“A Caleb Spirit”
“Nothing but the DOG in me”
By
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Numbers 13:25-33, 14:21-24 “And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this [is] the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, [is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. 14:21-24 But [as] truly [as] I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 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”.
FOCUS TEXT:- Numbers 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”.
Let me explain a little on my subtopic. Now back in the day that my sons call old school there was a man by the name of George Clinton that had a group called Parliament and in the early 80’s they had a song called “Atomic Dog”. One of the lines of that song said “Why must I be like that why must I chase the cat - nothing but the dog in me”. So I would use if I may as a subtopic “Nothing but the dog in me”. Now someone might say this preacher has lost his mind but pat yourself on the chest and say to yourself stay right here for a moment I promise you will understand it better by and by.
The Bible says in 2nd Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way”. What is the mystery of iniquity – it simply means that mere people think they can set aside the law of God and live by the law of Do what thou wilt. They say stuff like I’m grown, I’m 3x7 plus, My momma done raised me. It’s my life and I can do what I want with it. I know you have heard them all before.
For those of you that are aware of Alester Crowley know that he basically is the father of modern day Satanism, he referred to himself as the great beast. He was in revolt against the moral and religious values of his time. Because of this, he gained widespread notoriety during his lifetime as "the wickedest man in the world." Although he died in 1947 he has remained an influential figure and is widely thought of as the most influential occultist of all time. References to him can be found in the works of numerous writers, musicians and filmmakers. The music and film industry is highly influenced by his way of thinking and is often mocking God and living the philosophy of Do what thou wilt. They literally push the envelope of morality and decency trying to see just how far they can go living by the philosophy of do what thou wilt.
Sadly our society embraces everything abominable that come its way and pushes God and everything Holy out of the picture. Laws are passed that call wrong right and right wrong, gay marriages are being legalized and called unconstitutional to say otherwise, regardless if the Bible says it is an abomination. Every abdominal thing is allowed to come across the television, but when someone mentions the name of Jesus they are censored and taken off the air because it is offensive to some people these are surely perilous times. We have performances on Television that literally make a mockery of church and everything Holy. For example musical performers that come out dressed in choir robes and ministerial garb, sing satanic perverted songs and act like they are praising God in front of millions of people making a mockery of everything Holy. Unfortunately some churches have embraced this mind-set and have hip hop parties and dance to let me see your tootsie roll and doing the Dougie in the church talking about they are trying to reach the young generation. We who are saved, sanctified, and on our way to Heaven look at it and laugh being deceived unaware that the spirit behind that performance is satanic, demonic, and perverted.
The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. BABY;- you can’t plant tomatoes and expect to get oranges, if you plant tomatoes you reap tomatoes. You plant sin you get sin.
WATCH THIS:- Back in February millions of people watched Super Bowl 46, the half-time show featured Madonna along with Cee Lo Green, and Nikki Minaj, who gave the nation the finger during her performance, yet people said it to be very entertaining; however, listen to the words of Madonna that she said on a television interview prior to the super-bowl.
Madonna on Anderson Cooper:- “The Super bowl is kind of like the Holy of Holies in America. I’ll come at halfway of the “church experience” and I’m gonna have to deliver a sermon. It’ll have to be very impactful.” She ended her performance dressed in robes all her backup singers had robes on like a big church choir and they acted like they were having a church service
I don’t know about anyone else but as for me for Madonna to refer to the Super bowl as the “Holy of Holies” and a “Church experience portrays a disrespectful and utterly demonic mind-set and shows just how people view church and God in general. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred place in the Tabernacle and Temple, it was the place where God dwelt and communed with mankind. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifice to God for the sins of the people.
When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross the veil of the Temple, which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place was torn from top to bottom allowing access to all because Jesus our High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin made a way for us to have direct access to the throne of God so Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Therefore because of what Christ has done for us how can we stand silent and accept the mockery of Madonna comparing herself to Jesus our High Priest, minimizing and mocking something so sacred. Madonna’s performance was demonically inspired and portrayed many symbolisms of idol worship which goes totally against the very commandment of God, yet she called it a church experience. Millions upon millions of people watched the Super Bowl and saw that performance and no doubt didn’t even realize that the adversary was making fun of the church.
