Crystallization-Study of Numbers (1)
Week Eleven
Partners of Christ Fighting for God’s Interest
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in falling away from the living God—Heb. 3:12
While it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the provocation.”—Heb. 3:15
Word of Appetizer
God’s full salvation, which He intended for the children of Israel, included redemption through the passover lamb, exodus from Egypt, feeding by the heavenly manna, thirst-quenching by the living water from the cleft rock, and partaking of the riches of the good land of Canaan. All the Israelites shared in the passover lamb, the heavenly manna, and the living water, but of those who shared the exodus from Egypt only Joshua and Caleb entered into the good land and partook of it; all the rest fell in the wilderness, why?
Nearly all fell and died in the wilderness, failing to reach this goal because of their evildoings and
unbelief. This should be a solemn warning to all New Testament believers about repeating the failure of the children of Israel in the wilderness.
Spiritual Burden
As partners of Christ fighting for God’s interest, we need to have faith in God’s word, honor God by believing in Him, see a vision of the all-inclusive Christ typified by the good land, conquer the satanic chaos, and triumph in the divine economy.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
First Corinthians takes the history of the children of Israel in the Old Testament as a type of the New Testament believers.
Of all the children of Israel who came out of Egypt, only two, Joshua and Caleb, entered the good land.
We need to be today’s Calebs, partners of Christ, who is the real Joshua.
As today’s Calebs fighting for God’s interest, it is crucial for us to see a vision of the all-inclusive Christ typified by the good land and to conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy.
The Experience of Life
The more Nephilim we eat, the stronger we will become; Every difficulty and every temptation
Satan puts in our way is food for us. This is a God-appointed means of spiritual progress.
Our battle with the enemy will be a defeat to him, but it will be bread for us; the defeated enemy is the most tasteful bread. The enemy will be our food, and swallowing him will be our satisfaction.
Practice and Application
We need to read the history of Israel as our history, paying careful attention to Numbers 13 and 14. Don’t repeat the failure of the children of Israel in the wilderness.
We need to be today’s Calebs, partners of Christ, who is the real Joshua. We must be resolute and determined in our will to stand with the Lord, just as Caleb fully followed God.
In order to possess the good land, we need to engage in spiritual warfare to conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our admonition, unto whom the ends of the ages have come—1 Cor. 10:11
Your corpses shall fall in this wilderness, and none of you who were numbered,…who have murmured against Me, shall come into the land, in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun—Num. 14:29-30
First Corinthians takes the history of the children of Israel in the Old Testament as a type of the New Testament believers
- Paul warned the believers not to repeat the history of the children of Israel in doing evil things against God.
- The goal of God’s calling of the children of Israel was that they would enter into the promised land to enjoy its riches so that they might establish God’s kingdom and be God’s expression on earth.
- However, although all Israel was redeemed through the passover, delivered out of the Egyptian tyranny, and brought to the mountain of God to receive the revelation of God’s dwelling place, the tabernacle, nearly all fell and died in the wilderness, failing to reach this goal because of their evildoings and unbelief.
- Only Caleb and Joshua reached the goal and entered into the good land.
- This should be a solemn warning to all New Testament believers about repeating the failure of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Without God’s mercy and grace, we would be the same as the children of Israel.
Key Verses (2)
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe into God, believe also into Me—John 14:1
Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in falling away from the living God—Heb. 3:12
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it—Num. 13:30
Only do not rebel against Jehovah, nor should you fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has been removed from them, and Jehovah is with us; do not fear them—Num.14:9
II. Of all the children of Israel who came out of Egypt, only two, Joshua and Caleb, entered the good land
Although all were redeemed, only two overcomers, Joshua and Caleb, received the prize of the good land.
According to the record in Numbers 13 and 14, the people had an evil heart of unbelief. Nothing is more offensive to God than unbelief.
Because the people believed neither in God nor in His word and even murmured against Him, God swore in His wrath that not one of the unbelieving generation would enter into the good land; only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter.
