testimony 2

I want to continue with testimony. Every believer is given a living testimony from their Lord Jesus Christ. A testimony is truth about something that the Lord has done in your life or through you. God has a reason for this and how He wants to use your testimony.  I don’t know all the reasons why, when, where and how God wants to use them but He does. Maybe God wants to use your testimony to reach someone who doesn’t know Jesus yet. Or maybe God wants to use your testimony to share with others in the body of Christ to bring healing, understanding, growth etc. One reason for sure that everyone and that means everyone in the body is given a unique testimony is to bring glory to God.

     I like the testimony of a demon possessed guy in Mark 5:1-20. He was in a place called Gadarenes, a region full of demonic oppression. Jesus meets and frees a guy from a demon inside of him who calls himself Legion which means many or an army. So he was possessed by many demons. But knowing something of this is not the important part, it is the living testimony Jesus sent with this guy to tell others. Mark 5:18-20 “And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” This man wanted to go with Jesus and follow Him but Jesus had a different plan for him that would bring glory to God. It says in this scripture that the people marveled at what Jesus had done in his life. Marvel means to be wondered at, to be had in admiration.

In the last post while I was writing the verse John 1:18 came to me where the NLT refers to Jesus as the unique one. After the post I was reading in the book Vertical Church and James Mcdonald states “In the bible, Genesis 2:7 calls what makes us unique ruach, spirit or the breath of life.” Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Psalm 139:13-17 “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God has created us all in His image and we all have a unique different personality for a reason to Glorify Him. We all have a journey and a testimony from God. No two are the same. It is a joy as we walk with Jesus daily to discover more who we are and others close to us and what God does in our lives.

 

The testimony given from the Lord to every believer is a beautiful thing that brings glory to God. I think with beautiful things that glorifies God sometimes comes difficulties and struggle. Satan our enemy doesn’t want the truth or God’s glory to be seen. Sometimes a testimony or what God does in a persons life is not always received by others. I think a lot of times the truth in a testimony is misunderstood, we will always be misunderstood by others, the people in the bible were misunderstood. No one even some close to you will not fully understand you like Jesus does, why He made you the way He did and what He takes you through.

 

One way to worship God is when we say the truth from our heart about what He has done in our life. We don’t have to change the truth of what God has done to please men. If it is truth it will glorify God. Trying to please others or change truth of what really God has done is not what God wants. I like Matthew 15 in verse 12 the disciples says to Jesus don’t you realize that the truth you have just said offended the spiritual leaders or Pharisees. Then in verse 18 Jesus explains that the words we speak from the heart is what defiles us which would include lying, false witness or false testimony. All of us or most of us in our walk will realize at times that we maybe have not been seeing things correctly until Jesus corrects us. If God gave you the testimony just say the truth mix it with faith and let God do the work. We do it to glorify and please the real King of our life Jesus Christ who is absolute truth, nothing false or hidden. John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

 

Another part of this is the struggles, trials, heavy burdens or hard times we go through in our walk with the Lord carrying our cross. This is the part of the testimony that is not always received or accepted by others. We are selfish beings, we want to hear only the good part and make a good showing in the flesh. Anyone who is a believer and reads the bible and try’s to follow Jesus knows you are going to struggle with many things and this is the part we hide. But this is the good part that also shapes us like Christ and brings glory to God. In 2 Corinthians 4 the apostle Paul I think speaks of this. How can you read the gospels and the apostle Paul’s writing and think other wise. 2 Corinthians 4:6-18. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (II Corinthians 4:6-12 NKJV)

I have been given something from God that I don’t in anyway deserve. I have been led by God to a ministry called Christian Mentors Network where we mentor and disciple men. I get to set across from Godly men everyday and hear their testimonies, struggles and what God has done in their life. This is a huge blessing in my life that helps me grow. About two years ago God somehow led me to have men over to my house from all ages and different churches. We have food, a fire if in the winter, brotherly fellowship, Some scripture from God’s word, and a testimony from one man of what God has done in his life. This is a very special time that helps the men and is glorifying to God.

