Thursday, May 14, 2015

May 14, 2015

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” Numbers 14:24

Caleb is an example of what can happen when you consecrate yourself to God’s will in Kadesh Barnea – the place of decision.

We examined why he had a different spirit – he was a servant and he was sold out to God.

Over the next few days I want to call attention to HOW he was different.

First, Caleb had a Visionary spirit!

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.  If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.” Numbers 14:7-8 

Because Caleb was tuned into God’s will he say life in God’s way! That is the heart of vision. Here are some more contemporary definitions of vision.

Andy Stanley,  -  “Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.”

John Maxwell  - “Vision is a clear compelling picture of a preferred future”

George Bernard Shaw – Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?"

I say, “Vision connects your past story to your future glory”

When it came to the vaunted giants reported to dwell in Canaan, the ten spies said, “They are so big they make us seem like grasshoppers.”

But Caleb had the same spirit as David did when he went out to face Goliath. When the others were saying, “Goliath is too big to challenge,” David said, “He’s too big to miss!”

That’s the Caleb difference!

If you want a different outcome you must have a different outlook! For Caleb, like David, that different outlook was godly vision!

At FredWes, God has brought us out of some difficult places and into our Kadesh Barnea with hopes we will catch His vision of a preferred future. He wants to give us a different spirit so we can have a better outcome.

It is important to understand that Caleb was not out of touch with reality or psyched into some sort of wishful thinking. He saw the size of the Giants who dwelt in Canaan with his own eyes! But with his “different spirit” he saw the size of His God!

A different spirit manifests itself in a different outlook, a godly vision that looks at life’s giant challenges and says, “Ok, God, the bigger they are the harder they fall!”

How’s your vision?