victory in the wilderness bevere

8/13/2019 Victory in the Wilderness Bevere

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_____________________MESSENGERPRESS

Palmer Lake, CO


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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James

Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked !"# are taken from The New King fames Version of

the Bible. Cop$ri%ht & '()* b$ +homas elson ncorporated.

Scripture quotations marked # are taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version. Cop$ri%ht &'(-*, '(-) b$ the nternational Bible Societ$. Published b$

onder/an Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked 0S# are taken from The Revised Standard Version of

the Bible, ew +estament Section. Cop$ri%ht & '(12 b$ +he 3i/ision of Christian

4ducation, ational Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of

5merica.

Scripture quotation marked 6ms was taken from The New Testament !

Translation in the "ang#age of the $eo%le b$ Charles B. 6illiams. Cop$ri%ht & '(*-

b$ Bruce 7umphries, nc. Cop$ri%ht & renewed '(81 b$ 4dith S. 6illiams.

Published b$ 9ood$ Bible nstitute.

Vi&tory in the 'ilderness

(rowing Strong in )ry Times

b$ "ohn P. Be/ere

Cop$ri%ht & '((2, 2::2 b$ "ohn P. Be/ere

SB :;(8**'-8;:;'Printed in the United States of 5merica

Librar$ of Con%ress Catalo% Card umber< (2;:(:*='

Published b$ 9essen%er Press,

an e>tension of "ohn Be/ere 9inistries, nc.

P.O. Bo> )))

Palmer Lake, CO ):'**;:)))

3irect inquiries and?or orders to the abo/e address.

5ll ri%hts reser/ed. 4>cept for use in a re/iew, no

portion of this book ma$ be reproduced in an$ form

without the e>press written permission of the publisher.

Co/er desi%n and inside format b$ 3ou% Belew?

Para%on Communications @roup, +ulsa, Oklahoma


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Contents

Aoreword i>

ntroduction >i

Section 1The Wilderness

Chapter ' +he 6ilderness Season............................................................'1

Chapter 2 3efinin% the 6ilderness..........................................................2'

Section 2Time of Testing

Chapter * +ime of +estin%...........................................................................2(

Chapter = Our 4>ample................................................................................*-

Section 3Time of Purification

Chapter 1 +he 7i%hwa$ of @od..................................................................=-

Chapter 8 +he +rue Prophetic...................................................................1'

Chapter - +he Lord Comes to 7is +emple............................................1-

Chapter ) +he 0efinin% Aire........................................................................81

Chapter ( 0efine or 3e/our........................................................................-*

Chapter ': "ud%ment of the 6icked........................................................)'

Chapter '' nstruments of 0efinin%........................................................('

Section 4Time of Preparation

Chapter '2 Prepare the 6a$ of the Lord............................................':-

Chapter '* Preparation for Chan%e......................................................''(

Chapter '= 0esistance to Chan%e..........................................................'2(

Section 5Victory in the WildernessChapter '1 Place of 0e/elation...............................................................'*(

Chapter '8 3rawin% from the 6ells.....................................................'=-

Chapter '- #ictor$ in the 6ilderness..................................................'11


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5cknowled%ments9$ deepest appreciation to . . .

all those who labored with us in pra$er, in proect, and b$

financial support to brin% this book to completion to Ste/e and Sam

for their constant encoura%ement and technical support to Scott

for his wise counsel and 5m$ and 5nnette for their man$ talents.

want to thank m$ wife, Lisa, who continuall$ encoura%ed me

and selflessl$ helped with editin%, but more important, for the %odl$wife she has been to me. 5 special thanks to m$ three oldest sons

who sacrificed time with 3add$ that this proect could be

completed.

9ost important, m$ %ratitude to m$ Lord "esus for 7is %race

and companionship durin% this proect and the 7ol$ SpiritDs faithful

%uidance throu%hout this work.

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Aoreword

"ohn Be/ere has a prophetic messa%e for toda$, a messa%e from

@od, a messa%e that is backed up b$ the full counsel of @odDs 6ord.

5fter spendin% se/en $ears in the FwildernessF seekin% @od and

stud$in% 7is 6ord, wondered in this da$ of prosperit$ teachin%

and FD/e %ot to be happ$ at an$ costF philosoph$ if an$one would

accept the word @od had been teachin% me. +hen recei/ed "ohn

Be/ereDs book, Vi&tory in the 'ilderness. 5s be%an to read it in m$prison cell, m$ heart leapt, for here was the same messa%e the 7ol$

Spirit had been breathin% to me. "ohn cries out that it is time we

seek the Lord for who 7e is, not ust for the promises, but for the

FPromisorF 7imself.

Shortl$ after read Vi&tory in the 'ilderness recei/ed "ohn

Be/ereDs ne>t book, The Voi&e of *ne +rying. 5fter readin% this

prophetic book, felt ust had to meet this "ohn Be/ere. had to see

if he was for real. Could @od ha/e %i/en this ur%ent, eternal, last;da$preparation messa%e to this $oun% preacherG !nowin% of "ohnDs

theolo%ical back%round, ust had to know if he reall$ belie/ed

what he had written. H ha/e inter/iewed thousands of authors and

man$ didnDt know and others didnDt belie/e what the$ had written

about. . . the$ were ust %ood at the craft of writin%.I asked for

him to come to see me in prison and he did. 6hen "ohn walked into

m$ prison, knew this was a man sent b$ @od, a modern;da$ F/oice

of one cr$in%.F wept as we shared to%ether "ohn Be/ere was forreal.

Vi&tory in the 'ilderness and The Voi&e of *ne +rying are two of

the most important books of this hour the$ hold the ke$s to the

ChurchDs sur/i/al. ha/e had these books sent to hundreds of m$

friends and to ke$ leaders. +he$ are FmustF readin% for those who

want to ser/e and obe$ Christ and be a part of the last;da$ har/est

time of souls. Jou ma$ wonder wh$ man$ Christians and church

leaders toda$ are in the pi%pens of life like the Prodi%al Son. +heProdi%al Son said to his father, F@i/e me,F and ended up in a far

countr$, in the wilderness, in a pi%pen. "ohn Be/ere teaches us how

to %et back to the AatherDs 7ouse.

E"im Bakker

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ntroduction+his is a book about the wildernessEa place or time period

throu%h which e/er$ Christian must pass as he draws nearer to

@od. t is not a time for seekin% si%ns or wonders, but a time to seek

the heart of @od, which will produce character and stren%th in the

belie/er. t is a preparation timeEa time that ma$ appear

discoura%in% without the /ision of the promise. t is m$ hope thatthis book will brin% encoura%ement as $ou continue to pursue 7im

6ho alone satisfies.

do not claim that this is an e>hausti/e or all;inclusi/e stud$

there is much more that can be written, but this account is from m$

heart. +he intent of this book is to introduce this subect to $ou,

then allow the 7ol$ Spirit room to appl$ it to $ou personall$.

purposel$ ha/e sta$ed awa$ from %i/in% detailed e>amples from

m$ life, to a/oid influencin% $our application of this messa%e to$our own life. 4/er$oneDs wilderness will consist of different

circumstances.

Upon m$ arri/al in the wildernesses, met confusion,

frustration, fear, suspicion, loneliness, discoura%ement, and an%er.

6hat was doin% hereG +his was not m$ destinationK Jet, had

cried out to @od to rend m$ heart, purif$ m$ moti/es, cleanse me of

all secret hidden sin, refine m$ /essel, and remo/e an$ hindrance to

7is %lor$. But did not e>pect the process b$ which 7e chose toaccomplish this in m$ life. +his book is m$ ourne$ to the

wilderness, as well as that of man$ others. ha/e not Farri/ed,F nor

ha/e attained all that @od would ha/e for me, but it is m$ pra$er

that in these pa%es $ou will find the stren%th and coura%e to press

on toward $our destin$ in @od.

f there is an understandin% of $our position in life, it brin%s

$our life into perspecti/e. +hen $ou can see @odDs hand, e/en when

$ou ma$ not feel 7is touch. t is a time when $our lo/e for 7immatures be$ond F6hat will 7e do to benefit meGF and turns to

F6hat does 7e desire of meGF

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'E

+he6ilderness


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'+he 6ilderness Seasonn frustration, $ou remember the times when $ou merel$

whispered 7is name and 7is presence immediatel$

manifested, but now in the stillness $ou want to shout,F@od where are $ouGF

Look I go forward, but He is not there and

backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He

works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;

when He turns to the right hand, I cannot see

Him.

