All posts by Joshua Jolley

Jim Caviezel Testimony (Actor Who Played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ Film)

Heaven, Hell, Salvation, Spiritual, Testimony of Jesus

Jim Caviezel Testimony (Actor Who Played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ Film)

Listen as Jim recounts his experience in playing the role of Jesus Christ in the Passion of the Christ. There is a cost to the gospel and Jim shares the cost in which he paid to play this role and be a part of this project. Inspiring, convicting and compelling – Jesus is worthy of all we have to offer Him.

If you’re on the fence as to the things of life and death, please, make a decision to serve Jesus or serve Satan. It’s not possible to do both. Choose this day whom you shall serve.

Silver Summit December – 2015 – The Perfect Economic Storm

Finance - Economics, Government

“Private Breakout Session link: http://goldsilver.com/hsom/silversumm… Never before in history have all the governments of the world laid down the foundation for the perfect economic storm. And in this just-released presentation from Mike Maloney, you’ll discover why we can not avoid it. It was recorded LIVE at the 2015 Silver Summit. And it’s loaded with new research that proves a financial crisis of epic proportions is headed straight toward us.

As you would expect from Mike, it’s all laid out in eye-opening charts everyone can understand. This talk comes on the 10-year anniversary of Mike’s uncanny 2005 Silver Summit appearance where he made several stunningly accurate predictions. They were unpopular at the time but many have already come to pass. Back then, he said the real estate bubble would burst. And it would cause a tsunami of foreclosures transmitting a crisis around the world instantly through derivatives.

This was two years BEFORE Ben Bernanke even admitted there was any kind of housing bubble. And it happened. Mike also said stocks would crash. They did 3 years later. And he said that these events would trigger deflation. But that Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve at the time, would do everything in his power to prevent that. He said Bernanke would re-inflate stocks, bonds, and real estate with an unprecedented amount of money printing. This also happened. Now, Mike reveals what’s coming next. And it could catch 99% of all investors off guard.”

For every dollar that you have in the bank there is actually 0.00061 dollars available…in other words, there’s 6 cents for every $100 dollars of deposits that you have at the bank. Got Gold? Got silver? If you enjoyed watching this video, be sure to check out the Hidden Secrets of Money website at https://www.hiddensecretsofmoney.com/.

It’s a world-leading educational series by Mike Maloney, the bestselling author of the Guide to Investing in Gold & Silver. As Mike explains in the series and his book, we live in an economic system that is made complicated by design. Basically, it’s set up so most people don’t even try to understand it. In Mike’s videos, he breaks down these concepts using easy-to-follow analogies, real pages from history, and animations that tie it all together.

Bill Wiese – Recounts 23 Minutes in Hell Experience

Evangelism, Heaven, Hell, Love, Salvation

Please take the time to listen to this message.

“If you knock on a strangers door, tell him you’re a good a person and I’m moving in with you.  That person would not let you live with them because you say you’re a good person.  Your goodness has nothing to do with the stranger’s decision making.  The reason the stranger won’t let you move in with him is because you have no relationship with him.  In like, we can’t live our entire life apart from Jesus, die and think that we can knock on Heaven’s door expecting Him to take us in is a huge misconception.”

We need to have a relationship with Jesus now. Heaven starts now.  Eternity is now. The question is what choice are we going to make regarding our relationship to Jesus right now, today, this very moment???

Check this message out and let me know what you think in the comments below.  Peace be with you.

Why a Cashless Society is an Awful Idea…

Uncategorized

Why a Cashless Society is an Awful Idea…

Have you ever thought about the ramifications of a completely cash-less society? Think about it for a second. No real value or asset, only plastic for computers or eventually a computer chip in or on your body, like your wrist. For this conversation let’s leave the idea of a computer chip off the table and simply focus on the current reality of debit cards and credit cards.

Here’s what the bankers think about money and currency:

“Let me issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who writes the laws.” Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812), founder of the House of Rothschild. “The few who understand the system will either be so interested in its profits or be so dependent upon its favours that there will be no opposition from that class, while on the other hand, the great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that capital derives from the system, will bear its burdens without complaint, and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical to their interests.” The Rothschild brothers of London writing to associates in New York, 1863.

