Have you been so persuaded by the promises of God that you chose to believe His word above everything else? 

 

Joshua and Caleb were so persuaded from the forty days they spent examining the land, they absolutely knew God’s word was true for the entire congregation.     But  did their conviction persuade anyone else to follow the Lord?  Yes it did.

The fact is Joshua and Caleb persuaded the next generation to come back and take the possession which their forefathers forfeited.

Just two men who believed God were able to persuade  the future generation to believe the promises of God. Lets read their account.

 

 “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 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.”  (Numbers 14: 6-9)

 

Joshua and Caleb Were Persuaded

 

Persuaded  means “to convince by argument, to rely by inward certainty, believe, have confidence, trust, yield.”

One of the greatest needs in the body of Christ today is for men and women to be persuaded by the words of God.  Believers need to be won over, convinced, and settled about what God has spoken.

This is faith.  Faith is arriving at the place where each of us is convinced and won over by the Word of God.

 

 

The War of Persuasion Is Waged In the Mind

 

Until a person is persuaded, there is still a struggle.  All our feelings, emotions, and circumstances war against the mind.  It is a war between the word of God and the natural circumstances and conditions that contradict that very same Word.

If you become persuaded by the circumstances and conditions that contradict God’s Word, you will actually begin to stand in direct opposition to the Word of God.

The ten spies allowed the giants and other things they saw convince them that they were unable to take possession of their promised inheritance.

 

What they were saying was… “We are persuaded by what we have seen and heard, not what God has promised.  God has lied to us.”

 

On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb experienced the same events and heard the same words, but they were persuaded by the Word of God and were encouraged.

 

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”  (Numbers 13:30)

 “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.” (Numbers 14:9)

 

Be Fully Persuaded

 

Joshua and Caleb were fully persuaded by the Word of promise.  The Word of God had prevailed in their thinking over every possible enemy.

To Joshua and Caleb it would not have mattered how many giants lived in the Promised Land or how tall the walls of their cities. They were convinced.  They had been won over by the word. They were fully persuaded.

Remember, it is the devil’s job to dissuade you of all the promises God has made.  This includes those promises in the Bible and those promises the Lord has made to you personally. This was the devil’s approach with Jesus when he tempted Him in the wilderness.

 

 

QUESTIONS:  

• Has the enemy been trying to persuade you God’s Word is not true?   
• Has the devil convinced you the prophecies and promises of God are not true and will never come to pass?  
• Has Satan been trying to get you to take his side and believe his evidence that speaks against the Word of God?  
• Do you believe God’s promises are too hard, too difficult, and impossible to stand upon?

 

Why does satan spend so much time trying to convince us God’s word will not come to pass for us personally?  The devil’s greatest fear is that you will become persuaded God’s Word is true.  These are the people who are truly dangerous in the Kingdom of God.  Nothing is impossible for them!

 

Satan knows when you become fully persuaded, you will look at the dry bone conditions of your life and prophesy your own healing, your own deliverance, and believe for your own breakthrough.

Let the Word of God persuade you today!

• You are well able to take the land.
• You are able to defeat sickness and disease.
• You are able to break Satan’s power over your loved ones.
• You are well able to fulfill the call of God in your life. 

 

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)  

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

 

Faith is not a struggle. Faith is rest. Once you are finally persuaded concerning the promises of God for your life, the struggle is over. You may have to walk some things out, but internally there will be a peace and a rest.

 

Blessings,

Pastor