Glory of God- Weighty importance and shining majesty that accompany God’s presence. The basic meaning of the Hebrew word kavod is heavy in weight. Thus it can refer to a heavy burden.

 

  

Testimony 1

God has been speaking to me over a long period of time about the importance of a testimony in a believer’s life. It has really become stronger of late and the timing of this seems right.

Jesus the Son of God, God in the flesh, came to be a living testimony of God and glorify God. He is God, John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” & “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” Unique - Being the only one of its kind: Without an equal or equivalent; unparalleled. Unusual; extraordinary: I don’t know if this is the right word to use but I think Jesus is too awesome to put into words. We have the Word of God to describe Him and His living work in people lives, living testimonies. Jesus testified about God and glorified God in ways we don’t fully understand yet. His creations, birth, baptism, death, resurrection, starting the church, what He done in peoples lives miracles etc.

Jesus is a living testimony to God and is still living today in many different ways. One way is through is continued work in peoples lives. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Jesus cousin John the Baptist came to be a living testimony to tell everyone of Jesus and glorify God. John 1:6-7 “God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.” John the Baptist also baptized Jesus and saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit settle upon Jesus. Jesus picked 12 men, disciples who followed Jesus started the church and was a living testimony. Each of them was martyred because they followed Jesus and their testimony. The apostle John was the only one that lived to an older age but was exiled to an island called Patmos. Revelation 1:9  ^“I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.” The 12 disciples walked close with Jesus 2 Peter 1:16-18 ^“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes  when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.” 1 John 1:1-3 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus came to save and take away the sins of the world by His death on a cross and His blood. Revelation 12:11 ^“And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” 1 John 5:6-12 ^“And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.  So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.  Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”

 

What’s interesting is right in the temple where God’s own chosen people worshiped God and taught God’s word and law. The experts and teachers where Jesus, God Himself would go sometimes to teach and preach.  They at the time and some never did accept Jesus the living testimony and sacrifice that was sent to save them. They were teaching others about God and He was right there walking with them but would not accept Him. It says in John 1:11 “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” They refused Jesus their Lord and savior, Jesus death on a cross, accepting Jesus and carrying their own cross Jesus intended for them to carry to die to their self and be a living testimony to glorify God, and they didn’t accept being reborn and the Holy Spirit. In John 3:1-21 Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus, one of the Jewish religious telling him he must be reborn and in verse 3:10-11 “Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?  I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony.” These guys done everything in their power to cover the testimony and glory of God not to be seen. This is a stunt they pulled after Jesus was seen after His resurrection Matthew 28:11-15 “As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.  A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe.  They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’  If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”  So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.”

 

This is really a reminder to me how we can read God’s word and become more knowledgeable which is a great thing but at the same time may not be aware of the supernatural work of God in so many peoples lives. A living testimony to glorify Him, that may be strange or unexplainable or may not fit into our system, box or way of thinking. Just a reminder!

 

So God went outside of their system, pride, power, knowledge, riches, and hard hearted selfishness. He chose 12 common men, fishermen and a despised tax collector. Men that were probably told by the experts of God’s laws, that they weren’t good enough. Then he poured His Holy Spirit and love and created in them a powerful living testimony to glorify God.

 

The converts in the early Church changed the world they lived in because of what they saw and heard. It was the power of the gospel that changed lives, not what they learned from mere teaching. This power drew people to Christ. Things happened that could not be explained as anything other than the activity of God. Os Hillman.

 

 

2 Corinthians 3:3-6 "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.  It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.  He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life."

 

 

 

 

Strongholds

Strongholds

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Stronghold is defined as a castle, fortress, a place of protection, a fortified place, a place of security. God is our stronghold and place of protection and security. Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” When king David was on the run from Saul for  years God took care of David, He put people around him to protect him and provided strongholds for him to stay in for protection. 

     But there are other type of strongholds that come against the truth and will of God. Every believer has strongholds in them that need to be identified and pulled down. There can be strongholds over a city, church, ministry that needs to be identified and pulled down. In a believer it could be many things, a belief, way of thinking, attitude, sin, unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, idol, etc. In the blue letter bible for the verse above in 2 Corinthians 10:4 it defines this type of stronghold as - a castle, fortress, fastness, anything on which one relies. Anything a believer attaches or relies themselves on that could continuously get in the way of our relationship with God. Could be pornography, a habit, another person, etc, that Satan can and influence and work through. God is jealous God and going to come after these things in our life because he loves us and wants his will for our lives. These are areas that God wants to change and renew to become more like Him. Exodus 34:14-15 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).

In the 9 second video I put on here is from the Lord of the rings movie. A hobbit named Smeagol or Gollum is fishing with his friend. His friend finds a ring that represents a very powerful evil to take over the world. Smeagol becomes influenced by the power of the ring and kills his friend. The ring is like a stronghold to him that he calls his precious, he is obsessed by this thing and turns into a mad creature. He looses the ring to another hobbit and his cousin Frodo is chosen to carry the ring to destroy it. Smeagol pursues the ring in a deceptive way till it ends up killing him. Even though this is a fictional movie it has a lot of biblical comparisons. What’s interesting in this movie is a team of mighty talented warriors is assembled to go on the journey to help destroy the ring but a humble little hobbit is chosen to carry the ring till the end and destroy it. There was a lot of deception because of the ring but Frodo the hobbit proved faithful. Another important part of this is a hobbit named Sam that was with Frodo and stayed faithful during the whole journey. Humility is a powerful weapon when dealing with Satan and his army of demons.

 http://youtu.be/Iz-8CSa9xj8

The person I want to use in the bible is Gideon. Gideon is one of my favorite people in the bible for many reasons, his story is in Judges 6-8. In Judges 6:12 God comes to Gideon in a low place of weakness and humility and calls him a Mighty Warrior. God tells him he is going to rescue Israel from the mighty Midianites who was oppressing Israel to starvation. Gideon has a really hard time at first accepting this for a while because of who he is and were he is from and his circumstances. He is small and God is big and mighty and does powerful supernatural things. It didn't make since or add up to Gideon and I’m sure it didn't add up to others. Till God chiseled down 32,000 men in an army to 300 and led Gideon and the men to defeat the Midianites, God gets the glory.

But the part of Gideon’s story I like is when Gideon pulled down the false gods of baal and asherah and built an altar to God. Judges 6:25- ^“Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down.”  So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the Lord had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.” There is a lot that comes to me in this but I like that Gideon was afraid and went during the night and took ten men with him.

This is from the blue letter bible, the name Gideon means. Destroyer, brave warrior, hewer of trees, chop or cut down, to break strength, faith in God not in power of arms. Some other interesting descriptive words that I won’t list but you can look it up. Anyway Gideon was in a place of weakness but because of God’s power working in him supernaturally he accomplished a great work for the kingdom. He was used to pull down shrines of false god’s and built an altar to  God to bring glory to Him.

Even though we walk in the flesh God gives us his mighty weapons to pull down strongholds. Love, truth, faith, humility, the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, God’s word, the armor of God, fasting and prayer are all weapons of God. Every believer has God’s mighty weapons. Gideon took 10 men with him to tear down the shrines of false god’s. Your brother’s has God’s mighty weapons. I like to meet and study with men it helps me grow in many areas. I like to set across from another brother and open myself up deeper with God’s word and be transparent pray for one another and have accountability in truth and love. When I fellowship and study with other men it helps me see what’s in my own heart. Proverbs 27:19 “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” KJV

Have Faith in God’s mighty weapons and that God can use them through a humble servant no matter how long you have been a believer and what part of the body you are. God’s mighty weapons are a gift from God to every believer from the grace of God when you accept Jesus by faith. You don’t have to earn them through a performance, test, degree or program. You have them from your faith in God.

2 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Readiness on blue letter bible is defined as prepare ready, opportune, seasonable, to receive one coming.

