The Breakfast Of Champions

Introduction- When I was a child, I received a lot of different input as to what was good for my body. Popeye told me that if I ate spinach, I would be strong and healthy. My parents told me that things like broccoli and brussels sprouts would make me grow up strong. The television proclaimed Wheaties as “The Breakfast of Champions.” While all of these may have their benefits to the physical side of man, his spiritual side requires a vastly different diet. This passage reveals what is in fact the real Breakfast of Champions. Israel had been brought out of Egypt with the hope of reaching Canaan. When they finally arrived at the border of that land, they some very large obstacles blocking their way: Giants! They just couldn't seem to get around them and they wound up defeated, disillusioned and discouraged. We all have giants that we face in life. This church has giants that it faces. These giants must be overcome, or they will prevent us from entering our Canaan and they will defeat us spiritually. I want you to know today that it does not have to be that way at all. Allow me to share five insights that will help every one of us to have the victory in our walk with the Lord.

Five attitudes that we need to possess in order to enjoy the Breakfast of Champions:

I. WE MUST HAVE FORESIGHT (Numbers 14:6-7)

A. We Must Have Foresight in Assurance of Salvation - Many Christians never reach their Canaan because they aren't even sure they are saved. They are constantly in doubt and fear over the condition of their soul. This must be nailed down (Rom. 10:9-10; John 6:37).

B. We Must Have Foresight in Conquering Some Besetting Sin - There are multitudes who secretly battle some recurring sin in their lives. This doesn't have to be. We need to realize that God has made a way for us to be victorious over the sins we face (1 Cor. 10:13).

C. We Must Have Foresight in Facing the Worries of Life - Many spend their time and spin their wheels worrying about every little thing in life. This has never been God's plan! His ideal is that men would trust Him and place their face in what He can do in their lives (Phil. 4:6-7; Matt. 6:33).

D. Whatever it is that keeps you out of Canaan, you need to realize that God, according to His Word, wants you to have a victory over every obstacle (1 Cor. 15:57; Rom. 8:37).

II. WE MUST HAVE FAITH (Numbers 14:8)

A. (Numbers 13:30) - 10 of the 12 spies brought back an evil report of the land of Canaan. However, Caleb and Joshua believed God! We Must Have Faith In:

1. The Promises of God - God has already promised us that every situation in life is for our good and for His glory (Rom. 8:28). As you face the giants of life, there are 2 things you can be assured that the Lord will stand by:

a. His Word - Rom. 4:21; Isa. 55:11

b. His People - Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20

2. The Power of God - Caleb knew, (Numbers 13:30) that God was working in his life and that if he had to face a giant, he would win because God was the One giving the victory. God's power will ever be greater than anything we will ever face in this world (1 John 4:4). No trial, no giant, no problem, no issue is greater in power than our God (Eph. 3:20).

B. Examples of people who had this faith given to us in scripture:

1. Noah - It took great faith in the power and presence of God to spend 120 years building that ark in the face of ridicule and sinful opposition. However, Noah's faith was rewarded.

2. Elijah - It took faith to climb Mt. Carmel and face 850 priests and prophets of Baal, and to challenge them to a showdown. It took faith, but Elijah's faith was rewarded! Fire fell and consumed everything pertaining to that altar, even the dust on the earth.

III. WE MUST BE FEARLESS (Numbers 14:9a)

According to Numbers 13:31-33, the 10 spies looked at the giants and saw how large they were. They looked at themselves and saw how small they were and decided that they were defeated before the battle ever began. There are many Christians and churches that are afflicted by the same problem today, so they allow themselves to become defeated before they ever go to battle against the things they face.

A. God Is Own Our Side- (Rom. 8:31; 37) The truth that we are under the Sovereign protection of Almighty God. If we are in His will and walking according to His commands, then we have absolutely nothing at all to fear from the world, the devil or from any of the giants we face.

1. Fear is a lack of faith. (2 Tim. 1:7) God always equals a majority!

B. Because Of Our Security - Notice the security Jesus says we have – (John 10:28-29; Col. 3:3). If I am hidden in the Lord, then anything that comes against me must go through Him first.

1. Examples of people who were confident in this security:

a) Job - Job 1:6-2:7 - Satan had to secure permission from the Father before he could lay a finger on Job. All the while Job was going through his trials, he was still secure inside the hedge with God. God never lifted the hedge, He only tightened it to the point where nothing was inside the hedge but God and Job.

b) The 3 Hebrews, Dan. 3; and Daniel himself, Dan. 6 - The truth is, do not fear because God will never let you down!)

IV. WE MUST HAVE A FOREKNOWLEDGE (Numbers 14:9b)

A. We must have a Foreknowledge that Giants Are for Food –

1. When we face a giant in life, whether it is as an individual, or as a congregation, we must realize that God has allowed that giant to come into your life and mine so the He might help us grow more into His image.

2. Instead of seeing every giant as a source of fear and of worry, begin to look at them as a source of growth (Rom. 8:28; Job 23:10).

3. They are the “food” we need to become who God wants us to be.

B. The Wise Christian Grows from The Giants That God allows to come His Way-

1. Instead of allowing every bump in the road to cause defeat and discouragement, the wise Christian sees the obstacles of life as an opportunity for growth in the Lord.

2. Learn to face them and feed on them, for they will help you to grow up in the Lord. After you have faced them, you will be stronger than ever.

V. WE MUST FACE THE GIANTS

A. They Will Come Again - (Deut. 9:1-3; Josh. 11:21-22)

1. As a result, they were chastened by the Lord and condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. One year for each day they had spied out the land (Num. 14:33-35).

2. 38 years later, Israel once again stood by the Jordan ready to cross over into Canaan. Everyone who had stood here 38 years earlier, except for Caleb and Joshua is now dead.

3. Whatever your giants are today, whatever form they take, they might as well be faced now for they will come again. The children of those who ran from the giants still had to face them.

B. They Can Be Conquered –

1. Caleb, as an 85-year-old man went into Canaan and defeated the giants that he could have defeated as a 45-year-old man.

2. The great truth here is that they may be large, they may look scary, they may seem more powerful than you, but they can be defeated by the awesome power of Almighty God.

C. We Must Trust the Captain –

1. Israel did not defeat their giants alone and neither can we!

2. When Joshua entered Canaan, the first giant he faced was Jericho.

3. He, along with all of Israel, trust the Captain of the Lord's Host and they were victorious (Josh. 5:13-15).

Conclusion- I do not know what kind of giants you face today, although I do know that whatever it is, it is not larger than God! You may feel like a grasshopper facing a giant, but I challenge you to place that giant beside God and then see who the real grasshopper is. Whatever that giant is - sin, bitterness, hatred, financial, weakness, etc. bring it to God and watch it go down today. You can either walk knowing God has already won or you can walk in defeat. The world will not be won by a bunch of downtrodden, defeated Christians. The battle will be won by those who have learned to defeat their giants and who have learned to walk confidently through obstacles. I challenge you to bring those giants, no matter how big or small, to Jesus today and feed on the Breakfast of Champions.