When an entire army ran away from Goliath, a ruddy teenager stepped up and out to face their greatest threat. The words he spoke before defeating the giant told everyone something he knew by experience. What you know will bring you to a place of demonstration. It will present opportunities for you to practice what you preach. The difference between life in the know and doubting, is success and failure. How you see yourself in the eyes of others and yourself determines if you make it to the promised land. If you spend quality time with the Word of God you should know something about the Author. If you don’t believe what you’re reading, you’ll miss out on what is available to you. See Morning Messages February 23, 2021. You Cannot Receive What You Don’t Believe.
In Numbers 13, we encounter two people who knew something and ten who didn’t. The result was disastrous for the ten doubters and blessing for the two who lived like they knew. I encourage you to read both chapters 13 and 14. Back to David. Confident knowers say something. There’s nothing worse than someone with the answer who refuses to speak up. David saw a problem, knew how to solve it and stepped up. We all know the story so no need to write it out. If you need to refresh your memory you’ll find it in 1 Samuel 17. Daniel knew something, so he kept his prayer schedule, the three Hebrews knew something, so they spoke up. Peter and John knew something, so they spoke up. Missing out because of fear or doubting God’s Word is a stranglehold of Satan. It’s an old trick first practiced in the garden of Eden with devastating results. Genesis 3. And we have been falling prey to it ever since- But not all of us. We do have the opportunity to overcome doubting. It’s called trusting, believing and speaking.
Remaining silent while the enemy wreaks havoc in your minds is foolish. Open up your mouths and begin speaking what you know. Faith without corresponding action is dead. It’s time to live like you know who your God is, and who you are as a child of God! If you don’t have any scriptures memorized, open the Bible and read it to the imposter. God has not given us His Spirit to live in fear! Take your authority back, and live like you know the power you’ve been given. We don’t back up from a challenge we step up in Jesus Name! We are people who know our God! Act like it for crying out loud! Why are so many Christians afraid? They don’t know who they are, period!
Listen to Joshua and Caleb; “ Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!” He knew something.
Listen to David; “You come to me with a sword, spear and 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.” He knew something.
Listen to Paul; “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.” He knew something.
Let’s contrast a few instances of those who lived like they know and the doubters that missed out.
“The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land—the ones who incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report— were struck dead with a plague before the Lord.”Numbers 14:36-37 NLT
“Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, “Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him. And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.”
Mark 6:1-3, 5-6 NLT
An entire village missed out on their miracle, an entire generation ages twenty-one and up missed out on the promised land. And that’s just two instances. Saul lost his kingship because he doubted that Samuel would show up, Israelites died by snake bite because they doubted Moses would come back from his meeting with God. We’re not experiencing the blessings and benefits of our redemption because our doubts override our knowing. When we live like we know we’ll speak it out for all to hear. We don’t hide behind doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief say we know better than God. Maybe there’s a reason the Lord hasn’t used an emotional touch to deliver you from unbelief. Maybe it’s because He loves you so much that He’s trying to help you operate in the highest form of faith — faith that takes Him at His Word.
Listen to what David wrote of those who live like they know.
“Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!”Psalms 31:19 NKJV
God demonstrates His goodness towards us who trust Him where? In the presence of a watching world. Those who live like they know are God’s trophies, His living epistles. Doubt eventually leads to unbelief and unbelief leads us to missing out. So what do you know about the Word? Are you willing to live it for all the world to see? Uncertainty about who you are as a child of God will mute you. Challenges will devastate you. But for the people who know, Life is an opportunity worth exploring. Every day is an experience. The more we know, the more we’ll grow. God wants us to experience His fullness. When John the Baptist doubted, Jesus demonstrated His goodness, when Thomas doubted, Jesus demonstrated His goodness, He wants to take you from doubting to living like you know. Don’t miss out any longer, know what His Word says about you and choose to live it. In Jesus Name. Know what His Word says about Him and believe it and speak it in Jesus Name!
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
January 19, 2022