Faith and Faithfulness

Faith and Faithfulness

 It has been a while since I have written any thoughts. I have been quiet and listening of late. God seems to have taken me back to the foundation if you will, just being still and listening. He has really been speaking to me about different things I think that may be used in different ways for what is ahead. One thing was He took me to 1 Corinthian 3:11 about the foundation I have in Christ, the perfect foundation, who He made me to be where He has led me and what He has given me to build on this foundation. There is many but I will mention one.

 In my study, listening and wrestling this came to me from the Lord at different times in different ways.

1.Faith in Him which is like a foundation laid in the soul on which is built up the fuller and richer knowledge of saving truth. From blue letter bible.

2.The fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23. The King James lists faith, the other translations list faithfulness.

3.I believe faith is one of God’s mighty weapons given to all believers. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.

 I am not in anyway saying not to be faithful or obedient. It clearly talks of these all through the bible. I need to grow and be more faithful and obedient. Jesus was completely faithful to His Fathers will. Faith in God and the Holy Spirit working in us gives us the ability to be faithful in what God wants to do in our life, His will. But no one has or will be completely faithful except Jesus. God gets the glory.  Our faithfulness and view of it can be a great thing and it can also get us into deep waters and enslaved in some interesting ways. Deeply needing God, humility and faith in what He can do goes way beyond faithfulness. Faithfulness comes from the word faith; it is what God does even when we are not faithful.  He gets the glory. When I read the gospels I think Jesus kept teaching the disciples over and over again about faith in God. Let me put it this way if I was playing 5 card draw with anything on the cards I wanted from His Kingdom. It would be as listed, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Word of God, and Faith. Faith in what the other 4 cards can and will do.

 Us, our marriages and the body of Christ victories in battles over, Satan, the world, sin, strongholds etc, come from our faith in God. 1 John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

 I will shortly mention a few people in the bible. Gideon in Judges 6-8. This is one of my favorite men in the bible. God comes to Gideon and met him where he was in a low place of weakness in Judges 6:12 and calls him, Mighty Warrior. Gideon starts to realize that it is really God and he is accepted by God. As his faith and belief in God grew, he becomes a mighty warrior for God’s Kingdom. One bad man on a mission. This is not a normal everyday happening. I don’t think this was because of Gideon’s great abilities. I am going to write more on Gideon in my next post. This is a great story for us in many ways but I think here is how being accepted and loved by God and others for who we are can be a big help in our faith growing.

 The story of Abram or later called Abraham in Genesis 12-25, he is called in scripture the father of our faith. His journey with God is amazing, Hebrews 11:8-9,“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.”   In Genesis 15 God made a covenant with Abraham that in everything God promised Abraham would be fulfilled in His timing. This covenant was made by God and upheld by God because He is God and completely faithful in everything He says and promises. Abraham was not fully faithful, God was. Abraham’s faith in God grew as the promises where fulfilled by God in His time. We are part of the seed of Abraham, all who believe by faith in Jesus Christ.  Romans, 4 is a great chapter that explains more about Abraham and faith in God. Romans 4:16-21, “So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”  This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”  And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.” What speaks to me is Abraham left his home and by faith followed God not knowing where he was going. Also in Romans 4:17 it says in the NLT that Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. It says that as his faith grew stronger this brought glory to God. FAITH!

The last is the 12 disciples; this speaks all about faith in God to me. Jesus was constantly teaching them about faith In God all through the gospels. To me, Jesus was planting in them a foundation of faith in their heart soul and inner being. Two scriptures come to me, one is Matthew 14:22-32. In this scripture the disciples see Jesus walking on the water and Peter by faith not only attempts to walk on water he does. I don’t recall many people in the bible walking on water. I’m glad here Peter sank right at the boat and Jesus grabbed him. The disciples’ faith became stronger, God was glorified and they worshiped Jesus as the Son of God.

 

The second is Luke 22:31-32,  ^“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”  Clearly here, Peter and the disciples seem to have failed.  But again, how this was used to strengthen their faith and bring glory to God. Jesus was praying for their faith just like He has prayed for all our faith and intercedes for us. How important their faith was and Jesus said when you repent and return to me, strengthen your brothers.

