Sermon on 2 Aug 2025 at the Faith Community Baptist Church by Ps. Poh Wee Long
Background
We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us to do this or buy this. Celebrities and influences tell us what do do, our values and may be unhealthy and outright bad. The voices we hear have the power to influence the actions we hear, sometimes even drowning the voice of God. God wants us to pay attention to the voices we hear.
Scripture: Numbers 13:16 to 14:12
Moses sent a team of 12 to explore the land for 40 days. The spies gave a report that the land is flowing with milk and honey, but also the people are stronger than the Israelites and of great size. Only Joshua and Caleb said that they can win. Because of the unbelief that they can take the land, the people wandered for 40 years (each year for the 40 days the spies were in the land). None of the Israelites, except for Caleb and Joshua entered into the promised land.
Many voices were heard
- The voice of the leader Moses to explore the land
- The voice of the land which is flowing with milk and honey
- The voice of the inhabitants who are strong and are giants
- The voice of the 10 spies who warn the Israelites not to enter
- The voice of Caleb and Joshua who says they can go with God's help
- The voice of the Israelites who wanted to go back to Egypt
- The voice of God who was angry with the unbelief
3 reason why we must choose to hear the correct voice:
1. The voice of Sight will lead us into confusion
Despite seeing a good land, 10 spies warn that the people of the promised land are strong and powerful, and the cities are fortified. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. But Caleb and Joshua believed they can win. We have live by faith and not by sight. Do not be too quick but look to God.
2. The voice of Forgetfulness will lead us into doubt and fear
Part of the promised land where Moses asked the 12 spies to explore is Hebron, where the forefathers of the Israelites were buried, included Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Isaac, Rebecca, and Leah.
God has promised Abraham the land but the Israelites forgot the promise and the greatness of God, when they saw the giants. They have just defeated the Egyptian army and they have forgotten it.
God has blessed us so much and yet we hear the voice of Forgetfulness and doubt that God will help.
3. The voice of Faith will lead us into the promises of God
Caleb and Joshua said "we can certainly do it" because they remember that they are chosen ones of God, that the Lord is with them. The 2 men saw the same thing as the 10 spies, but they remembered the parting of the sea, the cloud and fire, the water from the rock.
We hear the voice of Faith from the Word of God. That is how we can bring down the giants confronting our lives. Who or what is the giant that we need to drive out of our life?
Choose to hear and to speak the voice of Faith. Choose to be the people of Faith.