We read in Numbers 13 and 14 a most disturbing story. It’s about “seeing.” Moses had sent twelve spies into the Promised Land and they all saw the same thing with their physical eyes. But with their spiritual eyes, they saw something completely different. Ten of the men saw land that “eats its inhabitants.” Those that weren’t eaten, were of great stature and those that weren’t of great stature were even bigger! They were giants! The ten men saw themselves as grasshoppers by comparison. Can you hear the exaggeration? Land that eats its inhabitants? Grasshoppers by comparison?

The children of Israel listened to the bad report and immediately they wanted to go back into slavery where Pharaoh hated them as did all Egyptians and where they were treated with great cruelty and they began to pick a new leader who would take them back and negotiate something with Egypt! Can you imagine?

But what did Joshua and Caleb see? When they looked at the giants, they saw bread! Provision! They say fields that were already planted, houses that were already built, barns that were already full. They were excited and knew that if God delighted in them, He would bring them into a land that flows with milk and honey. The only condition was to not rebel against the Lord. Apparently that was too much and they rebelled. What form was that rebellion? It was simply unbelief. God let them die in the wilderness, never entering into the promise He had for them.

So my question to you today is, what do you see? Are you seeing God’s perspective or the enemies’ vision? Are you going to believe God or your lying eyes? Yes, sometimes your eyes will deceive you. Here’s a clue… whenever you are faced with an adversity, wait on God until He shows you the opportunity. Then believe God and secure your opportunity. Have a blessed day my friends.

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power….” (Eph 1:18, 19)

You have two sets of eyes. Your physical eyes allow you to see the physical world but your spiritual eyes allow you to understand it. Paul calls them “eyes of understanding” and they allow you to “see” the great hope of His calling on your life. That is to say, they allow you to understand the mountain of hope that comes with the great calling He has for you. Think of the hope you would feel if a team from the NBA or NFL came to your high school and said they wanted you to play for them when you graduate. Or perhaps the New York Philharmonic Orchestra or a major book publisher approached you to tap your talent. Imagine the great hope that comes to a young person in a situation like that! The calling God has for each one of us is like that, but even better.

Spiritual eyes allow you to see the hope that your calling brings. But with calling comes the question, “How?” When you see the fullness of what God has called you to, you will definitely wonder how getting that done will be possible. If you don’t have that question, you may still be looking at your own idea for your calling. So Paul prays secondly, that we would see not only the hope of that great calling on our lives but also the provision to bring it to pass. I am speaking of the glorious wealth of inheritance He deposited in us to get the job done. God has deposited His Spirit in you and with that everything you need for life and godliness. He has uniquely gifted you to fulfill a magnificent destiny if you would but have eyes to see not only the destiny but also the inheritance within to get the job done.

Thirdly, Paul knows I suspect, that people will struggle to accept that there is any good thing in them, but he speaks not of the flesh in which dwells no good thing, but of the spirit. So Paul prays a third thing, that your spiritual eyes would see not only the hope of your calling and the inheritance He deposited within you, but also the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe. Ahh… there’s the caveat… to those who believe. But when you begin to see with your spiritual eyes as Paul prayed, hope builds, faith comes, power is released and destinies are fulfilled.

I still have more to share about “seeing” with our spiritual eyes, but a good starting point is right here where Paul prayed. Ask the Lord to reveal to you more of the calling He has for you. Many of you feel you know that, but ask God for more details, more imagery, more vision. Spend time with Him on that for it will build hope. Then ask Him to help you see His inheritance within you. What has He put in you? What does that look like? He will reveal it. Then ask Him to reveal afresh to you His exceeding power and let belief spring up in you.

Be blessed this day my friends,

Michael