Let me define “inimical” because it’s not a word commonly used in this era.

Inimical: likely to cause damage or have a bad effect : not friendly

“I am afraid the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create money. And they who control the credit of the nation direct the policy of Governments and hold in the hollow of their hand the destiny of the people.” Reginald McKenna, as Chairman of the Midland Bank, addressing stockholders in 1924.

Notice how two ideas repeat in the statements above, control and law. The bankers who create the money system control the people through law, thus holding the destiny of everybody on the planet in their hands… or at least that’s what they think.

When everything is done electronically they’ll have total control of the earth. They will be able to decide who does what, where and when. The bankers will have the power to put more “money or currency” into one individual’s account, while taking money out of another individual’s account.

There can be perks, bonuses, special treatment that could also go along with the “cashless” society. Notice how credit cards give incentives for using their plastic over another companies? Have you ever wondered how they can afford to pay people all the points or flyer miles that they do? It’s because every time a transaction takes place the credit card companies or banks get about 3%. Imagine trillions upon trillions of transactions happening and collecting 3% every single time! That’s a lot of money.

Ultimately, we the people are being “taxed” to use money. This in it of itself is insane. We’ve bought into the idea that plastic, electronics and all of this stuff is better than carrying real money which has and always will be silver and gold. You see, even the cash in your wallet is NOT real money. It is however real currency and there’s a difference.

cutting-dollarbill

money : something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment: asa: officially coined or stamped metal currency b:money of accountc:paper moneya: wealth reckoned in terms of money b: an amount of money cplural: sums of money :funds

currency a : circulation as a medium of exchange b : general use, acceptance, or prevalence <a story gaining currency> c : the quality or state of being current : currentness a : something (as coins, treasury notes, and banknotes) that is in circulation as a medium of exchange Money is and always has been a real asset such as silver, gold, land cattle – it’s a form of wealth. Currency is something like a dollar bill. When we look at what it’s made out of it’s simply paper. The piece of paper in your journal is worth just as much as the paper in your wallet called the dollar bill. The only thing that gives the paper in your wallet any value is you. When everybody believes it’s worth something, then it’s worth something. When every one believes something is worthless, then it’s worthless. Due to the fact our currency system is no longer backed by a real form of money or an asset such as gold, in reality it’s worthless. One day soon and very soon the world will begin to communicate that the dollar is worthless. This has happened time and time again through out the history of man.

A cashless society will be promoted by the bankers, the government, the medial industry and on and on it will go. Get ready for the marketing campaign of all humanity to roll out in the days ahead.

This will be the single most binding and enslaving act the earth has ever known.

The bankers control our legislative system with their fake money. See we currently operate on a “fiat” money system.

19 A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. [Ecclesiastes 10:19 NIV]

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [Revelation 13:17 NKJV]fiat money: money (as paper currency) not convertible into coin or specie of equivalent value


225 Habits of the Rich – The Daily Success Habits of the Wealthy

Finance - Economics, Health, , , , , , , ,

Check out an interview of a man who wrote a book on “the habits of the rich.” The interview is insightful and revealing.

Asking the question, “Why are some people rich and others not?” It is quite complex because of the factors that go into people’s individual situations. This author truly seems to have done his homework. He researched thoroughly the topic of wealth. Tom Corley, investigated both poor and rich alike. He discovered opposing habits communicated in this conversation.

I share this because it is my hope you will prosper just as your soul prospers in Christ Jesus.

Some notes from the conversation:

Dream-> set goals -> create habits

Wealthy people are healthy people
Wealthy people read and exercise daily
Wealthy people create multiple streams of income

Wealthy people are persistent and have a never quit attitude
62% of wealthy people focus on their goals every day

Call people on their birthday’s, life event days and just to say hello.

“A Beauty to Rescue…”

Church, Love, Marriage, Romance, Spiritual

Have you ever heard these ideas in the Christian community? “A beauty to rescue…” “Fight for the beauty!” “Rescue the girl!” If you’ve been around the evangelical circles over the last 15 years or so now, I’m sure you have.

