Men And Women Of A Different Spirit: A Seven Day Devotional To Greater FaithPrøve

Where will your fear or faith lead others?

Only a spirit of real, radical, humble, courageous faith takes us to the places God has appointed for us. A spirit of fear and or disobedience will only keep us from getting there—every time. And if we don’t answer the call to pick up a different spirit while we still have the chance, we are not the only one who will be missing out what God could do through us.
 

Remember from day one that Joshua and Caleb saw their comrades come back with a report of fear and discouraged the entire camp? As a result, none of those men were given the privilege to make it into the land God had for them. And they were so close. But those men weren’t the only ones affected by their fear, everyone else who let fear take over weren’t allowed to enter either.
 

“After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.” (Numbers 32:9) 
 

Discouragement is a symptom of fear and affects others. Our choice today to be men and women of faith or to be men and women of fear will affect those around us and those who will come after us. I want to give you an example that blew my mind.
 

After Joshua and Caleb were set apart by God as men who were of a different spirit, fully following God with whole-hearted obedience, they were allowed to enter the Promised Land. Unlike the Israelites who chose fear over their faith, they were not cut off in the wilderness and lived to see their descendants enter the Promised Land. Earlier, in Numbers 13:6, we read that Caleb was a descendent of the tribe of Judah. 

Why is this important?! Because a few thousand years later, a baby is born. The One the whole world was waiting for. The One the Israelites prophesied about--the Messiah who would come and be the ultimate sacrifice once and for all. This Messiah would not only make a way for us to be with God in eternity, but also would send the Holy Spirit to walk with us every day, helping us live the life we were made for. Equipping us with courage to live with whole hearts, fully following Him wherever He calls us. And His heritage? His bloodline? The TRIBE OF JUDAH. Whoa.
 

That’s right. You may have heard Jesus Christ go by another name: the Lion of Judah. This is a reference to His heritage, the line of Israelites of whom Caleb played a key role. Because of His faithful obedience, He was able to not only live in the land that God had promised them, he also got to be part of a much bigger legacy—the legacy of JESUS.
 

Friend, here’s where things get really crazy: when we say yes to whatever God has for us, we too are accepting an invitation to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We are saying yes to being part of God’s story and the lasting effects of what He will do in and through us will go far beyond our wildest imaginations. We are not only here to make a difference we can see with our eyes now—we are here to sow deep roots into eternity that will bear fruit and bring glory to God in a way that makes all the fear and doubt and sorrow pale in comparison.
 

But we will never get there doing the same things we’ve always done, living the same half-hearted lives we’re prone to live. We get to choose this day who we will follow and how much. Then, if we get the chance tomorrow, we will have to make the choice all over again. Those people that God has entrusted to us—those around us and those who will come after us—will reap the benefits or the consequences of what we choose today. Joshua recalls the long-lasting effects of his choice to follow God fully in Joshua 14:8-9:
 

“…but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’
 

As for me—today I’m choosing to be a woman of a different spirit. I’m praying the same for the men and women in my family, and for every single one of you who have went on this journey with me! I'm so thankful.

 It’s time to get rid of fear, leave our excuses for disobedience behind, and walk with confidence into all that God has in store for us. It’s time to choose: are you ready to go all in?
 

Thank you so much for your willingness to partner in Bible study with me this week, I hope it has been encouraging and equipping to all that God is doing in your life. It's been a privilege to ask God to speak and move on your behalf. I'd love to hear how God has spoken to you over the course of these last few days in the Word together! You can connect with me on social media or through my website (www.rachelsweatt.com). 

Grace and peace, 
Rachel Sweatt 

NEXT STEPS: Help us share this message and invite others to experience God through this study! Use the graphic below to fill in your name and share to your social media! Then tag me @rachelsweatt on Instagram or Rachel Sweatt Ministries on Facebook so I can share the names of the men and women choosing a different spirit! It is such a joy to run this race with whole-hearted men and women all over the world!