Come out of the Wilderness?
Deuteronomy 2:1-7; 13-15
Often, we spend our days running in circles wondering why, how and what has caused us to face our wilderness experience. Yet while we are in the wilderness hardship we must understand that “HARDSHIP OFTEN PREPARES ORDINARY PEOPLE, FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY DESTINY” C.S. Lewis. In just this statement God’s word begins to come to life for in Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I say that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. Now let me expound on the history of the Book of Deuteronomy which is the Fifth in the Torah which is also known as the Pentateuch. It was written about 1406 BC shortly before the death of Moses. In this book it displays a form and structure that reflects the evidence that God’s communication with Israel did not take place in a vacuum. As we look at the word of God today in this passage church God is stating to the children of Israel You have been in this wilderness long enough it is time to COME OUT. Diving into this scripture regarding the Kardash Barnea (WILDERNESS) Experience of wondering for 40 years. Church do we today want to continue to wonder in the wilderness or do we strive to Come out of the Wilderness. Realize today this world is wondering currently in the wilderness for current and historic events gives us evidence at this very moment. How many of us at some point in life wondered in the wilderness lost and not knowing which way to turn or even how to get out. Nevertheless, in the message there are 3 Words that must be addressed today to help us come out of the Wilderness.
Survive, Thrive, and Transformation
The important key in the scripture is God shows us how to Survive, Thrive, and Transform in this wicked world we live in today. Just as the Children of Israel disobeyed God’s Command which caused their Wilderness experience but did not suffer for nothing. God just needed to remove the ones that lacked in belief and faithfulness among them. So, the Forty Years which allowed the generation that rebelled against God to be eliminated as stated in Deuteronomy 2:15. It is imperative to the Church of Today to mature deeper in the Word and Will of God throughout the entire church. Which means from the pulpit to the ushers we are all accountable unto God. So that his vision and direction can manifest in his house.
As we move forward in this message the first objective is to address the issues of How do we Survive as a God-Fearing Church in a World that is full of so much chaos and havoc. Well, first we must understand that heart of the problem that is affecting the Word of God going forth is our obedience unto God. Which clearly states to come out of the Wilderness we must stop accepting any and everything that displays confusion and disbelief. In areas of communications breakdowns, spiritual immaturity, worldly thoughts, lack of faithfulness, complaining, doubting, rebellious, critical and covetous attitudes. For these the very reasons, we are at this point with God where the church is wondering in the wilderness going in circles with no change. Currently in the 21st century we are all still wondering in the wilderness for we allow confusion, disbelief, and our attitudes to corrupt us. So as stated by the Apostle Paul “BEWARE OF DISBELIEF” for it drives us into the wilderness. All God ask of us is to serve and Glorify him first and foremost. With that statement in Numbers 14:27 How long shall I bear with the evil congregation who complain against me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against me. Nevertheless, we still have the de-ja-vu experience in our daily lives but cannot understand how we end up back in the same place. See to change the experience we have change our relationship with God. And there are some requirements to building a stronger relationship with God by putting all of attention of God and God alone. See C.S. Lewis says it best “The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on GOD” In that quote it is at that moment we begin to survive the wilderness experiences and can speak to the mountains be thou move and come back no more. For our minds and eyes are focus in GOD and GOD alone.
In the beginning of this scripture in Deuteronomy 2:1-7 God gives a clear example of what may seem like a long time such as 40 years wondering in the wilderness can not only provide the discipline needed for the ungodly actions but also brings forth humbling before God and the preparation for your Canaan Experience. God also uses the wilderness experience to teach us to mortify our lusts, to follow his will. He even took the time to provide for their every need and comfort. God makes us wait upon him for our deliverance and enlargement of his greatness in the mission he has planned for the church today. But there are times that we allow ourselves to get in the way by bringing forth confusion in the house of God and not Solutions in the Word of God. I do not know about you church but I rather be Part of the Solution with God then to be in the Wilderness of Confusion. Furthermore, my question to you now is; Are you ready for Promise Land Living under the Grace of God?
