33. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.

Let’s bow our heads today.

Most holy and gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for who You are and for what You do. Father, hide Your son behind the cross, that Your people would see You and not me. And Father, as I decrease I ask that You would increase. Dear Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength...(tongues)...and my redeemer. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

You may be seated.

He said that their children were going to wander. What does it mean to wander? It means to roam and ramble, and to get off of the right path. It means to move about from place to place without a reason or a plan. It means that one does not follow a fixed course while moving about.

When we look at the children of Israel, God had set a course for them to follow. But because of a lack of understanding about God and trusting God, they got off course. They didn’t stick to God’s plan. What’s God’s plan? It’s a plan of faith. And it’s a plan of trusting God.

God will map out our course for us. But it’s up to us to focus and to stay on course. But how do we stay on course? We stay on course by faith.

You see, many times we are under the impression that I need to know every step that I am going to take. But that’s not the way the map is written out. The map is written out by faith. The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord. Glory to God.

When we look in chapter thirteen of the book of Numbers, and we look at verse twenty-six through verses thirty-three, it said,

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 shewed them the fruit of the land.

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.

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.

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.

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.

God told them that they would enter that place. But they were more focused on the obstacles than they were focused on God.

You see, you have an obstacle in your way. You see, an obstacle is something that blocks your path. You see, they had obstacles in the way. You see, it has been designed and it has been set up that it will not be a straight shot through. Hallelujah. But see, we think that because we come to God, that everything is supposed to be easy. Let me tell you the truth. When you come to God, it ain’t easy.

What is an obstacle? It’s something that blocks my path. It’s something that gets in the way. You see, it is supposed to get in your way. Because that’s going to help you prove who you are.

You see, can’t everybody get through an obstacle. Only those that persevere can get through the barriers.

You see, but we’ve become a people that like to give up. Hello, somebody. If it’s not easy, we don’t want it no more. If it’s not on a silver platter, we refuse to taste it. Oh, you don’t hear me today. If it don’t come with bread and butter on the side, then I’m not going to eat it. If they can’t call my name, then I won’t be there.

The obstacles prove who we really are.

They said... Hallelujah, Jesus. “Yeah, the land is what he said it is.”

You see, this is all what God says it is. Let me clear that up. This is all that God says it is. But there’s something blocking your way.

Let me tell you what we do when something starts to block our way. We start to complain. We start to murmur. We become dissatisfied. We begin to blame everybody around us. We look for somebody to blame.

The obstacles were in their way. Just like the obstacles are in your way. But what are you going to do with the question? What are you going to do? Are you going to go look for another church because you got an obstacle in your way? Hello, somebody. Are you going to stop going to church, period, because you got an obstacle in your way?

Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost moving on me today. I can’t holler like I want to holler, but I’m going to bring it in anyway.

They said, “Wait a minute. It is what he said was going to be. But he left part of it out.”

See, you had a prophecy that says that you are going to be all of that, and a bag of chips and dip. But he didn’t prophesy to you that stuff that you were going to have to overcome in the midst of you being all of that. See, you got to pay a price to be all of that.

Their way was blocked. There was stumbling blocks there. And a lot of times when there’s stumbling blocks in peoples’ way, they begin to get upset. And that’s what happened to them. Listen to this message today. They got upset.

And when people get upset, they become disobedient. Because in the midst of them being upset they’re looking for another way. And when I begin to look for another way, that’s when I begin to get God upset. When I begin to get of course, that’s when God steps in and say, “Wait a minute. I need to grab your attention again.”

And He’ll cause something to come into your life to shake you up, even the more to get you back down on your knees. See, we think that God is like our natural parents. You see, if you kick and holler long enough, a lot of times, with your natural parents, they’ll give in, won’t they? But see, when you kick and holler and scream with God, He’s going to make it that much harder for you. The Bible says He’s not like man.

He was like Moses, “I’m getting ready to judge these people.”

And Moses said, “No, Lord. Don’t do that. Because the heathen are going to say that You’re not who you say You are.”

See, you got a stumbling block in your way. There’s an obstacle there. Now what you going to do?

The Bible says when someone faints their strength is weak. I refuse to be a weak Christian. I can be weak in the world. Oh, do you hear what I’m saying today? I refuse to be tormented in Christ. I can be tormented outside of Christ.

The obstacle is in your way. Now what you going to do? It was there because of what they saw. And their obstacle happened to be man.

You see, the fear of man is what’s going to get many of us in trouble. You see, we don’t understand how to live in harmony with each other, without one trying to be either better or intimidate the other. Why can’t I just be submissive to you, and you be submissive to me? Do you hear what I’m saying? Why can’t we just all work together? We’re trying to achieve the same cause.

