“Wilderness – Pt. 1”
“Fear Not” by Pastor Nick S. Panico
(Rom 8:28-29 NKJV) "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
I. The apostle begins with this statement of fact.
A. Notice “we know”
1. He doesn’t say “ I hope so”
2. He doesn’t say “in some cases”
3. There is no doubting or questioning in his mind
4. We know…
5. The implication is that this knowledge is not just some revelation which Paul has just received…
6. He says “we know” because it’s something he has observed and experienced.
7. He has seen hard and difficult times
8. He has experienced personal tragedies, and failures
9. He has been misunderstood, falsely accused, and horribly treated by the very ones he was trying to reach with God’s love
10. He has been arrested, beaten, flogged, stoned and left for dead
11. He’s been attacked by mobs and run out of town…
12. And in spite of all of the difficulties he has faced, he is convinced of this certain fact… all things work together for good to those who love God
13. all things… means everything
14. No matter what it is, how dark the day has become…
15. Regardless of what you are experiencing… Because you love God, and God loves you,
16. Because you are called and chosen by God for His particular purpose…
17. God is going to use what ever the situation you are in for your good and His glory
B. Notice four words in Rom. 8:29
C. Foreknew = “ to know before hand”
(Jer 1:5 NIV) ""Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.""
1. Before God formed you in your mothers womb… He knew all about you
D. He not only knew all about you He predestined you…
1. Predestined = to determine before hand
2. Our pre-determined destiny – God’s ultimate intention for all of our lives = to be conformed to the image of His Son
3. Before time began, for all those who would love God, it was predetermined that they would be conformed to the image of Jesus
E. Conformed – fashioned like unto
1. to bring to the same form with some other person or thing
2. To render like
3. From the Greek word “summorphos”
4. The noun “morphe” refers to the outward expression of an inward essence or nature
5. In the process of sanctification, the saint is transformed in his inner heart life to resemble the Lord Jesus, which inner change results in a change of outward expression that reflects the beauty of the Lord Jesus – Weust word studies
F. Image – from the Greek word – “eikon”
1. stature, profile, representation, resemblance, image
2. Just like the president’s head on a coin is eikon
3. the reflection of the sun in the water is eikon
4. the statue in stone is eikon
5. the child is the eikon of his parents
6. The image of the Lord Jesus in the saint is not accidental but derived, as the likeness of a child is derived from its parents.
7. Through the new birth we become children of Jesus Christ and inherit His image
8. This image is indistinct in the new convert, but becomes progressively clearer and distinct as the believer grows in Christian maturity
G. The process the Lord uses to conform us into the image of Jesus is the “all things” Paul talks about in Romans 8:28
H. I am beginning a new series today on one part of this process which I call “the wilderness experience”
(Exo 13:17-18 NKJV) "Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." {18} So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt."
I. There are seasons in all of our lives when we are led by God through a wilderness
1. The wilderness is a time of leanness
2. It’s a difficult road
3. Your usual support and provision is removed from you
4. It’s a time of testing, filled with trials and temptations
5. It’s a time when you can’t easily see the hand of the Lord in and around your circumstances
6. It’s a place where it seems as if the Lord is not hearing your prayers or responding to your cries for help
7. It’s a dry place spiritually
8. It’s a place of great pressure… however it’s pressure with a purpose
J. The times in the wilderness are no fun
1. no one likes the wilderness
2. but it is vital to go through it
3. The good news… no one is called to live in the wilderness, you are called to pass through it.
K. Please know that it is God who brings His children into the wilderness
1. God sent Aaron into the wilderness to meet Moses – Ex. 4:27
2. The children of Israel were led into the wilderness in Ex. 15
3. David escaped into the wilderness – 1 Sam. 26:3
4. Elijah, after his great victory over the prophets of Baal, went into the wilderness – 1 Kings 19:4
5. Even Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit – Matthew 4
L. Wilderness experiences often follow great spiritual victories
1. Elijah’s wilderness time came immediately after his great victory over all the prophets of Baal
2. Jesus wilderness time came following His water baptism where the voice from heaven declared… “this is my beloved Son”, and then the Holy Spirit came upon Him anointing Him for service
M. No matter when you find yourself in a wilderness experience you should know there are some right ways and wrong ways to go through it.