As stated we are surviving the wilderness but it is time to clearly apply steps in order to thrive and stop running in circles. First, we must be ready to work, and I don’t mean just say we are going to work. But to pull up our sleeves and get deeper in the Word of God and apply the word to the work. See there is a Quote that God gave me” IT TAKES A COLLECTIVE BODY OF CHRIST TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE BODY IN CHRIST”. But the questions today are you ready to “Commit to the work in Christ to Thrive in the Will of Christ”. Life experiences has taught all of us how to strive to grow and develop into a better individual. Therefore, collectively as a church there are some steps we must take first is educational. Now to survive and thrive we must be training in all areas of ministry within the church and individually will begin to build up the kingdom of God. See all of us need to be willing to continue learning because as long as we all live there is a new lesson to learn. In 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. See God has bestowed upon each of gifts just as he did with the children of Israel whom he leads is out of the Wilderness. Now the point that God wants us to understand is clear “IT IS TIME TO QUIT GOING IN THE SAME CIRCLE; IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON!” Let us now thrive by building the Kingdom of God turning our backs to the world and facing the face of God. See church family God is calling forth Warriors that are willing to take their wilderness experiences which are diverse and unify according to the Word of God in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
To thrive in the body of Christ we must understand this scripture regarding the gifts. For we are all survivors from the wilderness. For instance, in history there are three great ships that were built in 1910, 1911, and 1913 known as the Olympic, Titanic, and Gigantic. As we all know these ships for that time where remarkably massive in size. And known by man to be unstoppable yet they also faced their demise in the wilderness because they all sunk. But look at the people that were on board each ship and how they put aside differences of being wealthy, poor, race, color, position, pride and statue to reach down and help others get onboard the lifeboats by working as collectively as one body for the goal of survival. See in our Christian walk we must realize that God lets us experience the wilderness to learn how to work together for building of His Kingdom. Therefore, we must constantly be willing to educate ourselves because we all have not experienced someone else wilderness experience. Understand God makes clear that not one person can posse all the gifts he has given to all mankind in 1 Corinthians 12:12. Therefore, church we know how to survive now let us unite and thrive by sharing our wilderness experiences with others in this world. And in sharing we all begin to learn new ways to bring forth One Love, One God, One Faith and One Baptism. Hold up wait a minute! It is time to come out of the Wilderness.
As we approach the final point in this message Jesus himself weathered his wilderness experience for he was tempted by the devil with several choices each related to his gifts. Henceforth, the transformation in this walk with God we must Hold up and recognize in Deuteronomy 2:13-15; 1 Corinthians 12:13-31 and 1 Corinthians 13:1 in these passages the Lord makes it clear that we cannot be consumed by evil; nor allow ourselves to be waging in a spiritual war for when we are caught up in such acts it hinders our survival, thriving and transformation in Christ Jesus. For God deserves so much more from each us yet we take the simply things in life for granted. This transformation brings forth not just blessings, not just his grace, not just his love, not just his mercy, not just his faithfulness, not just his righteousness, not just his trustworthy, and not just salvation but it grants upon us a relationship in Christ Jesus. For in Romans 8:10 the word says if we confess with your mouths the lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved. This scripture expresses to us that in Confession births forth transformation. Which gives a rejuvenation in the Holy Spirit to be willing to let Our Father in Heaven shine his gifts upon each of us. And in the process, he begins to transform the wilderness into the great Covenant he promised to his children of Israel. It is no coincidence that after Jesus experience in the wilderness he took ownership of the statement “I AM” for this is the key for our GLORIOUS VICTORY. So, church let the Glory of the Lord shine from the inside to the outside. Let us leap for joy right now for in Christ Jesus we have the gifts by the power of his name. All those that are still looking for a solution to your wilderness experience whether it is illness, finances, jobless, homeless, depression, anxiety, lonely, motherless and fatherless understand that God is with you in the midst of it all. For in our God we can pray
Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Sabaoth,
El Shaddai, Elohim, Jehovah Shammah,
Adonai Elohim, Jehovah Raah, Jehovah Tsuri,
Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi,
the lily of the Valley, bright and morning Star,
and our Alpha and Omega.
It is in the name of God and in the Name of Jesus and in the name of the Holy Spirit that we can speak to our wilderness and clearly say Hold up Wait a Minute for we all Victorious. For in Jesus is our salvation, in Jesus is our Guaranteed Overcoming Deliverance which is G.O.D. And church this the word of God.
