SCRIPTURE:
“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.” Numbers 14:1
MESSAGE:
After four hundred thirty years of slavery and two scorching and difficult years in the desert, one would think that the children of Israel would be more than a little anxious to cross over into their Promised Land. It was called, “the land flowing with milk and honey,” because of the favorable agriculture conditions. The people had spent day after day, week after week, and month after month eating the same food, carrying the same supplies and viewing, pretty much, the same scenery. “Time to move!” “Time to camp!” “Time to move!” I don’t know about you, but I would be looking forward to a little time in my own man-cave. Instead, the people began to weep and complain about the prospect of going in. The consensus was that it would be better for them to go back to being slaves in Egypt rather than enter into the promise they had left Egypt for in the first place.
After careful study and reflection on this event in scripture, I have come to believe that there were at least six spiritual forces at work sowing discouragement in the hearts of God’s people. I also believe that those spiritual forces are still at work today trying to keep you – God’s modern-day people – from attaining everything He wants you to have. Beginning next week, I will use upcoming SermonBytes, to discuss each of these six demonic spirits one at a time.
For this week, let’s talk about the doorway to these spirits. It’s important to understand that these demons only had power as it was granted to them by the people. How did this happen? They began to complain. The principle is simple, Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits (or is enthroned in) the praises of His people. Since the devil and his minions are in rebellion to God (think opposite) that means demons show up when the opposite of praise is going on. Instead of praising God for the wonderful land He had promised them, they began to complain and accuse Him of leading them to their demise. The demons heard this murmuring and complaining going on and thought, “Our kind of party!” They then began to show up one after the other. I like to think of it this way, “God is present when people praise, demons convene when people complain.”
So, even before we get into the particular spiritual forces at work and how to detect them in your own life, let me encourage you to start here this week. Turn your complaints into praise. We all have much to be thankful for and when God shows up, the devil runs for cover.
PRAYER:
Our Heavenly Father, we praise You for being so very good to us and giving us blessings beyond our understanding. Please help my friends turn their complaints into praise. Show up when they praise, and reveal the secrets of Your special plans for their lives. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen!