I have a question for you. What are you believing God for in 2019? Great things? Greater things?
Jesus made us an incredible promise in John 14:12. He said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Wow! That's an incredible promise.
Just a few verses later (v15 and following), Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit. His coming would transform and empower His followers, including us 2,000 years later. Because of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can do great, and even greater, things. Amazing!
What "greater things" are you believing God for in 2019? For yourself? Your family? Your job? Your ministry? Don't be satisfied with where you are spiritually. Step up in faith and step out into the miracle the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through your life.
One person who is an inspiration to me for believing greater things is Caleb. His story is found in Number 13 and Joshua 14.
What can we learn about faith and believing God for Greater Things from Caleb?
1. Caleb trusted God when Everyone and Everything Else said, “It is Impossible!”
You might remember he was one of the 12 men sent by Moses to spy out the Promised Land and give a report. Ten of the spies said, "It can't be done!" Yes, the land was everything God promised it would be and more, but it was well fortified. The people living there were fierce and well armed. Worse, there were giants. The ten spies concluded their report with this reference to the giants (Numbers 13:33): "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
Caleb, however, had a different attitude (Numbers 13:30): "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
His question to the doubters and nay-sayers would be, "Who is bigger? Them or our God? Can God do it? Or can’t He? Is He strong enough? Is He powerful enough?"
Can you imagine God responding to your problem this way, "Ooops! I'm sorry! You're right. Your problem is too big for Me. The mountain you are facing is too big for Me!"
Not going to happen! In fact, God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
As a result of Caleb's faith, God gave him a powerful promise in 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."
2. Caleb went after the Biggest Challenge when it would have been tempting to just Coast.
Caleb refused to let Age keep him from his Inheritance.
Because of their faith in God, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived through the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The ten spies were fearful they and their children would be killed by the fierce warriors and giants living in the Promised Land. God's judgment on them was that they would die and only their children would live to see it.
At the end of the 40 years of wandering, Caleb is 85 years old (Joshua 14:10). He is not only the oldest man in Israel, he is twice the age of every one else (except for Joshua).
When time came to divide up the land, Caleb is there, waiting for his inheritance (Joshua 14:6-15).
One pastor, Alton Garrison, described it this way. Joshua probably said to him: "Take it easy, Caleb. You’re 20 years past retirement. Build yourself a little cabin with a little garden and enjoy your golden years. You've earned it! Let the young warriors finish conquering the land!"
That wasn't Caleb's attitude! He was All In! He was not going to sit back and relax. He was determined to trust God.
Caleb refused to let old age keep him from God's promise. And don't let youth keep you from what God has for you either (1 Timothy 4:12).
Caleb refused to let Fear and Adversity keep him from his Inheritance.
40 years before, fear of the enemy and especially giants, kept Israel from going in to possess the Promised Land. That wasn't the case for Caleb. His attitude was: "God helped me before and He will help me now!"
Caleb was not only ready to go in and take possession of the land, he was ready to go for the Biggest Challenge. He said, "Give me this mountain!"
Why did he want the mountain? Was it because of the spectacular view for his retirement home?
No! He was holding on to a promise from God. He was declaring, "This land is mine. God promised it to me and I’m going to possess it! It does not matter who or what stands in the way. If God promised it to me, I'm going to have it!"
So Caleb goes after, not only the giants, but the biggest and baddest of them all (Joshua 14:13-15). He was saying, "It does not matter how big the giants are because the bigger they are, the harder they fall!"
You have an enemy that wants to keep you from what God has promised you. Are you going to let him do that? Or are you going to stand on the promises God has given you and keep believing for Greater Things?
Here are some truths to remember.
1. Don’t let Fear limit what you can accomplish.
Satan wants to ruin you. If he can't shipwreck your faith, he at least wants to limit you as a Christian. How does he do that? Through fear. Don’t let him do that to you!
2. Don’t stay Safe in your Comfort Zone.
We protect ourselves from fear by staying safe and comfortable in our comfort zone. We wrap our warm blanket of security around us and everything is Good!
What's the problem? When you are wrapped up nice and snug in your comfort zone, you are also stuck there. Your place of comfort becomes your place of confinement.
Let me tell you something that might surprise you: The Holy Spirit is not interested in your comfort! He wants you to Step Away from what is comfortable, Step Up in Faith and Step Out in a Miracle.
3. Don’t let your Circumstances determine your Future.
It is tempting to judge Life based solely upon what we see in the world all around us, but miraculous things are happening right now in the spiritual world. We can’t see them but they are very real and happening none the less. Faith says "I won’t make decisions based just on what I see but also based on what the Lord tells me in His word. I will trust what He says and will obey Him!"
4. Get a Bigger Picture of Who God is.
When you get a bigger glimpse of Who God is, it builds your faith. You are reminded that He is bigger than any problem or adversity and He will give you the victory. How do you get a Bigger Picture of Who God is? Through Worship and Praise. Begin to declare the majesty and authority of God. Begin to sing of His wonder and power. As your faith grows, the mountains you are facing begin to shrink and you are ready to believe for Greater Things!
What kind of giants are you facing? Confusion? Fear? Health problems? Lack of Finances? Salvation of loved ones? Are you ready to Step Up in Faith and Step Out in a Miracle?
It has been said that we have 3 options in life.
1. We can live in Fear. And many do. Resist it.
2. We can live in Comfort. This one is very tempting but it will definitely limit and hold you back.
3. We can live in Trust. It is risky and even crazy, but it is an adventure with God you will not regret.
Go forth and conquer. Believe for Greater Things!