The following is are excerpts in parts from Curry Blake's writing which caught my attention:
"It amazes me at the number of people that say they "believe God", or that they "believe the Word of God", then in the next sentence say that what God said isn't working. God's word works. What God has spoken, is considered done, and shall come to pass. This sounds like Mark 11:22-23. God believes what He has spoken and it comes to pass. It is not faith to say, "God is going to heal me", it is unbelief. Faith speaks the end result at the beginning of the situation while everything still looks the same. Unbelievers say what they see and feel. Believers must believe and therefore speak what is yet unseen."
"For an interesting study, do a concordance search on the terms "good report" and "evil report". You will find that the term "good report" is synonymous with agreeing with whatever God has said, regardless of how seemingly impossible it would be to come to pass. The term, "evil report", is used any time a person says anything that disagrees with what God has told them to do. In the Bible, the people that agree with God (good report) go into the promised land (where God's promises are fulfilled). The people that give an "evil report" fail to receive the blessings of God, even though they considered themselves as "God's people". Notice, they considered themselves... God did not consider them His people. If you read Heb. 11, you will find that only those that received a "good report" were considered by God as people of faith."
Many times when the term "good report" is used it's always associated with speaking encouraging or positive words but clearly this is not it. It goes way higher and deeper as it means that I as a believer and a leader am to agree with whatever God has said regardless what my natural eyes sees. Even when it seems impossible, it would still come to pass.
I was looking into Numbers 13: 1 ff, what caught my attention was what You said, "Send some men to search/explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."
You are saying send people there to explore the land which You have already decided to give to the Israelites. What is the reason the go search or explore when You have already known what is good in the land if not You won't be giving it to your people. But the people really thought You needed help in surveying the land as though You have no clue at all. That's why all the statistics were given so that You can weigh the pros and more so on the cons (the impossibilities). This where it all begins...........
The leaders themselves could only see what their natural eyes could see which is of the now. They could only analyze the situation of the problems and impossibilities but could not see beyond to see what You see. When You said, "send them to search/explore.." You actually wanted them to see as how You see it and agree with what You have said that is the land it flows with milk and honey. You wanted to them to see despite the infrastructure, its population and economy, You are giving them the land and it's a land that flows with milk and honey.
The Hebrew word for search means sent to descry. Descry means to notice or see especially something from a distant. You wanted them to see all the possibilities there is in the future as You give them the land. You not only see now but also the future as You hold the future. You wanted them to see that despite the current situation Your sovereign hand is moving and You are still in control. How true, what can I see or what's my perspective on a matter would determine my action now. No wonder, You always ask, "What do you see?"
What we see would also determine what kind of report we are giving. I must learn to see as You do and Your ways in the midst of every situation and begin to agree with what You have said regardless of how seemingly impossible it would be to come to pass. Because what You have spoken it would not return unto You void but it would be accomplished!
Leadership bites which I discovered:
1. As a leader on assignment, keep to it and finished it and report to my superior. (Don't be tempted to do more as in this case, v.32 "they do more by "spreading" the bad report to the people) Stay focused and learn to keep my mouth shut.
2. As a leader, I'm to be objective and rational and report as according to what I'm told to. Don't add or subtract due to my own personal opinions. Never exaggerate!!
3. As a leader, I'm to trained my eyes to see things in the spirit as how You see it.
4. As a leader, I'm to stressed again "good report" meaning agreeing and repeating again what You have said despite what the current situation maybe.
5. As an overall leader, I'm to put a stop to any "bad report" among leadership and the people. Begin to make a stand by stressing on the "good report". Have to hold everyone back to the same page that is to agree to "good report" despite the current situation.
6. As a leader, always stir, show and speak of the possibilities of the future that God had said so that they can begin to picture it in their mind and be stirred to live and outwork this very future out starting from now!