As indicated by the evil report of the ten spies and the murmuring of the people, the children of Israel did not care for God but cared only for themselves.
Joshua and Caleb took the word of God as their faith; Joshua and Caleb believed in the word of God, obeyed the Lord, and pressed toward the goal. If we would have faith, we must learn to care for God’s interests and not for our benefit.
Key Verses (3)
we have become partners of Christ if indeed we hold fast the beginning of the assurance firm to the end—Heb.3:15
However my brothers who went up with me made the people’s heart melt, but I fully followed Jehovah my God—Josh. 14:8
Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you—Rom. 16:20
III. We need to be today’s Calebs, partners of Christ, who is the real Joshua
IV. As today’s Calebs fighting for God’s interest, it is crucial for us to see a vision of the all-inclusive Christ typified by the good land and to conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy
Christ, the Captain of salvation, is the real Joshua, leading us to take possession of the land, and we, today’s Calebs, are His partners, fighting with Him against the enemies and sharing with Him in taking and possessing the land.
Caleb had a different spirit and fully followed the Lord by a different spirit, which was different from all the other spirits; We must be resolute and determined in our will to stand with the Lord, just as Caleb fully followed God.
Joshua and Caleb did not fear the Nephilim or the inhabitants of the land of Canaan but said, “They are our bread”.
The good land, the land of Canaan, is a type of the all-inclusive Christ, the Christ who is all and in all and who is everything to us.
In order to possess the good land, we need to engage in spiritual warfare to conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
T1. They are also warned here not to repeat the history of the children of Israel in doing
evil against God. (1 Cor. 11:6-11)
(Please explain that the goal of God’s calling of the children of Israel.)
T2. Though all were redeemed, only the two overcomers, Joshua and Caleb, received the prize of the good land.(Num. 14:29-30)
(Please explain that although we have been redeemed, we may yet fail to reach the goal of God’s calling.)
D2
T1. Unbelief insults and offends God Himself.(Heb. 3:8-12)
(Please explain that No heart is more evil than a heart of unbelief according to the Israelites in the
wilderness is hardened against God.)
T2. We must believe whatever God says in His word.(John 14:1; Rom. 10:9-10)
(Please explain that nothing insults God more than our unbelief, and nothing honors Him more than our belief in Him.)
D3
T1. The Israelites did not care for God in the least, but cared only for their safety, their peace, and their existence.(Num. 13:30-33; 14:1-4)
(Please explain that the Israelites did not care for God in the least, but cared only for themselves according to the evil report of the ten spies and the murmuring of the people.)
T2. We need to believe when we are in a difficult environment.(Num. 14:7-9)
(Please use your experience to illustrate that worry, anxiety, and even physical sickness, all are lies.)
D4
T1. The example of Joshua and Caleb in the Bible shows us what it is to believe.(Num. 13:30; 14:7-9)
(Please explain that if we would have faith, we must learn to care for God’s interests and not for our benefit.)
T2. To be today’s Calebs, partners of Christ, who is the real Joshua. (Num. 14:24; Heb. 3:15)
(Please explain that as Christ’s partners, we are working together with Him to fulfill God’s desire.)
D5
T1. Since God wanted the Israelites to enter the good land, He would accomplish everything for them.( Num. 14:7-8;24)
(Please explain how can we know Caleb fully followed Jehovah from the bible.)
T2. Our bread is not only the word of God, our bread is also the difficulties that are in our way.(Num. 14:8)
(Please use your experience to illustrate that everyone who has genuine faith honors God and lightly esteems all difficulties.)
D6
T1. The good land is a type of the all-inclusive Christ. (Deut.8:7-10)
(Please explain with examples that the Christ who is all and in all and who is everything to us.)
T2. The overcomers conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy.(Eph.6:10-12; Rom.16:20)
(Please explain that In order to possess the good land, we need to engage in spiritual warfare
to conquer the satanic chaos and triumph in the divine economy.)