The very next week was the Grammy’s and Nikki Minaj gave a satanic performance that mocked God, the Power of the Holy Ghost and she even acted like she was speaking in tongues. She mocked the altar having people acting like they were praying and had lost to the demon called Roman passed out on the altar in defeat. They even had the audacity to sing “Oh come all ye faithful” and be subjected to the demonic spirit that has possessed her called Roman. People of God the Bible says in Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”.
Everything you find in the world you now find in the church because people are compromising truth for numbers. You can be a homosexaul just come and play the organ. You can live in sin shacked up together just continue to pay your tithes and you’ll be alright. Come on over here get up in the pulpit and let everyone see your tootsie roll and teach us how to do the dougie, I’ll preach only messages that tell you how to get rich or die trying. There is no difference from the world and the church. The church looks so much like the world and the world looks so much like the church.
It is no wonder why so many people feel church is of none effect or relevant in today’s existence. Church has been minimized to just an emotional experience never realizing the true spiritual-life changing experience it offers. People have the misconception that church is just to make you feel good and if it doesn’t make you feel good all the time then that’s not for me.
WATCH THIS:- a shot of penicillin doesn’t feel good, but the long term effects are great.
There needs to be a difference. The church will never win the world trying to be like the world that is a lie breathed in the pits of Hell. I believe we will never change people until the church first gets back to Jesus.
LET ME GET INTO MY TEXT:- In Numbers 14:24 this is the NKJV, God said this about Caleb: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it".
The word "different" comes from the root word which means to loiter, or to be behind, which tells us that Caleb was totally devoted to God and followed Him with all his heart. He would not compromise what he knew to be true no matter what others said and no matter how unpopular it was. Caleb was sold out to God.
It is going to take different spirit to stand up and fight against the spiritual wickedness that is running rampant in our society today.
NOTHING BUT THE DOG IN ME - A CALEB SPIRIT
WHO IS CALEB:- The name Caleb:- Caleb means "faithful, devotion, and whole hearted". Caleb was of the tribe of Judah the son of Jephunneh, he was a leader and one of the twelve spies that were sent to search out the promise land, Caleb of the tribe of Judah and Joshua of the tribe of Ephraim gave a positive report to Moses and the Children of Israel. Caleb is noted for his astute powers of observation and fearlessness in the face of overwhelming odds; and his devotion to God.
WATCH THIS:- in some traditions he is symbolized by the "dog". The Dog is a symbol for companion and guardian, a symbol of loyalty, faithfulness, honesty and willingness to fight injustice, now you kind of understand “NOTHING BUT THE DOG IN ME ”!!!!!.
CALEB’S CHARACTER portrayed a right attitude toward God. He understood that your attitude determines yours altitude.
HIS COURAGE caused him to take a stand with God when the crowd was more than willing to oppose God’s Will.
HIS FAITH caused him to try to motivate the people to go up and possess the land which God had promised.
HIS VISION caused him to look pass all the obstacles and hindrances that were before them regardless of how big and how powerful they may have seemed because he knew that God is bigger than any obstacle that stands in our way.
HIS DEDICATION caused him to stand for and believe in the promise of God even when the entire nation of Israel wanted to stone him.
HIS NON-CONFORMITY caused him to be different (have another spirit) than everyone else around him.
HIS PASSION caused him to trust God whole heartedly.
HIS PERSPECTIVE caused him to see things differently.
HIS POSITION caused him to believe that God would give them the victory.
HIS TALK was different for he spoke life and not death, victory and defeat
He had another spirit within – nothing but the dog in me.
HISTORY:- When God delivered the Israelites from captivity in Egypt, they were to make their home in the Promised Land - the land that flowed with "milk and honey". This was to fulfill God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 some 400 years earlier. Now we should all know the story, the Children of Israel were delivered out of the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt following the 10 plagues that befell Egypt, Pharaoh let the people go, but he soon followed them. The Children of Israel came to the Red Sea, with Pharaoh and his army hot on their trail God delivered the Children of Israel by parting the Red Sea and the Children of Israel walked across on dry ground, when Pharaoh and his army tried to follow after them God closed the sea back up and they all drowned in the Red Sea. Well when the Israelites arrived at the border of the Promised Land, about 1 month after they left Egypt, God told Moses to send out men, twelve spies that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel.
