PREACHING ON AUGUST 11, 2024:

Pastor Joe Porrello

EXPLORERS?

What Pastor Joe Porrello shared concerns an episode that happened to him some time ago when he came across a passage in the Bible that we all know but deserves deeper reflection. The Bible tells us about Moses, tasked with taking possession of what God had promised him. How many of us have divine promises to fulfill? Moses finds himself having to claim what God has promised him, but surprisingly, in the end, he will neither take nor see the Promised Land with his own eyes. However, God's promise was so strong that it was still fulfilled, even if not through him. It all begins with a dream, with a word from God that prompts Moses to act by sending 12 explorers... or were they spies? You see, we're used to calling them spies, but reading certain verses from the Bible clarifies the matter.

Numbers 13:1-2; 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

Moses chose one from each of the twelve tribes and sent them as explorers, not as spies. We often use the term "spies" out of habit, but the Bible is clear in defining them as explorers. Their task was simple: to explore the Promised Land, verify if it truly flowed with milk and honey, and report back. After 40 days, they returned with evidence of the land's abundance, such as the famous giant cluster of grapes, a symbol of the promise. However, out of the twelve explorers, only two provided a faithful account according to God's promise, while the others were distracted by giants and difficulties, forgetting that their task was not to change what God had established but to faithfully recount what they had seen. This teaches us the importance of giving an account, both in our faith journey and in leadership: a leader must be willing to report without fear of submitting to God's order, avoiding the pride of wanting to rewrite the divine plan.

Joshua 2:1; 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Learning from Moses' past experience, Joshua understood that it was better to send two spies who would act in secret rather than sending twelve explorers. The difference between explorers and spies is significant: explorers observe the territory in broad daylight without hiding, but they do not conquer anything; spies, on the other hand, operate in the shadows to identify the enemy's weaknesses and prepare to take over the territory. Many of us live our Christian faith as explorers, strolling through the Promised Land without ever truly possessing it a frustrating experience similar to that of the ten explorers who saw and touched it but never claimed it. We don't want to be like them; we want to be like the two spies, ready to claim what is rightfully ours, to uncover and dismantle what the enemy has built against us in the name of Jesus. These two spies hid in the house of Rahab, a surprising inclusion in Jesus' genealogy, even though she was a prostitute. Aware of their mission, she protected them by lying to the king. Despite being enslaved by sin, she recognized that the city's liberation would also mean her salvation. For this reason, she concealed the spies and hung a red cord a symbol of redemption and visible sign of salvation so that when the Israelites conquered Jericho, Rahab's house, marked by the banner of Christ, was spared. We must stop living our Christian lives as mere explorers and start behaving like spies, dedicated to claiming what God has promised. Often, we settle for exploring the places God has promised without truly possessing them, as if we're on an endless stroll. It's crucial that we begin to move like God's secret agents, determined to destroy every work of the enemy in the name of Christ, rather than merely observing without action. When Joshua sent the two spies, they were not sent to observe without taking action but to discover weaknesses and prepare for conquest. The difference is that we must work with the mindset of a spy: the devil is defeated, and we should proceed as if every obstacle has already been overcome. It's interesting to note that both Joshua and Jesus sent two people, following the law of witnesses, to confirm the mission's truth. Just as Peter and John prepared for the Passover, we must prepare ourselves for the banquet God is preparing. God is giving us something new and precious, and we must be ready to make a difference, not merely attending events and conferences without true commitment. We need to enter our private space with God, working like secret agents in the unseen and waiting for God to move the rest; only through intimacy with God will everything change around us. When the spies returned to Joshua, they reported that the land was already theirs, listing everything they had observed. However, their report alone did not cause Jericho's walls to fall; they crumbled due to the people's obedience, who silently marched around them for seven days, as commanded by Joshua. So, what was the purpose of the spies? Firstly, their task served to save Rahab; secondly, Joshua knew that within the city was someone who shared their vision and carried greater spiritual strength, much like he and Caleb were united in faith. When Joshua faced Jericho, it was as if Rahab took on Caleb's role, confirming her loyalty and faith, ready to claim what God had promised. Joshua prepared the people to take Jericho, not with conventional weapons, but with a divine strategy: silently circling the walls for seven days, just like the spies who observed the enemy in silence. This new generation, obedient and without murmuring like the previous one, on the seventh day, after circling seven times, followed Joshua's command to raise their voices and praise God, causing the walls to collapse. And Rahab, who had protected the spies, saw her salvation realized through her faith. Joshua, once an explorer of the Promised Land misunderstood by his peers, now entered as a conqueror, demonstrating that God had chosen him not only to explore but to conquer, like a discerning and determined spy. We must stop acting like explorers, publicly proclaiming our expectations, and start working in secret with God, strengthening our relationship with Him. Like Joshua and John, we need to learn to be silent, listen, and allow God to guide us in conquering the promises He has made. Just as Joshua did not step onto the island of Patmos as an explorer but as a conqueror, saying, "This is my secret place with God", it's all a matter of perspective. Sometimes, when we face a problem, we expose it publicly, as often happens on social media. Instead, we should focus on intimacy with God, where true transformation occurs. It's in the secret place, away from the world's eyes, that genuine spiritual strength is built. We've sometimes idealized men of God, only to be disappointed when their humanity becomes evident. Instead, we must first trust God and cling to Him, seeking out people of integrity who consistently demonstrate righteousness over time. Integrity isn't just a mindset or choice; it's about our secret relationship with God, His Word, and the transformation it brings. You see, some remain in explorer mode, circling around what God promises, while He calls us to step in and conquer every place He has assured us, just as He did with Joshua. Even though Joshua had already set foot in the Promised Land, he hadn't yet fully conquered it, because some victories require the entire community the Church rather than just individual leaders. God is calling us to shift from explorer mode to that of spies and conquerors, and we must all do so, without exceptions. Some settle for merely exploring what God wants to give us, but He desires that we embrace a spirit of conquest to dismantle the enemy's strongholds. Even if the enemy has wrongfully occupied what is rightfully ours, God gives us the strength to find the flaws in their walls and make them implode. No matter how much ground the enemy seems to have taken or how invincible Jericho appears, God tells us that nothing is impossible for those who believe. Some of us face longstanding family conditions, but God sends us as spies, declaring that we hold the key to breaking curses, changing situations, and entering the Promised Land. Moses couldn't do it, but Joshua did. So, let's enter the secret place with God as spies and worship Him; He will transform our lives and everything around us.