GOLDEN TRIANGLE COTR

Sunday April 18, 2010

Overcoming the Grasshopper Complex

INTRODUCTION: Today we’re going to talk about a story in the Old Testament that many of us are familiar with.

We’re going to start with the Children of Israel being delivered from Egyptian bondage. They had been delivered from “failure Zone” (Egypt) and were headed for their “Success Zone” (Canaan).

Incidentally, Canaan is not really a type of Heaven. It had giants and Heaven contains none.

Canaan is really a symbol of your dreams, your goals, and your places of victories! It is “Success Territory.”

Every man and woman should have goals for themselves. God intended for you to have them. Abraham had a dream, Isaac. Joseph had a dream, Prime Minister. Solomon had a dream, the temple.

The Israelites had a dream, Canaan!

Before they were to enter the Promised Land Moses sent twelve spies, or scouts, to review the land before entering.

Now let’s read about their report they returned with.

Numbers 13:25-33 (NKJV)

The Grasshopper Complex! You will never outperform the self-portrait you have of YOURSELF!

When the spies came back their reports were contradictory! Ten men had an evil report and two had a good report.

Ten had a “grasshopper complex” and two had a “giant killer complex.”

Ten had a victim mentality and two had a victor mentality!

TRANSITION: How do you overcome a “grasshopper complex?”

I. RECOGNIZE AND CONFRONT

Ignoring the giants is not what made their report evil or good. All twelve recognized the giants in the land.

Faith is not ignoring the obvious! Some people think if you recognize a problem situation, you are admitting doubt. THAT IS INCORRECT!

When David defeated Goliath (the giant) he didn’t do it by not recognizing the giant. He recognized Goliath and confronted him!

LUKE 4:3,4- “And the devil said to Him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him saying, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.”

Jesus confronted Satan in the wilderness. He recognized and then He confronted.

ALL TWELVE SPIES HAD FAITH!

But there was a difference! Ten had faith in the giants and two had faith in God!

Ten were giant-conscious and two were God conscious!

If you are giant-conscious you will run from your giants. If you are God-conscious you will confront your giants!

If you’re not confronting your giants, your giants are controlling you!

Ten spies came back moaning, “did you see the size of those giants?” Joshua and Caleb came back saying, “Did you see the size of those grapes?”

TEN WERE GRASSHOPPERS!

TWO WERE GIANT SLAYERS!

Romans 8:37- “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

More than conquerors- These words describe one who is super victorious, who wins more than an ordinary victory, but who is overpowering in achieving abundant victory. This is not the language of conceit, but of confidence! Christ love conquered death and therefore we are “more than conquerors!”

TRANSITION: How do you overcome the “grasshopper complex?” Recognize and confront.

II. WATCH YOUR WORDS

Grasshoppers major on their problems and giant-killers major on their possibilities!

Victims discuss their obstacles and victors talk about their opportunities.

Grasshoppers talk about the devil’s achievements and giant-killers talk about God’s victories!

Victims have a “slaveship” mentality and victors have a “Sonship” mentality!

YOU’RE WORDS REVEAL WHETHER YOU HAVE A “GRASSHOPPER COMPLEX” OR A “GIANT-KILLER COMPLEX.”

You will accept one of four possible evaluations of your life:

1. What you think about yourself.

2. What others think about you.

3. What Satan thinks about you.

4. What God thinks about you.

The ten spies said, “In our opinion, we are like grasshoppers. Even the giants think we are like grasshoppers.”

Proverbs 18:20,21- “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Mark 11:22-24- “So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

REMEMBER WE MENTIONED DAVID AND HOW HE RECOGNIZED AND CONFRONTED THE GIANT?

1Samuel 17:45-50

Notice the words coming our of David’s mouth! Were they words of someone with a “grasshopper complex” or someone with a “giant slayer complex?”

Numbers 14:1-4

Notice the words coming out of their mouths. Can you see the difference?

TRANSITION: Overcome the “grasshopper complex!” Watch your words as you recognize and confront your giants!

III. DAILY CULTIVATE THE MIND OF CHRIST

Do you have the mind of Christ? Then you are super-brilliant!

Say it our loud, I have the mind of Christ. I am amazed at the brilliant mind now in operation in my life.

You’re not a grasshopper! Stop talking like one and living like one!

1Corinthians 2:16- “……..But we have the mind of Christ.”

Romans 12:2- “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Quit magnifying your problems and quit exaggerating the power of the devil!

Start emphasizing the power of your God! Start testifying about the greatness of God, and what He is planning for today! START PLANNING TOMORROW’S VICTORIES!

WHAT DOES THE MIND OF CHRIST LOOK LIKE?

Luke 4:16-20

CONCLUSION: What’s the Holy Spirit saying to you today?

Have you been living with a “grasshopper complex” or a “giant killer complex?”

1. Recognize and Confront

2. Watch your Words

3. Daily cultivate the mind of Christ!