The Desert
In Matthew 4:1, we find Jesus in the
Wilderness, which was a desert place. He found it a great place, in His
confrontation with Satan.
Many people find themselves in the
desert of their very lives. So many are dry, withered, sun baked, dreary,
lonesome, and uninspired. What has happened that they find themselves so
desolate and unfruitful?
Some of the reasons are:
1. They are into religion and man's
traditions that nullify the Word of God. The legalistic, going through
the motions as a routine! They think salvation is obtained by works and
has to be earned!
2. They have never surrendered and
obeyed our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, never realized obedience is
better than sacrifice!
3. They have never experienced the
new birth and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. You must be born again
into the Kingdom of God!
4. They have never humbled
themselves and compared themselves to Jesus Christ. 1 Pe. 5:6,
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time!
5. They have listened to false
teaching and Satan, saying Jesus was everything but God, and many other
ways to heaven; many lies of man's goodness and you don't really need
Jesus to get to heaven?
6. They never realized that the
Desert is a place of teaching patience, learning the voice of God,
cleansing and learning the Holy Spirit's leading, to find the purposes of
God in their lives ... a place to teach the commands, ordinances, statues
and spiritual laws of our Heavenly Father.
7. The foundation laying for
service and witnessing; the time to find direction and preparation time
for service, decisions for training, schooling, and letting the Holy
Spirit lead in the preparation process, surrendering, so the Holy Spirit
can lead and speak through each of us, to minister to others.
8. The place of preparation for a
specific purpose that our Father has in their life's work. Each of us
were created for a specific purpose. It might be a missionary
work, preaching, music ministry, counseling ministry, or many other areas
with specific leading by the Holy Spirit. Few will be prepared as
witnesses at the Great White Throne Judgment.
So, like any desert, when the
watering by the Holy Spirit comes in abundance, they will bloom and become
beautiful children of the Most High God. Before a desert can bloom
beautifully, it has to be watered abundantly. Likewise, we also have to
be watered, abundantly by the Holy Spirit, with the rivers of Living
Waters.
We need to eat the Word, chew the
Word, digest the Word, and regurgitate the Word to feed the Sheep.
The way to get through the desert
experience is to obey God's Word in all ways; surrender, humble ourselves,
and ask for the abundant watering by the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to
receive, with awe and amazement, the marvelous works of God; fulfilling
His purpose through you, as an instrument in His hands.
You will have an inner burning
desire for the Lost souls every where you look and see fellow human
beings. Pray for everyone you see, meet and talk with. This passion for
souls is part of the evidence you have exited the desert. Praise God in
all things and be thankful. Worship Him in truth and spirit. Share in
His Glory. He, only, is worthy to be praised and worshiped. May God
richly bless you now and forever.
Vern Nicholson
Answers2prayer Subscriber realvern@compuage.com
© 2002 by
(Howard) Vern Nicholson
(Appearing Saturday, June 22, 2002)