WATCH THIS:- It is amazing how God will bring you right to the promise, let you see what He has promised you, then will watch and see how you will react to what He has promised before He allows you to walk into that which He has promised.
WATCH THIS:- Upon their return to the Israelite camp and Moses, the twelve reported how bountiful the land was, but also reported that the land was filled with fortified cities and fierce warriors, even warriors from a race of giants.
Manytimes God will show us the promise but we defeat ourselves with what we allow to come out of our mouths. The Bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue, somanytimes we speak negative into our lives and delay or even destroy the promises God has for us all because we don’t know how to shut our mouths.
Ten of the spies said that the Israelites shouldn't enter the Promised Land because of the opposition that they would encounter. Have you ever had someone or some people tell you that something was impossible, that you didn’t have the education or skills to do that, they said the obstacles are too great, the money was not available, and there is no way possible that will ever happen even after God has already promised it. That’s what ten of these men that were sent to search out the land did, they had a negative report.
However, the two other spies, Joshua and Caleb, disagreed with the ten and stood firm on God's promise that He would give them the land. Caleb said Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Caleb was willing, ready, and standing on the promise of God.
But the Israelites agreed with the other ten spies and were violently opposed to Joshua and Caleb, so much so that they wanted to stone them.
It amazes me how you can hear God’s Word, understand what He has said, believe in His promise, then go before the so-called chosen of God and they will turn against you disobey what God has said and even look to kill you. However, Joshua and Caleb would not bend to the popular opinion of the people.
It’s a crazy experience to be a visionary. A visionary that God uses sees things differently than everyone else. Visionaries simply see what does not yet exist but will some-day come to fruition. A visionary, is one who can see the promise of the future, look pass all the obstacles and hindrances and be distinctive and specific with clarity and assurity that what they see will come to pass.
When everyone else says you should close the doors of the church because the numbers are down. When everyone else said you are crazy. When everyone else said if it had been me I would have been gone. Well that’s why it’s not you because you would have been gone, but I am a visionary and I have a Caleb spirit and although there may be some obstacles in the way I can say like Caleb said Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. I don’t know about you, but it’s nothing but the dog in me! A Caleb spirit!
I know what God has promised me, I saw the promise and I trust God that it will come to pass because “God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19”.
People look and see the numbers are down, the finances aren’t all that good, there seems to be no way that it can be done and with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
WATCH THIS:- A visionary understands how to separate fact from truth. FACT:-Sure the people may have slimmed down – TRUTH GOD PROMISED IT. FACT:- the finances aren’t enough to make it as it is right now – TRUTH GOD SIAD THE SILVER AND THE GOLD IS MINE, see a visionary doesn’t see like everyone else sees. A visionary sees the promise fulfilled. A visionary sees the choir stand filled and the musicians on all the instruments. A visionary sees the new sanctuary and it being filled with souls that are hurting and hungry for the Word of God.
Caleb knew what God had promised and he knew that God was faithful to His word. He remembered where God had brought them from. He remembered the Red Sea being parted and all the Children of Israel walking across on dry ground. He remembered all the miracles that were done in Egypt from the water turning to blood to the first born of the Egyptians dying and all the Children of Israel were protected because they were covered by the blood.
CALEB’S CHARACTER was right toward God. He understood that your attitude determines yours altitude. I can’t understand how some people can have such a negative attitude and expect their altitude in God to be so great. It’s your attitude that determines your altitude.
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE? Government passes laws that say same sex marriage is legal and unconstitutional to say otherwise. If a preacher refuses to marry a same sex couple that violates their civil rights and you can be brought up of federal charges and even imprisoned, but the Bible says Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”. It didn’t say he shall cleave to another man and they shall become one flesh so I am going to stand with a right attitude in God and say like God said in Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them”. Because I have a right attitude and I rather believe God and live than believe a lie and be damned
I have courage to take a stand with God when the crowd is more than willing to oppose God’s Will.
I have faith to go up and possess what God had promised.
I have a vision to look pass all the obstacles and hindrances that are before me regardless of how big and how powerful they may seemed I know God is bigger than any obstacle that stands in my way.
I have a Caleb spirit.
