Wilderness School

Luke 1:80 - " And the child grew and became strong in spirit^,  and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel."

John the baptist became strong in spirit. Where did he get this strength. Ultimately he got it from the Lord. He was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. Yet, what really struck me is that he was in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

What was he doing in the wilderness? He was spending time with the Lord and learning from the Lord. He was being schooled by the Lord. In this same way, God will often require of his servants to spend time in the wilderness in preparation for ministry. What kind of wilderness am I talking about? It could be a time of great difficulty and loneliness. It is when the gold is passed through the fire and refined and made pure. It is in times like these God works in us and molds us for service if we are willing to learn. 

Yet, the wilderness does not have to be a place of suffering. It is not the desert where their is no water and food, but it is a place with little water and food. It is always an isolated place because of the harsh environment. I would compare this to a time where you are faithfully serving the Lord behind the scenes. A place where people don't really notice you or give you much credit. A place out of the lime light, often in the the shadows of others. It is often in such a place we learn much from the Lord as we remain faithful to that which God has asked us to.

Those who believe are blessed

Luke 1:45 - "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"

This was spoken over Mary by Elizabeth. It is as true for us today as it was for Mary. When the angel told Mary that she was pregnant, she received the Word and believed it. Mary truly had great faith in the Word of the Lord. She had not even slept with a man, but received the word as true.

We need to believe even as Mary in the promises of God Word. Some promises are easier to believe than others. We need to believe the specific and individual words spoken over us through the Holy Spirit. We shouldn't have to have an angel speak to us before we believe. When we do so, we will be blessed. They will be fulfilled.

Enlarge Your Tent

Isaiah 54:2-3

"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.”

 

This wonderful promise begins with a command from God to “enlarge the place of your tent.” In order for God to fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives, we need to make room or create the environment for God to work. Many times we pray for things, but we do not see the fulfillment of our prayers because our lives are so cluttered or bound by our limitations that God cannot work.

 

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “build yourselves up in your most holy faith.” (Jude 20) He also says that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” (Romans 10:17) and that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) There are steps we have to take by faith to create the environment for God to work. We have to diligently seek Him, and in doing so, we come to know Him, recognize His voice, and know His ways.

 

Once you have enlarged your place, you can now lengthen your cords. You begin to stretch yourself and reach out beyond the borders of your limitations. Begin to do things that you have not done before. Isaiah says, “do not spare.” The NIV says, “do not hold back.” Don’t hesitate! Go for it!

 

But as you reach out in faith into the unknown of God’s promises, you must “strengthen your stakes.” Jesus told us in order to survive the flood, we need to “digdeep and lay the foundation on the rock,” by coming to Him and “hearing His sayings and doing them.” (Luke 6:48) As you expand into Satan’s territory it is essential that you take time to dig deep into Christ and drive the unshakable stakes deep into Him.

 

Once you have enlarged your place, lengthened your cord, and strengthened your stakes, a wonderful thing happens. You can now stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Curtains are the cloth or skins that make up the tent covering, providing, privacy, security and safety from the elements, not only for yourself, but also for your household.

 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” Today, believe that God has great things for you and prepare yourself for them because “your Father who is in heaven gives good things to those who ask.”(Luke 11:11)

Consience

Today I want to talk about ones conscience. What is our conscience? It is something that God has placed in man that judges, bears witness, accuses, and excuses. It judges our words, actions, thoughts, motives, attitudes.

There are different kinds of consciences. One of these would be a weak conscience which talked about in I Corinthians 8:9-12. Verse 10 says, " For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?"

A weak conscience is on that is spiritually weak. It is one that is not established in his convictions. It is one with lack of spiritual knowledge or understanding. It is one that is immature.

Another type of conscience is a good one. 

Acts 23:1 - " Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

A good conscience is one that is strong spiritually, and knows right from wrong. Not only knows right from wrong but does what is right. A good conscience is a clear conscience. 

 Of course the opposite of a clear conscience is a guilty conscience. (Hebrews 10:22) This is a conscience that knows right from wrong, but does wrong.

Another kind of conscience is a defiled or corrupt conscience. 

Titus 1:15 - "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.^"

This is ungodly conscience or an unregenerate conscience. It is the unbelievers conscience.

The las kind of conscience we will look at is the seared conscience.

I Timothy 4:1-2 -  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits  and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. "

This is the good conscience which has been seared through deception and rebellion. It is the conscience that over time has resisted the word of the Lord until it no longer hears the voice of the Lord. One can have a partially seared conscience which is a conscience that has been hardened to a specific area of sin.

The question we must ask ourselves today is what kind of conscience do we have?

Response to God's Love

 II Corinthians 5:14-15 - "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

 In the last blog we talked about God's love. Today I want to reflect on our response to God's love. Our first response to God's love should be that we want to tell others about His great love towards us. Our second response is we do not want to live any longer for ourselves but for Him who died. We will want to please Him. Therefore, we will want to obey Him.

There should be another response to God's love which is found in I John 4:11-12 - "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Our response should be that we love one another. We will follow Christ's example of self sacrifice. We will not only lay down our lives for God, but others as well. This is proof that God lives in us and that His love is made complete in us.

