Numbers 14:24 (NKJV) 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.
God took notice of Caleb because Caleb was different. Caleb possessed the Promised Land when he followed God wholeheartedly and had the spirit of faith necessary to take the promise of God “by force”. We should be like Caleb and take hold of what belongs to us in the abundant life with the spirit of faith that comes with following God wholeheartedly. When we have the spirit of faith, we are someone who knows God. Because we know God’s plan and promises, we are convinced that all that He has for us is good.
Besides Joshua (who later was called to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land), what set Caleb apart from the rest of the ten spies was his faith in God. Caleb and Joshua differed from the ten spies and the one million people who murmured, complained, and desired to return to Egypt. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Therefore, if we believe in the Word of God, we will speak out of our convictions. Both Caleb and Joshua spoke out about their faith in God. Because they believed, they spoke out of their conviction although it seemed stupid in the eyes of the rest of the people.
Faith doesn’t look at our abilities but has its foundation in the ability of God to act and to fulfil His promise. Everything that God has promised us or called us to do has to be done in faith because it is often beyond human abilities or impossible in the natural. This way, God gets the glory and it keeps us humble and reliant on Him.
Faith is built on a personal promise established in the Word. We must not be presumptuous that we have God’s blessing when we step out to do something without having consulted Him or sought a Word from him. In Joshua and Caleb’s case, their faith was built on God’s promise that He would bring them to the Promised Land and instruct them to possess it.
Numbers 13:30 (NKJV) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Caleb spoke out in faith. His confidence was founded on God’s promise to give them the land that was flowing with milk and honey. They brought back grapes which needed two spies to carry. This was evidence that it was a good land, but there were obstacles in the form of giants. What helped them to overcome this was their faith in God. Similarly, we need the spirit of faith to walk out the newness of life so we can take hold of the abundant life in Christ.
Sermon Series: Having a Different Spirit
迦勒有着与众不同的灵
民数记14:24 惟独我的仆人迦勒，因他另有一个心志，专一跟从我，我就把他领进他所去过的那地；他的后裔也必得那地为业。
神注意到迦勒，因为迦勒与众不同。当迦勒全心全意地追随上帝，拥有 “强行 “夺取神应许所需的信心的灵时，他就拥有了应许之地。我们应该像迦勒一样，用全心全意的信心跟随神，抓住丰盛生命中属于我们的东西。当我们拥有如此的心志时，就是认识神的人。我们知道神的计划和应许，因此我们深信祂给我们的一切都是美好的。
除了约书亚—他后来被呼召带领以色列人进入应许之地，将迦勒与其余十个探子区别开来的是他对神的信心。实际上，迦勒和约书亚与其余十个探子以及一百万众人不同，这些人不是牢骚就是抱怨，甚至巴不得返回埃及。心里所充满的，口里就说出来。因此，如果我们相信神的话，就会根据自己的信心说话。迦勒和约书亚都公开表达了他们对神的信心。他们相信，因此他们根据自己的信心说话，尽管在其他人眼中这看起来是愚蠢的。
信心看的不是我们的能力，而是基于神行动的能力和祂兑现应许的能力。神应许我们的每一件事或呼召我们去做的每一件事情必须由我们凭借信心来完成，有时它往往超出了人类的能力，或者在自然界是不可能的。当事情不可能发生但凭信心行动时，神得到荣耀。这让我们保持谦卑，并持续依赖他。
信心是建立在圣经中所构建的个人应许之上的。当我们在没有咨询神或寻求神的话语之前就开始做某事时，我们绝不能自以为是地认为自己得到了神的祝福。就约书亚和迦勒而言，他们的信心建立在神的应许之上，即神会把他们带到应许之地，并引导他们去占领它。
民数记13:30 迦勒在摩西面前安抚百姓，说：“我们立刻上去得那地吧！我们足能得胜。”
迦勒凭着信心发言。他的信心来自于神承诺给他们流着牛奶和蜂蜜的土地。他们带回的葡萄甚至需要两个探子抬着才能搬动。他们有了承诺和证据，证明那是一片美好的土地，但那地的巨人无疑是个障碍。帮助他们克服困难的是他们对神的信心。同样，我们需要信心的灵活出新生命，这样我们才能把握住基督里的丰盛生命。
讲章系列：有一个与众不同的灵
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