“Look What’s Coming Out Of The Wilderness” We are all transitioning from the world’s system into God’s system or Kingdom culture, so this message today is about transitions. When God delivered Israel and brought them into the w lderness, it was to transition them and prepare them for a new place and a new position.. A transition is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "The period of passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, position or place to another condition, form, stage, activity, position or place. Someone has said that when you lose your way in the wilderness, you will eventually find yourself…. Because the Wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have even learned to ask so far.” Many people have been chosen for a special calling. They are frustrated, and they are eager to get going. They cannot understand the “why” of their wilderness experience, but God is proving them and testing their faith and loyalty. They want to get started, but they have no vision firing their passion and they easily lose their spiritual true North.
A loaded mini-van pulled into the only remaining wilderness camping area. They had driven 7 hours to get there. All the children leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up the camp. The boys rushed to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper marveled at the hustle and teamwork, and said to the youngsters’ father, “That, sir, is some display of teamwork.” The father replied, “I have a system — no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up.” Nothing works like good motivation.
If God didn’t originate it, He isn’t required to back it. But praise God He is compassionate and merciful… The nation of Israel had lived in a culture of bondage and compromise that kept them far beneath their calling and divine appointment. They had to walk away from one culture in order to embrace another. Their biggest struggle was that they kept trying to bring the old culture over into the new culture that God was creating and it kept hindering them from entering in. They were struggling to live out kingdom culture. God doesn’t always step in and interrupt our actions, but He does let us reap the consequences of those actions. You can leap from a sixty story skyscraper and halfway down ask God’s forgiveness. You may get his pardon, but the law of gravity says that you’re still going to have a sudden meeting with the pavement. No one ever has and ever will outwit the law of reciprocity… what you sow is what you will reap. The wilderness is a chance God gives us to adjust our sowing so we can change what we reap… If you go into the wilderness leaning on Him, you will come out walking by His side….Walking in His anointing, walking in His perfect will, walking in surrender, and walking in relationship and in your rightful position of authority.
Deuteronomy 32:9 “For the Lord’s portion is His people, they are his allotted inheritance. 10 He (God) found him (Israel) in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye”. v11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. 12 The Lord alone led him..” God has it all, but what He yearns for is our devotion, our worship, our hearts. It says that the Lord’s portion is His people, they are His inheritance….
Jesus told us that we were in the world but not of the world and I love the analogy here, of God and the Eagle. And God compares us to the eaglets who are growing in the nest, like a small child being cared for in their home, and everything they need is provided for them, decisions are made for them, they just go with the flow and no pressure but to just let mom and dad care for them. But then the time comes when the eagle decides it’s time for junior to learn to fly, and get its own food and care for itself, they tear the nest apart, (Junior is thinking, “mom and dad have gone crazy”) and the eaglet discovers that underneath the soft dawn and thatch, are thorns. What was so comfortable isn’t comfortable anymore, and the risk of leaping out of the nest is looking better than stepping on the thorns all day. But Mom and Dad eagle are there when they take the leap from the nest, and if they fall, to catch them and bear them up again… Until they are able to fly like eagles were meant to fly!
Some folks get so religious that they can’t recognize a miracle when they see it. A doubter and his friend are going duck hunting out in the wilderness and the friend went to get a good dog. The friend asks the kennel for his best retriever and he gives him one that can retrieve any duck they shoot. The next day the doubter and his friend go hunting and shoot a duck so the friend sends the dog to go get it. He runs on top of the water and comes back with the duck. This happens 6 times and the friend says to the doubter "Do you notice anything unusual about my dog?" and the doubtersays "I don’t think Your dog knows how to swim." Sometimes we have our minds so made up about something that we can’t see how muchGod is at work right where we are.
Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way through the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. v3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that you cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD”. Two of the synonyms for the word “desert” are “ A place of correction, or A place of discipline” Often our wilderness experiences come to expose what’s inside these hearts of ours like nothing else. It exposes our idols. What is an idol? It is anything that keeps you from putting God first in your choices, in your workplace, in your home, in your heart. If it pushes God out of first place, and God has to stand in line behind all of that, then it’s an idol. (seek first the kingdom, and all these things will be added unto you)
The wilderness teaches us delayed gratification. It teaches us to stand in faith for the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It teaches us that scratching every itch doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness, and that strength and power are not always externally shown, but true strength and power are internal expressions of peace, joy and contentment, no matter what is happening around you.
