Just when you think that you have arrived in the faith and call yourself mature, the Holy Spirit enlightens you with some stuff that has kept you still lingering in the wilderness. The mere idea that the wilderness isn't at all a pleasant place tells you of how much flesh you still have to conquer or crucify depending upon how mature you truly are. Let's deal with the wilderness concept first before tackling the main focus- the flesh.
There are plenty accounts to choose from in the Word to understand the concept and to pin point where our maturity level is. If for whatever reason you read this and cannot see where you are in this whole scheme of getting you where God intended, then your time in His presence is lacking. To put in perspective, I use to think that there is no one on the face of this earth knowing who God is would ever act like the children of Israel when coming into the Promise Land. I mean, He was so active in their lives to the undeniable point. No one could ever convince them that it couldn't be any other and still all of the complaints (Exodus 16 & 17 KJV). It was as if there wasn't ever a time they could be satisfied. Yeesh! Shut up already and just be content... oh wait, we never did anything remotely close to that - right?
Back to the scriptures, David ran to the wilderness to get away from Saul who was trying to murder him and the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. In both cases, if given the opportunity to choose either sets of shoes (sandals) to be in, which would it be? Yet, in reaching a certain level of maturity, the wilderness is inevitable. In the wilderness, things don't happen the way they use to. The trying of your faith, testing, patience, and contending with the feelings of having a temper tantrum await you. Friends start acting different, it seems like everything is against you and your prayers are like mere words that you can understand rather then your Spiritual language you were practicing before the change of your immediate environment (the wilderness). Because the circumstances didn't change, you, of course, start to believe that what you have been doing must change as well. Why? It is what men have preached as of late: "You cannot believe for better if you keep doing the same thing." My answer to that is, heaven and earth will pass away but the Word shall remain (Matthew 24:35 KJV). God tells us to state our case and remind Him of His Word. His Word cannot return to Him void. So when you have done all you can - stand therefore. It is that standing allowing patience to have her perfect work that is contending with what you truly believe. How long have you been in that place waiting for answers?
How long did David run asking Saul why? David could have sliced Saul in two instead he showed him a piece of his garment that he cut while Saul slept. David was trying to convince Saul that he was not the problem (1 Samuel 24:9-11 KJV). The woman had a 12 year issue of blood and spent all she had to physicians, yet when the opportunity to touch the hem of Whom, she believed has the answer, she went for it (Luke 8:43-47 KJV). 12 years she waited to get her issue resolved, yet she had to be at the right place and at the right time to get what she was looking for. Jesus was led into the wilderness where the enemy made his attempts to take Jesus in the realm of fear. Yet Jesus maintained using the Word and resisting any urge to do anything other then being the task of Lord and Savior for us all. That's three examples of wilderness living that could have gone so wrong but because of commitment and submitting to what God has called of them, they were able to come out from the the trouble, issue, and temptation.
Though the wilderness may not be literally a dessert land, it may very well feel as if it is depending on your social, financial, and spiritual status. Someone who use to reside in a 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom house that has to downsize to a 2 bedroom apartment could be the upgrade someone else is hoping for. God looks to see if you can still be joy filled in a place of abase or abound. Can you still speak of His praise when matters don't seem praise worthy. God told the children of Israel when they come into that place of plenty for them not to forget Him. When they have wells that they did not dig and those houses that they did not build to remember Who it was that made those provisions (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 KJV). To come out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death is being satisfied knowing that God is the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).
Showing posts with label wilderness living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wilderness living. Show all posts
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Flesh Has Its Own Affections (Part 2)
Now for the topic at hand. To be affectionate is showing another how much you care. The flesh warps those cares into something that can move you into lack. The flesh stirs up emotion, worry, and fear (Galatians 5:16-25 KJV). Fear brings torment. Torment could be in one's own mind, on the job, or day to day activities when nothing seems to go the way you planned. Jesse Duplantis, a well known traveling evangelist stated it best, "the principality is in the personality." With a discerning ear, listen before reacting to all of what is said to you. As mentioning in Part 1, the wilderness could be a number of things and coming out of it sooner then later would depend on your reaction to it.
Personally, I had a tantrum. I hollered, cried, pounded my fists and made demands all while in prayer! It took years before realizing where I was (wilderness) and why. In those spiritual baby years, I professed being a son of God rather then enjoying that spiritual childhood. I was using my faith but also rushing God for me to get to where I would like to be. I prayed for wants and when to get them. I was already getting what I asked for right up until I changed my confession. But the only reason I changed the confession was because of the message I heard, "babies don't get the keys to drive, sons do." So I rushed growing to get the training on "driving." Doesn't that sound like a teenager? God answered me. I had all of these plans, inventions, and witty ideas. I wrote them down in detail, making them plain, and then the waiting began. It was a suffering I couldn't describe. From always having cash to do as I please to feeling like my purchases were all on impulse rather than fulfilling any one of those plans given. It was aggravating, frustrating, and tormenting me.
The plans were huge. Much too much for me to do. So I waited until Wisdom helped me to break it down to smaller portions. When I could envision doing those things, I was ready; but the cash flow was no longer as accessible as it had been. I had to wait. Wait when thoughts were like, "well, who needed that service will have to go without because you mismanaged funds" or "if you don't hurry up and do it someone else will and make millions off of your ideas" or "you are wasting your time and after awhile you will be too old for anyone to ever want to listen to you."