Job 23:8-9 (NKJV)

s this $our heartDs cr$G Jou lon% to hear from @od but all $ou

sense is silence. Jou pra$E$et $our pra$ers seem to fall flat. n

frustration, $ou remember the time when $ou merel$

whispered the LordDs name and 7is presence was immediatel$

there, but now in the stillness $ou want to shout, F@od, where are

$ouGF Like "ob, turnin% e/er$ wa$, $ou seek 7im, $et $ou cannot

percei/e 7im or 7is workin%s on $our behalf.

6elcome to the wildernessK !now that $ou are not alone, but in

%ood compan$.

Jou walk where 9oses walked...9oses, raised in PharaohDs

court as a prince 9oses, with the /ision of deli/erin% his people out

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of bonda%e and sla/er$ 9oses, who watched sheep on the back

side of the desert for fort$ $ears.

Jou are alon%side "oseph..."oseph, the hi%hl$ fa/ored of hisfather "oseph, who had dreams of leadership and achie/ement

"oseph, thrown in a pit b$ his own brothers, then sold as a sla/e and

later locked in prison.

Jou are sittin% beside "ob..."ob, the man whom the Bible

describes as "the greatest of all the men of the east" H"ob '


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there is. Hpocrites #ou can discern the face of

the sk and of the earth, but how is it ou do not

discern this time$ %emp. added&&'# %2: *-+ (NKJV)

Can a farmer harvest durin% the season of plantin%G Ob/iousl$,

the answer is Fno.F f he does not%lant in the season of sowin%, he

will not rea% at the time of har/est. 5nd plantin% at the correct time

is crucial to his crop. f a farmer plants too earl$ or too late, it will

diminish his $ield at har/est time. +he seeds will not be in the

proper position to recei/e what the$ need to flourish. +he rain and

heat, snow and cold will come before the seeds are read$. n orderfor his &ro% to benefit full$ from @odDs pro/ision, a farmer must

understand thorou%hl$ his season of sowin%. Presentl$ in the

Church, we are in the process of preparin% for the comin% har/est

in order for #s to benefit full$ from @odDs prunin% and care, we must

reco%nie the season. 6e cr$ out for har/est, $et it is not the season

of har/est, but of prunin% and %raftin%.

"esus rebuked the multitudes because the$ looked for the

wron% thin% at the wron% time. Aorperience.

+hose with understandin% of the wilderness will enter in with

o$, knowin% that be$ond this place a Fpromised landF waits forthem. +his o$, from the /ision set before them, will be the stren%th

the$ need to finish the ourne$, that the$ mi%ht ")e perfect

MmatureN and complete, lacking nothing" H"ames 'amples, illustrations, and words of instruction which the

7ol$ Spirit has compelled me to share, $ou will see how to walk

wisel$ in this land and season of wilderness.

Let us be%in with "esus as an e>ample of one who successfull$completed the wilderness trainin%.

n Luke *


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@od proclaim "esus as 7is Son, but 7e announced for all to hear that

7e appro/ed of 7im. Jet we find in Luke =


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wa$ @od desired it to be, but the sad result of their disobedience.

hope this settles in $our heart that the reason behind the

wilderness is not the disappro/al or punishment of @od. or is it aplace in which @od abandons and for%ets about $ou. t will be a

place of /ictor$ when we belie/e and obe$ @odK

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-ow all these things happened to them as

e(amples, and the were written for our

instruction, upon whom the ends of the ageshave come.

n other words, @od wants us to benefit from the lessons and

li/es of the patriarchs and prophets. 4/en thou%h man$ Old

+estament prophecies ha/e seen historic fulfillment, this does not

ne%ate their application in current times. One does not in/alidate

the other.

P E R C E P T I 1 N 1 T H E / I & D E R N E S S

LetDs look at an Old +estament e>ample of the wilderness

described in the book of "ob.

Look, I go forward, but He /is& not there, and

backward, but I cannot perceive Him' when He

works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;

when He turns to the right hand, I cannot see

Him. )ut He knows the wa that I take; when Hehas tested me, I shall come forth as gold. %emp.

added&

Job 23:8-%. (NKJV)

6hat a classic description of the wilderness. "ob searches for

the presence and mo/in% of @od in his life. Jet the more he

searches, the more elusi/e @od seems. @od, howe/er, is workin% on

"obDs behalf and knows e>actl$ what is happenin% in "obDs life. So

ust because @odDs presence is not readil$ noticeable, this does not

mean 7e is not there and workin% in our li/es.

6hen $ou first recei/ed the Lord "esus and were filled with the

7ol$ Spirit, @odDs presence was wonderfull$ real to $ou. Jou would

call 7is name and instantl$ 7e responded. 6hen $ou pra$ed, 7e

manifested 7is presence. 5s a newborn child in 7is famil$ $ou

recei/ed the attention %i/en a bab$.

6hen children are newborn, the$ require constant care. +he$must be fed, clothed, and bathed, and the$ rel$ on others to do

e/er$thin% for them. 7owe/er, as children %row, the$ must be

allowed to mature. 6hen our oldest son be%an to feed himself, he

became frustrated because he couldnDt put his food in his mouth as

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quickl$ or efficientl$ as his momm$. ow he stru%%led to recei/e

what once had come so easil$. 9an$ times it would ha/e been

easier for all of us if we had continued feedin% him, instead ofallowin% him to do it for himself. 7owe/er, if we had taken the

Feas$F wa$, his maturin% in this area would ha/e been hindered

%reatl$. 5s babies %row, the le/el of assistance the$ recei/e chan%es

to encoura%e %rowth and de/elopment.

@od does this with us so we can de/elop and mature spirituall$.

6hen we are newl$ born a%ain and filled with 7is Spirit, for a

season 7e manifests 7imself at our e/er$ cr$. n order to foster

maturit$, 7e allows us to %o throu%h times in which 7e does notrespond instantl$ to our e/er$ call.

+he time comes when character must be de/eloped. 5nd the

wilderness is where it is done...the wilderness where @od appears

to be miles awa$ and 7is promises e/en farther. 7e is, howe/er,

close at hand, for 7e has promised ne/er to lea/e nor forsake us

H7ebrews '*perience sociall$ what $ou need, not what $ou want. n the

wilderness @od knows what $ou need spirituall$, and it ma$ not be

what $ou think $ou needK n 5merica, we call this lack and sa$,

FLack is of the de/il.F +he problem is that o#r definition of needs

and wants differs from realit$. 6e call our wants Fneeds,F when this

is not soK

+he 5merican Church has $et to learn what Paul meant inPhilippians =


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content 0satisfied to the point where I am not

disturbed or dis1uieted2 in whatever state I am.