The wilderness teaches us all, the power of surrendering to God and ceasing the struggle, so that it is as John the beloved said, “less of me and more of Him, I must decrease that He might increase in me”. The wilderness is a place of re-evaluating our priorities. Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him, and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever, amen”. But the self life wants to run the show and keep singing the Sinatra tune, “I did it my way”….and establish its own pecking order and hierarchy. Our lives become all about my money, my car, my house, my feelings and my life…. Jesus said, “He that saves his life shall lose it, but he who surrenders his life, shall save it for all eternity”….We have nothing which we have not been given. And the bank probably owns your car, your house, and Visa and Master Card owns a lot of the rest, anyway…
Indiana Jones was at the doctors and the doc asked him, how his day had gone. So he said, "Well, yesterday afternoon, I waded across a lake, escaped from an alligator in the heavy brush, marched up and down some hills and valleys, trekked through the sand, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand, and narrowly avoided an aggressive snake." Inspired by the story, the doctor said, "You must be an awesome outdoorsman!" "No," Jonesreplied, "I'm just a really lousy golfer."
Maybe you too haven’t felt you’ve done very well! But I’ve discovered that the wilderness is a place of rebuilding what has been torn down, a place of restoring what has been lost, and raising up something new in place of what has been demolished. God will never take anything without giving something better in its place. And wherever Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy, God will rebuild, and raise up something far greater and better in it’s place. But we must let go of the rubble, of the wilderness, move past what has been lost or taken away, and make room for His new thing in our lives.
Solomon certainly experienced his own wilderness, but listen what he learned from it… “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.. a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to refrain; a time for confrontation, and a time for peace. He has made everything beautiful in its time”.
I actually find it encouraging that it says in Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness!…. I say this is encouraging, because this tells me that the wilderness is part of God’s plan for us, so, we can either spend our time complaining or we can spend the time learning the lessons, from “Wilderness 101”.
The Song of Solomon 3:6 asks the question… “Who is this coming up out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” Which is where the title of this message comes from… Solomon is referring to the child of God who has learned to lean on the Lord as they come out of the wilderness…
Even though you might now feel weak, get ready to receive power. Let your wilderness time develop a new strength and power within you. He gives us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Power is the ability to act or to make a difference as things turn in a new direction. Power also signifies the possession of authority to command and direct events and circumstances.
There are transitions in music, and in language, also in art, in designing, in history and in science, but I want to look at Two major transitions that took place in the bible which are found in Deut. 34 and Joshua chapters 1 and 3 in the Old testament and then Acts chapter 1 and 2 in the New testament.
In the Old testament references, Moses has lead the peoplethrough the wilderness and God takes Moses up on the mountain so he can see the promised land, and he dies there, then the mantle of leadership falls on Joshua, and Joshua brings them to the Jordon where they cross over and into the promised land. (hold that thought)
In the New testament references, Jesus is taken up on the mountain, where He dies, and the disciples meet as they were commanded, in the upper room, where they meet the new leadership, and Holy Spirit comes down and fills them all, and commands them to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils in Jesus’ name. A major transition takes place…
In both cases, there is a transition in leadership for a new day, a new time and something far greater than anyone could possibly see at the time. These were major changes which called for major adjustments. During major transitions, we are prone to look back at some point when God moved, or something miraculous happened and want to go back to that, but God says no, keep moving forward, I have far better for you than you have seen before. I am doing a new thing, in a new way, at a new time!
Faith sees opportunities where doubt and unbelief sees obstacles… Even with his eyes plucked out and chained to a column of the Philistine Temple, Samson saw an opportunity… Even when he was betrayed, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, and in an Egyptian jail, Joseph saw an opportunity… Embrace the new season you’re in. Stop visiting the past and what happened then, and follow Me. You have never passed this way before!When the Red Sea was in front of them, and the chariots of Egypt were bearing down on them, the people saw an obstacle but Moses saw an opportunity!!!