What do you say to that? Should you care? Who's idea was this in the first place? Wouldn't He have provision for it? What do you have to be afraid of? Weren't you created for such a time as this? Think of it in this manner while in hiatus (wilderness acceptance), God is all knowing. He sees what you don't. When in a traffic jam, you are sitting behind dozens of cars waiting to move. Honking you horn doesn't cause the jam to dissipate but its only noise that irritates others. Having an SUV allows you to see past a few of those cars more than someone without an SUV, but if farther from the reason for the jam, you can't really see it. A Winnebago could really have a better view, but again, if the traffic jam is a long one, all of the Winnebago driver sees is more cars unless he is behind another Winnebago. If that is the case, all he can see is the back of the driver. God sees all. He knew about the traffic jam and if you would be focused on Him, He would have directed you away from it. The same would be true for any plans or vision you have.
While some may have the desire for it now, others aren't in place to make that vision truly a blessing for all. That table the Lord prepared for us, some of us need the food cut in smaller portions. For all you know the wait could be that very process for someone else. In that traffic jam, there are those that refuse to wait it out so they turn on the shoulder to get ahead of everyone else only coming face to face with construction, debris, and the state patrol. With all of those obstacles the impatient driver finds himself waiting anyway and more then likely with an expensive ticket he wouldn't have had if he just waited.
Oddly enough the wilderness can be quite pleasant. Just look around and see what can be done while you are there. Recall when Jesus took the people out to the dessert to be fed. Once he got there they sat in the grass. What dessert do you know of that has grass in it? Where ever Jesus went there was food, water - in actuality, provision. Grass had to grow even in the dessert. If we follow Him we become more like Him. We can not only have all we need but be a blessing for someone else. No one needs to know what troubles you are having. No one is interested in hearing all of that grumbling and complaining. Rest assured they more then likely have problems of their own. God knows and sees how you are handling it. FYI - Jesus spoke the Word. Take the page out of His book.
Personally, I had a tantrum. I hollered, cried, pounded my fists and made demands all while in prayer! It took years before realizing where I was (wilderness) and why. In those spiritual baby years, I professed being a son of God rather then enjoying that spiritual childhood. I was using my faith but also rushing God for me to get to where I would like to be. I prayed for wants and when to get them. I was already getting what I asked for right up until I changed my confession. But the only reason I changed the confession was because of the message I heard, "babies don't get the keys to drive, sons do." So I rushed growing to get the training on "driving." Doesn't that sound like a teenager? God answered me. I had all of these plans, inventions, and witty ideas. I wrote them down in detail, making them plain, and then the waiting began. It was a suffering I couldn't describe. From always having cash to do as I please to feeling like my purchases were all on impulse rather than fulfilling any one of those plans given. It was aggravating, frustrating, and tormenting me.
The plans were huge. Much too much for me to do. So I waited until Wisdom helped me to break it down to smaller portions. When I could envision doing those things, I was ready; but the cash flow was no longer as accessible as it had been. I had to wait. Wait when thoughts were like, "well, who needed that service will have to go without because you mismanaged funds" or "if you don't hurry up and do it someone else will and make millions off of your ideas" or "you are wasting your time and after awhile you will be too old for anyone to ever want to listen to you."
What do you say to that? Should you care? Who's idea was this in the first place? Wouldn't He have provision for it? What do you have to be afraid of? Weren't you created for such a time as this? Think of it in this manner while in hiatus (wilderness acceptance), God is all knowing. He sees what you don't. When in a traffic jam, you are sitting behind dozens of cars waiting to move. Honking you horn doesn't cause the jam to dissipate but its only noise that irritates others. Having an SUV allows you to see past a few of those cars more than someone without an SUV, but if farther from the reason for the jam, you can't really see it. A Winnebago could really have a better view, but again, if the traffic jam is a long one, all of the Winnebago driver sees is more cars unless he is behind another Winnebago. If that is the case, all he can see is the back of the driver. God sees all. He knew about the traffic jam and if you would be focused on Him, He would have directed you away from it. The same would be true for any plans or vision you have.
While some may have the desire for it now, others aren't in place to make that vision truly a blessing for all. That table the Lord prepared for us, some of us need the food cut in smaller portions. For all you know the wait could be that very process for someone else. In that traffic jam, there are those that refuse to wait it out so they turn on the shoulder to get ahead of everyone else only coming face to face with construction, debris, and the state patrol. With all of those obstacles the impatient driver finds himself waiting anyway and more then likely with an expensive ticket he wouldn't have had if he just waited.
Oddly enough the wilderness can be quite pleasant. Just look around and see what can be done while you are there. Recall when Jesus took the people out to the dessert to be fed. Once he got there they sat in the grass. What dessert do you know of that has grass in it? Where ever Jesus went there was food, water - in actuality, provision. Grass had to grow even in the dessert. If we follow Him we become more like Him. We can not only have all we need but be a blessing for someone else. No one needs to know what troubles you are having. No one is interested in hearing all of that grumbling and complaining. Rest assured they more then likely have problems of their own. God knows and sees how you are handling it. FYI - Jesus spoke the Word. Take the page out of His book.
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