The Destructive Power of Discouragement

1
The Destructive Power of Discouragement

• Heb 42 For unto us was the gospel preached, as
  well as unto them but the word preached did not
  profit them, not being mixed with faith in them
  that heard it.
• Them refers to Israelites who failed to enter
  into the promise land due to unbelief (Heb. 319)
• They began well but did not finish (Heb. 312-14)
• Witnessed plagues, parting of the Red Sea,
  miraculous manna, glory of God on Sinai
• It all meant nothing when 10 cowardly spies spoke

2
Numbers 13

• 12 spies sent forth from the 12 tribes at the
  commandment of the Lord 1-15
• Inspect the quality of the land (sample), size of
  opposition, and nature of dwellings 18-20
• 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or
  lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And
  be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of
  the land. Now the time was the time of the
  firstripe grapes.

3
Five Features For Failure

• Disease paralyzes the legs, spreads throughout
  body, highly contagious
• Fear paralyzed the spies (move forward)
• Malignant enemies strengths and Israels
  weaknesses increased in their view
• Came from sight, not from God 2 Tim. 17
• Terminal if not stopped Rev. 218, 1 Jn.
  54-5
• Spies fears contaminated the whole nation

4
Five Features For Failure

• Family Loyalty to the tribe
• How many parents will not finish their journey
  because of an erring child?
• How many children will not start the journey
  because of parents denomination?
• Nadab and Abihu supported each other
• Ananias and Sapphira were united
• Family should support us in what is right

5
Five Features For Failure

• Fabrication (False Report)
• Num. 1327-29 First report contained facts and
  fears (giants, numbers, walls)
• Caleb encouraged them to battle 30
• Further report contained lies to justify their
  fears and discourage a battle 31-33
• Land eats people, ALL men are giants

6
Five Features For Failure

• Force of Numbers (The mighty majority)
• 10 to 1 promoted fear and failure
• 10 to 2 when Joshua spoke Num. 147-9
• 8-9 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring
  us into this land, and give it us a land which
  floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye
  against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of
  the land for they are bread for us their
  defence is departed from them, and the LORD is
  with us fear them not.

7
Five Features For Failure

• Fear, Family, Fabrication, Force of Numbers
• Familiar alternative (return to Egypt)
• 141 Cried, 2-3 Complained, 4 Campaigned
• When the faithful urged obedience, the people
  called for stones (Crush) 10
• The glory of the Lord appeared 10
• 30-32 lost generation, 36-38 discouraging

8
The Devastation of Discouragement

• 40 years of wandering for everyone
• Death for everyone 20 years old and more
• Loss of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and
  some siblings for everyone under 20
• Millions died because 10 people were scared
• We can discourage or encourage (Heb. 413)
• A good start does not insure a fine finish