Faith Over Fear: Trusting God in uncertain times

Scripture Focus: Numbers 13:20, 32-33 | 1 Samuel 17

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Let us acknowledge the presence of our Father, Pastor Ebenezer Agbozo, and the entire leadership of this church.

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INTRODUCTION

We are treating an important topic today: Faith vs Fear.

In our daily lives, we are constantly confronted by things that will bring fear. Even something as small as a lizard or cockroach passing by can make us afraid. There are people upon whom, hearing certain news, fear immediately comes.

Fear typically enters through three channels:

1. What we see
2. What we hear
3. What we encounter

In our walk with Christ, however, we walk by faith. The things surrounding us may bring fear, but we are not moved by what we see or what we hear. We are moved by faith, and faith is the word of God.

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PERSONAL ILLUSTRATION

In school, the preacher did not like the mathematics teacher. Maths was a confronting subject, but rather than retreat, a strategy was put in place to confront it.

In the same way, some people are frightened by marriage, by career choices, by the future. But the goal is to move to a place where fear no longer holds dominion over us.

May we overcome our fears.

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SECTION 1: THE SPIES AND THE LAND OF CANAAN
Scripture Reference: Numbers 13:20

God sent twelve men to spy on the Land of Canaan, described as a land flowing with milk and honey. The young men went, they saw, and they confirmed it was a mighty and fruitful land.

But when they arrived, they also saw mighty men, men of great stature, men of war.

Their report to the people was this: “We have gone to see the land, but the men there are too mighty for us to confront.”

Their intelligence led them to conclude that those men would destroy them. And most tragically, they saw themselves as grasshoppers in comparison.

Numbers 13:32-33 records that they brought back an evil report. They said the land was full of people of enormous stature, and in their own sight, they were as grasshoppers.

When we see ourselves as mmebe (grasshoppers), the enemy sees us that way too.

Key truth: Fear is the element of the devil that challenges the word of God.

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SECTION 2: TWO WHO HAD A DIFFERENT SPIRIT

Among the twelve spies, ten brought a report of fear to the congregation. But two men, Caleb and Joshua, had a different spirit entirely.

They did not deny what they saw. But they did not allow what they saw to be greater than what God had said.

That same contrast appears in 1 Samuel 17. While Goliath insulted the Israelites and blasphemed God, the whole army was paralysed by fear. But a young man named David arose as the answer.

Say this out loud: “I am the answer to my family.”

That is the nature of faith:
- Faith will make you say yes when everyone else is saying no.
- Faith will produce positivity where there is only negativity.
- Faith will cause you to stand when others have sat down.

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SECTION 3: WHAT IS FAITH?

Caleb had a different spirit, and from his example we understand what faith truly is.

Faith is when you exalt the word of God above the words of men.

Faith is putting your absolute trust in the word of God, regardless of what the circumstances say.

As the Twi song declares: “Woa s3m so na mani da.” (Upon Your word do my eyes rest.)

Faith is not the absence of challenge. Faith is the refusal to let the challenge have the final word.

Faith is when you challenge the status quo.
Faith is when you challenge what is considered normal.
Faith is when you come from tomorrow, not from today’s limitations.

In the realm of men: doubt is normal. Seeing is believing. Without evidence, people doubt.
In the realm of God: I believe, therefore I shall see. We do not see to believe. We believe and then we see.

Faith is the purchasing power in the spirit. Without money, you cannot buy a microphone. Without faith, you cannot receive from God.

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SECTION 4: BUILDING YOUR FAITH

In order to build your faith, you must be abreast with the word of God. You must be immersed in it, saturated by it, and rooted in it.

Every problem has a solution in the word of God.

A doctor may give you a negative report. But say this: “God's word lives in me.” The moment the word of God grows inside you, you will confront every fear.

Say out loud: “I will deal with my fears.”

There are things that will challenge us. But if you have God, you have everything. You may feel alone, but you are not alone. God is with you.

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SECTION 5: OVERCOMING THE NORMAL

People may say, “In this family, it is normal not to go to school." People may say, “In this community, failure is expected.” People may conclude things about your life.

But faith rises up and challenges what has been normalised.

The Bible says, “Though our beginning is small, our end shall be mighty.” Nothing may show that you are great right now. But faith declares: you are great.

The language of winners is: “It is well.”

I do not look at where I come from. Faith looks at where you are going. The Bible says, “Tomorrow, by this time.” Faith always speaks in the language of tomorrow.

The righteous may fall seven times, but they rise seven times. Faith is when you rise amidst the failures. Faith is when you refuse to stay down.

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ENCOURAGEMENT AND ALTAR CALL

Some people, upon receiving bad grades, abandon school entirely. But because of faith, say: “Me san ay3 bi.” (I will come back and do something.)

Challenge what you are seeing. Challenge what you are hearing. Believe God.

It does not matter what people have said about you.
It does not matter what conclusions have been drawn.
It does not matter how long the report has stood.

God can lift you up. God will lift you up.

Say to the person beside you: “I will see you at the top.”

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KEY DECLARATIONS

Say this with conviction:

“I am the answer to my family.”
“I will deal with my fears.”
“God's word lives in me.”
“It is well.”
“I will see you at the top.”

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CLOSING PRAYER

May God lift each one of us up. May fear give way to faith in every area of our lives. May we be like Caleb and Joshua, those who had a different spirit and followed the Lord fully.

Amen.

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Notes compiled by: TAC-Ghana Afrancho Central Content Team
Prepared under: AIDEL (Artificial Intelligence Development Experimental Labs)