forward
Numbers 13 The choosing and commission of the 12 spies (scouts) – at the command of the Lord, Moses chose 12 leaders, one from each of the tribes of Israel, to go and search out the promised land. Their mission was straightforward, and based on 5 objectives:
Determine the quality of the land, and the number and strength of the people that currently inhabit it.
Determine whether the inhabitants of the land dwell in cities or tents

8. Numbers 13:1 – 24 – Time to Move Forward
3. Determine whether the land was wooded (had forests) or not
4. Be of good courage
Bring back some of the fruit of the land
When the spies returned they had fulfilled all of their objectives…except one;
“Be of good courage.”

9. Numbers 13:26–29 - The Majority Report – 10 of the 12 Spies
The fruit was there, just as the Lord said
The land flowed with milk and honey
The people that dwell in the land were strong
The cities are walled, and very great
There are giants in the land
In other words, The opportunity was indeed great, but they would have to rely on the power of God and be willing to fight for it.

10. The Minority Report – Numbers 13:30 – 2 of the 12 Spies
Only two of the 12 leaders, Joshua and Caleb, brought back a good report to the people.
Joshua and Caleb saw the exact same people, cities, and giants as the other 10 spies
Despite what they saw, they were adamant in their belief that they were “well able to overcome it.”
How is it possible for 12 people from the same positions of leadership, to be sent on the same mission, to see the same land, and yet come back with such different perspectives?

11. Do You See What I See? – Num. 14:21 - 24
21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

12. The Effect of the Majority Report – Numbers 14:1 - 10
Fear and discouragement – 14:1
Murmuring and complaining against God’s designated leadership
Irrational accusations – 14:2 – 4
Irrational hostility and open rebellion against the faithful people and purposes of God – 14:6 - 10

13. Lead by the spirit of the world LEAD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Time in VS. Time Out
Lead by the spirit of the world
LEAD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Focus on the strength of the opposition
Focus on their own weaknesses – Num. 13:33
Operates in fear
Misses the opportunity during the time of their visitation
Focus on the power of God
Focuses on God as their source of strength – Num. 14:9
Operates in faith
Embraces opportunity and acts during their time of visitation

14. Time in VS. Time Out – Joshua 24:14 - 28
Lead by the spirit of the world
LEAD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Harboring other “gods” -
Insincere service – St. John 4:24
Hypocritical Commitment
Fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth – Jos. 24:14, St. John 4:24
Put away the “gods” of the past (secret sins) – 24:14
Make a full commitment – 24:15 “choose you this day whom ye will serve”

15. The Bottom Line
God has an appointed time for each of us to step into our place and positions of blessing.
Don’t be surprised if there is a giant (or giants) standing in between you and that place of blessing.
If God is on your side the size of the giant does not matter, you will be victorious.
It’s time to step out in faith and into your destiny.