Sunday Sermon
BEING POSITIVE IN NEGATIVE TIMES
Date: February 17, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Numbers 13:27-31
Listen to Audio Sermon

NUMBERS 13:27-31
27They told Moses, We came to the land to which you sent us; surely it flows with milk and honey. This is its fruit.
28But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak [of great stature and courage].
29Amalek dwells in the land of the South (the Negeb); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea and along by the side of the Jordan [River].
30Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it.
31But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are.

WITH THE ECONOMY LOOKING BAD, POLITICIANS BICKERING OVER WHOM IS MORE QUALIFIED TO LEAD, TERRORISTS THREATS EVERYWHERE, WE NEED TO BE A CHURCH WITH A POSITIVE MESSAGE.

WE LAST SPOKE ON AN ATTITUDE OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER; HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE TO HAVE A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE, AN “I DON’T CARE OUTLOOK ON LIFE.

IF ANYTHING, AN ABSOLUTE SURRENDER ATTITUDE TO GOD SHOULD HELP US TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE ONE IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES.

WE REMEMBER WHAT ROMANS 8:28 SAYS —
28We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

HOW MANY WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS DESIGN AND PURPOSE? WHO HERE CALLS JESUS LORD?

THE WORD “LORD” IS NOT USED MUCH IN THIS COUNTRY. IT’S USED MORE IN COUNTRIES WHERE ROYALTY REIGNS. TO EXPLAIN, THE WORD LORD IN GREEK IS “KURIOS” OR OWNER. IF YOU PAY RENT TO LIVE IN A HOUSE, YOU PAY IT TO THE LANDLORD BECAUSE HE IS THE OWNER OF THE LAND OR HOUSE. SO WHEN YOU CALL JESUS LORD YOU ARE SAYING THAT HE IS THE OWNER. NOW, DOES JESUS OWN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR POSSESSIONS? IF YOU CALL HIM LORD, HE MUST OWN ALL YOU HAVE.

IN OUR OPENING SCRIPTURE TEN OUT OF TWELVE SPIES SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT TAKE THE LAND. YET, GOD HAD PROMISED THEM CANAAN. THEY MIGHT HAVE CALLED HIM LORD BUT HE WAS NOT THEIR OWNER. THEY WERE SWAYED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WHILE JOSHUA AND CALEB SAID, LET’S GO FOR IT BECAUSE THEY KNEW GOD AS LORD AND ONE WHO KEEPS HIS WORD.

SAD TO SAY TODAY MOST PEOPLE WALK AROUND WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES, EVEN CHRISTIANS. THEY CALL GOD LORD BUT THEIR ATTITUDE IS ONE OF “HE IS NOT MY OWNER.” MAYBE NOT SPOKEN BUT IN THEIR ACTIONS.
IF YOU DOUBT THAT, ARE YOU A TITHER?

THE TEN NEGATIVE SPIES DIED IN THE WILDERNESS AND NEVER ENTERED INTO WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED THEM. WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAD A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK. THEY SAW THE LAND AND IT’S FRUIT, THEY KNEW GOD’S PROMISE ----- BUT THOSE GIANTS WERE “BIG.”

WHAT TYPE OF GIANTS ARE YOU SEEING TODAY? DISCOURAGEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, DISEASE, DEPRESSION? YOU KNOW INWARDLY THAT GOD HAS A PROMISE THAT WILL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL THOSE WOES. BUT FOR SOME THOSE OBSTACLES ARE SO “BIG.” AND SURELY GOD CAN’T DELIVER. TAKE GOD’S ADVISE THROUGH JESUS IN

MATTHEW 11:30 —
30For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

LET THE LORD, YOUR OWNER, SHOULDER THE LOAD. YOU WILL NOT DIE IN THE WILDERNESS. GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE.

LET GOD ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE TODAY BECAUSE YOUR ATTITUDE DIRECTLY AFFECTS YOU ALTITUDE.

NOW, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT NAME IT AND CLAIM IT, BUT ON WHO GOD REALLY IS TO US. HE IS NOT ONLY OUR FATHER BUT HE IS ALSO OUR OWNER AND AS SUCH HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THINGS IN OUR LIVES. THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE, BUT GOD!

LOOK AT ACTS 7:9 —
9And the patriarchs [Jacob's sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,

THINGS MAY NOT HAVE LOOKED TOO GOOD FOR JOSEPH WHEN HE WAS IN THAT PIT------ BUT GOD! GOD HAD A PLAN FOR JOSEPH AND YES THERE WAS DIFFICULTY ALONG THE WAY, BUT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT THE LORD KEPT JOSEPH GOING.

LOOK AT WHAT GOD DID IN ACTS 7:10 –
10And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND TRUST IN GOD HAD PUT HIM IN A POSITION WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE ISRAEL DURING A FAMINE. ALL THIS TROUBLE — BUT GOD!

PSALM 27:13-14 –
13[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!
14Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

EXPECT SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN, EVEN TODAY. GOD WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. LET OUR ATTITUDE BE: “IF ANYTHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN TODAY, IT, WILL!”
LET ME ASK YOU TODAY, HOW ARE YOU LOOKING AT YOUR FUTURE?