They were afraid of man. You see, when you are afraid of man, it will keep you out of the promise. It will cause you to compromise your blessing.

Let me tell you something today. Ain’t nothing worse... And I did say ain’t. Ain’t nothing worse than a compromised blessing. Because when you receive a compromised blessing there is still no satisfaction on the inside of you. And though you got something as a pacifier for a little while, that desire is still going to be there. And instead of a Scripture occupying your mind, that thing that you still wish you had will be all over your mind.

They came back with the report. Said, “We can’t go over there. There are obstacles in our way.”

Many of us that’s sitting here today, and we’re saying, “I can’t do it. I can’t get over this,” it’s time to get over it. I find the best way to get over something is to go through something. I’ve got to learn how to get in position to let that thing finish it’s course. But if that thing linger longer than it needs to linger, then I start to binding that thing.

You see, I am supposed to have a time of grieving. Do you hear what I’m saying? But after a while that grief got to go. Oh, somebody hear what I’m saying today. It doesn’t have a right to stay there. It’s got to leave.

There was stumbling blocks in the promised land. I didn’t say outside the outskirts. I said in the promised land. See, once you get into the promised land, the stumbling blocks and the obstacles are right there waiting for you. But see, we haven’t even overcome the ones yet before entering into the promised land.

See, we think once we get into the promised land it’s all good. Let me say that again. See, we think once, “If I could just get into that promise, everything’s going to be alright.” That’s when all hell going to break loose.

There were obstacles. It was the fear of man. They were willing to compromise their blessing. Fear will get you off course.

Psalms fifty-six and verse three says,

3. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

The Bible also says that... How does fear come? Fear comes suddenly. But when fear comes suddenly, immediately I’m going to trust in Him. Did you hear what I’m saying? Immediately I’m going to trust Him, that He is going to take care of me, and that He’s going to see me through.

All that I’ve said before the message, and all that I’m saying in the message is tying in together. Because we’re going to become so close knit that it doesn’t matter what tries to get into the camp. It can’t get in. If it’s not right, it can’t stay. It’s got to go.

They were afraid to take a risk. Psalm twenty-three and verse four says,

4. ...I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...

We fear evil. Though we have the power, we’re afraid of evil. Evil is going to come your way. But what are you going to do when evil comes?

There’s a mechanism in us. And it’s called fight or flight. Either I will stand and fight, or either I’m going to start running. What are you going to do? Are you going to fight? Or are you going to run?

They wanted to run. They said, “We can’t handle this. It’s bigger than us.” Yes, your promised land is bigger than you. You need God to help you get into it. And you need God to help you stay in it.

Look at verse seven. Look at... Excuse me. Go to Hebrews with me. Chapter thirteen. Hebrews chapter thirteen. Thank You, Father. When you reach Hebrews thirteen, say amen. Look at verse five. It said,

5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Covetousness will cause us to be in a state of discontentment. But if I will understand that the Lord is my helper, then I don’t have to worry about what man can do to me. Because God is going to take care of me.

The fear of man will cause us to disobey God. But verse seven really blessed me because it said,

7. Remember them which have the rule over you...

Let me tell you what happens. Moses had the rule over them. He was the one that got them on task. And he was the one that was trying to keep them on task. But what happened in the midst of it? Moses was the very one that became their obstacle.

You see, the one that has the rule over us a lot of times... Listen very closely to this. They are the ones that become our obstacle. Because they’re trying to tell us one way, but we have another way in mind. Moses was the one that was trying to keep them on course.

But in Exodus fourteen and eleven, they grumbled at the sight of Pharaoh’s army. In Exodus fifteen and twenty-four, they grumbled about the bitter water. In Exodus sixteen and verse two, they grumbled about the lack of food. In Exodus seventeen and verse two, they grumbled about the lack of water.

In Numbers fourteen and verse one, they grumbled about God’s provision of food. In Numbers fourteen and verse two, they grumbled about Moses’ leadership. In Numbers sixteen and verse two, they grumbled again about Moses’ leadership. In Numbers sixteen and verse forty-one, they grumbled again about Moses. In Numbers twenty and verse two, they grumbled and Moses and the lack of water again. And in Numbers twenty-one and verse four, they grumbled about Moses and their menu for the manna that fell from heaven.

Let me tell you something today. Those that have the rule over you are the ones that are keeping you on course. Hallelujah to Jesus.

They allowed the one that God had set in place to become the obstacle. He wasn’t the obstacle. The enemy was the obstacle.

