Caleb is one of the great men of the Bible. He and Joshua were two of the spies sent out to report on the land that God had led the Israelites to as they came out of Egypt. They chose to believe what God said about them as a people, rather than looking at the the circumstances, fears and the “giants in the land” before them.
Amazingly for 40 years Caleb believed in faith on “one word” from God. He believed that he would inherit the promise of land for his family, and for 40 years as all his friends died around him he continued to stand in faith and patience believing God would do what He had promised in his life.
At 80 years old, after forty long years wandering the desert Caleb finally went up and took what he had been promised. You can read Caleb’s story in the bible (see Numbers 14:24, 30, Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:6). It’s worth the read.
Caleb’s life is an example of faith and patience working together. Faith to trust and believe what God has spoken and patience to keep standing and believing while you wait.
Almost everywhere you see faith mentioned in the Bible you also find patience. They could be called the POWER TWINS.
Patience by itself, without faith has no power to call into reality the thing desired. Faith is the substance of things we hope for.“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) On the other hand, faith without patience at work in us will many times fail to stand firm and will allow sensory knowledge; “the things we see” to overwhelm our Faith and cause us to give up.
Faith is a powerful force. It is important however to understand that it is often not that our faith is weak and needs strength, but that we need the power of patience at work, otherwise we ourselves can stop the force of faith from working because of our negative speech and actions. Put simply we get impatient – and our emotions instead of our spirits start to dictate our actions, speech and believing.
Romans 10:8 says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach)
The question is “When you feel pressured, what is it that you speak?” For out of the mouth the heart speaks.
When our natural eyes can see only defeat and failure, that is when our faith must speak and that is when patience must kick in to undergird us to keep standing while we wait for things to happen.
When trials and tribulations comes. (The Greek word translated for tribulations is Pressure)…When pressure comes we must go back to the faith we received from hearing and understanding God’s word and choose to stand on that word and stir up patience to undergird us and to cause us to persevere.
Pressure will try and shake us loose of God’s Word and the hope it gives. Satan loves to do everything he can to stir up things around us. He’ll try to get us into fear, and he’ll push all of “our buttons” and attempt to get us to let go of what we are believing for. However patience encourages us to stand. To NOT let go! Patience says, “keep your eyes on what God has promised until it comes to pass”.
Today determine to not let go of what you are believing for. Base your faith in God’s word. Think on and speak His promises and know that He is faithful. For “through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.” (Hebrews 6:12)
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Prayer: Lord by faith and patience I inherit your promises. I’m choosing to remain constant and consistent as I believe your promises more than my circumstances. I ask you continue to give me strength and patience to stand. In Jesus Name Amen.
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