The “Can Do” Spirit

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

It is written: “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.” (Num. 14:24)

At Kadesh-barnea twelve men were sent into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. Upon their return, ten of the men had one spirit, and Joshua and Caleb had another spirit. The ten were filled with fear, doubt, and unbelief in God’s sovereignty over men. It was a rebellious spirit against God. It is said that Caleb “had another spirit with him.” The spirit that was with Caleb was one of belief and “can do.” He believed God and believed that nothing was impossible if it was ordered by God to be done. To go into the land and possess it was the command of God, and Joshua and Caleb believed God and that no obstacle was too big when God is the Commander-in-Chief. Their spirit was God commanded and we can do it!

Now, we know the rest of the story of the ten influencing the nation and how they began to murmur and complain against Moses and Aaron. The congregation of Israel grew in their unbelief and rebellion against God. They refused to believe God and refused to obey God. They rejected God’s sovereignty over every situation, which is the basis of unbelief. This resulted in the nation of Israel being banished from the Promised Land and were forced to wander in the wilderness until the unbelieving generation died off.

To some this may seem to be only a fable in Israel’s history and has nothing to do with our day and age. However, the fact of the matter is that it is absolutely relevant for all the ages including our generation. It is incumbent upon every child of the living God to believe in His sovereignty over men and to be obedient to His leadership and commands. We must believe that our God is fully able in all things. If God has put us to the task, then He is able to see us through to the victory or the completion of the task. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31) We serve a God that “can do” all things!

We must believe, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13) The ability to fulfill the will of God is not in the hands of the servant; rather the absolute ability is reliant on the utter sovereignty of the Master.. It is the spirit of “CAN DO”!!