I love this scripture in all the seasons of transition…. Isaiah 22:23 “I will fasten you as a nail in the Holy place— I will establish My power in your hands, as a nail is driven and anchored in the solid timber of a house”. God is arrangingsome powerful and amazing situations for you…Others may see them as obstacles, but you need to see them as opportunities. He’s fastened it with 3 nails… 2 in Jesus’ hands and 1 in His feet! Sowe can declare in His own words… “it is finished, and I will not be moved”! When the world wants to knock us off balance, we remain established and centered because there are 3 nails holding us steady. 2 in His hands and 1 through His feet declare I shall not be moved!!
As Jesus fellowshipped with His disciples that night which we refer to as the last supper, He taught at length about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He covered so much material that it took three chapters in the gospel of John to share it! However, one of the most important points Jesus made is found near the beginning of all He shared with His disciples. After that night, the world would see a great obstacle, transformed into the greatest opportunity….
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, (Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you for ever. v17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it cannot see Him, neither does it know Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. v18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come (be available) to you. v19 Yet a little while, and the world will see Me no more; but you know me, because I live, you shall live your life through me. v20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you. v21 He that has my word, and keeps them, shows that he loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him and through him”.
This is a major transition between the Old and New covenants, which takes God’s people from the Holy Spirit resting upon them for special tasks and ministry, to Holy Spirit entering into and abiding with them and in them as a constant guide, equipper, counselor, revealer and life coach. And there is a powerful verse in Ephesians which should encourage anyone no matter what you’re going through, and no matter what wilderness you may find yourself in…..
Ephesians 2:20 “For you are being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone”. You are built on the same cornerstone as the apostles and prophets. Your foundation is the same with access to the same…. The same Spirit dwells in you that operated in them!
And I just have to have you look at this…. Listen you are more powerful than you ever imagined, and Satan knows it and hopes you don’t find out! Jeremiah 51:20 "You are My war club, (God speaking) My weapon for battle. With you I will crush kings of darkness and bring kingdoms of wickedness to ruin”. Your wilderness has been preparing you for some great things, that you cannot imagine!
Oh my, you may not look like much right now, but wait till we see you then… You may not look like a leader now, but wait till we see you then. You may not look like an evangelist, or prophet, or world changer now, or a business owner, or water walker now, but just wait till you come marching out of your wilderness! I WANT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY….
You’re getting ready to shift from the wilderness of mourning into the upper room of joy… You’re coming out of the cloud of confusion into the sonshineof clarity and understanding. You’re ready to leave the place of inconsistency and enter the place of Spiritual responsibility and availability. You’re leaving the place of compromise and entering the wide place of consecration and purity… You’re entering the place of provision and moving out of the realm of destruction and loss…You’re leaving the devil’s whipping post and coming into the place of overwhelming and defeating your giants…You’re leaving the place of isolation and loneliness and entering The great cloud of witnesses and divine connections.
Song of Solomon declares, “Well look what’s coming out of the wilderness”!! If Solomon is addressing the one who is coming forth leaning on her beloved, He’s describing you and the Lord who is your first love.
Where I live, everyone has dogs, some folks more than one. I see them, rain or shine, all hours of the day or night taking out their dogs. They stand there in the rain, in the heat, in the wee hours of the morning, while this dog sniffs a bush… If folks can do that for a dog, what should we do for Jesus, our first love!!? “Come out, come out, wherever you are”….God is calling!
Ezra 9:8 “But now, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant in a safe and secure place, to enlighten our eyes, and to transform us in His holy presence. Even in our wilderness, our God has brought to us new life and brought light to our eyes. v9 Though we were slaves, our God has not forsaken us in the midst of our bondage, but He has extended to us His grace in the midst of the kings of darkness, giving us new life to rebuild and repair the ruined places, and He has given us a wall of protection.”
If I had a mirror for each of you, I would have you hold it up and declare “look what’s coming out of the wilderness”….
Matthew 10:7 And he began to send them (and us) forth and He said v7 Asyou go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ v8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give”. (Well, look whose coming out of the wilderness)
You may feel like you’re finding your way through the dust and barrenness of the wilderness now, but I declare, there is the light of a brighter day just up ahead. Your new beginning is waiting as you walk away from all that the past tried to do to you. You are not the whipping boy of the past anymore!