These three responses to God's come about only as we fully understand and appreciate God's love for us. 

God's Love

I want to talk about the love of God today. The Bible says God's love is unfailing. Exodus 15:13 says, "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." Psalms 130:7 speaks of God's unfailing love as well. What a comfort to know that nothing can cause him not to love us anymore. How different is this from worldly love.

The Bible says God's love abounds. Psalms 86:15 says, "But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,  slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Because of His abounding love he is compassionate, faithful and slow to anger. Because of His abounding love, he shows His love to all of His creation. His love is not limited to a few select people.

Also, God's love is eternal. Psalms 100:5 says, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." This is why His love never fails. This is why His faithfulness continues."

In Proverbs 3:12 it says, "because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." We see that God's love involves discipline. He is not some sugar daddy who is there to spoil you. He will not tolerate disobedience. He will correct us when we disobey or stray from the straight and narrow.

Yet, God has given us His all and continues to give His all to us in love. I John 4:9-10 says it in this way, " This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." We can see her is His love was not based on our love for Him and it is a sacrificial love. (See John 3:16-17 & Romans 5:8-10) Also, we see that God's love involves action. True loves is always shown in action even as faith is shown by our actions.

There is not other god who loves as the true God. We are truly blessed.

Healing

Healing has been a topic of much discussion for centuries. It is often very confusing. I for on don't have all the answers to the many questions surrounding healing but I will give my observations.

There is a connection between obedience and health. God promises the people of Israel that he will not bring the diseases of that he brought on the Egyptians when he brought them out of they walk in obedience. (Exodus 15:16) In Deuteronomy 7:9-15, he talks about the blessings that follow those who obey him, and the curse that is upon those who walk in disobedience. On of the blessing stated is health. Health here is dependent on their obedience, and sickness as a result of their disobedience. It is important to see in both of these passages that God actually sends illness on those who disobey him. There are many other passages in the O.T. that speak of sickness as a form of judging the disobedient. (Leviticus 26:15-16; Deuteronomy 28; 2 Chronicles 21:12-15; Psalms 107:17) Is all sickness a result of disobedience or God's judgement? We will see later, this is not the case. Yet, there is strong evidence in God's word that obedience and health are connected.

There are those in God's word who are righteous people but fall sick. King Hezekiah is an example of this. (II Kings 20:1-11) He fell sick and was apparently going to die for no specific reason. He calls on God and He saves his life. Another example is Job who the Bible declares as a righteous man. Yet God allows Satan to inflict him with sickness with no apparent reason but show how His servant Job will remain faithful to Him. Yet in the end, Job is healed and is all the wiser for it. (Job 2:3-7; Job 42:10-16) Another example is Tabitha who was a faithful saint of the Lord who do much good. (Acts 9:36-42) She got sick and died. Later in the story we see Peter go to her house and raises her from the dead. As result, many came to Christ. Another example is  Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25-28 who was ill and almost died, but in God's mercy he was healed. What can we say about the examples. First of all, righteous people do get sick. Secondly, he may allow this to make us stronger. Thirdly, he may allow this for him to receive glory and draw people unto him. Lastly, in every case they were healed and the one case raised from the dead.

Looking at other passages gives us the sense that God may be selective in his healing. In Matthew 8:14-17, Christ heals a woman without her asking to be healed. Also, we see here that Christ healed everyone who came to him. In Luke 13:10-13, God calls a woman forward and heals her, a sovereign choice of God. In John 5:5, God chooses to heal a man at the pool of Bethsaida, but no mention of healing of others around him. Also in Timothy 4:20, Paul leaves someone sick. I am sure Paul had prayed for him. Why couldn't Paul who healed so many couldn't heal this person?

This is by no means and exhaustive teaching on healing, but we can gain some truths from  it. One, obedience and health are connected. Two, part of God's mission and character is to heal. Three, righteous people do get sick, but in most cases they are healed. Fourthly, healing depends on God's sovereign choice and will. Finally, it seem from Matthew 8:1-4, he is willing to heal the sick and even desires to do so.



In Exodus 15:16, he declares that He is the God who heals. It seems here to indicate that this is one of His characteristics or part of His work.

Spiritual Fervor

Romans 12:11 - "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

I love this verse. As a believer many a time our zeal and fervor for the Lord may diminish. Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift in him. Is you spiritual fervor waning? Are you as zealous for the Lord as on the day you were saved? Are you as zealous for the Lord as in your youth?

When I think of zeal, I think of a strong belief that hurdles people forward. I think of someone who is radical. I think of the radicals in the Islam faith who will do anything to protect Islam and further the Islam faith, no matter what the cost, no matter what affliction or persecution they may face. I am not saying need to strap a bomb on us or kill a bunch of people. Our faith is a faith of love. Yet, sometimes we don't tell others bout Jesus under the guise of love. While it is really apathy. 

I like the idea of spiritual fervor. To me it portrays the idea of fire burning in your soul or spirit. It gives the idea of passion. 