Too many times in leadership the pastor becomes the obstacle. Hello. Because we want to do something else. And when the pastor say, “No,” the pastor ain’t right. He my obstacle now. And instead of getting line, I become hostile. And I start doing what God is not calling me to do right now, because I want to do it my way.

Listen. We are not your obstacle. We’re your guide. Hallelujah.

See, the devil will try to make people think that the people that are over you are trying to keep you out of your promise. Oh, that’s what he does. Only you can keep you out of your promise.

When I get off course, I start to mess up.

I’m the type of pastor, I will hardly ever tell you no. I will hardly... People come to me. I say, “Okay.” I say it because people have got to make their own decisions. I’m a prophet of God. But I can’t live your life for you. I need to say that again. I’m a prophet of God. But I can’t live your life for you. But I can give you guidance.

Moses couldn’t live their life for them, but he gave them guidance. But it was up to them to follow the guidance.

But they got off course. They got off course. They got off course. And instead of trying to get back on course, they kept on grumbling.

See, pride will step in the way, won’t it? And the Bibles says pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. And instead of repenting to the Lord, they fell dead in the wilderness. They died in that place.

They were never supposed to stay there for forty years. God took them that way because their enemy was set up in a certain place. Isn’t that right? And He knew that if they had to fight that they’d be scattered all over the place. So He took them that route. But they weren’t supposed to stay there. And they definitely were not supposed to die there.

But they got off course. And all that Moses said and all that Moses did, they refused to get back on. Because they didn’t understand God. Oh, I feel Jesus moving on me. They didn’t understand how God was doing it. Oh, I feel You, Jesus. They didn’t understand that they had to walk by faith and not by sight.

See, being... Seeing things all the time can mess you up. But if you get into a place of faith, and you start walking there, then the blessing of the Lord is going to begin to come down on you. Because you’re not trusting in yourself any more. You’re trusting in God. Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost all over me.

They didn’t understand the plan. The plan was faith, Sister Lisa. It was faith. That was the plan of trusting. If you can’t be in that plan, then you’re going to live a miserable Christian life. Because that’s what it’s all about–faith and trusting.

Because you’re still going to have the same obstacles that are going to come up in your way. I don’t care how secure you think you. They’re going to come anyway. You can have all your ducks in a row. But they’re going to come anyway. Because your faith is going to be tested. And how much you trust Him is going to be tested also.

They got off course. They wanted to find another way. Oh, Jesus.

You want to find another way? Are you looking for another way? The Bible says that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. And that doesn’t just mean salvation. That means in every aspect of my life Jesus is the way.

And because they got out of the plan, judgment came. There was a prophet, Moses, that kept on praying and kept on praying, “Lord, please.” (Tongues.) “Lord, please don’t do it.”

But they wouldn’t listen. I feel Jesus all over me. (Tongues.) They wouldn’t listen. Will you listen today? Can I be your pastor today? Hallelujah. Can I be Moses in your life today? Can I help you get into the promised land? And though there be obstacles, though there be giants there, will you still come on and fight the good fight of faith today?

You’ve come too far to turn back now. “Well, Sister so and so don’t like me.” Don’t worry about that. “Brother so and so don’t care for me.” Don’t worry about that either. Put that on an altar and going on. Put it on the altar and go on.

But don’t loose your way because of man. Understand that man is man. And fear God more than you fear man. “But he’s going to hurt me.” Let him hurt you. This ain’t nothing but flesh anyway. It’s going to return to the dust of the ground. The rest of me on the inside is going to go be with Him.

Don’t be afraid of being hurt. Cry if you got to cry. Cry. Don’t be afraid of it. Let it come. But you go on with God, and do what God is calling you to do.

God gave me this message today because it’s time to really get together. It’s time to get together.

I’m going to meet with everybody, every member of this church. Because there are talents out there and gifts that can be a blessing to the body of Christ. Your gift is not your own. It’s for somebody else to benefit from it.

But we’re going to get together. Ladies going to work with ladies. Men going to work with men. Men going to work with ladies. Ladies going to work with men. But we going to get this thing together in the Name of Jesus. We going to get this thing rolling.

And we’re going to try to meet the needs of each other, spiritually and emotionally, however the Lord brings it. That’s what we’re going to do.

Now let me tell you something. You’re still going to have your individuals. Can I quote? Folks are still going to be individuals. But if they want to be an individual, let them be an individual. They have a right to be an individual. Until they’re formed into the image of Christ. Then they’ll begin to see the error of their ways.

So today I say to you, no matter what’s going on in your life, stay on course. Stay on course. It’s so very important. I plead with you to stay on course. Don’t get off course. Don’t get out of the plan. Stay focused. And you will get into the promised land. And not only will you get there, but you’ll stay there.

Come on, give God a handclap of praise today.