Now that we are at the start of a new year, one of the big questions we must answer is this: Will we be strong and courageous when God calls us into new territory?
In a powerful message, Pastor Jack Hibbs delivered a faith-filled word that set the tone for 2026: Christians must reject fear, resist spiritual complacency, and fully trust God’s promises.
The message, rooted in Numbers 13, challenges Christians to choose whether they would enter the new year with the mindset of Joshua and Caleb—or remain stuck in the wilderness like the other 10 spies who allowed fear to override faith.
Reflecting on a private email he had sent to staff, Hibbs revealed a burden he sensed during early morning prayer: “I sensed strongly that 2026 must be a year that we as individuals, as well as a staff, focus hard on being more like Mary and less like Martha.” He emphasized that private devotion must precede public ministry, warning that busyness without intimacy leads to spiritual dryness.
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Quoting Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea, he cautioned against lukewarm faith: “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” He added, “We are a very blessed church, but we could wind up ruining everything by becoming more like a Martha.”
Turning to Numbers 13, Hibbs then unpacked the familiar story of the 12 spies sent to survey the promised land. Although all agreed that the land was exactly as God promised—“flowing with milk and honey”—10 spies focused on the giants rather than on the promise.
“They said, ‘We were like grasshoppers in our own sight,’” he noted. “But the giants never said that. The spies said it to themselves.”
Only Joshua and Caleb saw beyond the opposition. “The land is awesome. Look at the evidence,” Hibbs pointed out. “Let’s do what God says.”
Hibbs further explained why we need to look to Jesus above all other things: He does what we cannot do. “You’re not the deliverer. God’s going to be the deliverer…There are no giants bigger than God,” he declared. “That ain’t going to happen.”
He gave a clear call to action, for people to turn away from fear: “I refuse to be a grasshopper before giants,” he said. “I will be a follower of Christ… and whatever comes into my line of sight as I follow Him—that’s God’s business.”
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