1. The choices you make in the wilderness will determine how you come out of the wilderness
N. I know many of you are walking through a wilderness time
1. For some your wilderness may be health problems – maybe the doctors don’t offer much hope, or maybe you are struggling with some debilitating sickness
2. For some it’s relationship issues – hard times in your marriage; trouble with the kids; issues with friends
3. For some it’s financial troubles
4. Other’s it’s job related
5. For some your wilderness is the fact that you seem lost; no sense of direction; you don’t have a clue where to go next
O. When you are in the wilderness you must beware that the enemy of your soul will come and bring temptation
1. Remember when Jesus was at his weakest place in the wilderness
2. He had been fasting for 40 days while in the wilderness
3. He was physically weak
4. He was alone
5. And it was at his weakest moment that the devil showed up and began to bring temptations which he had to face and overcome
6. Just like Jesus, when you are in a wilderness time, you will also face the enemy
7. You will also be tempted
P. Let’s take a moment and look at the first temptation you will face in the wilderness
(Exo 14:10-12 NIV) "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. {11} They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? {12} Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ’Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!""
I. The temptation of Fear
A. Fear is a paralyzing emotion and a tool of the enemy
1. Here the children of Israel were terrified by their circumstances
2. Pharaoh and his army were breathing down their necks
3. The Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind them
4. There was no where to run
5. They could see no way out through their own human resources
6. The situation looked hopeless
7. Fear drove them to despair…
8. The conclusion they came to… “we are just going to die!”
B. God will often brings us into situations where there is no hope through our own strength or ability
1. Maybe your in a place like that right now
2. You can’t see a way out of your situation
3. The bill collectors are breathing down your neck…
4. The doctors tell you to get your affairs in order…
5. your spouse says they want out…
6. your wayward child seems to be getting farther away from God with each passing day…
C. The more you look at your circumstance, the more fear grips your heart.
D. What to do…
(Exo 14:13-14 NKJV) "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. {14} "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.""
1. Stand still – stop running around and dumping on anyone who will listen
2. Stand still – stop rehearsing all your problems
3. Stand still – admit to God and to yourself that in your own power you can’t change the situation
4. Stand still – declare that He is the God of your salvation and deliverance and He is fighting for you
5. Stand still – hold on to your peace
E. Paul said it this way in Romans 8:31
(Rom 8:31-37 NKJV) "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? {32} He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? {33} Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. {34} Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. {35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." {37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
1. When God is for you, who can be against you
2. Your God is all knowing, all powerful, all loving, and all wise
F. One of the reasons God brings us into the wilderness is to delivers us from things which hold us captive
(Exo 14:13 NKJV) "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."
1. There are some “Egyptians” in your life that God wants to deal with once and for all
2. Remember – God is working all things together for this one sole purpose = to conform you into the image of Jesus
3. The children of Israel had been in bondage for 400 years
4. God not only wanted them out of Egypt, He wanted Egypt out of them
5. There was nothing they could do to bring this about
6. So God arranged the right circumstances
7. They were cut off from escape by the Red sea
8. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army had caught them
9. They were no match against his army and his weapons
G. When you are in a time where your own actions and abilities cannot deliver you
1. Stand still…
2. Look up…
3. And trust Him
4. And don’t be afraid
H. The devil uses fear to incapacitate you
1. fear is the opposite of faith
2. You can choose to give yourself into the fear, or choose to stand in faith
I. All through scripture God says to His people… Fear not
1. Hagar and her son Ishmael were thrown out into the wilderness by Sarah…
(Gen 21:17 NKJV) "And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is."
2. God says Fear not I have heard your cries
3. Fear not… for God is with you, and He will strengthen you and uphold you… God has not abandoned you!
(Isa 41:10 NKJV) "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’"
4. Fear not… because the Lord will take you by the hand and help you
(Isa 41:13-14 NKJV) "For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ’Fear not, I will help you.’ {14} "Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
5. Fear not… because God the Holy Spirit is our helper and comforter
6. Fear not… because we are the redeemed of the Lord, He has called you by name, you are His
7. God has not disowned you
8. You don’t’ need to fear that you did something so bad or you don’t measure up in some way so that God has turned His back on you
(Isa 43:1 NKJV) "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."
9. Fear not because we are the chosen of the Lord, He has a special purpose in mind for you
(Isa 44:2 NKJV) "Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ’Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen."
10. Fear not… because the Lord will speak to you during this time and you will be strengthened by the word of the Lord
(Dan 10:19 NKJV) "And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.""
11. God does speak in the wilderness
12. Listen carefully
13. Fear not… because of all the Lord has done for you in the past… and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever
(Joel 2:21 NKJV) "Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things!"
14. Look back and see all God has done in your life
15. Remember how faithful He has been
16. Fear not… because your King is coming… maybe not in the way you though He would… maybe not in the timing you had planned on… but know He is coming into your situation… fear not!
(John 12:15 NKJV) ""Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.""
J. When you are in the wilderness you will be tempted by fear
1. Please remember this… you belong to Jesus
2. He is your Lord and Savior
3. He won’t ever fail you
4. He is the awesome Lord God Almighty…
5. And If God is for you… then don’t be afraid about who is against you.
K. The word of the Lord to you today is “fear not!”
(2 Tim 1:7 NKJV) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
