CALEB- THE PROACTIVE

We are Able said Caleb

 

Joshua and Caleb had a vision of what they could do with GOD’S help.

After the ten spies gave their grasshopper report, the men who had gone with them said, “We can’t attack those people! They’re too strong for us!”  So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored.

They said, “The land we explored is one that devours those who live there.  All the people we saw there are very tall.   We saw Nephilim there. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them.

CALEB and JOSHUA saw things differently; Caleb said, “Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it.

Because the people rejected GOD’S command to take the land for a possession He declared that they would not go into their possession. Joshua and Caleb were stuck in the wilderness with the faithless Israelites who were operating under the allusion of being able to return to Egypt.

How often are men of GOD hamstrung by the lack of faith of others? Finally after forty years and the faithless ones died off Joshua and Caleb took a greater part of their inheritance promised to Abraham. Then stepped forth Caleb who said he wished to get his part of the Promised Land. In theory it was his but in reality it wasn’t.

Such is the state many Christians today. In theory the promises of GOD are theirs but the reality is they do not possess them. Caleb went forth and fought for what was his and won the battles (which were many) and took the land for him and his descendants. 

Numbers 14:24 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.

A couple of points to consider here; Caleb took what was promised to him not that which was promised to someone else. Trying to claim what belongs to someone else will lead to failure.

While reading the promises in scripture and having a desire to claim them there is still one more step to take before you engage into battle for them. Ask yourself does this apply to my situation or do I meet the requirements for receiving this promise.

Some pray for power to minister in areas they have not been called to. Others pray for things they don’t have faith to receive them.

Mark 11:23-24"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Keep this in mind that asking without faith (belief) is just talking to yourself.  Each and every answer to prayer is a spiritual battle won. It can only be won by having unfettered faith. It involves the whole Spirit, Soul and Body wholly being committed to the task at hand.

Matthew 26:41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  In the midst of the battle it is possible to be deterred from task at hand.

If there is no struggle for victory in the prayer you are praying then what you are praying for isn’t worth the effort for you will be resisted by the enemy of your soul if your prayer has merit.

When you pray, keep Caleb in mind.  He had a direct promise, he put actions to his words by doing his part and he was victorious both for himself and his descendants. He allowed GOD to prepare him for the battles of life by obeying the words GOD spoke both corporately to the nation and to him personally.

Romans 6:13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Do not be too judgmental when others pray but if you sense they are “just talking” instead of fighting the battle for victory then you have an opportunity add your faith to the need for help.

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”