For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23
This verse teaches us that we can achieve what we declare when we speak to our challenges, referred to as “mountains.” Today, your mountain might be sickness, unsaved loved ones, financial difficulties, or family problems. No matter what it is, God has provided a path to change your situation. His Word assures us that we will receive what we believe and speak. A great illustration of this can be found in the Old Testament story of the twelve spies who were sent to scout the land of Canaan, which God had promised to His people.
In Numbers 13, we see that Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, “Go southward, and go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell there, whether they are strong or weak, few or many;”
The Bible states that they searched the land for forty days. When they returned, they reported to Moses, saying, “We entered the land you sent us to, and it surely flows with milk and honey; and here is the fruit of it.” They proceeded to show Moses and the others the abundance of the land, which was indeed impressive!
The land was just as God said, but ten of the spies didn’t stop there, they went on to say; “Nevertheless, the people are strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”
Ten of the spies gave a negative report; they did not believe they could possess the land that God said was theirs by inheritance. However, Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective.
They, Joshua and Caleb, said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Ten came back with what the Bible calls an evil report, and two came back with a report of faith.
The report of the ten spies is an example of faith in reverse. Even when you are in doubt, you believe something. You believe in defeat. You believe the wrong thing. You will get what you believe.
Look at the good report of Joshua and Caleb. They trusted in the Lord, and their hearts were filled with faith that God was able to bring them into the land that He had promised them. Two times they admonished the people not to fear.
What was the result of their report of faith, their good report? They were the only two men of their generation to enter the Promised Land. Proof that you will have whatever you say and believe.
Was it the giants in the land that defeated God’s people that day? NO! They didn’t even face the giants in the land. The giants of fear and unbelief defeated God’s people that day.
It is not the physical giants in life that defeat you. It is not the storms of life that defeat you. If you are defeated, it is doubt, unbelief, and fear that have defeated you. It is wrong thinking, wrong believing, and wrong speaking that defeats. Nothing else can stop the plan of God for your life. If you can only believe and trust in His Word and His faithfulness.
Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, said that they could overcome the giants, and they did. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, all the people of that generation who had accepted the evil report of the ten spies died in the wilderness. They never entered the Promised Land.
However, Joshua became the people’s leader, and he and Caleb led those who remained into the land God had given them. Each group had exactly what they said and believed to be true.
Today, what giants are standing in your way? What giants are defeating you? If God said it was yours for the taking, then it is yours for the taking; don’t allow any other thoughts or beliefs in your life. Believe in God. Believe His Word. He is faithful, and He will do exactly what He said He would do, trust Him and go forward and possess your land.