I know how to be abased and live humbl instraitened circumstances, and I know also how

to en3o plent and live in abundance. I have

learned in an and all circumstances the secret

of facing ever situation, whether well4fed or

going hungr, having a sufficienc and to spare

or going without and being in want. I have

strength for all things in hrist Who empowers

me.... %emp. and parentheticals added&

Paul learned throu%h the stren%th of Christ that he could be as

content in dr$ times as he was in abundance. 6e ha/e learned

neither in the Church of 5mericaK Sadl$, those with abundance are

no more content than those who suffer lack.

f we do not possess all we feel is ri%htl$ ours, we call it Flack.F

6e ud%e menDs faith and measure their spiritualit$ b$ what the$

possess, when what we should see is their character. +he children

of srael left 4%$pt with %reat possessions plundered from the4%$ptiansEarticles of sil/er and %old and fine apparel. But the$

used the precious metals to build idols in the desert, then adorned

themsel/es in fine apparel and danced before them. Clearl$ these

possessions did not indicate %odlinessEin fact, the opposite was

true. Onl$ two of the ori%inal members of the e>odus had the

character to enter and possess the promised land. Onl$ "oshua and

Caleb entered, because the$ had a different spiritEthe$ followed

@od full$K Humbers '=


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their own desires. Paul, thou%h he had authorit$ to recei/e financial

support from churches throu%h sowin% to them spirituall$, said, "If

we have sown spiritual things for ou, is it a great thing if wereap our material things$ If others are partakers of this right

over ou, are we not even more$ -evertheless we have not used

this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of

hrist." Memp. addedN H Corinthians (


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7imK

+he wilderness is a dr$ place. t ma$ be dr$ spirituall$,

financiall$, sociall$, or ph$sicall$. t is here that @od %i/es Fdail$bread,F not Fabundance of thin%s.F 7e meets our needs in this time

Enot necessaril$ our wants. +he purpose of the wildernessEto

purif$ us. Our pursuit is to be 7is heart, not 7is %rovision. +hen

when we come into abundant times, we wonDt for%et that it was the

Lord, our @od, 6ho %a/e us abundance in order to establish 7is

co/enant H3euteronom$ )


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+ime of+estin%


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*+ime of +estin%

Often, e/en toda$, we seek "esus for the wron% reasons. 6e

unknowin%l$ use 7im. 7e is reduced to a resource in time

of need.

...The Lord our od led ou...in the

wilderness, to humble ou and to test ou, to

know what was in our heart,...

D#'#rono4 8:2 (NKJV)

icture this< Jou are an sraelite, recentl$ freed after a lifetime

of sla/er$. Jou ust e>perienced the fri%htenin%, $et

e>hilaratin% walk between two walls of swirlin%, an%r$waters to come out safe and dr$ on the other side. Jou turned to

watch as those same walls which %a/e protection to $ou closed in

death on $our enemies. Jou o$ousl$ celebrated and danced at

@odDs /ictorious deli/eranceK Jou feel in/incible, knowin% @od is on

$our side. Jou ne/er will doubt a%ain One so mi%ht$ and faithfulK

PBut now the scene is different< it is a few da$s laterE$ou are

tired, thirst$, and hot. Jou are not at the threshold of the

FpromisedF land instead, $ou are wanderin% aimlessl$ in a desert

filled with serpents and scorpions. ow $ou are not dancin% and

sin%in% to the Lord about the horse and its rider thrown into the

sea, but complainin% to $our leader sa$in%, F6h$ ha/e $ou brou%ht

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us out of 4%$ptG +o kill us and our children and our li/estock with

thirstGF

ow, letDs look at $ouK 3o $ou belie/e @od mi%htil$ deli/ered$ou from the power of the enem$ to lea/e $ou wanderin% aimlessl$

throu%h a desert of confusion and silenceG 6as this 7is purposeG

"ust as the Lord led the children of srael out of 4%$pt into the

wilderness, so 7e leads $ou. +he de/il did not lead $ou, @od did.

5nd there is a purpose for these dr$ times. Airst, 7e humbles us,

then 7e tests us. 7e does this so we can know the tr#e nature of our

hearts.

7ow does 7e humbleG "+o He humbled ou, allowed ou to

hunger, and fed ou with manna..." Memp. addedN H3euteronom$

)


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her to take him for a hambur%er.

ow, we were whinin% after onl$ ei%ht da$s can $ou ima%ine

fort$ $earsG ot four $ears but fort$K 6e now see how @od causedthem to hun%er. 7e didnDt %i/e them the thin%s their flesh wanted.

7e onl$ %a/e them what their flesh needed.

6hat else caused them to hun%erG 6e %et e>cited about the fact

that their clothes and shoes didnDt wear out. 6ell, how would $ou

like to wear the same wardrobe for fort$ $earsG 7a/e $ou thou%ht

how outdated their fort$;$ear;old outfits lookedG o new clothes,

no shoppin% malls, and no department stores...the same shoes and

accessoriesEnothin% new for fort$ $earsK

+he$ had what the$ neededEprotection from heat and coldE

but not what the$ wanted.

7ow else did the$ hun%erG +he$ saw the same scener$, da$

after da$, for fort$ $ears. 4/er$ da$ brou%ht cactus, bullrushes, and

dr$, parched %round no streams, forests, or beautiful lakes...ust

desert.

n li%ht of this, letDs ree>amine this /erseample of the worldDs s$stemI. +heir condition in 4%$pt, e/en with

its bonda%e, now appeared preferable to the dr$ place into which

@od had led them.

+he$ be%an to complain and murmur, cr$in% out for meat. @od

heard their cr$$ #$< ,n5 '",#"4< h#4 n#?#r

#n#r#5 H$ PR1MISED &AND@+he sin wasnDt in the request for

meat, but what that request represented. t re/ealed the

dissatisfaction of their hearts with @od and 7is method of leadin%,

as well as their intense desire for the former thin%s, which the$

remembered as pleasant, in spite of their capti/it$.

Currentl$, @od has brou%ht 7is Church into the wilderness.

Spirituall$, 5merica is a dr$ and thirst$ land. Our time of testin% is

at hand. @od once a%ain watches to see whether 7is people will

seek 7isface or 7is hand. 7is face represents 7is character and

nature it denotes a relationship. 7is hand represents 7is

provision and power. f $ou seek onl$ 7is hand, $ou ma$ not

reco%nie 7is face. But if $ou know the face, $ou will know 7is

hand.

+he Pharisees did not reco%nie @odDs face in the person of

"esus the$ were watchin% onl$ for 7is hand to deli/er them from

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0oman bonda%e. Let us not be like them.

f our heart is after @od, if we will lo/e, obe$, and seek 7im,

e/en in these Fdr$ times,F 7e will raise up forerunners. Like "oshua,the$ will arise and take the FPromised Land,F partakin% in the

har/est of the nations.

@od is raisin% up a F"oshua @eneration,F but as in "oshuaDs time,

the arm$Ds trainin% %round is the wilderness. +hese dr$ times sift

the murmurers, the complainers, and the rebellious, ust as the

wheat is separated from the chaff.

+hose seekin% onl$ the benefits of the promise and not theFPromiserF 7imself will faint in the dr$ desert places. t is one thin%

to seek the Lord for what 7e can %i/e $ou or do for $ou. t is quite

another to seek the Lord for 'ho He is. +he first is for $our benefit

the moti/e, selfish. 5t best, an immature relationship will de/elop

from this moti/ation. But seekin% the Lord for 6ho and what 7e is

will build a stron% and health$ relationship.

M 1 T I V E 1 R S E E K I N G

7n the following da, when the people...saw

that *esus was not there, nor His disciples, the

also got into boats and came to apernaum,

seeking *esus. !nd when the found Him on the

other side of the sea, the said to Him, 8abbi,

when did #ou come here$

*esus answered them and said, 9ost

assuredl, I sa to ou, ou seek 9e, not becauseou saw the signs, but because ou ate of the

loaves and were filled. %emp. added&

John +:22-2+ (NKJV)

+he multitudes of people came seekin% "esus. 6hen the$ finall$

found 7im, 7e looked at them and said the reason wasnDt because

of the si%ns the$ saw, but because the$ had eaten and were filled.

ow, what do si%ns doG +he$ %i/e direction or information. 5 si%n

ne/er points to itself. t directs $ou or %i/es information. "esus knew

the$ werenDt seekin% 7im because of the si%ns and miracles, which

pointed to 7im as the 9essiah, but onl$ so their stomachs would be

filled.

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Often, e/en toda$, we seek "esus for the wron% reasons. 6e

pursue onl$ 7is benefits and blessin%s, rather than pursue 7im out

of lo/e. 6e unknowin%l$ use 7im. 7e is reduced to a resource intime of need.