LOOK AT NUMBERS 14:2-3 —
2All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!
3Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?

THEY NEVER SAW BEYOND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY NEVER SAW WHAT COULD BE. THEY ONLY SAW WHAT HAD BEEN AND WHAT WAS.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST IS PAST AND DON’T BE AFRAID OF YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE LORD IS YOUR OWNER AND WANTS YOU TO ONLY FULLY TRUST HIM FOR YOUR DELIVERANCE AND SUCCESS.

GENESIS 13: 14-17 –
14The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever.
16And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted.
17Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.

I WANT TO ASK YOU NOW, HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE? YOU ARE ONLY LIMITED BY HOW FAR YOU SEE. GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.

NEGATIVE THINKING HINDERS OTHERS FROM MAKING A POSITIVE RESPONSE. A NEGATIVE LIFESTYLE TENDS TO CONTROL THOSE YOU INFLUENCE AND LOVE THE MOST. NEGATIVE PARENTS ALMOST ALWAYS RAISE NEGATIVE KIDS.

WHAT HAPPENED IN NUMBERS 14:1-3 HAPPENED AFTER THE NEGATIVE REPORT OF THE TEN SPIES.

LETS LOOK —
1AND ALL the congregation cried out with a loud voice, and [they] wept that night.
2All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!
3Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?

THOSE 10 NEGATIVE ATTITUDES WAS VERY INFECTIOUS. PEOPLE BEGAN TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEMSELVES. ARE YOU MOANING AND CRYING AND FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE OF WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID TO YOU?

LISTEN GOD’S PEOPLE:
1. PEOPLE DIDN’T BELIEVE COLUMBUS WHEN HE SAID THAT THE WORLD WAS ROUND. THEY WENT WITH THE POPULAR BELIEF THAT THE WORLD WAS FLAT. IT TOOK A POSITIVE THINKER LIKE COLUMBUS TO CHANGE THE WORLD. HOW WILL YOUR THINKING CHANGE YOU WORLD AND THOSE AROUND YOU THAT YOU INFLUENCE?
2. IN THE EARLY 1900'S MANY SCIENTIFIC WIZARDS SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO FLY. A COUPLE OF BROTHERS IN KITTY HAWK, NORTH CAROLINA HAD A POSITIVE THOUGHT AND TODAY WE FLY FROM CONTINENT TO CONTINENT IN RECORD TIME.
3. THOMAS EDISON, A BRILLIANT INVENTOR SAID THAT TALKING PICTURES WOULD NEVER CATCH ON. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW? IT’S NOW AN INDUSTRY THAT MAKES MILLIONS EVERY DAY. SOMEONE HAD A POSITIVE THOUGHT.
4. THIS SAME MAN EDISON TRIED TO DISCOURAGE HENRY FORD FROM PURSUING HIS FLEDGLING IDEA OF A MOTOR CAR, BUT FORD’S POSITIVE ATTITUDE “DROVE” HIM TO CARRY ON. CHANCES ARE THAT YOU GOT HERE TODAY IN SOMETHING EVEN A BRILLIANT MAN SAID WASN’T WORTH THE TIME.

NEGATIVE THINKING BLOWS EVERYTHING OUT OF PROPORTION. THOMAS THE APOSTLE WAS A NEGATIVE THINKER AND TODAY WE HAVE NO BOOK OF THOMAS IN THE BIBLE.

NEGATIVE THINKING WILL KEEP YOU FROM ENJOYING A GOOD LIFE. EVERYTHING TURNS SOUR FOR A NEGATIVE PERSON,

GO TO ROMANS 12:2 —
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

GOD HAS A GOOD LIFE FOR YOU BUT YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MIND FULLY RENEWED. DON’T BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD AND IT’S NEGATIVE WAYS.

MATTHEW 5:4 –
4Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

I’M REALLY HURTING BUT I WILL BOUNCE BACK. WHAT JESUS SAID IS THAT WE NEED TO BE POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE SITUATION AND THAT INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT WHAT CAUSED THE MOURNING WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW GREAT HIS COMFORT WILL BE.

2 COR 1:34 –
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
4Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

GOD’S COMFORT GIVE US A POSITIVE WAY IN TIMES THAT MAY SEEM NEGATIVE.

SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT A SMALL FILIPINO-BASED CHURCH, LOCATED IN CLARK, NEW JERSEY, WILL BRING REVIVAL TO THE EARTH. DON’T BE NEGATIVE AND KNOW THAT THE FAITH YOU HAVE AND THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE YOU HAVE WILL MAKE IT SO. SINNERS WILL REPENT, LIVES WILL BE CHANGED, DISEASES WILL BE HEALED AND PEOPLE WILL BE DELIVERED AND GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED.

LK 17:6 –
6And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.

LUKE 18:27 —
27But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.
WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND TOTAL TRUST IN GOD WITH AN ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO OUR LORD (OWNER), IT WILL COME TO PASS.