What must we do to keep the fires of zeal and fervor burning?
We must spend time with God and his family in prayer and worship. By this we keep our eyes on Jesus and others. It is when we dwell upon ourselves and problems that the fires get snuffed out. Another thing that stifles our spiritual fervor is when we get caught up in gathering material possessions and these things become a distraction, a burden, and a time consumer.  Another things that puts a damper on our spiritual zeal is when get so caught up in doing things that we neglect our time with God and the fellowship of believers. 

We must care for our physical bodies and give them the rest they need. When we are weary in body we will lack spiritual fervor. Eat healthy, exercise and rest will help your spiritual fervor. The soul and body are connected. We must care for them both. If one is poorly cared for it will cause problems for the other. 

Prayer, study of God's Word, fellowship, worship, active service and physical care will all help to keep our spiritual fervor. If we are not faithful in one of these areas it will eventually take its toll on our zeal and spiritual fervor.

Encouragement

Hebrews 3:12-13 - "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

We see here that we are to encourage one another daily as long as we live. I want to look at why we need to encourage one another daily.

The main reason that encouragement of one another is important because it keeps our hearts from being hardened and them turning away from God. This talking of one who has become discouraged or disillusioned about his faith.

We fail at something or something doesn't work out and we blame ourselves. We become discouraged and don't press forward. We often will blame others and even God. This where we as believers come along side of the one discouraged and disillusioned and build him up.

The word encourage here in the Greek is "parakaleo". The same word used for "the comforter" when in used in relation to the Holy Spirit. The word that means "a calling to one's side to aid another". This can be done by exhortation or consolation. 

 Let us look at  Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

 In Hebrews 3:12-13, we see encouragement as a prevention. In this passage we see encouragement as a motivation to love and good deeds. We are not only called to encourage the discouraged but stimulate people to love and good deeds. Both of these can happen as we come together as believers. This is why we are not to neglect the assembly of believers because it there that we can be encouraged and encourage others. Not only on Sunday morning but through out the week on small group settings, formal or informal.

If you look at I Corinthians 12:17-26, you will see two more reasons why we need to each other and each others encouragement. We need to be encouraging each other because we are different. We have different strengths and weaknesses. We need to encourage ach other because we are the body of Christ, and in order to function properly and effectively.

Let us look at one final and underlying reason. We need each other that we might be stronger.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - "Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Let us stop thinking of ourselves only but begin to encourage one another that we the body of Christ might be stronger.

Believing Jesus

John 6:28-29 - "Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

In the chapter Jesus has done many miracles, and the people asked, what must we do to do the works God requires? His response was believe in the one Him. We can't work up the works of God. Any work that does not come from faith in Christ and out of a relationship with him is a man made work. It will be a work of the flesh.

Unbelief is a hindrance to doing the work of God because unbelief brings fear and hinders us from moving into the promise of God. (Prov. 22:13)

Hebrews 3:19 - "  So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."

The people of Israel that left Egypt did not take possession of the promise land because they doubted God. In the end it brought judgment and death. doubt brings death to our spiritual lives.

It is when we believe in the one who sent us into the world as servants of God and as ambassadors of God that we will be able to accomplish the works of God. It is only by faith we can stand.

Isaiah 7:9 - " The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

Our strength lies in the strength of our faith in God. It is by this same faith we can guard against the attacks of the enemy and advance on him. 

Ephesians 6;16 - "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

The apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith. (Luke 17:5) We gain faith and perfect our faith by looking to Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)  We perfect out faith by exercising our faith. (James 2:17,22) Also, our faith grows through trials. (I Peter 1:6-7)

Let us lay hold of Christ that we might do the works of our Father.

Free From Sin

God came that we might not live in sin any longer. The book of Romans talks a lot about how we have and can have victory over sin.
We have died to sin that we may live a new life. (Rom. 6:2-4)
The body of sin has been rendered powerless. Therefore, we are no longer slaves to sin. (Rom. 6:6) 
We are to count ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God. (Rom. 6:11)
We must take action against sin, and with God's grace we will walk in victory. (Rom. 6:12-14)
We have been set free free from sin and are now slaves to righteousness. (Rom. 6:18)
We are now controlled by the Spirit because the Spirit lives in us. (Rom. 8:9)

Self-Denial

God demands of us a complete self-denial. We must give up everything to follow Christ. This is a hard thing for it is contrary to human nature. We are to palce God above our loved ones. (Luke 14:26) We are to seek to please others and help the weak. (Romans 15:1) We are to die to the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:24) Are priority is not storing up things on earth for ourselves but storing up things in heaven toward God. It is these things that will last. (Luke 12:20-21)

Paul in I Corinthians chapter 9 gives a prime example of self-denial and complete consecration to God. He gives wise instruction on the topic. We like Paul must be willing to give up our rights for the sake of the gospel (Christ). We must not only be willing to give up our rights, but take the responsibility we have as believers and discipline ourselves. In turn we must guard ourselves from falling short.

We as believers to often just allow ourselves to float through life and let things fall where they may. Often we are to laid back. We must remember that we are in a race. If we relax to much, we might be passed by and left behind or fail to win the try out and be disqualified.

Lord help us to die to self and live unto you.