STANDING ON THE BRINK OF VICTORY

Num 13:26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
Num 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Num 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Num 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
Num 13:30 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.
Num 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Num 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Num 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Num 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Num 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Consider David as he faced Goliath (I Sam 17;)
Gideon as his army dwindled (Judges 7);
Deborah and Barak as they set out alone to conquer Sisera (Judges 4);
Hezekiah as Rabshakeh of Assyria makes his threats against the city. (II Kings 19)

History tells us of two areas of our nation which were hit by spiritual coldness, and how it affected the Baptists in each.
In 1784, Kentucky reported a deadness in the spiritual lives of the churches.
In 1876 the Swansea Church reported the same to the Philadelphia Association, concerning Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The churches of Kentucky took it to the Lord and held revivals, while the churches of Massachusetts and Rhode Island formed Historical Societies.

Today, as a result of the action taken by the Kentucky churches, there are still many vigorous, mission-minded churches there and throughout the South.

Two of the oldest churches in America, Swansea and Warren who formed historical societies, recently celebrated their respective 300th anniversaries, being sponsored by local Historical Societies with non-Baptists taking the lead.

I. The Lord's people are standing on the Brink of Victory today. Will we claim that victory?

A. In General; It MUST be claimed by faith.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Exercising an unwavering faith in Christ, victory MUST belong to a child of God, a church, or a group of churches.
Could a General rejoice in victory if his army were defeated?

B. Our viewpoint [faith or lack of it] will determine our aims, expectations, goals and hence affect our actions [working by faith], and these will determine our victory or defeat. Recall the viewpoints of the biblical examples given earlier.

C. Let the excitement of impending events flavor your life and testimony.
Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
1.Consider the thrill of the pioneers as they viewed new vistas.
2. Just as space is a limitless frontier, so is our journey of faith. Many fantasize but few go!
"You have not gone this way heretofore” can be a daily challenge to God's people.
a. As an individual, every phase of your life presents you with expanding frontiers of opportunity, whether it’s entering kindergarten, high school, college, job market, marriage, retirement or even death.

IN SEARCH OF SOLOMON’S MINES

The greatest adventure of his entire life is about to unfold. He is Columbus, leaving behind the familiar shores of home. Who knows what adventure and excitement lies ahead, as he begins his journey to a strange, new world?
A small tingle of thrill begins way down deep and wells upward. It gets bigger and bigger until it fills his throat. It brings a sob, but he forces it to come out as a chuckle for HE WILL NOT CRY! After all, he is Daniel Boone out to explore a new continent and fight all kinds of bears, tigers and who knows what else.
He pauses briefly and turns for a last look at the old homestead and waves a last time to the special person in the doorway. He is an astronaut off to space where there are a jillion worlds waiting to be discovered. There will be treasure to bring home such as no one has ever imagined.
One last fleeting pause: He looks to his right and to his left; A hesitant and almost embarrassed smile flickers across his lips. His head is up and his chest is out and the thrill of adventure is almost overwhelming. He MUST be a man!
He steps out and with increasing sense of victory he crosses the street alone for the first time in his life!. He wonders what other adventures lie ahead as he bravely marches on for his first day in kindergarten.

How much more is this true in the spiritual realm
b. As families, from the wedding vows to the reading of the will
c. As a church.
1.Each new member is a new frontier of training and fellowship
and new contacts.
2. Each new gain in any direction only opens new opportunities and obligations.
3. Each set-back presents a challenging opportunity for us to look anew to Christ for victory.
d. We can take the road to victory through faith in Christ or to defeat through our own wisdom - (Organizations, movements, etc.)

II. Victory acquired:
A. Must be claimed
I recall a Pastor friend who was piously told, “We just have to keep looking up”, to which his reply was; “Everyone in the graveyard is looking up,” It is fine, necessary to look up to God in prayer, but we must put ‘legs’ to our prayers. We are God’s instruments.
We MUST follow up with visitation, calls, (even aid) to those visitors who come among us; we must go through every door God opens to us.
B. Proclaimed
Let the world know that the power of God is still working among men.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven
Luke 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

C.Acted upon.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

I Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Our job is not done until newly saved souls are baptized and taught to ‘observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. (Mat 28:19)

CLOSE; Psa 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Psa 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.