However, when you have a different spirit trouble and opposition is always close by. Sometimes when God has given you a vision and you understand the promise of that vision there are going to those of the church that will try to destroy that vision all because they don’t understand the vision. They will criticize you and speak all manner of things against, they will try to crucify your vision with useless words and say stuff that doesn’t make any kind of since at all. They will turn their backs upon you, run your name down and all the same time say they are on their way to heaven and so glad. Yet and still will not offer you a hand to try and help you reach what God has said in your life.
That’s why you can’t tell everyone your vision. The 12 spies told their vision to Moses and the entire nation of Israel and all they could hear was there were giants in the land and we are like grasshoppers in our own sight, but Caleb that had a different spirit said we are well able to posses so let us go up now. I like to believe Caleb was living Hebrews 11:1 long before it was ever written “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. But the people disobeyed God and didn’t have faith –
Full Assurance In Trusting Him.
WATCH THIS:- God was angry with the Israelites because of their disobedience and lack of faith and, as punishment for their rebellion against Him, He had them wander in the wilderness for forty years until all the adults who doubted Him died off.
The Bible says in Numbers 14:22-24 “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 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”.
Of that generation, only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Promised Land.
WATCH THIS:- God is looking for a people today who have a "Caleb spirit"! Those who will stand for the Lord and not fold to popular opinion. Those who refuse to be politically correct by compromising God's Holy standards.
Those who aren't concerned about man's approval or about being popular with others, but are only concerned with bringing glory to God and embracing Him.
Those with a "Caleb Spirit" have a firm grasp of the Word of God. Those with a Caleb spirit have an intimate relationship with God and not just religion.
Those with a Caleb spirit have a tenacious faith and an unshakable trust in Him. They are like a pit bull when a pit bull gets a hold of someone and gets its teeth into them it doesn’t let go. You can shake it, you can pull it and the pit bull still holds on.
That’s how we need to be we need to have that tenacity of a pit bull and get a hold of what God has said and refuse to let go.
As we look at our current culture, we need followers of Jesus who have a "Caleb Spirit' now more than ever. We are sliding into the abyss of immorality at the speed of light. Biblical Christianity is mocked blatantly over our television sets.
Holiness is being ousted from the fabric of society.
Churches have compromised the standard of holiness, solid theology, and, discipleship for what is easy, expedient, and popular.
And the results are evident - a world in confusion, chaos, and turmoil.
The Bible says in Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually”.
These are truly perilous times, but we are well able to posses the land. God is looking for Caleb’s today.
Caleb's life challenges us all to be more concerned with God's glory and His approval than with our popularity and the world's approval. Caleb stood up to the popular opinion of the day and would not back down, even if it meant being stoned to death. Will you be like him, being fearless for the truth no matter what?
CLOSING:- Will you be a Caleb today? A voice that is strong, clear, and fearless for Jesus? Will you draw a line in the sand and make a covenant with God that you refuse to compromise the truth?
God is looking for a generation of people that is not trying to fit in and look - like everybody else.
He is looking for those that have another spirit.
He is looking for some to be loyal to Him.
He is looking for someone that will fight against anything that doesn’t belong there in the house of God.
He is looking for someone that is able to reach a generation that knows not God.
He’s looking for someone to say we are well able to possess the land.
God is looking for someone to have a pit bull attitude – once you get hold of the promise I can’t let it go. I got to hold on. I got my teeth in this.
Someone that will say if you don’t go I’ll go.
Someone that is hungry for more of God.
Someone that is willing to call wrong - wrong and stand for what is right and Holy.
Someone that has a different passion.
Someone that has a different perspective – you don’t see things like everyone else sees things.
Some that holds a different position.
Someone that has a different purpose.
Someone that wants to be pleasing unto God and not popular with man.
Do you have a different spirit within you?
Someone may say Elder Maughmer why must you be like that it’s nothing but the dog in me – that Caleb Spirit.
WATCH THIS:- in closing 10 of the 12 had a negative report, but Joshua and Caleb had a praise report. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah = Praise Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim which means double fruitful or double portion. WATCH THIS:- Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the original that came up out of Egypt to enter into the Promise Land. The promise belongs to those that praise God even in the midst of adversity.
It may look bleak right now, it may seem like there are some obstacles in your way, the giants may be in the land, everyone else may be saying it can’t be done, but before it is all over God is going to give me what He promised me; therefore I am going to praise Him WHY - because it’s nothing but the dog in me - I got a Caleb spirit.
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Apostolic glorious Church