John Eldridge one of my favorite authors regarding masculinity, femininity, marriage and identity in Christ has been prolific in his writings upon such ideas. I’m super grateful for him, his writings and presence in the body of Christ.

wild at heart

Wild at Heart
Sacred Romance
Captivating
Waking the Dead
Fathered by God
Epic

Above is a short list of books he’s written. Wild at Heart is a personal favorite. Men, get this book and read it, great stuff!

I love the idea behind rescuing the beauty. I think it is right on and so needed, especially today. Men need to step up into their God given roles to lead and guide families. The biggest thing they can do to accomplish this end, starts with them on their knees. Prayer.

Men, we need to be praying for the women in our lives. We need to mature in the things of God and His Word. We need to be worshipers in Spirit and Truth. This is how we fight for their freedom, identity, family relationships, healing of the brokenness they’ve encountered growing up and all the other stuff. Loving the women in our lives as Christ would have us to is how we “fight for them.” The battle is constant. The enemy – Satan is continually looking for whom he shall steal from, kill and devour like a lion.

Whether the women in our lives know it or not, admit it or not, they need you. They need men of God contending for their hearts, minds, emotions, relationships, and for them to simply mature in their relationship to Jesus. Men, it’s time to create a refuge, a safe place for women to develop relationship – without alterior motives of what you can get from them. We need to look at women as sisters in the Lord, not as objects (as the world’s message way too often communicates.)

With that being said, ladies, what it means for a man to “fight for the damsel,” does not mean that he “rescues” her from her family and steals her away with him, leaving her with little or no connection to them. It does not mean that she starts a fight with someone to see if he will literally fight for her because she’s acting foolish (though he will probably still rescue her.) It does not mean that she manipulate the relationship, breaking up with him and seeing if he starts buying flowers, chocolates and begs her to take him back – thus “fighting for her and proving his love.” It does not mean if she likes him and wants to be in a relationship with him that she either treat him really really nicely (beyond normalcy for a short period of time) or if she doesn’t get what she wants that she stops being nice to him, being his friend, etc. Just because she may desire relationship with him (or not) please do not treat him more or less than anything but as a brother in Christ. If she isn’t getting what she wants out of the relationship, communicate it, rather than stop being his friend leaving him clueless.

Too often I see or hear about these kind of behaviors or attitudes, it’s unfortunate. Such behavior is simply immature, manipulative and completely unnecessary. If a woman is behaving this way towards a mature man who knows the Lord, he will see through this fairly easily. His response will be to pray for her. He will pray that she matures. He will pray that she sees the deception behind manipulative, controlling behavior patterns and will not bow to such attitudes. He will continue to love her, let her make choices for herself and maintain healthy boundaries in the relationship that are proper, good and fitting for her and him.

Please don’t mistake his response or what some may perceive as a lack of response as though he’s “not fighting for her, doesn’t really love her, or isn’t truly committed.” He may be waiting for his prayers to be answered. He may simply be waiting for her to mature and grow up a little, while demonstrating love as well as he can with where they both are at currently in this thing called life.

There are two sides to every relationship. Chances are there’s issues coming from both parties in any given story. In the realm of relationships guys have much to grow in and improve upon. Ladies, pray for men. Men need you and your prayers, even though sometimes they don’t admit it. Men may not want to be rescued, but they do need your prayers.

The truth is men and women are on the same team. We are not each other’s enemy. Satan is the enemy and we need to work together – united through the Holy Spirit. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for praying for and forgiving each other with your whole heart. What the world needs now is real love expressing itself through the body of Christ (the Church). They will know us by our agape love…

PRAYER
Father in heaven, help your children understand their roles. Let women be celebrated for their unique qualities. Let men be celebrated for their unique qualities. Let there be peace between the genders. Let Your desire for male and female relationships come forth in the earth. Bring healing to men and women in the body of Christ. Bring an increase of maturity in Christ for both men and women right now. Lord there’s such an attack on relationship, marriage, and family in this hour. I ask that you bring restoration, reconciliation and healing to male, female relationships everywhere. Let men rise up spiritually to rightly follow you Jesus and lead the family well. We need your help Holy Spirit. Father, let women be cared for, protected, healed, and grow in maturity of your Word, character and deed. Let there be light in this arena and expose all darkness. Let Your glory cover the earth. In Y’shua’s name. Thank You. Amen.

