“And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, In whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beast; and the angels ministered unto Him.”Mark 1: 9-12
Jesus is our example in our wilderness experience. It is impossible to possess what is our without the wilderness experience. The wilderness experience was necessary for Jesus – and it is also necessary for every believer that God uses.
The wilderness is not a negative time for those who obey God. Its purpose is very positive to train and prepare us for a new move of His Spirit. Unknowingly, when entering the wilderness, many behave without wisdom. Without understanding, they search for and do the wrong things. If you search for an escape route before understanding why God has you in a particular situation, like the wilderness, you unwittingly will prolong your wilderness time. This can cause you to experience hardship, frustration and even defeat, because you do not understand the season or the place to which God has led you. This was the case of the children of Israel. Lack of understanding of their wilderness time caused an entire generation to be unfit to inherit the Promised Land.
God’s purpose in leading them to the wilderness was to test, trains and prepare them to be sanctified warriors. Instead, the children of Israel erroneously perceived the wilderness as punishment, so they murmured, complained, and lusted constantly. When the time came for them to leave the wilderness, conquer, and occupy the Promised Land, they heeded the evil report of murmurers and complainers. Given the choice between God’s promises and His ability and man’s perceptions and inability, they chose to believe man rather than God. They believed they were unable to receive their Land flowing with milk and honey, so God said, “Okay, it will be as you believed.” Look at what I Corinthians 10:11 says: “These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction…
There ignorance of God’s nature and character caused them to act wickedly, and what was to have been a brief wilderness journey became a lifetime experience.
Those with understanding of the wilderness will enter in with joy, knowing that beyond this place a “Promised Land” waits for them. This joy, from the VISION set before them, will be the strength they need to finish the journey that they might “Be perfect (mature), and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4
God is creating able vessels for His use, ready for the fresh move of His Spirit. Remember: “There remaineth yet very much Land to be possessed.” Joshua 13:1 and “People Matter”
Much Love
Because He Is – I Am
Apostle Robert L. Sanders, Sr.
