Number 14:24
“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”
There are people in life who make a difference in their world, and one of the reasons they make a difference is because of their spirit. Their spirit is not like the average that is controlled by outside circumstances, but they have another spirit that is vibrant and inspiring to those whom they are around. You can’t miss these people. When they walk in the room there is something different about them. Their spirit causes the spirit of the room to lighten up. Their spirit brightens the day of those whom they encounter. This world is in need of people with another spirit.
Caleb was one of those who had another spirit. It says that the difference between Caleb and the ten spies who brought back an evil report of the Promised Land is that he had another spirit. They had a defeatist spirit. They had a negative spirit. They had a spirit of discouragement. Caleb was not like them. He had another spirit that truly changed his world and those around him. Let me show you four things about Caleb that gave him another spirit.
First, he had a spirit of complete obedience. It says in the verse above, “…and hath followed me fully…” When Moses sent the spies into the land, they were to bring back a good report to the people. The ten spies brought back an evil report, but Caleb fully obeyed God and told the people what God wanted them to hear. Those who have a spirit of obedience truly change their surroundings. Their spirit is not divisive or rebellious which brings a tense spirit, but they have an obedient spirit that helps to unify those around them.
Second, Caleb had a spirit with a positive outlook. It’s amazing how Caleb saw the same things that the ten spies who brought back an evil report saw; instead, he saw the good of the land. He saw the good because he had a positive spirit. If you are going to have a positive spirit, then you are going to have to train yourself to see the positive. Those with a negative spirit can certainly grieve the spirit of many. People love being around someone who sees the positive. If you want to change your surroundings, then you need to have a positive spirit.
Third, Caleb had a spirit that would not quit. When you study his life, you will see that when he was an older man he still had a desire to conquer a mountain. One of the things that inspires people is seeing people who won’t quit in spite of difficulties and adverse circumstance. When a person who won’t quit has a positive spirit, it is contagious and inspiring to others. You will never motivate others to do right if you quit. You have to keep on going when others quit.
Fourth, Caleb had a spirit with a great vision. He looked at a mountain he wanted and said, “…give me this mountain.” (Joshua 14:12) What a vision! If you truly want to change your world around you, then you are going to have to have a spirit that has a great vision. People who have a great vision and pursue it always encourage others around them to do more.
Friend, do you have another spirit, or do you have a spirit like everyone else? The only thing that is going to change your world is for you to get another spirit. You will see a difference in your world if you will emulate these four things that caused Caleb to have another spirit. When these four things are in your life, you will see people around you will be inspired and encouraged to do great things for God.