7a/e $ou e/er had a person who contacts $ou onl$ when he

needs or wants somethin% from $ouG Or e/en worse, ha/e $ou e/er

had a person seek friendship with $ou onl$ to find out later their

moti/e was to %ain somethin% $ou ha/eG Perhaps it was $our

influence, mone$, material %oods, or positionG +here was no

%enuine concern or lo/e for $ou, but for a time $ou ser/ed their

purpose. f $ouD/e e>perienced this, $ou know how it feels to beused.

+his selfish attitude has permeated societ$, as well as the

Church. +his mindset is wh$ di/orce is at an all;time hi%h. 4/en in

the Church, couples marr$ for selfish reasons. +he$ fail to realie

marria%e is a co/enant of lo/e, not a contract. +he$ marr$ because

of what their partner can do for them. 5nd if this partner fails to

meet their e>pectations, the$ seek another, i%norin% the fact that in

@odDs e$es a co/enant is far stron%er and more bindin% than acontract.

9an$ in the Church are discontented, their lo/e cold. Some

backslide others depart from the faith. +he$ ser/e the Lord for

what 7e can do for them, not out of lo/e for 6ho 7e is. So, as lon%

as @od pro/ides their wants, the$ are happ$ and e>cited about 7im.

But upon enterin% dr$ times, the moti/e of their hearts is re/ealed.

5n$time the focus is self, complainin% will be%in.

+his is illustrated once a%ain b$ the children of srael. 6hen the

Lord deli/ered them from the hand of the Pharaoh, the people

reoiced.

Then 9iriam the prophetess, the sister of

!aron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the

women went out after her with timbrels and

with dances. !nd 9iriam answered them'

+ing to the Lord, for He has triumphedgloriousl The horse and its rider He has

thrown into the sea

Eo5'$ %:2.-2% (NKJV)

E*=E


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+he$ were o/erwhelmed b$ 7is %reatness and miraculous

power. +heir hearts were filled with e>citement because of 7is

deli/erance. Jet onl$ three da$s later, in the wilderness of Shur,the$ encountered bitter waters and the complainin% be%anodus '1


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=Our 4>ample

6e stru%%le under the hea/$ wei%ht of unfulfilled /ows

and promises, until we are so burdened we can barel$ lift

our /oice in pra$er.

9oreover, brethren, I do not want ou to be

unaware that all our fathers were under the

cloud, all passed through the sea, all were

bapti:ed into 9oses in the cloud and in the sea,

all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the

same spiritual drink. or the drank of that

spiritual 8ock that followed them, and that 8ockwas hrist. %emp. added&

I Cornh,n$ %.:%-* (NKJV)

aul points out that all were &ovenant children, descendants of

5braham, not %entiles. +he$ all tra/eled under the cloud of

@odDs protection, were baptied into 9oses, who was a

foreshadowin% of Christ, our 3eli/erer. 5nd all partook of the

spiritual food and drink of Christ. So it is clear we are /iewin% a

nation of people which foreshadows that of the ew +estamentChristian. Paul stressed the word FallF fi/e times, as if to sa$, F6e

arenDt talkin% about an$ heathen here.F 7e %oes on to sa$

saw it, the removed, and stood afar off. !nd

the said unto 9oses, "+peak thou with us. and

we will hear' but let not od speak with us. lest

we die." %emp. added&

Eo5'$ 2.:%8

+he$ pleaded with 9oses< FJou talk to @od for us and tell us

what 7e sa$s, and we will do it...,F HparaphrasedI a%ain manifestin%

their desire for onl$ %ain, without a relationshi%. +he$ had %ood

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intentionsEthe$ intended to keep @odDs word, but without a

relationshi% the$ couldnDt. 7ow can $ou remain faithful to someone

$ou donDt know or spend time withG +he$ wanted a formula insteadof a relationship, so @od %a/e them the +en Commandments. Jet,

%eneration after %eneration the$ pro/ed that the$ were unable to

keep these commandments. @od knew the$ would be unable to

keep these laws hewn on stone unless somehow 7e could replace

their hearts of stone with 7is law.

5nd now we turn to the Church toda$. 7ow man$ of us with the

best of intentions tr$ to keep the laws of @odG 6e stru%%le under

the hea/$ wei%ht of unfulfilled /ows and promises, until we are soburdened we can barel$ lift our /oices in pra$er. 6e look to the

minister, our mates, or our friends, hopin% the$ will seek @od on

our behalf and tell us what 7e is sa$in%. Like the children of srael,

we tr$ to keep 7is commandments without maintainin% a life;

%i/in% relationship with the Lord. 6e err in our heartsK "esus said in

"ohn '=


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9oses drew near unto the thick darkness where od was." Memp.

addedN

4/en thou%h 9oses was a man with influence and power, witha con%re%ation of three million, who had been part of the most

astoundin% si%ns and wonders in the Old +estament, he knew these

alone would ne/er satisf$ him. 4>amine his pra$er after he had

e>perienced all the incredible si%ns and wonderscited about recei/in% the anointin% of @od upon his life.

7e was so e>cited, he was e/en willin% to offer somethin% of /alue

for it. Jet e/en under the %uise of ministr$, his true moti/e was to

promote himself. 6e are not to pursue the anointin% it is a %ift

which cannot be earned or learned.

5 %ift is %i/en it is %ranted freel$ or it is not a %ift. or can we

bribe @od b$ our %ifts or performanceE7e %i/es out of compassion

in response to need. 6hen $ou are under @odDs anointin%, $ouquickl$ see the anointin% is for the sake of others, not $ourself.

5n adulterer is an indi/idual who has a co/enant relationship

with one, and $et becomes in/ol/ed with another. +he Church has

pursued relations with the world unfaithfull$, while boastin% that

all 7er sins are washed awa$ b$ the blood of 7er co/enant with

"esus. She has become adulterous. FJou ask and do not recei/e,

because $ou ask amiss, that $ou ma$ spend it on $our ="#,$'r#$B

A5'"#r#r$ and ,5'"#r#$$#$@ 3o $ou not know that friendshipwith the world is enmit$ with @odGF Memp. addedN H"ames =


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He who eats 9 flesh and drinks 9 blood

abides in 9e. and I in him.

!s the living ather sent 9e, and I livebecause of the ather, so he who feeds on 9e

will live because of 9e. %emp. added&

5s $ou can see, eatin% the bread and drinkin% the uice is an

outward si%n of an inward commitment. Ab5# in Christ, feed on

7imE7e is our life source. 3onDt li/e off of the pleasures of this

world, but on e/er$ word that proceeds from the mouth of @od. 5s

true Christians, our diet is not that on which the world dines. Aor,

F...$ou cannot partake of the LordDs table and of the table of

demonsF H Corinthians ':


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"onah was terribl$ uncomfortable in the bell$ of that whale, but

@od is more concerned with our &ondition than our &omfort. Often if

am unable to wake m$ children, will sit them upri%ht, makin% ituncomfortable for them to sleep. Could it be @od is tr$in% to rouse

usG

ow letDs look at 7osea 8


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4cclesiastes -


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)+he 0efinin% Aire

@od is raisin% a %eneration of people who will manifest 7is

%lor$, not their own...

)ehold, I send 9 messenger, !nd he will

prepare the wa before 9e. !nd the Lord, whom

ou seek, will suddenl come to His temple, 5ven

the 9essenger of the covenant, In whom ou

delight. )ehold, He is coming, sas the L78= of

hosts. )ut who can endure the da of His

coming$ !nd who can stand when He appears$

or He %is& like a refiner


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dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself

from these %ini1uities&, he shall be a vessel unto

honour, sanctified, and meet for the master


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Therefore, as the Hol +pirit sas' T7=!#, if

ou will hear His voice, do not harden our

hearts as in the rebellion,...but e(hort oneanother dail, while it is called "T7=!#," lest

an of ou be hardened through the

deceitfulness of sin. %emp. added&

H#br#$ 3:-%3 (NKJV)

Sin is the added substance that turns our %#re %old into an

allo$, hardenin% our hearts. +his lack of tenderness creates a loss of

sensiti/it$, which hinders our abilit$ to hear 7is /oice.