 

 I really desire for God to strengthen my faith to glorify Him and strengthen others. 1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

I am always thankful for all the people in the bible and their experiences. I was and still am in awe of what God done through people at times that went way beyond mans way or understanding, God does supernatural things. Moses seen God’s glory and presence and more supernatural works of God then any other man in the bible. As I grow and try to become more faithful I hope I don’t lose any of the hunger for a child like genuine faith in God. Galatians is a good book they seem to have tried to work for everything from God. Paul called them foolish Galatians 3:1-9 and he reminded them by faith. Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him,for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”   

 

Faith in God - Caleb

The next person in the bible I want to write about is Caleb. Caleb means dog, wholehearted, faith, faithful, or devoted.

I use to go hunting with my dad. My dad use to train dogs and was well known for his training. The dogs were very loyal and faithful to their master. They would stay on a trail even if it meant to the death. Something is telling me that Caleb had this same heart and loyalty to his master.

When I was led to write on faith at the time I had no plans to write on Caleb. As God led me to this it is always amazing what God speaks to my heart. I can only write what I’m given everyone may view differently.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Substance - that which stands under, firm foundation, real or actual existence. Nature of a person, steadfast, courage or assurance.

 

Evidence - proof, prove, tested, or conviction. Evidence is not on human feelings. Evidence is a conviction in a persons heart that what God is going to do exists. It is a condition in the human heart that is real to God.

 

Faith is not in natural human faith. Faith in God is supernatural. A person can have faith in what God and His Word says and is going to do. God is sovereign, faithful, and true. God is going to accomplish His plans and will regardless whether we are able to see it or have complete understanding. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

 

Caleb is first mentioned in Numbers 13:6. God led His people to the promise land after He freed them from Egypt. A land He had prepared for them and was giving to them. God commanded Moses to send a leader from each of the 12 tribes to scout out the land. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah the son of Jephunneh. The 12 scouted the land for 40 days and this is what the Word says Numbers 13:23 & 27-29 "Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.  Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”  The people who were occupying their land the promise land God gave them were giants. A very large race of people, trained warriors. It says that Caleb was the one to speak of the 12 to take the land at once. 10 of the scouts convinced the people not to go and caused fear in all the people because of the giants they would face. It says Joshua the future leader of Israel and Caleb tore their clothes in great distress and sorrow and tried to get the people to act upon God’s promises. The whole community wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. The Lord was very disappointed in the lack of faith in all the people. He killed the 10 scouts that led the people to have fear. They had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and only Joshua and Caleb could enter the promise land with a new generation.

 

Being apart of this must have been a very difficult situation for everyone. The land and life they could have had but was never able to enter. Spending the rest of their life knowing they could have had this land. The frustration of Joshua and Caleb believing and trying to get the people, I think around 2 million to respond.

 

The big thing I learn while writing this is what took place between Caleb’s heart and God. Caleb’s faith in God and the conviction in his heart regardless of the circumstances and outcome. Way more important then what people see and what they think or circumstances or outcome it is always about God and our heart and intimacy and relationship with Him. God always looks at the heart of man.

 

 

God said this of Caleb in Numbers 14:24 "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."

 

Later when they were allowed to enter the promise land they divided the land among the people and Caleb was given his portion of land he requested that was promised to him 40 years earlier. Joshua 14:6-12 “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.   I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.  Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.  So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’  And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.  As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.  Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

 

To me Caleb is a very unusual person or story. The faith he had in God and his heart. It said he was just as strong in the Lord at age 85 after 40 years in the wilderness then when he scouted the promise land. I think he could have become bitter in his heart and weak in his faith during the 40 years in the wilderness. I think because of his faith in the Lord and his conviction in his heart the Lord stayed strong inside him to help him finish strong.

Romans 5:1-5 Faith Triumphs in Trouble. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

 

I don’t think I have meet anyone quite like Caleb. But while I was writing this I know that I have seen this type of faith, heart and spirit that has came out in many people around me at different times.