Imaginary Failure

Text: Numbers 13:30-33 IBCWPM 9/15/04

Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar

 

 

       Imaginary failure is a deceitful vision of a loser. It will never offer a glimpse of success. Imaginary failure is a “devil-made monster” that has an intimidating presence within man’s mind. It is sad to say that many professing believers welcome, feed and strengthen this monster through their pessimistic attitude. Be reminded that this “devil-made monster” is a “stride cutter” and a “success stealer”.

 

       The Bible account of the twelve spies sent to Canaan is a perfect illustration of imaginary failure. Ten men out of the twelve were subdued by unbelief. Their indifferent attitude toward God’s Word deceitfully led them to sin against God. They became victims of their own evil imaginations.

 

       There are times when God permits his children to have a quick look of their remarkable victory, but like the ten spies, they were not able to see what God wants them to see. Through wrong perspective, they created and projected a disfigured image of success which sent a cloudy signal to the unbelieving Israelites.

 

       Christians are on the winning side and should not create a dangerous course of thought that will eventually lead them to the trap of imaginary failure.

 

       (I) Imaginary Failure Leads People To

            Hopelessness

           Numbers 13:31-33

           -The questionable evaluation

           -The absence of faith

 

       Fears and insecurities are by-products of questionable evaluation of things outside the weighing scale of Truth. The absence of faith is the presence of hopelessness.

 

       (II) Imaginary Failure Leads People To

            Cowardice

            Numbers 14:1-4 Proverbs 22:13

            -The overlooked superiority of God’s people

            -The intimidating presence of the enemies

 

      Awareness of God’s power in the believers’ lives gives a curve advantage to every child of God in the Christian Race of Life. Every time a believer overlooks his God-given superiority, he tends to gravitate into the den of cowardice.

 

       Joshua, the man of faith, gave words of encouragement to the Israelites and reminded them of the superiority of obedient children of God. In Joshua 23:10, it is written, One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

 

       (III) Imaginary Failure Leads People To Despise

              God’s Word

             Numbers 14:3-11

             -The sin of unbelief

             -The danger of going away from the blessed

               will of God

              Numbers 14:36, 37

 

       Unbelief is a deceitful destroyer of mankind. Loving the Word of God without hypocrisy leads a man into the center of God’s will, but he who disregards the Word will undoubtedly go astray.

 

       Imaginary failure is an unprofitable fruit of ignored power of the Almighty God.

 

       (IV) Faith In God Unlocks People From The

              Bondage Of Imaginary Failure

             Numbers 13:30, 5-9

             -Faith leads people to freedom

             -Faith leads believers to victory

             -Faith brings forth blessings

             -Faith pleases God

 

       Every man has the freedom to think and imagine things that please his own soul, but we should also be reminded that unguarded thought life is very dangerous. The Bible warns us regarding wicked imagination which is an abomination before God.

 

       Caleb and Joshua were men of faith. Their faith in God was not shaken, neither forsaken, but it soared up during trying moments. Through the eyes of faith they saw their future victory in the Lord. They were blessed with what they saw in Canaan. They saw their future blessings and inheritance prepared by the Living God.

 

       In Hebrews 11:6, it is written, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

       Steps of faith are sure steps to remarkable success. Faith moves forward, doubt looks around, unbelief turns back. Those who walked by faith reached and enjoyed the Promised Land, but those who doubted and wanted to go back to Egypt died discontentedly in the wilderness.

 

       Truly, imaginary failure offers nothing but shame and defeat, but faith in the Lord Jesus Christ carries us where God wants us to be.