Unfortunatel$, this is the state of ,n4 n h# Ch'r!h, ha/in% aform of %odliness, but without a tender heart. +heir hearts no

lon%er burn for "esus. +hat white;hot lo/e for @od has been

replaced with a fri%id self lo/e, which seeks onl$ its own pleasure,

comfort, and benefit. Supposin% %odliness is a means to personal

%ain H +imoth$ 8clude the Promisor 7imself. 34C4#43, the$ deli%ht themsel/es

with the world, e>pectin% to recei/e hea/en, tooK

>ure and undefiled religion before od and

the ather is this'...to keep oneself unspotted

from the world. %emp. added&

J,#$ %:2 (NKJV)

"esus is comin% for a Church that is pure, without spot, or an$

such impurit$ H4phesians 1


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9alachi *


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+ 7 4 0 4 A @ A 0 4

world a%ain will see "esus.

n saiah this is amplified to a %reater de%reetensi/e its foundation. Arom the

%round abo/e, it seemed the$ were mo/in% slowl$ and makin% little

headwa$ then all of a sudden, up it would %o. ts pro%ress would

seem to occur almost o/erni%ht when compared with the

preparation process. +he #%ward %rogression was nothin% when

compared with the downward %re%aration.

+here are man$ in the bod$ of Christ in the process ofdownward preparationEand we praise @od for the be%innin% of an

awakenin%. +he$ ma$ ha/e a call to ministr$ but are presentl$ in a

ser/in% position. +hin%s donDt appear to be mo/in% /er$ quickl$....

+he$ are in the "5#rn#$$ under @odDs preparation. +he

foundation is bein% laid the character of Christ bein% formed. +his

character will under%ird all who build for the ministr$. Others

around them appear to mo/e swiftl$ upward throu%h politics and

self;promotion, while their own pro%ress seems to remain at a

standstill. +he$ e/en ma$ be tempted to take this route themsel/es,

but knowin% it $ields no character and compromises the e>istin%

character the$ alread$ ha/e attained, the$ decide the risk is too

%reat. B$ ,non @od, the$ allow the 9aster Builder to la$ a

%ood solid foundation on the 0ock.

Presentl$, there are ministers dili%entl$ seekin% @od, but a%ain

it appears nothin% is happenin%. +he$ ha/e found themsel/es in a

dr$ place or time. +he$ watch as others promote themsel/es andtheir ministries successfull$ throu%h the use of pro%rams and

secular marketin%. Jet @od will not allow them to build throu%h

these methods. 6h$G Because @od 7imself is preparin% their

foundation.

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+hen there are those whom @od has not called to full;time

ministr$ as $et, but 7e has %i/en them a dream. +he$ are wonderin%

how this /ision will e/er come to pass. ts possible fulfillment ma$appear to be slippin% awa$.

n this dr$ or wilderness time, @od separates those who will

wait on 7im from those who will build with the tools of Fh$peF or

Fpro%rams.F Promotion will come to those who are watchin% and

waitin% for 7im to come to 7is temple.

@od sa$s, "When I choose the %proper& time

, I will 3udge

uprightl.... for e(altation comes neither from the east nor from

the west nor from the south. )ut od is the *udge' He puts downone, and e(alts another" Memp. and parenthetical addedN HPsalm

:2-< !"#I.

+here are saac ministries and there are shmael ministries.

6hat is the differenceG shmael ministries are born of a need, but

birthed b$ flesh saac ministries are born of a call and birthed b$

Spirit. 7oh !o# ;ro h# $,# =ro$# or !,"" o; Go5B

Let me e>plain< @od promised 5bram he would ha/e a son. +hisson was to come from 5bramDs own bod$. @od did not sa$ an$thin%

about his barren wife SaraiDs role in the matter. 5fter ele/en $ears

of waitin%, Sarai came to 5bram with this idea< FDm barren and past

child;bearin% a%e. Jour reproducti/e s$stem is still %ood. f we wait

much lon%er, e/en $ou will be unable to reproduce. 3onDt $ou

knowG Aaith without works is deadK So take m$ maid 7a%ar and %et

her pre%nant, so shall obtain m$ children from herF Hparaphrased,

@enesis '8I. 7e listened to his wifeDs /oice and 7a%ar %a/e him a

son named shmael.

ow, @od saw this and said, "+o the think the can bring

forth 9 promise in their own strength; now I will wait until

!bram


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bondwoman shall no b# h#rwith the son of the free;woman.F

+he da$ is comin% when the Lord shall come to 7is temple and

sa$, FCast out the ministries of flesh, for the ministries of flesh shallha/e no inheritance with the ministries of promise.F 4/en thou%h

the$ are producin% fruit, @od will sa$, FCast them outKF 6h$G So

that no flesh will %lor$ in 7is presenceK

6hen ud%ment comes, with its separation, if one portion of

$our life or ministr$ has been built b$ $our own abilit$ and the

other b$ the Spirit, onl$ the portion built b$ the Spirit of the Lord

will remain. f an indi/idual builds his ministr$ or life totall$ b$ self;

promotion, then nothin% shall remain. But he shall be sa/ed, $et asthrou%h fire. +he onl$ thin%s that will remain are those which are

recei/ed b$ promise and concei/ed and birthed throu%h the 7ol$

Spirit.

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':"ud%ment of the 6icked

FmpostorF< one who decei/es others b$ an assumed

character or false pretenses.

)ut who can endure the da of His coming$

!nd who can stand when He appears$ or He is

like a refiner


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+he wicked near or amon% @odDs people are called impostors.

+he dictionar$ defines the word FimpostorF as one who decei/es

others b$ an assumed character or false pretenses. n order tounderstand, we must realiealtedI of e>altin% himself. !orahDs rebellion was

ud%ed, and he was swallowed ali/e b$ the earth. +he ew+estament sa$s< FObe$ those who rule o/er $ou, and be submissi/e,

for the$ watch out for $our souls, as those who must %i/e account.

Let them do so with o$ and not with %rief, for that would be

unprofitable for $ouF H7ebrews '*


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through the knowledge of the Lord and +avior

*esus hrist, the are again entangled in them

and overcome, the latter end is worse for themthan the beginning. or it would have been

better for them not to have known the wa of

righteousness, than having known it, to turn

from the hol commandment delivered to them.

%emp. !dded&

II P##r 2:%3-%< 2.-2% (NKJV)

ha/e used a lot of scripture in this chapter. 6ith such a

/olatile issue, felt it was important to use predominantl$scriptures, rather than m$ own opinion or con/ictions. Let me call

$our attention to three specific factsample of thisharaoh, and

lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all

the land of 5gpt. %emp. added&

G#n#$$ *:*-8

nstead of "oseph %ettin% re/en%e on the brothers who sold him

to sla/er$, he blessed them b$ pro/idin% food and shelter. 7e

o/ercame e/il with %oodK 7is brothersD li/es were chan%ed, and theen/$ and wickedness had been de/oured b$ the character of @od

that had been worked in "osephDs life.

n !in% 3a/idDs case, the endin% was different. Saul died in

ud%ment. 7e ne/er repented, but rather %rew worse in his

deception. But look at the wa$ 3a/id responded to the death of

Saulpect to lo/e $ou instead intend to

do $ou harm. 7ow will $ou respondG 6ill $ou defend or a/en%e$ourselfG Or will $ou allow @od to a/en%e $ouG 6ill $ou keep

$ourself in the lo/e of @odG 6ill $ou be like 3a/id, who saidas. +here

was a member of a church of se/en thousand people. be%an to

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usher in the church and help in an$ areas of need. be%an to attend

their ni%ht Bible school. +wo $ears later was hired as an assistant.

told them onl$ could commit to one $ear because was called topreach. 9$ ob was to wash and fill their cars with %as, shine the

pastorDs shoes, run errands, pick up their children from school, %i/e

swimmin% lessons to two preschoolers, and man$ other tasks. was

not there one $ear, but for four and a half.