Men fight for, rescue and lead the beauty, as Jesus would!

Is coveting the worst sin?

Church, Finance - Economics, Health, Social

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” – Exodus 20:17

‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ – Deuteronomy 5:21

Lately, I have spent more and more time meditating on why “coveting” is so bad in the eyes of YHWH.  One of the ten commandments is you shall not covet.  Seemingly this idea of coveting is much lesser than some of the other commandments, such as murdering someone.   So what does “covet” actually mean?

covet – to want (something that you do not have) very much
to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably

Notice how Scripture defines what not to do regarding the idea of coveting.  Do not desire anything that is essentially, not ours.  This is a major problem in society today. Essentially our entire culture is constructed upon the idea “getting that next conquest” whatever that might be.  Marketing continually bombards our lives and minds with the message, “Your life is incomplete without this possession, skill, talent, gift, relationship, status, idea, etc.”

Coveting in a very real sense is the first sin.  Eve and then Adam desired that which was not meant for them.  Take a look at Genesis 3.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Through out the beginning of Genesis 3 we see satan at work “marketing” the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Focusing on deceiving Eve, he then gets Adam.  Eve was deceived, she ate of the fruit because it was desirable to her.  Adam then ate the fruit not because he was deceived, but because he knew without eating of the fruit, separation would ever be between Eve and himself.    Adam desired Eve – coveting her over YHWH and His Word.  Satan twists and lies about the reality of the Tree, specifically the ramifications of what will happen once they part-take.

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 NKJV

What was their response to this new fallen state?  Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Creator of heaven and earth.  This is the problem of humanity.  We all hide ourselves from God because of our sin.  Yet, the presence of the LORD is what brings victory over satan, sin and darkness.

Looking at Exodus we see how the one thing Moses desired from YHWH was, His Presence.

And He said, “My Presence will go [with you], and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go [with us], do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:14-15 NKJV

God’s presence slays giants.  God’s presence takes out every work of the evil one.  His presence is the answer to our lives and victory in the earth.  Joshua and the Israelite’s crushed all the giants because the presence of the LORD went before them.  Whatever is going on in our lives at any given moment, inviting God into that situation will completely disarm any work of darkness.

 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” – John 3:19-21 NKJV

There are several reasons why we do not want an ounce of coveting in our lives, here are just a few.

  1. Coveting leads to bigger levels of sin. When we act upon wrong desire the door for increased pain and suffering opens wider and wider.  War, stealing, murder, adultery and divorce spawn from the sin of covetousness.

James chapter 4 communicates this reality perfectly, take a look.

Where do wars and fights [come] from among you? Do [they] not [come] from your [desires for] pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?[James 4:1-5 NKJV]

  1. Coveting reveals an ungrateful, unthankful and unappreciative heart. Rather than focusing on all the blessings YHWH has provided to us, we focus on our lack.  We focus on what we do not have.

Adam and Eve had everything they could ever need or want.  They had all the power in the Garden, they were in charge.  They had the best status – dominion and stewardship over the earth.  This couple possessed everything.  Adam and Eve had all the wealth they could possibly desire.  Their work did not even make them break a sweat, it was easy.  On top of position and possession, they had the presence of the Most High.  Satan turned their attention from what they had, to what they did not.  Some how they bought into the lie that what they had was not good and God was some how holding out on them.  They became unappreciative and discontent.

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. – Luke 6:35 NKJV

Notice how in Luke, unthankfulness is associated with being an evil thing.

