The Power of Perspective Pt2

• There we saw the (Hebrew Nephilim) giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like (as mere insects) grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 NKJV.
• And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” Numbers 13:1-2 NKJV.
• Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30 NKJV (Emphasis added).

(Part 1 of The power Of perspective, was Brief Word #152 November 2024. See also Brief Word #139 September 2023).

For these spies, their whole future and that of all their contemporaries, depended on how they saw themselves. So; how do you see yourself? Looser or winner, bad or good, son or daughter of God or servant, of no value or highly valued, unworthy or worthy?

Now we know that all that generation, apart from Caleb and Joshua, perished there in the desert.

I’m sure you know the story. God was or had already given them the land. All they had to do was take possession of it. I wonder, how much spiritual land, spiritual truth, spiritual possessions, do we not know, is already given to us by God?

Perspective Determines Practice.

Profession. Possession. Position. Place. Placement. Performance. Pursuit. All of these things (to a great degree that we don’t fully understand), hang on the perspective, the view, the vision, the perception, the Perspection (I just made that word up. It means a combination of perception and perspective) we have.

View Determines Vocation.

But what they saw, wasn’t the truth! What did they see? Well, they saw some of the truth.

i.     They saw the fruit of the land.

• Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. Numbers 13:23 NKJV
• Showed them the fruit of the land. ²⁷ Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Numbers 13:26b-27 NKJV

They saw what they were destined to possess. They saw what God had promised. They saw their destiny. They saw what had been won for them, they saw the land God had destined and promised to give them. They saw it, but didn’t possess it.

How many of us, see the things God has promised for us, we see the truths, the spiritual land we are to possess, we see the spiritual ground we are to take, we see the promise, but we don’t possess it.

ii.     How they saw themselves determined their whole future and that of all their generation.

Their view, their vision, their perspective, their understanding, their perception, determined their future, but also the future of all their generation! Vision, view, perspective, is not just about us. It is, but that’s only part of the story. God wants all our generation to possess the land, to inherit the promise.

• When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 NKJV

iii.     How they saw themselves.

a) It was not the truth
b) It was not how their enemies saw them
c) It was not how God saw them.

• Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. Exodus 15:16 NKJV
• “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exodus 23:27 NKJV
• This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ Deuteronomy 2:25 NKJV

The fear of God was already in their enemies!

I wonder how many wonderful saints, Christian men and women, young men and women, children as well, leaders, pastors, missionaries, businesspeople, community leaders, government leaders, I wonder how many of them do not see themselves as God has made them to be? Believing a lie, is not a pathway to freedom. Only the truth sets us free.

When we see, by the revelation of God, who God has made us to be, what He’s done for us in Christ, what He’s made us to be, where He’s placed us by His grace, then we are able to live in the truth and function in His will, and we will know freedom.

Perspective Determines Performance.

We always perform at the level of our perspective of who we are in Christ.

Vision: isn’t only about what we are to do. It is also about seeing who we are. It is about understanding all that God in His absolute mercy and grace, in His love and compassion, in that He has made us as His Son! He took our sin and gave us forgiveness. He took our rejection and gave us His acceptance. He took our brokenness and gave us His wholeness. He took everything that disqualifies us from being with Him, and cast it at the foot of the cross, and in exchange gave us everything that qualifies us (Sonship traits) to be with Him. It’s all what Jesus did for us.

Vision is the provision of the promise.

O that more and more people and especially you and I would have a vision, that we would see the things God has done for us and who He has made us to be.

You are who God says you are.

Seeing and knowing and experiencing that truth, will set us free.