4i%ht $ears now had %one b$ since had said FJesF to the call of

@od. n colle%e, watchin% all those students sa/ed, healed, and

deli/ered, thou%ht the full;time ministr$ was ust da$s awa$. had

no idea about the process throu%h which @od would brin% me. Butthere was in the wilderness for se/eral $ears.

3urin% the period of time ser/ed, tried unsuccessfull$ three

times to %et into full;time preachin% ministr$. 5s flew back to

3allas from 5sia Hafter the third tr$ to see if that was where @od

wanted meI, was readin% the %ospel of "ohn, when came to the

si>th /erse in chapter one and saw this, "There was a man sent

from od, whose name was *ohn" Memp. addedN. +he words Fsent

from @odF umped off the pa%e and @od said to me, F3o $ou want tobe sent b$ "ohn Be/ere or do $ou want to be sent b$ @odGF said, F

want to be sent b$ @od.F 5nd the Lord said, F@ood, because if $ou

are sent b$ "ohn, $ouDll %o in "ohnDs authorit$, but if $ou are sent b$

@od, $ou will %o in m$ authorit$KF 5fter this, be%an to settle down

and eno$ where @od had placed me. 6hile was out pra$in% one

mornin% said, FLord, if Jou return and Dm still dri/in% this /an and

runnin% errands for m$ pastor and his wife, know can look at Jou

and sa$, D ha/e obe$ed Jou.DF Si> months later was a $outh pastorin a lar%e church in Alorida.

7ad @od put me on a shelf for those ei%ht $ears until some

position opened upG OK 5 thousand times noK had been brou%ht

to that wilderness in order to de/elop %odl$ character...that His way

mi%ht be prepared. 9$ character needed to be de/eloped in order

to function in the call of that position of ministr$. +he process was

complete for that le/el of ministr$. 7owe/er, with e/er$ spiritual

promotion, first must come the preparation for that le/el.@od said to 9oses after fort$ $ears of wilderness trainin%haraoh, that thou maest bring forth m

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people the children of Israel out of 5gpt. !nd

9oses said unto od, Who am I, that I should go

unto >haraoh, and that I should bring forth thechildren of Israel out of 5gpt$ !nd he said,

ertainl I will be with thee

; ....%emp. added&

Eo5'$ 3:%.-%2

Look at what @od said about preachers that sent themsel/es< "I

have not sent these prophets, et the ran' I have not spoken to

them, et the prophesied...et I sent them not, nor commanded

them' therefore the shall not profit this people at all, saith the

L78=" Memp. addedN H"eremiah 2*


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crooked shall be made straight, and the rough

places plain' !nd the glor of the L78= shall be

revealed, and all flesh shall see it together' forthe mouth of the L78= hath spoken it. The voice

said, r. !nd he said, What shall I cr$ !ll flesh

%is& grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as

the flower of the field' The grass withereth, the

flower fadeth' because the spirit of the L78=

bloweth upon it' surel the people is grass. The

grass withereth, the flower fadeth' but the word

of our od shall stand for ever. %emp. !dded&

I$,,h *.:3-8

@od is sa$in% that the wilderness is where the wa$ of the Lord

is prepared. +he wa$ of the Lord is not the stren%th of man. 7e sa$s

that the pride of flesh shall be made low, the humble Hthose who

wait on the LordI e>alted, the crooked places made strai%ht, and

rou%h places made smooth. 5s a colle%e student, had tapped into

flowin% in the anointin%, but there were mountains in m$ life to be

made low and rou%h and crooked places to be made smooth andstrai%ht. @od be%an 7is processin% in the wilderness. n our

wilderness period, it is important to allow @od to ha/e 7is wa$ in

our li/es. 6hile was in the position of ser/in% m$ pastor in 3allas,

the Lord spoke to me one da$ and said, F"ohn, donDt miss what

want to do in $ou toda$ b$ onl$ lookin% for the preachin% ministr$

of tomorrow.F so badl$ wanted to preach, that /iewed this phase

of m$ life as a waste of time. 3onDt fall into this trap. 0ealie that

@od is not wasting time 7e is the one who redeems time 0ealiethat where $ou are presentl$ is a /ital part of where $ou are %oin%.

t is $our trainin% arena. Let 7im worr$ about how it will all work

out and come to%ether...$ou ust flowK 7e is @od, the 5uthor and

Ainisher. 5ll we are to do is trust 7im and obe$ what 7e is showin%

us +O35JK 4/er$ time thou%ht had fi%ured out how 7e was %oin%

to put me in the preachin% ministr$, 7e would sa$, F"ohn, $ou ha/e

ust fi%ured out another wa$ it will not happenKF +his was true the

wa$ 7e brou%ht it forth was totall$ une>pected. Dm sure "oseph

ne/er e>pected to find his dream bein% fulfilled the wa$ it actuall$happened.

@od brin%s us to the place in which we are content Hnot

complacentI where we are. t will seem almost as if the dream has

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died. But it is whenyo#r plans for fulfillment of the dream die in

$our mind, will, and emotions that 7e prepares to resurrect them

His wa$. was puled and frustrated b$ what 7e had done withme. asked, F6h$ did Jou %et me all e>cited about the ministr$,

when ei%ht $ears later ha/e to put the dream as an saac on the

altarGF +he Lord answered, FSon, to re/eal whether $ou are ser/in%

the dream or me.F

+his is what @od did with 5braham. 7e %ot him all e>cited, told

him he would be the father of nations...and twent$;fi/e $ears later

the promise be%an to come to pass. +hen thirteen $ears later, after

5braham had lo/ed and eno$ed saac, his promised son, @od testedhim, tellin% him to put the dream on the altar. @od allowed that

dream to die in 5brahamDs mind, will, and emotions. +hen 7e would

see if 5braham lo/ed the dream more than the dream;@i/er.

6hen @od %i/es 7is authorit$ and power to a man, the mi%htier

the authorit$ and power %i/en, the %reater the ud%ment for not

obe$in% the Spirit of the Lord. @od did not ud%e 9oses at fort$

when he did thin%s his own wa$, because @odDs authorit$ and

power were not $et on him. 7owe/er, later this was not the case.6hile in the wilderness of in, the people contended with 9oses

and complained about the place to which he had brou%ht them.

+he$ were thirst$ and wanted water. So @od told 9oses what to doample of @odDs presence. Paul

said in 4phesians 1


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absorb all the moisture out of the wine skin, lea/in% it brittle and

hard. ow if the wine was poured out and new wine poured in, the

skin could handle neither the wei%ht of the new wine nor thefermentation process, because it was now ri%id and brittle and

could break easil$. 6hat the$ did was soak the skin in water for

se/eral da$s and then rub oli/e oil on it. +hat made it fle>ible and

pliable a%ain. +his is s$mbolic of what happens to us, for we are the

/essels of the spiritual new wine. 4phesians 1


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knowled%e to be the Fmodel Christian,F the$ stop see0ing and settle

down into the tradition the$ ha/e de/eloped. Jet, somehow the$

feel empt$, e/en if it is, +O +749, the Ffull %ospel.F"eremiah 2(


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it doesnDt matter if am in the middle of the desert where there is

no one or if am preachin% to millions, Dll do the same thin% in both

places. will pursue $our heartKF 5ll of a sudden bells went off and saw what 7e was doin%K said, F@od, that is e>actl$ what Jou ha/e

been doin% in me. Jou ha/e brou%ht me to the place where see Jou

as m$ inheritance and m$ first lo/e, not the ministr$ or an$thin%

else. So when the chan%e comes wonDt make an idol out of it.

wonDt lea/e Jou as m$ first lo/e and lo/e the ministr$ instead of

Jou. 9$ heart will sta$ ri%ht.F +hen remembered what @od said

about 3a/id< "!nd when he had removed him %+aul&, he raised up

unto them =avid to be their king; to whom also he gave

testimon, and said, I have found =avid the son of *esse, a man

after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all m will" Memp. addedN

H5cts '*


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short time later he laid hands on m$ wife and me, and we ha/e been

tra/elin% full time since thenK

+he ei%hteen;month wilderness prepared us for the chan%e@od was brin%in% into our li/es and ministr$. n that time 7e

de/eloped within me the character needed to handle the call of

that phase of ministr$. ow look at saiah =*


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'=0esistance to Chan%e

... to know 7im as 7e knows us. Until we attain that %oal,

we should not be satisfied,...