We need to be a people of thanksgiving, gratitude and appreciation. God is good. He is working so everything that occurs in our lives is working out for our own good.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, [And] into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, [and] bless His name. 5 For the LORD [is] good; His mercy [is] everlasting, And His truth [endures] to all generations. Psalms 100:4-5 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. – Romans 8:28 NKJV

  1. Coveting calls YHWH a liar.  It says to Him, “God, You’re not trustworthy. I don’t believe what You tell me is true.  I don’t believe the things that are currently a part of my life or not a part of my life, are actually for my own good.”

God jealously desires us.  Yet we go after the things of the world – position, power, or material possessions.  Somehow satan continues to feed us the same lie over and over, generation after generation.

Coveting says, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”  Satan wants us to jump the fence, again and again – in search of the “greenest.” Dis-contentedness and covetousness go hand in hand.  If we are discontent we can bet covetousness is taking place.  The truth is, the grass is not greener, it is simply a different color.  The search is real, but what are we searching for?  Are we searching for Jesus or the most money in the bank, the most power on the planet, the most attractive spouse, etc.?

Paul understood this well.  He was fully contented in the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.  He knew that all of his life was in the hands of the Creator to such a degree he could make this statement:

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV

Conclusion

If we trust our current reality – relationships, resources, position to the Most High, there’s no room for sin to expand within our hearts and lives.  God is good and is worthy to be trusted with all of life’s details.  We can trust Him implicitly.  Our responsibility is simple:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:33 NKJV

His Word promises:

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4 NKJV

Prayer

Father in Heaven, You are trustworthy.  You are good.  Thank You for all that is transpiring in the earth right now over and around my life.  Thank You for the relationships in my life.  Thank you for the relationships that are not in my life. Thank You for my daily bread.  Thank You that everything transpiring in my life is according to Your perfect will.  Be magnified today YHWH.  Thank You for Your peace, rest and contentment.  Most of all thank You for the presence of the Holy Spirit residing within me this day because Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose on the 3rd day to save me from death and sin.  I also ask that the sin of covetousness be cast down from the hearts of man.  I ask that hearts of gratitude and thanksgiving arise in the hearts of man today, more and more and more. Lastly Lord, I do not want anything that is not mine.  I only want what You have for me.  I gladly receive all that You have for me.  I trust You.  I repent for any time I have wanted something that is not mine and that you do not have for me.  Let everyone be blessed fully with what You have given to them.  Thank You for your generosity upon their lives.  I celebrate Your goodness upon the people around me.  Bless my friends, bless my family, bless my acquaintances, and bless those that say bad things about me.  Thank You! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

“I’m not hurting anyone, what’s the problem?”

Church, Government

promiseland

Collective sin affects me… the sins of a generation has consequence. Your sin affects me and you’re not even touching me. The dangerous affects of generational sin.
Have you ever heard anyone say something along these lines?

“It’s okay to do (fill in the blank), if you don’t hurt anyone else.”

“It’s okay, I’m not hurting anyone else.”

“I’m not hurting anyone, what’s the problem? We should be free to do this, that or the other thing.”

Such statements are far too common in this generation, it’s sad. Fundamentally, such ideas fly in the face of the Bible. How you might be asking?

Jesus gave us two commandments that embody all the commandments of the Bible.

30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This [is] the first commandment. 31 “And the second, like [it, is] this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31 NKJV

Notice the second commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

hug-love-your-neighbor

Now if we love someone, it would suggest we do him or her no harm. Notice how we are to love our neighbor, as our self. The 2nd commandment would insinuate that we would understand how to rightly love our self. It is implied that we would do no harm to ourselves.

A couple topics where people use such statements are in the legalization of drug use and any “open” sexual relationship. These are only a couple examples of rebellion to the Lord. God provided the Bible, His Word because He loves humans. He wants us to experience His pure definition of love, that does no harm to others and ourselves. People often want to justify various actions and come up with statements that sound really good. Sadly, there are consequences to such actions that do in fact affect those around you – friend and stranger alike. People involved in any kind of sin that seemingly does not affect anyone else, does in fact impact all of society adversely.

“What do you mean? How does smoking marijuana or fornicating affect all of society adversely?”

