Water In The Wilderness

When God calls us into the wilderness it is a promotion season not a demotion. Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit and came out Full of the Power of the Holy Spirit. Wildernesses are upgrades in the Spirit.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days - (NLT)

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. - (NLT)

Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days. Significance of the number 40 is the number of the Lord’s testing, proving, strengthening and preparation for more of God.

In The Wilderness:God Restores Us,Heals Us and Strengthens Us -

Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days. Significance of the number 40 is the number of the Lord’s testing, proving, strengthening and preparation for more of God.

V14 “I will speak tenderly to her. “ (Restoration of God’s voice)V15 “I will give her back her vineyards.” (Restoration of Blessings)V15 “I will make the valley of Achor (trouble) into a door of hope.” (Restoration of Hope for the future)V16 “You will call me ‘husband’” (Restoration of Intimacy)V17 “I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips.” (Restoration of Purity)v18 “I will make a covenant for them.” (Restoration of Covenant)v18 “Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land.” (Restoration of Peace)v19 “ I will betroth you to me forever” (Restoration of Faithfulness)

In The Wilderness:God Restores Us,Heals Us and Strengthens Us -

V14 “I will speak tenderly to her. “ (Restoration of God’s voice)V15 “I will give her back her vineyards.” (Restoration of Blessings)V15 “I will make the valley of Achor (trouble) into a door of hope.” (Restoration of Hope for the future)V16 “You will call me ‘husband’” (Restoration of Intimacy)V17 “I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips.” (Restoration of Purity)v18 “I will make a covenant for them.” (Restoration of Covenant)v18 “Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land.” (Restoration of Peace)v19 “ I will betroth you to me forever” (Restoration of Faithfulness)

There is a path that He is leading us on where we find wells in the desert. They are assuredly there, God has already put them there. We just need to dig them up.

“Forget the former things;

There is a path that He is leading us on where we find wells in the desert. They are assuredly there, God has already put them there. We just need to dig them up.

do not dwell on the past.

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

and streams in the wasteland.

I am making a way in the wilderness

20

and streams in the wasteland.

20

The wild animals honor me,

the jackals and the owls,

The wild animals honor me,

because I provide water in the wilderness

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21

the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise. - (NIV)

the people I formed for myself

God has Pre-ordained places of God encounter for you in the Wilderness.

that they may proclaim my praise. - (NIV)

24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. - (ESV)

God has Pre-ordained places of God encounter for you in the Wilderness.

24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

-People would relocate themselves to be close to altars of divine encounter

-Isaac lived near place of divine encounter

-These places of divine encounter become expected perpetual wells of God encounters in our lives. We begin to expect the favor and answers of God in these areas of divine encounter. Hearing God’s voice has become a strong well in my life that I have come to expect and I carry a place of authority in this area.

-Isaac lived near place of divine encounter

-These places of divine encounter become expected perpetual wells of God encounters in our lives. We begin to expect the favor and answers of God in these areas of divine encounter. Hearing God’s voice has become a strong well in my life that I have come to expect and I carry a place of authority in this area.

What are the Wells of divine encounter in your life? - financial provision, healing, etc.

Three God Encounters In The Wilderness Of Beersheba

Image of Wilderness of Beersheba - Looks Dry, Isolated, Dirty, Not Comfortable.

1. Wilderness of Discouragement, Hopelessness, Isolation & Fatigue. Little did Elijah know that there was a God encounter for him already on the Kairos Calendar.

Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

1. Wilderness of Discouragement, Hopelessness, Isolation & Fatigue. Little did Elijah know that there was a God encounter for him already on the Kairos Calendar.

Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb (Tabernacle of God), the mount of God. - (ESV)

2. Wilderness of Loneliness, Misunderstanding, Rejection, Banishment, Fear of the Future. However, little did she know that God would show her a God well and give her divine insight into her future.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb (Tabernacle of God), the mount of God. - (ESV)

2. Wilderness of Loneliness, Misunderstanding, Rejection, Banishment, Fear of the Future. However, little did she know that God would show her a God well and give her divine insight into her future.