)rethren, I count not mself to have

apprehended' but %this& one thing %I do&,

forgetting those things which are behind, and

reaching forth unto those things which are

before, I press toward the mark for the pri:e of

the high calling of od in hrist *esus. %emp.

added&

Ph"==,n$ 3:%3-%*n order to pursue the mark or effect of the hi%h call of @od for

our li/es, the first thin% we must settle in our hearts is that we

ha/enDt apprehended or attained it as $et. 6e are not perfected

we must continue to !h,n# ,n5 roB

Paul wrote two;thirds of the ew +estament and pioneered

man$ of the %entile churches. 7is ministr$ spread to the whole

world. Jet toward the end of his life he said, "I count not mself to

have apprehended." He wasnDt satisfied. 7e would not be satisfied

until he reached the mark of the hi%h call of @od.

6e see the same thin% with 9oses. 7e had a tremendous

ministr$, a con%re%ation of three million, and was part of

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miraculous si%ns and wonders like no one else in the Old

+estament. 7owe/er, @od said that 9oses was the meekest Hmost

teachableI man on all the earth. 7e did not count himself to ha/eapprehended, but continued to press on to the hi%h call of @od. n

order to %row and chan%e, we must be teachable.

+he second thin% we must do to pursue the mark of the hi%h

call of @od is for%et those thin%s H/ictories and defeatsI which are

behindK 5%ain, we look at what @od sa$s in saiah =*


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Likewise, while %rowin% in the thin%s of @od, as when we

pro%ress throu%h lifeDs sta%es, we should put awa$ former,

immature thin%s. Paul was sa$in%, now we see @odDs wa$s and 7is%lor$ diml$, but as we pursue the mark of the hi%h call, we will see

clearer until we see @od face to face. n other words, we will know

7im as 7e knows usK

6hat is the mark or %oal of the hi%h callG Paul answered it in

the pre/ious /erse about the hi%h call. Philippians *


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d$in% of disease or lackin% the mone$ to pa$ $our bills. t is not

%oin% without food for weeks so that @od will be mo/ed b$ $our

sacrifice. Sufferin% is not sacrificeEit is obedienceKPeter answers the question of sufferin% in /erse 2< "...SOthat he

no longer can spend the rest of his earthl life in harmon with

human desires but in accordance with odeter took

him, and began to rebuke him, saing, )e it far

from thee, Lord' this shall not be unto thee. )ut

he turned, and said unto >eter, et thee behind

me, +atan' thou art an offence unto me, for ou

are not mindful of the things of od, but the

things of men. %emp. added& M,h# %+:2%-23

"esus declared to 7is disciples that 7e must %o to "erusalem,

suffer, be killed, and be raised on the third da$. Peter ob/iousl$

didnDt hear the Fresurrection partF of what "esus said, or he

wouldnDt ha/e been so troubled b$ the statement "esus made about

7is comin% death.

CanDt $ou hear PeterDs thou%htsG F6ait a minute, Jou are the

9essiah Hit had ust been re/ealed to himI, and Jou are supposed to

set up the kin%dom and restore srael. ha/e left m$ business, m$

wife, and famil$ to follow Jou. ha/e lost friends to follow Jou. D/e

in/ested time in this. D/e de/eloped a reputation. +he leaders of the

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5ll twel/e went to%ether and saw the same thin%s. 5ll saw the

same land, cities, and people. 6h$ did ten come back seein% it one

wa$ and two return seein% it anotherG@od said about Caleb and "oshua that the$ had a 5;;#r#n

$=rin that the$ ;o""o#5 H ;'""4Humbers '=


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+hat is a sad fact but still true toda$. +here are man$ who

would rather sta$ in their bonda%e than to P04SS on to the will of

@od. +he$ fear the chan%e ahead more than the familiar oppressi/esurroundin%s in which the$ presentl$ find themsel/es. +here are

others who are satisfied with what @od has done in the past and are

unwillin% to press on to new challen%es. +he will of @od will brin%

life and libert$. t is the onl$ wa$ that brin%s true fulfillment.

7owe/er, to press on to the hi%h call will look impossible to the

natural e$e. @od said 7e would do a new thin%, but it would sprin%

forth in the wilderness. n other words, as we follow the Spirit of

@od to what 7e desires, it will lead us into what appears to be an

impossible wilderness. But what seems impossible to men is

possible to @od.

Oh, Christian, do not stop $our pursuit of @od when resistance

comes. 7e will not lead $ou into the eas$ places. 7e will lead $ou

into the tou%h places, because the %reater the battle, the %reater the

/ictor$. f $ou love $our life, $ou will quit in the tou%h places. Jou

will end $our pursuit and settle down to a fruitless life;st$le. +he

onl$ wa$ to endure what lies ahead in the da$s to come is to loseyo#r life. 0e/elation '2


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1E

#ictor$ in the6ilderness


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'1Place of 0e/elation

...to chan%e or make the transition, we must be willin% to

lea/e the comfortable, the secure, and the familiar...

Hearken to me, e that follow after

righteousness, e that seek the L78=' look unto

the rock %whence& e are hewn, and to the hole

of the pit %whence& e are digged. Look unto

!braham our father, and unto +arah %that&

bare ou' for I called him alone

, and blessed

him, and increased him. or the L78= shall

comfort ?ion' he will comfort all her wasteplaces; and he will make her wilderness like

5den, and her desert like the garden of the

L78=' 3o and gladness shall be found therein,

thanksgiving, and the voice of melod. %emp.

added&

I$,,h %:%-3

braham is called the father of all those who belie/e H0omans

=


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reli%ious inheritance to mo/e on with the Spirit of @od. 5braham

had to lea/e his famil$, friends, and inheritance to fulfill @odDs

callin%. n order to know @od, he had to come apart and follow @odto the land that 7e would show him.

@od blessed 5bram Hhis name before @od chan%ed itI and

increased him as a result of his obedience. 7owe/er, when he left

his comfortable surroundin%s and arri/ed at the land to which the

Lord led him, there was a se/ere famine in pro%ress. ow stop and

think about it. @od promises to bless 5bram, make him a %reat

nation, and make his name %reat. 5bram forsakes all to follow the

Lord, and when he comes to the land, the famine is so se/ere he hasto %o 4%$pt to dwell H@enesis '2t kin%... $et shortl$ afterward, 3a/id was dwellin% in ca/es and

wanderin% in the wilderness in preparation for the throne.

"oseph dreamed of a %reat future. @od was %oin% to make a

%reat leader out of him. 7is father, mother, and brothers would

e/en bow down to him...then he spent the ne>t se/enteen $ears

%oin% from a pit to sla/er$ to a dun%eon.

5t fort$ $ears of a%e, 9oses was shown that he would deli/er

his brethren from the 4%$ptians H5cts -t fort$ $ears in the backside of the desert tendin% another

manDs sheep.

"ohn the Baptist was called to be a %reat prophet. 7is dad told

him the /ision of his callin%. Aor se/eral $ears afterward he was in

the deserts of "udea.

"esus was announced b$ the Aather to be the Son of @od before

the multitudes at the "ordan ri/er. +he Spirit of @od descended onhim in bodil$ form. mmediatel$, 7e was led b$ the Spirit out to the

desert.

5s we ha/e seen, the wilderness is the place where @od tests

us, humbles us, refines us, and works 7is character in us. I $ h#

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=r#=,r,on ro'n5 ;or ;''r# n$r4B

+he most e>citin% thin% about the wilderness is that it is the

place where @od re/eals himself in a fresh new wa$K otice a%ainwhat saiah 1'


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baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" Memp. addedN.

t was in the wilderness of 5rabia that @od re/ealed the

m$steries of the ew +estament to Paul the apostle. @alatians'atmos, for

the word of od, and for the testimon of *esus hrist" Memp.

addedN. t was on the deserted island of Patmos that he recei/ed

F+he 0e/elation of "esus Christ.F

@od re/ealed 7imself to "oseph in PharaohDs dun%eon. "oseph

be%an to interpret dreams of the baker, the butler, and e/entuall$

Pharaoh himself.