Here’s an example of how collective sin affects others and brings consequence upon an entire nation, even those who did nothing wrong. In the book of Numbers Moses sends 12 spies into the Promiseland to spy it out and bring a report back as to what is currently taking place in the land of Canaan. Let’s take a closer look…

26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and 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. 28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land [are] strong; the cities [are] fortified [and] very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 “The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” 30 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.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they [are] stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies [is] a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it [are] men of [great] stature. 33 “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:26-33 NKJV
1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 “Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [who were] among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out [is] an exceedingly good land. 8 “If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 “Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they [are] our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us. Do not fear them.” 10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. 11 Then the LORD said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? 12 “I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

13 And Moses said to the LORD: “Then the Egyptians will hear [it], for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 14 “and they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, LORD, [are] among these people; that You, LORD, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 “Now [if] You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 “And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 18 ‘The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth [generation].’ 19 “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

20 Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 “but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD– 22 “because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 “they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

25 “Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.” 26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 “How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

28 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 29 ‘The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 30 ‘Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 31 ‘But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 ‘But [as for] you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness.

33 ‘And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 ‘According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, [namely] forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 35 ‘I the LORD have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ ”

36 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land. 39 Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!” 41 And Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. 42 “Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD [is] not among you. 43 “For the Amalekites and the Canaanites [are] there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah. – Numbers 14:1-45 NKJV

There’s so much going on in these two chapters. Read this passage two or three times perhaps to really let what’s transpiring sink in.

The children of Israel sinned in several ways:

1. They complained
2. They rebelled
3. They feared
4. They communicated unbelief
5. They put God to the test 10 times

Amazing! God delivered Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea. They lacked the faith in God that He will also make good on His promise to give them the land flowing with milk and honey.

I wonder how often we do this in our own lives? God has big promises for us, but we complain, doubt and get scared – rather than believing in faith that He is BIG and can handle it.

God wanted to completely wipe this people out, but Moses interceded on behalf of the people. The Lord responded to Moses’ prayer and chose not to wipe them all out. Yet because of the collective sin everyone was punished. The 10 spies who gave a bad report were killed with a plague seemingly immediately. The rest of the congregation of the age 20 and older were set to wander the wilderness a year for every day they spied out the land – dyeing sometime within that 40 year window failing to enter the Promise Land.

Joshua and Caleb, did nothing wrong. These two were still punished for the sin of the collective group of Israel. Rather than entering right into the Promise Land, these two had to serve a “prison sentence” of sorts wandering 40 years in the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb were not killed, as all their peers. Bummer, it’s not a fun thing to receive a guilty sentence and be completely innocent.

The story of spying out the land is one example of how individual sin affects the collective group. Different types of sin bring about different types of punishment. As the sin of the collective grows, so does the punishment and judgment.

These statements are deceptive lies from the pit of hell.

“It’s okay to do (fill in the blank), if you don’t hurt anyone else.”

“It’s okay, I’m not hurting anyone else.”

“I’m not hurting anyone, what’s the problem? We should be free to do this, that or the other thing.”

The truth is, it’s not okay to participate in sin of any kind. The truth is those who are participating in sin are not only hurting themselves, but also hurting those who are innocent. It will harm you and does offer consequence to those around you. Even a sin that becomes “legalized” through civil law – if it goes against the Word of God, there will be punishment and consequence. For those participating in sin, such actions will directly and adversely affect those who are not guilty of participating in a particular sin.

Conversely, collective righteousness brings about the blessing of the Lord. If the collective group is living righteously, then there’s no 40 year sentence to the wilderness, there’s no death. Simply believe God and enter into the Promise Land now. Receive all His benefits and blessings today! His hand will bring forth prosperity of soul in all of life. Let’s pursue His life through obedience to His Word because that’s how we express our love to Him and to each other.

Deuteronomy paints a picture of this reality.

1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock–the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. … 9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. … 12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. – Deuteronomy 28:1-7, 9-10, 12-14 NIV

Here’s a couple verses about how to love others and what love looks like:

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. – John 14:15 NKJV

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, – Matthew 5:44 NKJV

4 Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV