Glorifying God in the Wilderness.

Good morning friends. Lets read.

Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Introduction:

Today I would like to ask you a question. Do you love the Lord? Take a moment to pause and think about that. Do you love the Lord the way the Bible prescribes. With all your heart, your soul and your mind? Even more so, do you love Him enough to trust His leading? Well friends the good news is God already knows your heart, the question is - do you?

Following Jesus into the Wilderness:

We’re here today because every one of us has made the decision to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. And according to His invitation, that means following Him. But what if God decides to lead you places where you don’t want to go. What if God decides to lead you into the wilderness, like He did with Abraham, the Israelites, David, John the Baptist and even Jesus. Are you willing to go there?

The Promise and the Waiting:

Friends, as a young believer I was so excited about the fact that God had not only saved me but also called me to the work of His Kingdom. I became extremely excited about the promises God had made me. But in my foolishness, I quickly began making idols out of the promises and the calling, and fell into the trap of seeking those things over God.

So in God’s wisdom, He made me wait. And it is in the desert place, a barren wasteland, where God began the work of revealing to me the state of my own heart. The Word of God began to test me, and the Lord began to break down my pride. He started stripping me of all the things that had no place in the life one of his followers. And like a wildhorse being tamed, I had to be humbled and taught to submit to the Lord and to obey his commands.

Conclusion

Perhaps today you find yourself in a similar place that I do. You’re in a season of pruning and God has permitted according to His wisdom to sift your life. I’m here to encourage you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. The Lord your God is with you. He sees your afflications and He hears your prayers. And He who has started a good work in you, will see it through unto completion. But for now, you need to keep your eyes on Jesus. Amen.