@od re/ealed 7imself to 3a/id in the wilderness as his

Shepherd, his Stren%th, his Shield, his Aortress, and in man$ other

wa$s.

t is in the wilderness that the Lord re/eals 7imself to us in a

fresh wa$. saiah =1


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and we have heard his voice out of the midst of

the fire' we have seen this da that od doth

talk with man, and he liveth. -ow therefore whshould we die$ for this great fire will consume

us' i f we hear the voice o f the L78= our od

an more, then we shall die. or who %is there

o f & all flesh, that hath heard the voice o f the

living od speaking out o f the midst o f the fire,

as we %have&, and lived$ o thou near, and hear

all that the L78= our od shall sa' and speak

thou unto us all that the L78= our od shall

speak unto thee; and we will hear %it&, and do

%it&.

D#'#rono4 :23-2

@od desired to re/eal 7imself to them in the wilderness, as 7e

had done with 9oses, but the$ backed off and said to 9oses, FJou

%o and speak to the Lord and come to us and tell us all that 7e sa$s

and we will do it.F +he$ ne/er did 0now 7im, the$ onl$ knew abo#t

7im. +herefore, the$ ne/er could do as 7e commanded them.Because of not knowin% 7im, the$ ne/er saw the land promised

them. +he$ died in the wilderness. 6hen @od brin%s us into a

wilderness, it will be to test us, to see if we will hun%er for 7im as

"ohn, 9oses, 3a/id, "oseph, Paul, and others did, or if we will hun%er

for comfort and pleasure.

n "ames it sa$st time $ou come into $our pra$er closet. 5 /er$ dear friend

of mine and used to pra$ to%ether nearl$ e/er$ mornin% when

li/ed in 3allas, +e>as. 7e was one of se/eral pastors in the church,

and was an assistant to the head pastor and his wife. 6e would

come into that room at -actl$ where we left off. +his would %o on sometimes for two da$s,

other times three da$s, and one particular time remember it

takin% a weekK 7owe/er, when the breakthrou%h cameEwowK

6hat power and refreshin%.

5s tra/el to churches across 5merica, can spot the man$

Christians who ha/e allowed their wells to be plu%%ed up and ha/esettled comfortabl$ into that state. +he alarmin% fact is that it is the

maorit$Enot the minorit$Ethat is in this condition. 6hat would

happen if these people stirred up the %ift in them and allowed it to

be releasedG 7omes would be chan%ed churches would be chan%ed

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E5merica would be chan%edK +he %ift of @od is l$in% dormant in

our homes, our churches, and our nation. +he wells are plu%%ed

while Christians boast of bein% FSpirit;filled.F+he Church will not be re/i/ed until we as indi/iduals are

re/i/edK +he Church is not an or%aniation it is the people of @od,

and the condition of @odDs people is the condition of the ChurchK

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6hat is the destination and purpose of @od for us as a Church

and for $ou as a member of the Church, 7is bod$G n 4phesians

'. +he prefi> FpreF simpl$

means FbeforeF or Fprior to the be%innin%.F +he root FdestinationF

means Fwhere $ou will endF or Fthe finish line.F Puttin% the two

to%ether, it means Fto set the finish line before the start.F 4phesians

'


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a %reat prophetic ministr$G Or because he had a %reat e/an%elistic

ministr$G o and o a%ainK t was because HE /A&KED /ITH

G1D@7e had fellowship with @od.4/er$thin% that @od has done in the past, is doin% now, and will

be doin% in the future in re%ard to the Church will be for that

purpose. So the purpose of the wilderness is to point us in the

direction of bein% conformed to the ima%e of "esus Christ.

f we lose si%ht of the purpose of @od in our li/es, we will cast

off restraint and be%in to backslide. 5s a Church, if we lose si%ht of

the purpose of @od, we will cast off restraint and be%in to dr$ up.

+hen the thrust will be to %et results and %row in numbers, ratherthan makin% disciples in the ima%e of "esus Christ H9atthew 2)


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Canaanite nations. 7owe/er, two of them saw it in a totall$ different

wa$ than the other ten. +wo =#r!#?#5it the wa$ @od saw it, and

the ten =#r!#?#5 it throu%h the e$es of natural e>perience orthrou%h the e$es of their own abilit$. Because their e$es were bad,

the rest of their beha/ior Hor as "esus said, Ftheir whole bod$FI was

the same. +he$ spoke with their mouths and responded with their

actions in a manner contrar$ to the will of @od. @od said their

report was Fe/ilF or Fbad.F

umbers '=


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r#,54 o ,# h# =ro$#5 ",n5 $# b#;or# h# o h# "or4 o;

Go5B

Therefore we do not lose heart %faint or cast

off restraint&;...or our light affliction, which is

but for a moment, is working for us a far more

e(ceeding and eternal weight of glor, while we

do not look at the things which are seen, but at

the things which are not seen %perceiving things

the wa od does&. or the things which are

seen are temporar %sub3ect to change&, but the

things which are not seen are eternal. %emp. andparenthetical added&

II Cornh,n$ *:%+-%8 (NKJV)

+he sufferin%s e>perienced in the wilderness, compared with

its $ield, are considered li%ht. +he len%th of time spent in the

wilderness, compared with its $ield, is considered a moment. ow,

when $ou are in the middle of it, that seems hard to belie/e unless

$ou ha/e the /ision of what is be$ond it. 6hen was in the middle

of the dr$ times in m$ past, the$ sure didnDt seem like a FmomentF

at the time. Sometimes thou%ht, Fs this %oin% to endG s what @od

promised e/er %oin% to come to passGF +hat is when quickl$ had to

cast down those thou%hts and encoura%e m$self in the Lord.

would remember the prophecies pre/iousl$ made concernin% me,

and b$ them wa%e a %ood warfare H +imoth$ '


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+he %ospel that has been preached and accepted b$ man$ in

these latter da$s has been a %ospel of ease. +he focus has been

F6hat can @od do for meGF rather than F6hat does 7e desire ofmeGF +he %ospel of ease has not spoken of the sufferin%s in/ol/ed in

pursuin% Christ. 0ather, it has been a %ospel that has appealed to

the desires of the flesh. t has caused man$ to settle down into a

complacent life;st$le. t has not equipped belie/ers to be the

soldiers @od has called us to be. +imoth$ 2periencin% %reat resistance to it. f he belie/ed the %ospel of

ease, as man$ ha/e preached and belie/ed toda$, he ne/er would

ha/e seen the /ision fulfilled. 7e would not e/en ha/e made it to

5%rippa, because much earlier he would ha/e sou%ht the wa$ of

escape from the resistance e>perienced as a result of ourne$in%

toward the /ision @od set before him.

"eremiah was a man who was pursuin% the hea/enl$ /ision ande>periencin% a lot of /erbal and mental persecution as a result of

his obedience. 7e became wear$ of it one da$ and be%an to

complain a little. 7e said, "...Wh does the wa of the wicked

prosper$ Wh are those happ who deal so treacherousl$"

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H"eremiah '2periences in the

wilderness is in the realm of the soul.

+he war e>perienced in the wilderness is the battle that ra%es

in the soul. +he enem$Ds purpose is to %et $our focus on $ou. +hat is

what he tried to do with "esus in the wilderness. "esus was hun%r$

from not eatin% for fort$ da$s and the de/il came and said, "If #ou

are the +on of od, command that these stones become bread"

H9atthew =


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done 7is wa$. Aor after the de/il left, the an%els came and

ministered to "esus.

5%ain, letDs look at what "esus said concernin% 7is ministr$ )))

Palmer Lake CO ):'**;:)))

+el< H)::I8=);'=--

+el< H-'(I=)-;*:::

Aa>< H-'(I =)-;**::4;mail


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