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