There are several things that separated Caleb from the millions of people that died in the wilderness.  For those who plan on surviving and thriving during the times of wilderness in their own lives, let’s gain some wisdom from Caleb as this series continues:

(Here is Part 1 -Through The Wilderness and

Part 2 – The Word of Promise in case you missed them.)

Caleb continually spoke and declared the word to Joshua, his tribe and probably others. 

As they entered the Promised Land and began to drive out the inhabitants, the tribe of Judah comes with Caleb to ask for his inheritance. Caleb’s confidence in the word had caused him to make it known continually to his people.  This has turned their hearts from wanting to stone him and Joshua in Numbers 14 to partnering with the promise.

Joshua 14:6 “Then the [tribe of the] sons of Judah approached 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 me and you in Kadesh-barnea…”

This was a new generation of people that, I believe, had continually heard the word and promise declared by Caleb and Joshua.  They had seen the fruit of complaining and disobedience while in the wilderness and no longer wanted to be a part of it.  These two, that had partnered with the promise, had not just survived in the wilderness, but had thrived to become the leaders of the next generation.  They were not perfect, but they had the word of God to trust in, were continually declaring it out, and that is what made them different from all those who died in the desert.

This might seem like a simple concept for us to focus on, but this is a key of The Kingdom.  You can read and study the Bible and all the promises of God contained within it, but end up with nothing more than a nice religious theology if you never come to know The Word.  There is a reason that The Word was manifest in human flesh.  He desired a relationship with you, His child.  If He had wanted you to only know about Him and worship Him as an unknowable distant God, He never would have taken on humanity and humbly submitted Himself to the pain and darkness of this world.  Jesus desires a personal relationship with you that you would truly come to know Him. 

The Word desires you to know Him and be known by Him.  When you know Him and the love He has for you, you will be changed and become able to know and love Him with a more pure love than you ever could have on your own.  Knowing Him and His love makes you able to truly love in a deeper way.  This new love will be constantly growing and maturing as you are loved by Him.

An interesting thing happens when you love someone or something, you begin to talk about it.  It is not hard to figure out what people really care about, just listen to what they talk about all the time.  Parents will talk incessantly about their children almost to the point of annoyance until you see that this reveals the great love they have.

What do you find yourself talking about frequently?

Some people are always talking about their job, family, favorite sports, entertainment, food… and this reveals what is in their heart.  Jesus gives us some added wisdom on this matter:

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

What comes out of your mouth is an overflow of what is in your heart.  As evidenced in Caleb, the faith in the promises of God, His word and His character was in his heart.  Apparently, it was what was continually bubbling up out of him for the 45 years that he was in the desert.  You can see clearly that the heart of Israel at this time was for selfish pleasure, ease, and comfort.  They wanted whatever their heart desired, and this is what kept them from walking into the promised land.  They were perpetually gazing longingly at the land of bondage where they were satiated with tasty trifles, and speaking of returning into slavery for a few juicy morsels.  They valued the sensual desires of the flesh over the spiritual blessings of God, and that is why they ended up dying in the wilderness.

What about you? 

What comes out of your mouth? 

What do you value?

How can you change what is in your heart?

You can see how the words that naturally come from the mouth indicate where the heart is focused and what it desires.  Jesus, The Living Word is the only One that can change the heart.  God spoke to Jeremiah that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (17:9).  Only He can give you a new heart and new desires that line up with The Kingdom.  No one really wants to walk in pain, defeat and death, but the life that only God can give. So the real question is:

How does this take place?

Romans 10:8-10 …“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

There is a divine link between the heart and the mouth. For salvation, healing, and deliverance to take place, the heart and mouth must come into line with The Word.  A change in the heart should change what is coming out of the mouth. Conversely, what comes out of the mouth can change what is in the heart.  The key is Jesus, The Living Word.  When He is welcomed into your heart and given free reign, what you say and how you say it will be changed because The Spirit of God dwells in you.  As a result of a change in your heart and in your words, your life will be transformed!

If you desire a change in your heart and mouth that you may be strengthened to live and thrive in the wilderness and be fortified to take the territory of the enemy for the Kingdom of God, join me in seeking Jesus The Living Word!

Jesus, I need You! Without You I am nothing and can only walk in my own fleshly sensual desires.  I desire to walk in the promises and receive the blessings that only You can give.  Come and change my heart and way of thinking and make it truly Yours!  Holy Spirit, have free reign in my life and strengthen me to speak out the promises of Heaven that I may be continually positioning myself in line with You! May my heart love You, my thoughts glorify You, my words honor You, and my actions lead me to walk with You into all the promises and great destiny You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name!

The Series continues in Part 4 – Walking in the Way!

Jeremiah, Man on Fire!!!