God Opens Up Hagaar’s (“To Flee”) Eyes To A Supernatural Well

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

God Opens Up Hagaar’s (“To Flee”) Eyes To A Supernatural Well

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. - (NIV)

3. Wilderness of Dashed Expectations, Betrayal, Deceit, Division, Quarreling, Relational Brokenness. However, little did he know that there was a God well waiting for him. Jacob would name it, Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Well of Peace & Prosperity.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. - (NIV)

Isaac and his men were fighting over family wells or digging your own. As good as the wells dug by others are, it will never take the place of the well that God has for you personally. Dig your own well. Don’t live off of other peoples bread and water (revelation) let God give you your own well of water to drink from.

3. Wilderness of Dashed Expectations, Betrayal, Deceit, Division, Quarreling, Relational Brokenness. However, little did he know that there was a God well waiting for him. Jacob would name it, Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Well of Peace & Prosperity.

Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

Isaac and his men were fighting over family wells or digging your own. As good as the wells dug by others are, it will never take the place of the well that God has for you personally. Dig your own well. Don’t live off of other peoples bread and water (revelation) let God give you your own well of water to drink from.

17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.

17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.- (NIV)

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

Digging (Your Own) Well In The Desert: A Sign Of Maturity

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.- (NIV)

Those that never mature to search out the wells for themselves in the desert become accustomed to the rescuing waters of life as opposed to developing the maturity to search out the wells of divine encounter for themselves.

Digging (Your Own) Well In The Desert: A Sign Of Maturity

Those that never mature to search out the wells for themselves in the desert become accustomed to the rescuing waters of life as opposed to developing the maturity to search out the wells of divine encounter for themselves.

“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,

and their tongues are parched from thirst,

then I, the Lord, will answer them.

I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.

18

I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.

I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.

I will fill the desert with pools of water.

I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.

I will fill the desert with pools of water.

Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.

- (NLT)

Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.

You will either live off of other people’s wells of intimacy, revelation and history with God or dig your own wells of intimacy, revelation and history with God. Digging you own wells with God is a sign of maturity.

- (NLT)

Broken Cisterns

You will either live off of other people’s wells of intimacy, revelation and history with God or dig your own wells of intimacy, revelation and history with God. Digging you own wells with God is a sign of maturity.

Those that are not looking for the source of real water will dig broken cisterns that cannot hold water. They will live off of artificial substitutes, declaring that their water is just as good as the “real water” but will live with the ache of a thirst they are unable to quench.

Broken Cisterns

Those that are not looking for the source of real water will dig broken cisterns that cannot hold water. They will live off of artificial substitutes, declaring that their water is just as good as the “real water” but will live with the ache of a thirst they are unable to quench.

“My people have committed two sins:

They have forsaken me,

the spring of living water,

They have forsaken me,

the spring of living water,

and have dug their own cisterns,

broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - (NIV)

and have dug their own cisterns,

broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - (NIV)

My Only Fountain

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:

“This one was born in Zion.”

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:

7

“This one was born in Zion.”

As they make music they will sing,

7

“All my fountains are in you.”- (NIV)

As they make music they will sing,

“All my fountains are in you.”- (NIV)

To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find him, the greatest human achievement. - St. Augustine

Wells Of Salvation

To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find him, the greatest human achievement. - St. Augustine

Wells Of Salvation

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

Surely God is my salvation;

The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water

he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water

3

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation. - (NIV)

What Generation Are You?

1. King Saul - Had a Prophet But Not A Relationship

-How many people in the Bible chose a God representative instead of God Himself.

1. King Saul - Had a Prophet But Not A Relationship

-Do you want your own prophet or God Himself.

-How many people in the Bible chose a God representative instead of God Himself.

-Do you want your own prophet or God Himself.

-The bottom line is that you will either choose God or something else. Moses said I wish you were all prophets.

But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!” - (NLT)

-God never intended that there would be a replacement for a relationship directly with him and us.

-People have been choosing intermediates between them and God ever-since

-King Saul had a Samuel to inquire of the Lord for him. Saul didn’t have relationship with God Himself. When He didn’t get answers he wanted, he turned to sorcery.

Saul Does Not Inquire Of The Lord

-King Saul had a Samuel to inquire of the Lord for him. Saul didn’t have relationship with God Himself. When He didn’t get answers he wanted, he turned to sorcery.

Saul Does Not Inquire Of The Lord

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. - (NIV)

2. King David - Had a Relationship and God’s Heart

He inquired of the Lord, He was extravagant in His worship, He was hungry and thirsty for that and positioned Himself for that. David even prepared a place of spiritual inheritance for Solomon - asking for the more, receiving the more and stewarding the more for the next generation

2. King David - Had a Relationship and God’s Heart

He inquired of the Lord, He was extravagant in His worship, He was hungry and thirsty for that and positioned Himself for that. David even prepared a place of spiritual inheritance for Solomon - asking for the more, receiving the more and stewarding the more for the next generation

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ - (NIV)

God Covenants With David

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ - (NIV)

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” - (NIV)

God Covenants With David

David Prepared For Ongoing Habitation of God For Generations After Him (Gathered Supplies for Building The Temple)

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” - (NIV)

I want passionate feelings to characterize my relationship with the Lord Jesus. Of course, I want to be perfectly obedient to the Lord, but I want the obedience to spring out of a passionate love for him. I want to obey Jesus not simply out of discipline of duty, or because of some reward or fear of punishment. I want to serve Him simply for the joy of being able to please the one I love so much. If discipline is what ultimately drives us in our pursuit of Jesus, eventually we will give up that pursuit. But a man in love, or a woman in love will never quit.... I want my life to be characterized by an unrestrained affection for the Son of God - Jack Deere

David Prepared For Ongoing Habitation of God For Generations After Him (Gathered Supplies for Building The Temple)

3. King Solomon - Family History Of Relationship With God, Good Intentions but Chose Other gods in the end.

I want passionate feelings to characterize my relationship with the Lord Jesus. Of course, I want to be perfectly obedient to the Lord, but I want the obedience to spring out of a passionate love for him. I want to obey Jesus not simply out of discipline of duty, or because of some reward or fear of punishment. I want to serve Him simply for the joy of being able to please the one I love so much. If discipline is what ultimately drives us in our pursuit of Jesus, eventually we will give up that pursuit. But a man in love, or a woman in love will never quit.... I want my life to be characterized by an unrestrained affection for the Son of God - Jack Deere

3. King Solomon - Family History Of Relationship With God, Good Intentions but Chose Other gods in the end.

David’s Admonition To Solomon

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ - (NIV)

Solomon Models His Father’s Extravagance In Worship

Solomon started off well and looked that He would follow in Davids steps, was extravagant in His worship and building of the temple but lacked intimacy and chose other gods.

Solomon Chooses Other Gods

Even though the Lord, the God of Israel, had appeared to Solomon twice and had commanded him not to worship foreign gods, Solomon did not obey the Lord but turned away from him. So the Lord was angry with Solomon 11 and said to him, “Because you have deliberately broken your covenant with me and disobeyed my commands, I promise that I will take the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officials. 12 However, for the sake of your father David I will not do this in your lifetime, but during the reign of your son. 13 And I will not take the whole kingdom away from him; instead, I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have made my own.” - (NIV)

Solomon Chooses Other Gods

Even though the Lord, the God of Israel, had appeared to Solomon twice and had commanded him not to worship foreign gods, Solomon did not obey the Lord but turned away from him. So the Lord was angry with Solomon 11 and said to him, “Because you have deliberately broken your covenant with me and disobeyed my commands, I promise that I will take the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officials. 12 However, for the sake of your father David I will not do this in your lifetime, but during the reign of your son. 13 And I will not take the whole kingdom away from him; instead, I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have made my own.” - (NIV)

The Curse Of Having Enough

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. - (NIV)

The Curse Of Having Enough

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. - (NIV)

We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be. True, there are times when we would like to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes to the point, we are not prepared to pay the price involved. - J. Oswald Saunders

You will either choose God (Personal Intimacy and Relational History), Prophet (Spiritual Intermediary) Idols (False Power and Might) or a King (trusting in man’s strength, wisdom and rule)

We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be. True, there are times when we would like to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes to the point, we are not prepared to pay the price involved. - J. Oswald Saunders

You will either choose God (Personal Intimacy and Relational History), Prophet (Spiritual Intermediary) Idols (False Power and Might) or a King (trusting in man’s strength, wisdom and rule)

May the Lord give us grace to emulate David’s example and to cultivate the habit of always inquiring of the Lord and waiting for His answer. The more we seek direction from God in prayer and the more we desire to know His will, the more He is honored and the more we are blessed. May we cultivate David’s spirit more and more, for it is written, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (). - Maurice Bassali